hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Compassionate Care Act

Bill: 114-s-2961
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: 

Compassionate Care Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and implement a national campaign that informs the public of the importance of end-of-life or advanced care planning and of an individual's right to direct and participate in health care decisions.
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) must establish a website for qualified health care providers about those rights and advance care planning. 
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a pilot grant program for end-of-life training in certain medical and health education schools.
 
The AHRQ must develop quality measures for end-of-life care in each relevant qualified health care provider setting. Health care providers must begin reporting on their performance relating to such measures on April 1, 2018.
 
The Health Resources and Services Administration must approve existing and develop new curricula on advance care planning and end-of-life care for continuing education that states may adopt for qualified health care providers.
 
HHS must establish a demonstration program for supporting the provision of advance care planning through videoconferencing for patients who live far from their health care provider.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2962
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2016-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Low- and moderate-income housing

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: 

Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing tax credit, to: (1) expand the credit by increasing the state housing credit ceiling, (2) modify the cost-of-living adjustment required for the state housing credit ceiling, (3) establish a new average income test which may be used to determine if a low-income housing project qualifies for the credit, and (4) establish a minimum credit rate of 4% for certain new or existing buildings. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act

Bill: 114-s-2963
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Commerce
Computers and information technology
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental technology
Higher education
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Industrial policy and productivity
Manufacturing
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Small business
Technology transfer and commercialization
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: 

Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Commerce to carry out a grant program for establishing consortia to enhance U.S. economic, environmental, and energy security by promoting domestic research, development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. Clean technology means technologies, production processes, or methodologies that: 
 
 
produce energy from renewable energy sources; 
 
 transmit, distribute, or store energy more efficiently;
 
enhance energy efficiency for buildings and industry; 
 
enable the development of a Smart Grid (an evolving electric power network that utilizes new information technology systems, including those that enables customers to reduce or shift their power use during peak demand periods);
 
 produce an advanced or sustainable material with energy or energy efficiency applications; 
 
 improve energy efficiency for transportation; or
 
 enhance water security through improved water management, conservation, distribution, or end use applications. 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 229 West Main Cross Street in Findlay, Ohio, as the "Michael Garver Oxley Memorial Post Office Building".

Bill: 114-s-2965
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2016-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
House of Representatives
Members of Congress
Ohio
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 229 West Main Cross Street in Findlay, Ohio, as the "Michael Garver Oxley Memorial Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Management Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2969
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2016-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: 

Disaster Management Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the National Advisory Council of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to commence a comprehensive study relating to disaster losses and federal disaster assistance. The council shall consider: (1) an assessment of trends in disaster costs and losses and federal disaster assistance and factors contributing to such trends; and (2) fundamental principles that drive national disaster assistance decision-making.
 
The council shall: (1) develop recommendations to reduce disaster costs and losses in the United States and to more efficiently and effectively deliver federal disaster assistance; and (2) report to FEMA and Congress on its data, analysis, and recommendations.
 
FEMA shall submit a report that includes an action plan to improve field operations after a major disaster or emergency declaration by the President.
 
FEMA shall establish: (1) a pilot program that increases the amount threshold for use of the simplified procedure for providing assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for the purpose of determining whether such increase can facilitate a more efficient and effective delivery of assistance, without sacrificing oversight capabilities, for a major disaster or emergency declaration by the President; and (2) a pilot program that modifies the management cost rates used to determine contributions under such Act for management costs for the purpose of determining whether such modifications can facilitate a more efficient and effective administration of disaster assistance grants for a major disaster or emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to expand law enforcement availability pay to employees of the Air and Marine Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Bill: 114-s-2970
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2016-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: 
This bill applies provisions governing availability pay for criminal investigators to any employee of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations who is a law enforcement officer.

action_date: 2016-09-06
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 
This bill applies provisions governing availability pay for criminal investigators to any employee of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations who is a law enforcement officer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 615.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 114-344.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 114-344.
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to increase the micro-purchase threshold for universities, independent research institutes, and non-profit research organizations.

Bill: 114-s-2973
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2016-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Higher education
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Minority education
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: 
This bill increases the micro-purchase threshold for activities by institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations, or independent research institutes under federal procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements to: (1) $10,000; or (2) a higher threshold determined by the head of the relevant executive agency consistent with clean audit findings, internal institutional risk assessment, or state law. Micro-purchases at or below the threshold are exempt from certain: (1) requirements under the Small Business Act and contracting goals of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to award contracts to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, historically black colleges and universities, or other minority institutions; (2) competitive quotation and price evaluation standards; and (3) Buy American requirements for the use of supplies manufactured in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2975
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2016-05-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: 

Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2016

 
This bill provides that executive agency actions that are necessary to restrict or prohibit access to a website which an agency determines presents a security weakness or risk to the information technology or information system under the agency's control, and any impact or implementation of such action, shall not be subject to federal employee labor-management relations requirements.

action_date: 2016-09-27
text: 

Federal Information Systems Safeguards Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill provides that executive agency actions that are necessary to restrict or prohibit access to a website which an agency determines presents a security weakness or risk to the information technology or information system under the agency's control shall not be subject to federal employee labor-management relations requirements.
 
The agency, after taking such an action, shall, upon the request of employees of the agency, consider and seek guidance on the personal communication needs of such employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 647.
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 114-361.
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 114-361.
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act

Bill: 114-s-2977
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2016-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Prescription drugs
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-24
text: 

Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a one cent per milligram excise tax on the sale of active opioids by the manufacturer, producer, or importer. The tax excludes prescription drugs used exclusively for the treatment of opioid addiction as part of a medically assisted treatment effort. 
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program to provide rebates or discounts to cancer and hospice patients to ensure that they do not pay the tax. 
 
The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require any increase in federal revenues from the tax after rebates and discounts are subtracted to be distributed to states under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program to be used exclusively for substance abuse (including opioid abuse) efforts in the states, including specified treatment programs. 
 
HHS must report to Congress on the impact of this bill on the retail cost of opioids and patient access to opioid medication, the effectiveness of the discount or rebate for cancer and hospice patients, how the funds are being used to improve substance abuse treatment efforts, and suggestions for improving access to opioids for cancer and hospice patients and substance abuse treatment efforts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act

Bill: 114-s-2978
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2016-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business ethics
Business records
Government information and archives
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical education
Medical ethics
Scientific communication

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: 

Protecting Continuing Physical Education and Patient Care Act

 
 This bill amends title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from required manufacturer transparency reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use.
 
The bill also excludes from such mandatory reporting any indirect payment or transfer of value to a covered recipient who is a physician:
 
 
for speaking at, or preparing educational materials for, an educational event for physicians or other health care professionals that does not commercially promote a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply; or
 
that serves the sole purpose of providing the physician with medical education, such as the tuition required to attend an educational event or any materials given physicians at such an event.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Tax Transparency Act

Bill: 114-s-2979
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2016-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: 

Presidential Tax Transparency Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require any candidate of a major party for the office of President to file with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) a copy of the candidate's income tax returns for the three most recent taxable years for which such a return has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service as of the date of the nomination.
 
In any case in which such a candidate has not filed with the FEC such income tax returns within 30 days after the nomination date, the FEC shall request the Department of the Treasury to furnish the returns.
 
A tax return furnished to the FEC by a candidate or by Treasury shall be treated in the same manner as a report filed by the candidate and, except for the appropriate redaction of certain information, shall be made publicly available at the same time and in the same manner as other reports and statements.
 
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the FEC to disclose to the public the applicable tax returns of any person who has been nominated as a candidate of a major party. Treasury shall furnish the FEC with copies of any requested returns.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2980
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: 

Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs). The bill modifies the requirements to: 
 
 
 increase the maximum contribution amounts, 
 
 permit the use of HSAs to pay health insurance premiums and direct primary care expenses, 
 
 repeal the restriction on using HSAs for over-the-counter medications, 
 
 eliminate the requirement that a participant in an HSA be enrolled in a high deductible health care plan, and 
 
 decrease the additional tax for HSA distributions not used for qualified medical expenses. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to add standards for drug compendia for physician use for purposes of Medicaid payment for certain drugs, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2981
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2016-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health information and medical records
Medicaid
Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: 
This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to add standards for drug compendia used by physicians with respect to payment for certain drugs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. 
 
Specifically, such compendia shall include compendia that, as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: (1) are used by health care providers and utilized nationwide by the health insurance industry; (2) have a publicly available policy on disclosures of conflicts of interest; (3) use an international, widely recognized standard to evaluate clinical evidence for inclusion; and (4) are accepted by at least one state board of pharmacy or equivalent licensing body.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate