hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2858
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug therapy
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries for covered prescription drugs that CMS deems appropriate for negotiation based on: (1) program and per-beneficiary spending, (2) unit cost increases over the preceding years, (3) initial launch price, and (4) any other criteria determined by CMS. 
 
CMS may negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare and MA beneficiaries for other covered prescription drugs, as well.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
College Access Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2859
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Adult education and literacy
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

College Access Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes a competitive grant program for states to develop or implement comprehensive plans to improve post-secondary outcomes for students. 
 
A state's plan must include reforms to: (1) implement measures to maintain or increase fiscal support for post-secondary education; (2) increase the transparency of, and access to, information about the costs and outcomes of attaining post-secondary credentials at the state's institutions; and (3) improve post-secondary education remediation, remove barriers to innovation in postsecondary education, or improve the transition of students to and from post-secondary institutions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Climate Change Adapt America Bond Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2860
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Infrastructure development
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Climate Change Adapt America Bond Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to issue Climate Change Bonds. The proceeds from the bonds must be deposited in the Adapt America Fund established by this bill within the Department of Commerce. 
 
Commerce must carry out an investment program to fund projects, using bond revenue, that aid in adaption to climate change. 
 
The bill establishes the Climate Change Advisory Commission to: (1) establish recommendations, frameworks, and guidelines for the program; and (2) identify categories of the most cost-effective investments and projects that emphasize multiple benefits to commerce, human health, and ecosystems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Medication Prescribing Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2861
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Drug therapy
Government studies and investigations
Military medicine
Neurological disorders
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Medication Prescribing Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to: (1) review the prescribing practices at military treatment facilities of pharmaceutical agents for post-traumatic stress treatment, (2) implement a process or processes to monitor the prescribing practices at military treatment facilities of pharmaceutical agents that are discouraged from use under the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Post-Traumatic Stress, and (3) implement a plan to address deviations from such guideline. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Probation Officer Protection Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2862
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Probation Officer Protection Act of 2016

 
 This bill amends the federal criminal code to authorize a probation officer to arrest a person (i.e., a person other than the probationer) without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe the person forcibly assaulted or obstructed a probation officer engaged in the performance of official duties.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2495)
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Equity in Pretrial Medicaid Coverage Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2863
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Equity in Pretrial Medicaid Coverage Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending charges to receive Medicaid benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
RxCAP Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2864
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Reducing Existing Costs Associated with Pharmaceuticals for Seniors Act of 2016 or the RxCAP Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate beneficiary cost-sharing above the Medicare prescription benefit's annual out-of-pocket threshold beginning in plan year 2018. Under current law, the Medicare prescription drug benefit provides coverage above that threshold only with cost-sharing in the form of either copayment or coinsurance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2865
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Asia
Australia
Brunei
China
Congressional oversight
Human rights
Japan
Law enforcement administration and funding
Marine and inland water transportation
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
New Zealand
Oceania
Pacific Ocean
Philippines
Singapore
Smuggling and trafficking
South Korea
Taiwan
Thailand
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative Act of 2016

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the Maritime Security Initiative to provide assistance and training through September 30, 2022, for maritime security and domain awareness for countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
 
DOD shall prioritize assistance in order to: 
 
 
 retain access to international waterways to ensure the free flow of commerce and achieve U.S. national security objectives,
 
improve maritime domain awareness, 
 
counter piracy, 
 
disrupt illicit maritime trafficking activities of organizations that are a U.S. security threat, and 
 
enhance the maritime capabilities of a country or regional organization to respond to emerging maritime security threats.
 
 
Assistance and training shall also promote observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for legitimate civilian authority.
 
DOD may use funds provided for by this bill to pay incremental training-connected expenses if such payment will facilitate the participation of organization personnel in Brunei, Singapore, and Taiwan. 
 
 The Arms Export Control Act is amended to extend special foreign military sales status to the Philippines. 
 
FY2017 international military education and training funds and foreign military financing assistance funds are authorized for activities in the region.
 
The Department of State may prioritize the provision of maritime capacity building assistance to countries in the region that will contribute to the same objectives as provided in this bill for DOD.
 
FY2017 funds are authorized for support of the Southeast Asia Maritime Law Enforcement Initiative. 
 
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended to give priority for the transfer of excess defense articles to: (1) other major U.S. non-North American Treaty Organization allies in the region (including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand); and (2) other Association of Southeast Asian Nations maritime states.
 
The bill authorizes the transfer of one OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigate on a grant basis to a foreign government pursuant to the Maritime Security Initiative.
 
The President shall ensure that the U.S. government treats every proposed arms sale for Taiwan with the same time lines, processes, and procedures accorded to proposed arms transfers for all other countries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Jessie's Law

Bill: 114-s-2866
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Family relationships
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Jessie's Law

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit disclosure of patient records relating to substance abuse with the patient's oral consent or the consent of the patient's parent, legal guardian, or spouse. (Currently, disclosure is permitted only with the patient's written consent.)
 
Interchange of such records is permitted within accountable care organizations, health information exchanges, and integrated care arrangements for purposes of attaining interoperability, improving care coordination, reducing health care costs, and securing or providing patient safety.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must develop and disseminate standards for hospitals and physicians regarding displaying a patient's history of opioid addiction in the patient's medical records with the patient's consent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in Opportunity Act

Bill: 114-s-2868
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2016-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Capital gains tax
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Financial services and investments
Income tax credits
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Securities
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: 

Investing in Opportunity Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the designation of opportunity zones in low-income communities and to provide tax incentives for investments in the zones, including deferring the recognition of capital gains that are reinvested in the zones. 
 
Governors may submit nominations for a limited number of opportunity zones to the Department of the Treasury for certification and designation. Governors must give particular consideration to areas that: 
 
 
 are currently the focus of mutually reinforcing state, local, or private economic development initiatives to attract investment and foster startup activity; 
 
 have demonstrated success in geographically targeted development programs such as promise zones, the new markets tax credit, empowerment zones, and renewal communities; and 
 
 have recently experienced significant layoffs due to business closures or relocations. 
 
 
Treasury must designate zones if a governor fails to submit nominations within a specified period of time. 
 
The bill defines opportunity funds as any investment vehicle organized as a corporation or a partnership to invest in opportunity zones that holds at least 90% of its assets in opportunity zone assets. 
 
Taxpayers may temporarily defer the recognition of capital gains that are invested in opportunity zones or opportunity funds. Investments that are held for at least five years are eligible for capital gains tax reductions or exemptions, depending on how long the investment is held. 
 
Treasury must report to Congress on the opportunity zone incentives enacted in this bill, including an assessment of opportunity fund investments at the national and state levels. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Boost Saving for College Act

Bill: 114-s-2869
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Disability and paralysis
Employee benefits and pensions
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Boost Saving for College Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans). 
 
The bill allows: (1) a nonrefundable tax credit for contributions of an individual to a 529 plan, and (2) an exclusion from the gross income of an employee of up to $1000 per year of employer contributions to a 529 plan. 
 
The bill also permits savings from a 529 plan to be rolled over tax-free into: (1) a Roth Individual Retirement Account of the owner or the beneficiary of a 529 plan that has been maintained for 10 years, and (2) an ABLE account of the designated beneficiary of the 529 plan. 
 
(Tax-favored ABLE [Achieving a Better Life Experience] accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Retaliation Prevention Act

Bill: 114-s-2870
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Defense
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Military law
Military personnel and dependents
Performance measurement
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Military Retaliation Prevention Act

 
This bill amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to subject to punishment by a court-martial any person who, with the intent to retaliate against any individual for reporting a criminal offense or making a protected communication, or with the intent to discourage any individual from reporting a criminal offense or making a protected communication, wrongfully: 
 
 
takes or threatens to take an adverse personnel action against such individual, or 
 
withholds or threatens to withhold a favorable personnel action from such individual. 
 
 
&quot;Protected communication&quot; means a: 
 
 
lawful communication to a Member of Congress or an Inspector General; or 
 
 communication to a specified individual or organization in which a service member complains of, or discloses information that the member reasonably believes constitutes evidence of, a violation of law or regulation, including sexual harassment or unlawful discrimination, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. 
 
 
The results of a Department of Defense (DOD) or Armed Forces investigation of a service member's complaint of retaliation shall be provided to such service member.
 
DOD personnel who investigate claims of retaliation in connection with reports of sexual assault in the Armed Forces shall receive training on the nature and consequences of sexual assault trauma.
 
The Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 is amended to include information on claims of retaliation in the military departments' sexual assault prevention reports to DOD. 
 
DOD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office shall establish metrics to evaluate efforts of the Armed Forces to prevent and respond to retaliation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Choice Program Resolution Act

Bill: 114-s-2871
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Indian social and development programs
Minority health
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Veterans Choice Program Resolution Act

 
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to direct the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to select from among employees of the Office of Inspector General a Choice Program Ombudsman to manage complaints about program hospital care and medical services.
 
The VA shall publish on publicly available Internet websites of the VA and the Office of Inspector General information regarding the process for submitting a complaint to the Ombudsman. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
NAS Healthy Babies Act

Bill: 114-s-2872
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act or the NAS Healthy Babies Act

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which results from a newborn's exposure to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb.
 
Specifically, the GAO shall report on:
 
 
the prevalence of NAS, 
 
NAS treatment services for which coverage is available under state Medicaid programs, 
 
the settings and associated reimbursement methodologies for NAS treatment, 
 
the prevalence of utilization of various care settings under state Medicaid programs for NAS treatment, and 
 
any federal barriers to treating infants with NAS under state Medicaid programs.

 
The GAO shall also report on its recommendations for improvements that will ensure access to NAS treatment under state Medicaid programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2874
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to specify that a state Medicaid program may not terminate a juvenile's medical assistance enrollment because the juvenile is incarcerated. A state may suspend enrollment while the juvenile is an inmate, but must restore enrollment upon release without requiring a new application or any other action unless the individual no longer meets the eligibility requirements for medical assistance.
 
A state must process an application submitted by, or on behalf of, an incarcerated juvenile, notwithstanding that the juvenile is an inmate.
 
A "juvenile" is an individual who: (1) is under 21 years of age; or (2) has aged out of the state's foster care system, was enrolled in the state plan while in foster care, and is under 26 years of age.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Reports Reduction Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2875
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Bolivia
Colombia
Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Economic performance and conditions
Ecuador
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Latin America
Peru
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Reports Reduction Act of 2016

 
This bill eliminates or modifies reporting requirements for programs of: 
 
 
the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, State, the Treasury, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs;
 
the U.S. Coast Guard;
 
the Environmental Protection Agency;
 
the Executive Office of the President;
 
the Federal Communications Commission;
 
 the Federal Trade Commission;
 
the General Services Administration;
 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
 
the National Science Foundation;
 
 the Office of Personnel Management;
 
 the Director of National Intelligence; and 
 
the Small Business Administration. 
 
 
The Andean Trade Preference Act is amended to eliminate the U.S. International Trade Commission's reports regarding the economic impact of the President's authority to proclaim duty-free treatment to beneficiary countries and the effectiveness of drug-related crop eradication.
 
The bill eliminates a provision that required the President to report on compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act for projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate