hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Limiting Contributions to the United Nations and Affiliated Organizations that Accord the Palestine Liberation Organization the Same Standing as Member States Act

Bill: 114-s-2930
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Climate change and greenhouse gases
Department of State
Executive agency funding and structure
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Middle East
Palestinians
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-12
text: 

Limiting Contributions to the United Nations and Affiliated Organizations that Accord the Palestine Liberation Organization the Same Standing as Member States Act

 
This bill directs the Department of State to ensure that the use of federal funding supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the Green Climate Fund, complies with applicable federal law, including: 
 
 
provisions of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 authorizing appropriations for the U.S. annual payment to the U.N. and for necessary salaries and expenses of U.S. representatives to the U.N.,
 
provisions of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 prohibiting making funds authorized under such Act available to the U.N. or any specialized agency that accords the Palestine Liberation Organization the same standing as member states, and 
 
 provisions of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 prohibiting contributions to the U.N. or to any affiliated U.N. organization that grants full state membership to a group that does not have internationally recognized attributes of statehood.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Botnet Prevention Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2931
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2016-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Crimes against property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Infrastructure development

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: 

Botnet Prevention Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand prohibited conduct and increase criminal penalties with respect to cybercrime involving damage to computer networks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. Hearings held.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2932
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: 

Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to register an emergency medical services (EMS) agency as an entity authorized to dispense controlled substances, instead of registering the individual practitioners or medical directors of the agency.
 
A registered EMS agency must be overseen by one or more medical directors.
 
The bill specifies that an EMS practitioner who is employed by a registered EMS agency may administer controlled substances under a standing order issued by a medical director. The standing order does not have to be specific to an individual patient. An EMS agency must keep the standing order on file and make it available to the DEA upon request. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans ACCESS Act

Bill: 114-s-2933
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2016-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care quality
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Medical ethics
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: 

Veterans Acquiring Community Care Expect Safe Services Act of 2016 or the Veterans ACCESS Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to deny or revoke a health care provider's eligibility to provide non-VA health care services to veterans if such provider: (1) was removed from VA employment for violating VA policy, (2) violated medical license requirements, (3) had a VA certification revoked, or (4) violated a law for which a prison term of more than one year may be imposed.
 
The VA may deny, revoke, or suspend a health care provider's eligibility to provide non-VA health care services if the VA has reasonable belief that such action is necessary to protect the health or safety of veterans and: (1) the provider is under investigation by the medical board of a state in which the provider is licensed or practices, (2) the provider has entered into a settlement agreement for a medical-related disciplinary charge, or (3) the VA otherwise determines that such action is appropriate.
 
The VA shall suspend a health care provider's eligibility to provide non-VA health care services to veterans if such provider is suspended from VA service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Fix Gun Checks Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2934
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against property
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Judicial procedure and administration
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: 

Fix Gun Checks Act of 

2016

 
This bill amends the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 to revise an eligibility condition for a state to receive a grant under the NICS Act Record Improvement Program and a waiver of the grant match requirement under the National Criminal History Improvement Program. 
 
Specifically, it directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a four-year state implementation plan, including benchmarks, to maximize the automation and submission of mental health and criminal history records to the National Instant Criminal Back Check System (NICS). DOJ must reduce the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program funding for a state that fails to comply with benchmarks.
 
The bill amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to require each federal agency and department, including a federal court, to certify whether it has provided to the Federal Bureau of Investigation disqualifying records of persons prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm.
 
It amends the federal criminal code and the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 to define the terms "adjudicated as a mental defective" and "committed to a mental institution."
 
The bill extends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act background check requirements to a transfer of a firearm between private parties by prohibiting such a transfer unless a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer has first taken possession of the firearm for the purpose of submitting a background check. 
 
A gun owner must report a lost or stolen firearm to DOJ and local law enforcement authorities within 48 hours of discovery.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
End Housing Subsidies for the Rich Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2935
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Housing and community development funding
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

End Housing Subsidies for the Rich Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise eligibility requirements for assisted housing.
 
If a public housing agency (PHA) determines that a tenant's income is greater than 120% of the area median income for two consecutive years, the PHA must terminate the family's tenancy within six months.
 
Such a family may, however, continue to occupy the dwelling unit month-to-month if:
 
 
the PHA charges the family the fair market rent, and 
 
 there are no eligible families applying for housing assistance from the PHA for that month and the agency provides at least a 30-day public notice of the availability of such assistance.
 
 
A PHA may not rent a dwelling unit to or assist families with net family assets exceeding $100,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) or an ownership interest in property that is suitable for occupancy. This restriction does not apply to victims of domestic violence, individuals using housing assistance for homeownership opportunities, or a family that is offering a property for sale.
 
PHAs must require applicants to authorize financial institutions to disclose records necessary to determine eligibility for benefits. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act

Bill: 114-s-2936
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Child health
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Fruit and vegetables
Government studies and investigations
Income tax deductions
Marketing and advertising
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a tax deduction for: (1) advertising or marketing directed at children (age 14 or under) for food of poor nutritional quality or a brand primarily associated with food of poor nutritional quality; and (2) for related expenses, including for travel, goods or services constituting entertainment, amusement, or recreation, gifts, or other promotion expenses.
 
The Department of the Treasury must enter into a contract with the National Academy of Medicine to develop procedures to evaluate and identify food of poor nutritional quality and brands that are primarily associated with such food.
 
The bill authorizes additional funding to carry out the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Certainty for States and Tribes Act

Bill: 114-s-2938
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Coal
Congressional oversight
Department of the Interior
Economic performance and conditions
Energy revenues and royalties
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Federal-Indian relations
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Mining
Oil and gas
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

Certainty for States and Tribes Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee, which should include members representing states and Indian tribes who produce minerals on federal or tribal land. In addition, Interior must establish a State and Tribal Resources Board, a subcommittee to the Royalty Policy Committee. The board and committee must advise Interior as it formulates policies and regulations regarding mineral production on federal and tribal lands. The board can delay the issuance of a final regulation by Interior if the board determines that such regulation will have a negative state or Tribal budgetary or economic impact.
 
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must complete by January 15, 2019, its programmatic review of the federal coal leasing program as described in Secretarial Order 3338. Secretarial Order 3338 directed the BLM to prepare a discretionary review of the federal coal program. (Interior issued Secretarial Order 3338 on January 15, 2016.)
 
The moratorium on the issuance of new federal coal leasesby the BLMshall terminate on January 16, 2019.Additionally, the bill allows leases and modifications to be issued by the BLM for any coalleasing application currently under review. Secretarial Order 3338 prohibited approval of such leases and modifications.
 
The bill also directs the BLM toconduct federal coal lease sales and modifications within one year after it completes an analysis of anapplication.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2879-2880)
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
State, Territory, and Local Government Bailout Prevention Act

Bill: 114-s-2939
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Caribbean area
Federal Reserve System
Government lending and loan guarantees
Puerto Rico
State and local finance
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

State, Territory, and Local Government Bailout Prevention Act 

 
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase or guarantee obligations of, issue lines of credit to, or provide direct or indirect grants-in-aid to any state (defined to include Puerto Rico and any other U.S. territory or possession), municipal, local, or county government that, on or after May 1, 2016, has defaulted on its obligations, is at risk of defaulting, or is likely to default, without such federal assistance. 
 
The Departrment of the Treasury is prohibited from using general fund revenues or borrowed funds to purchase or guarantee any asset or obligation of, or to otherwise assist, any such state, municipal, local, or county government. 
 
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is prohibited from: (1) providing or extending to, or authorizing with respect to, such a state, municipal, local, or county government or other entity with taxing authority or bonding authority, any funds, loan guarantees, credits, or any other financial instrument or other authority, including bond purchases; or (2) otherwise assisting such a government entity under any Board authority. 
 
Such prohibitions: (1) shall not apply to federal assistance provided in response to a declared disaster, (2) include debt restructuring or any other related activity, and (3) exclude any discretionary appropriations or direct spending and any grant awarded by the United States to the state, municipal, local, or county government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2940
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Radiation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise physician supervision requirements under the Medicare program for radiology services performed by advanced level radiographers. Specifically, with respect to a state that has established such requirements for those services, the bill aligns Medicare's requirements with state requirements.
 
An "advanced level radiographer" is a radiographer who has obtained specified certification from either the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or the Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2941
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 

Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct an interagency study regarding research on lung cancer in women, access to lung cancer preventive services, and public awareness and education campaigns on lung cancer.
 The study must include a comprehensive report on research and knowledge gaps related to lung cancer in women in the federal government and recommendations for: (1) a research program that would encourage innovative approaches to eliminate knowledge gaps, (2) the development of a national lung cancer screening strategy with sufficient resources to expand access to screening, and (3) the development of a national public education and awareness campaign on lung cancer in women and the importance of early detection of lung cancer.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend certain privileges and immunities to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Bill: 114-s-2942
Sponsor: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN]
Introduced: 2016-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Bahrain
Government liability
International organizations and cooperation
Kuwait
Middle East
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: 
This bill amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to authorize the President to extend the provisions of such Act to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress.
 
(The International Organization Immunities Act entitles covered international organizations and their employees to certain exemptions, immunities, and privileges similar to the benefits granted to foreign governments.) 
 

action_date: 2016-05-19
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec. 1) This bill amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to authorize the President to extend the provisions of such Act to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress.
 
(The International Organization Immunities Act entitles covered international organizations and their employees to certain exemptions, immunities, and privileges similar to the benefits granted to foreign governments.) 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 475.
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-05-19
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Effective Apprenticeships to Rebuild National Skills Act

Bill: 114-s-2945
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2016-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Department of Labor
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Higher education
Performance measurement
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Unemployment
Vocational and technical education
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: 

Effective Apprenticeships to Rebuild National Skills Act or the EARNS Act

 
This bill establishes, in the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor, an Office of Apprenticeship to:
 
 
determine whether an apprenticeship program meets requirements for registration and maintains the standards necessary to remain registered,
 
manage the national apprenticeship system (the collective group of registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs in the nation), and
 
make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to carry out projects that support development of pre-apprenticeship programs.
 
 
The bill also establishes in Labor a National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships.
 
Labor and the Department of Education shall establish a voluntary Registered Apprenticeship-College Collaborative consisting of the sponsors carrying out registered apprenticeship programs, two- or four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and organizations that represent such programs or institutions, that agree to meet certain criteria in order to promote stronger connections between the registered apprenticeship programs involved and participating two- and four-year postsecondary educational institutions.
 
Labor shall make assistance payments to eligible sponsors of new registered apprenticeship programs or of existing programs that add employers as new partners, which may include joint labor-management registered apprenticeship programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate