hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Berry Amendment Extension Act

Bill: 114-hr-2552
Sponsor: Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Homeland security
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Berry Amendment Extension Act

 
 Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from procuring specified covered items directly related to national security interests (including clothing, tents, or natural fiber products) that are not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States, except to the extent satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity of any such product cannot be procured as and when needed.
 
Makes additional exceptions for: (1) procurements by vessels in foreign waters, (2) emergency procurements, and (3) purchases for amounts not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold described in military procurement provisions. Requires DHS to post a notification that an exception has been applied not later than seven days after the award of the contract. 
Directs DHS to ensure that: (1) each member of DHS's acquisition workforce who regularly participates in textile acquisition receives training on this Act's requirements, and (2) any such training includes comprehensive information on such requirements. 
Requires this Act to be applied in a manner consistent with U.S. obligations under international agreements.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2553
Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Economic performance and conditions
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Social Sciences and History

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2015

 
 This bill amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct and update at least once every seven years an ocean acidification coastal community vulnerability assessment with a corresponding public report. The assessment must identify: (1) U.S. coastal communities that are most dependent on coastal and ocean resources that may be impacted by ocean acidification; (2) the nature of those communities' social and economic vulnerabilities; (3) impacts from changes in ocean and coastal marine resources that are not managed by the federal government; and (4) key knowledge gaps where research could be devoted to better understand the possible ocean acidification impacts, risks, threats, and possible adaptation strategies for the communities.
 
NOAA's ocean acidification program is expanded to include an ongoing mechanism that allows affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, non-federal resource managers, and outside scientific experts not employed by the federal government to provide input on research, data, and monitoring necessary to support on-the-ground management, decision making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its impacts.
 
The strategic plan for ocean acidification research and monitoring developed by the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council must make recommendations for research to address the key knowledge gaps identified in the community vulnerability assessment report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Continental Divide Wilderness and Recreation Act

Bill: 114-hr-2554
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Colorado
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Motor vehicles
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Continental Divide Wilderness and Recreation Act

 
 Amends the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to designate certain federal lands in the White River National Forest in Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System as follows:
 
 
approximately 6,349 acres identified as the Proposed Ute Pass Wilderness, Proposed Acorn Creek Wilderness, and Proposed Ptarmigan Additions Wilderness;
 
approximately 5,172 acres as the Hoosier Ridge Wilderness;
 
approximately 7,577 acres as the Tenmile Wilderness;
 
approximately 9,338 acres as the Williams Fork Wilderness;
 
approximately 3,942 acres as a part of the Holy Cross Wilderness; and
 
approximately 7,082 acres, identified as the Proposed Freeman Creek Wilderness and Proposed Spraddle Creek Wilderness, as part of the Eagles Nest Wilderness.
 
 
 Designates certain federal lands in such forest, comprising approximately 2,338 acres and identified as the Proposed Spraddle Creek Potential Wilderness as a potential wilderness area, and as specified, to be designated as wilderness and incorporated in and deemed to be a part of the Eagles Nest Wilderness.
 
Designates certain federal lands in such forest, comprising approximately 11,417 acres, as the Tenmile Recreation Management Area.
 
Designates certain federal lands in such forest, comprising approximately 5,204 acres, as the Porcupine Gulch Protection Area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Veteran Wellness Act

Bill: 114-hr-2555
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health promotion and preventive care
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Veteran Wellness Act

 
 Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a two-year pilot program under which the VA makes grants to nonprofit veterans services organizations (VSOs) to: (1) upgrade their community facilities into health and wellness centers in at least 10 different geographic locations, and (2) promote and expand complementary and integrative wellness programs. 
 
Directs the VA to give priority to locations in economically depressed areas that are not in close proximity to VA medical centers. 
 
Requires a VSO, as a condition of receiving a grant, to agree to carry out the operation and maintenance of a facility that is repaired or constructed using grant funds for three years after completion of the repair or construction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to repeal the authorization for program development and implementation grants for coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-2556
Sponsor: Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to make grants to states or local governments for monitoring water quality standards for pathogens, or disease-causing organisms, in coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches that are used by the public and notifying the public when those standards are exceeded.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Promoting New Manufacturing Act

Bill: 114-hr-2557
Sponsor: Rep. Scalise, Steve [R-LA-1]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Air quality
Building construction
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Industrial facilities
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Promoting New Manufacturing Act

 
 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish on its website, with respect to FY2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, estimates of:
 
 
 the total number of preconstruction permits issued annually under the Clean Air Act's New Source Review Program for the construction or modification of a major stationary source (any stationary facility or source of air pollutants which directly emits, or has the potential to emit, 100 tons per year or more of any regulated air pollutant);
 
the percentage of permits issued within one year of the application; and 
 
the average length of time for the EPA's Environmental Appeals Board to decide appeals of decisions to grant or deny a permit.
 
 
A new or revised national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) may not apply to the review and disposition of a preconstruction permit application unless the EPA publishes implementation guidance with the NAAQS. 
 
The EPA must submit annually a report on actions to expedite the process for review of preconstruction permits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Common Sense Waiver Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2560
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Air quality
Building construction
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Industrial facilities
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Common Sense Waiver Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive an emission standard or other requirement for hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act applicable to the control of asbestos emissions in the demolition or renovation of a building if the building has been condemned and there is a reasonable expectation of the building's structural failure.
 
The EPA must approve or disapprove a request for a waiver by a state or local government within 90 days. If the EPA doesn't meet the deadline, the request is approved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Paul A. Smithhisler Medal of Honor Act

Bill: 114-hr-2561
Sponsor: Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Paul A. Smithhisler Medal of Honor Act

 
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Sergeant Paul A. Smithhisler for the acts of valor during World War I for which Sergeant Smithhisler originally was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 
 
It is the sense of Congress that should the President award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Paul A. Smithhisler, November 11, 2018, the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended formal hostilities in western Europe during World War I, would be an appropriate occasion upon which to make the award.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the special expensing rules for certain film and television productions.

Bill: 114-hr-2562
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2016 the expensing rules for the costs of certain film and television productions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act

Bill: 114-hr-2563
Sponsor: Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Federal preemption
Intergovernmental relations
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

State and Local Predatory Towing Enforcement Act

 
 Waives federal preemption to allow states to regulate tow truck operations performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the towed motor vehicle.
 
(Currently, states are allowed to regulate only the price of for-hire motor vehicle transportation by a tow truck, if such transportation is performed without the prior consent or authorization of the owner or operator of the motor vehicle.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Prioritizing American Road and Jobs Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2565
Sponsor: Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Government trust funds
Medicaid
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 

Prioritizing American Road and Jobs Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to eliminate enhanced federal funding after 2016 for individuals who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Under current law, a state is entitled to an increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to cover such individuals; this enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 100% through 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. The bill eliminates these enhanced funding levels so that, beginning in 2017, federal funding for expenses related to newly eligible individuals instead reverts to a state's regular FMAP (which, under current law, may range from 50% to 83%).
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must estimate, for each calendar quarter beginning on or after January 1, 2017, the net quarterly reductions in federal expenditures resulting from this Act and adjust for a calendar quarter any initial estimate determined inaccurate. The adjusted estimate shall apply so as to adjust the amount appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund for the calendar quarter, subject to a specified limitation. 
 
The amount equivalent to the HHS estimate reduction in federal Medicaid expenditures for a calendar quarter, but no more than a total of $15 billion in any year, is appropriated and transferred to the Highway Trust Fund from any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated for that quarter. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to each of Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith in recognition of their contributions to the Nation.

Bill: 114-hr-2567
Sponsor: Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2015-05-21 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Congressional tributes
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Law enforcement officers
Libya
Middle East
Terrorism
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: 
 This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal in commemoration of Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith in recognition of their contributions to the nation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-21
text: Introduced in House
Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2568
Sponsor: Rep. Holding, George [R-NC-13]
Introduced: 2015-05-22 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Debt collection
Health information and medical records
Medicare
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: 

Fair Medical Audits Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to modify requirements related to the identification and recovery of overpayments under Medicare.
 
A contract between the the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and a recovery audit contractor must require the contractor to provide a health care provider with: (1) specified identifying, legal, and logistical information; (2) an identification of any errors or underpayments discovered in the audit; and (3) a description of how any requested overpayment amount was calculated. Standards for extrapolation when used to determine overpayment amounts are established. CMS must require a contractor to give a provider at least 90 days' notice of identified code over-utilization and to reimburse a provider for the cost of producing certain documentation. The retrospective audit period is limited to two (rather than four) years. 
 
Recovery audit contractors must have staff with knowledge and experience related to clinical licensure and medical records, claims, and codes. A contractor that has excessive overturned determinations shall be subject to administrative penalty and, under specified circumstances, liable for attorneys' fees. 
 
In the case of a provider seeking reconsideration of an overpayment determination, CMS may not recoup the overpayment until a decision has been rendered at the third level of appeal by an Administrative Law Judge. A recoupment based on a decision that is reversed on appeal must be returned to the provider within 30 days.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Introduced in House
Drone Reform Act

Bill: 114-hr-2569
Sponsor: Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2015-05-22 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Military command and structure
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: 

Drone Reform Act

 
Prohibits operations involving the use of an armed unmanned aerial vehicle from being carried out under the authority of federal agency other than the Department of Defense (DOD).
 
Defines &quot;unmanned aerial vehicle&quot; (UAV) as an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft, including drones, unmanned aircraft or aerial systems, remotely piloted aircraft or vehicles, remotely operated aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle systems.
 
Authorizes only uniformed members of the Armed Forces to: (1) operate, or order the operation of, an armed UAV; or (2) operate or fire, or order the operation or firing of, any weapon or other munition carried on an armed UAV.
 
Subjects the operation and use of armed UAVs to the requirements of laws applicable to the Armed Forces.
 
Prohibits this Act from being construed to: (1) limit or expand the authority of a component of the federal government to provide intelligence to the DOD, or (2) create or expand any authority for the federal government to kill any person.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-22
text: Introduced in House