hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Private Sector Call Record Retention Act

Bill: 114-s-2356
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Business records
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Telephone and wireless communication
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Private Sector Call Record Retention Act

 
This bill amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to require an electronic communication service provider that has been issued a FISA court order requiring it to produce call detail records (consistent with FISA requirements for the production on an ongoing basis of call detail records created before, on, or after the date of an application by the Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to an authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism) to notify the Department of Justice if that service provider intends to retain its call detail records for less than 18 months.
 
Such a notification must be made not less than 180 days prior to the date such service provider intends to implement such a policy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2357
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 to extend through 2017 the one-year period after a service member's military service during which: (1) a court may stay proceedings to enforce an obligation on real or personal property owned by the service member before such military service; and (2) any sale, foreclosure, or seizure of such property shall be invalid without a court order or waiver agreement signed by the service member. (Currently, the extended one-year period is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015, and return to a nine-month period under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.)
 
Effective January 1, 2018 (currently, January 1, 2016), the old nine-month period in place of the one-year period granted by such Act shall be restored.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act

Bill: 114-s-2358
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Clean Water Compliance and Affordability Act

 
 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out a pilot program to facilitate the efforts of eligible municipalities to develop and implement integrated plans to meet their wastewater and stormwater obligations under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) in a cost-effective and flexible manner and consistent with the Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Approach Framework issued by the EPA in May 2012. The pilot program must facilitate the efforts of at least 15 municipalities.
 
A municipality is eligible to participate in the pilot program if it is: (1) a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holder or designee; or (2) a party to an administrative order, administrative consent agreement, or judicial consent decree to comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
 
The EPA must give priority to municipalities that: (1) are affected by affordability constraints in planning and implementing control measures addressing wet weather discharges from wastewater and stormwater facilities; and (2) have a history of knowledgeable, detailed, and comprehensive efforts to develop integrated and adaptive clean water management practices. The EPA may give priority to municipalities seeking to develop and implement an integrated plan that includes approaches that adapt to changed or future uncertain circumstances.
 
With the mutual agreement of participating municipalities, the EPA may: (1) extend the allowable NPDES permit term by up to 25 years, (2) modify the implementation terms of a consent decree, and (3) provide additional regulatory flexibility in approving and implementing an integrated plan that includes adaptive approaches.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
State Refugee Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2363
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Immigration status and procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

State Refugee Security Act of 2015

 
This bill directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify the state agency responsible for coordinating the placement or resettlement of an alien refugee not later than 21 days before the alien's arrival in the state. 
 
No alien refugee shall be placed or resettled in a state if the governor certifies to the Office of Refugee Resettlement that it has failed, in the sole determination of the governor, to provide adequate assurance that such person does not present a security risk to the state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2364
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allied health services
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Home and outpatient care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2015

 
This bill establishes circumstances under which an occupational therapist may conduct the initial assessment visit for an individual who is eligible for home health services under Medicare. Specifically, an occupational therapist may conduct the assessment if the physician's referral order does not include skilled nursing care but does include: (1) occupational therapy, and (2) physical therapy or speech language pathology.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8495-8496; text of measure as introduced: CR S8496)
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting American Jobs Act

Bill: 114-s-2365
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Protecting American Jobs Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce the fiscal year cap on H-1B nonimmigrant visas (specialty occupations) from 65,000 to 50,000.
 
If for a fiscal year more than 50,000 H-1B petitions are filed, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall allocate available visas to petitions for those workers who will earn the highest wages. 
 
IF H-1B visa petitions seek more than 20,000 aliens who have earned a master's or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education, DHS shall also allocate the available visas for those petitions seeking such workers who will earn the highest wages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Spectrum Challenge Prize Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2366
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Technology transfer and commercialization
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Spectrum Challenge Prize Act of 2015

 
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to conduct prize competitions to accelerate the development and commercialization of technology that improves spectrum efficiency and is capable of cost-effective deployment.
 
Not more than $5 million, in the aggregate, may be awarded to prize competition winners.
 
The Federal Communications Commission must publish a technical paper providing criteria that may be used for the design of such competitions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for hardship duty pay for border patrol agents and customs and border protection officers assigned to highly-trafficked rural areas.

Bill: 114-s-2367
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human trafficking
Law enforcement officers
Rural conditions and development
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 
This bill entitles a border patrol agent or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who is assigned to a rural area through which illicit narcotics and undocumented aliens are routinely smuggled to hardship duty pay. 
 
The Commissioner of CBP shall designate such areas and establish the rate of hardship duty pay.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Partnership Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2369
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Community life and organization
Crime prevention
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Political movements and philosophies
Right of privacy
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Terrorism
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Community Partnership Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) an Office for Community Partnerships, headed by an Assistant Secretary for Community Partnerships.
 
The Assistant Secretary shall be responsible for:
 
 
leading strategic and supportive efforts by DHS components and offices to counter violent extremism;
 
developing a digital engagement strategy that expands the outreach efforts of DHS to counter violent extremist messaging;
 
serving as the primary DHS representative in coordinating countering violent extremism efforts with other federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations and in coordinating with the Department of State on international countering violent extremism issues; 
 
providing guidance, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), regarding the use of grants made to state, local, and tribal governments under the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program under the allowable uses guidelines related to countering violent extremism;
 
developing a plan to expand philanthropic support for domestic efforts related to countering violent extremism; and 
 
administering grants to counter extremism, as authorized below.
 
 
DHS may award grants or cooperative agreements directly, based on need, to states, local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, or institutions of higher education to support the efforts of local communities in the United States to prevent and counter violent extremism.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Charitable Contributions Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2370
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Charitable contributions
Department of the Treasury
Income tax deductions
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Protecting Charitable Contributions Act of 2015

 
This bill provides that the definitions and regulations in effect on January 1, 2015, relating to the substantiation of deductible charitable contributions in excess of $250, shall apply on and after the enactment date of the bill. The Internal Revenue Service shall not issue, revise, or finalize any regulation, revenue ruling, or other guidance relating to such definitions and regulations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Physician Shortage Minimization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2371
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes
Health personnel
Temporary and part-time employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Physician Shortage Minimization Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify, for employment tax purposes, certain physicians who provide medical services for a temporary period (locum tenens physicians) as independent contractors rather than as employees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Requiring Reporting of Online Terrorist Activity Act

Bill: 114-s-2372
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Nuclear weapons
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Requiring Reporting of Online Terrorist Activity Act

 
This bill requires an electronic communication or remote computing service company that obtains actual knowledge of terrorist activity to report relevant facts and circumstances to appropriate authorities, including information related to unlawful distribution of explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction. 
 
It directs the Department of Justice to determine the appropriate authorities. 

 
The bill does not require an electronic communication or a remote computing service company to monitor any user, subscriber, or customer, or the content of such person's communication. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Lymphedema Treatment Act

Bill: 114-s-2373
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Lymphedema Treatment Act

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover certain lymphedema compression treatment items as durable medical equipment under Medicare. (Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling that is caused when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Glen Anthony Doherty Overseas Security Personnel Fairness Act

Bill: 114-s-2374
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Crime victims
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employee benefits and pensions
Military facilities and property
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: 

Glen Anthony Doherty Overseas Security Personnel Fairness Act
 
 
This bill amends the Defense Base Act to require the death benefits of an individual employed at an overseas military base who dies as a result of a war-risk hazard or act of terrorism occurring on or after September 11, 2001, if there is no surviving spouse, child, or dependent grandchildren, brothers, or sisters of such individual eligible for death benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, to be paid: (1) to a beneficiary designated by the deceased; or (2) if there is no designated beneficiary, to the next of kin or the estate of the deceased.
 
The bill requires the payment of such benefits from the Employees' Compensation Fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8497-8498)
action_date: 2015-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2376
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Evidence and witnesses
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Organized crime
Performance measurement
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015

 
 This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award competitive matching grants to state, local, and tribal governments to establish or maintain witness protection programs in cases related to: (1) a homicide, serious violent felony, or serious drug offense; or (2) gangs or organized crime.
 
DOJ must evaluate grant applications based on certain criteria, including the prevalence of witness intimidation, the presence of organized crime, and the per capita number of homicides, violent felonies, or serious drug offenses.
 
 The bill also requires DOJ to: (1) consider urban and rural applicants and ensure equitable geographic distribution of grant awards; and (2) develop and disseminate best practice models to help state, local, and tribal governments address witness protection and assistance issues. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2378
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government trust funds
Marine and inland water transportation
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the excise tax rate for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to equal 29 cents per gallon or the per energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel in the case of liquefied natural gas, as defined by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Udall Park Land Exchange Completion Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2379
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Economic development
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Udall Park Land Exchange Completion Act of 2015

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey, without consideration, to the city of Tucson, Arizona, the reversionary interest of the United States in and to an approximately 172.8-acre parcel of land owned by the city for the purpose of unencumbering the title to such land to enable its economic development.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-500.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate
RPPA Commercial Recreation Concessions Pilot Program Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2380
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

RPPA Commercial Recreation Concessions Pilot Program Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Recreation and Public Purposes Act to direct the Department of the Interior to establish a pilot program that authorizes commercial recreation concessions on land patented or leased under the Act.
 
Interior shall enter into at least 10 agreements with parties to whom such land has been patented or leased for the establishment of these concessions. 
 
A party to such an agreement may enter into agreements with third parties to establish such concessions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-509.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate