hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Bill: 114-s-3020
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2016-06-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Colorado
Earth sciences
Land transfers
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: 
This bill revises the number and date of the map depicting the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado and increases from 6,000 to 6,300 the maximum number of acres that may be made available for inclusion in the monument.

action_date: 2016-09-06
text: 
(Sec. 1) This bill revises the title, number, and date of the map depicting the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado and increases from 6,000 to 6,300 the maximum number of acres that may be made available for inclusion in the monument.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 606.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-333.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-333.
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2016-06-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-502.
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

Bill: 114-s-3022
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2016-06-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Federal-Indian relations
Fishes
Forests, forestry, trees
Freedom of information
Government information and archives
Historical and cultural resources
Idaho
Indian lands and resources rights
Montana
Oregon
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Roads and highways
Washington State
Water quality
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: 

Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

 
This bill designates specified National Forest System lands, National Park System lands, and public lands in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming as wilderness and as components or additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
 The bill also designates specified federal lands as biological connecting corridors and as special corridor management areas. 
 
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is amended to designate segments of specified rivers and creeks in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
 The bill designates specified areas as wildland recovery areas. The Department of Agriculture shall develop a wildland recovery plan for each recovery area. 
 
 A specified panel of independent scientists shall study roadless lands greater than 1,000 acres that are within the National Forest System in the Wild Rockies bioregion in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, or Wyoming, but not designated as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, for their role in maintaining biological diversity in the Northern Rockies and as part of the overall forest reserve system. Any new or existing road construction or reconstruction or timber harvest is prohibited in those lands after the evaluation. Oil or gas leasing, mining, or other development that impairs the natural and roadless qualities of the land is also prohibited.
 
 The Department of the Interior may apply the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in carrying out this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: Introduced in Senate
The Arla Harrell Act

Bill: 114-s-3023
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2016-06-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Military facilities and property
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: 

Arla Harrell Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reconsider and make a new determination regarding each claim for disability compensation in connection with exposure to mustard gas or lewisite during active military, naval, or air service during World War II that was denied before this bill's enactment. The VA or the Department of Defense (DOD): (1) shall presume that a veteran experienced full-body exposure to mustard gas or lewisite unless proven otherwise; and (2) may not use information contained in the DOD and VA Chemical Biological Warfare Database or any list of known testing sites for mustard gas or lewisite maintained by the VA or DOD as the sole reason for determining that the veteran did not experience such exposure.
 
The VA shall report to Congress every 90 days on reconsidered claims that were denied.
 
The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a policy for processing future claims in connection with such exposure. 
 
The bill requires DOD, for purposes of determining whether a site should be added to the list of DOD sites where mustard gas or lewisite testing occurred, to: (1) investigate and assess sites where the Army Corps of Engineers has uncovered evidence of mustard gas or lewisite testing or where more than two veterans submitted claims in connection with exposure that were denied; and (2) report on experiments conducted by DOD during World War II to assess the effects of mustard gas and lewisite.
 
The VA shall: (1) investigate and assess VA actions to reach out to individuals who had been exposed in such experiments, the disability compensation claims that were filed, and the percentage of such claims that were denied; and (2) submit a comprehensive list of each location where such an experiment was conducted. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Graduate Student Savings Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3025
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Higher education
Income tax deductions
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: 

Graduate Student Savings Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow funds paid to an individual to aid in the pursuit of graduate or postdoctoral study or research to be saved in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The bill permits the funds to be considered compensation for purposes of current law provisions that limit annual deductible IRA contributions to the lesser of: (1) the deductible amount permitted under current law, or (2) the compensation includible in the individual's gross income for the year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
ROBOCOP Act

Bill: 114-s-3026
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: 

Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones Act or the ROBOCOP Act

 
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the prohibition against knowingly transmitting inaccurate caller identification information to apply to: (1) persons outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States, or (2) text messages.
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must prescribe regulations that require providers of telecommunications services or IP-enabled voice services, for no additional charge, to enable technology for: (1) subscribers originating a telephone call to verify the accuracy of their caller identification information; and (2) subscribers receiving a call to use, with the option to disable, technology to determine whether an incoming call is verified as providing caller identification information that accurately identifies the person originating the call and to prevent the subscriber from receiving a call that is not verified. Service providers must also offer a free option for subscribers receiving a call to: (1) identify a call as originating from an automatic telephone dialing system or as using an artificial or prerecorded voice, and (2) prevent themselves from receiving such a call unless it is made by a public safety entity or the subscriber provides prior consent to receive the call.
 
The FCC must provide an exemption process for subscribers originating a call to demonstrate: (1) their legitimate need to provide misleading or inaccurate information (such as a call to conduct an activity of a domestic violence shelter or medical practice), or (2) that the FCC has exempted a call for law enforcement purposes or because of a court order. 
 
The bill allows private actions to enjoin or recover damages for violations of the FCC's caller identification technology standards. States may bring civil actions for a pattern or practice of a failure to provide such technology or options.
 
The bill also subjects to civil forfeiture penalties, criminal fines, or state actions persons who intentionally cause call-blocking technology to: (1) incorrectly identify calls as originating from an automatic dialing system or using an artificial or prerecorded voice, or (2) prevent the called party from receiving a call made by a public safety entity or a call to which it has provided its prior consent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Maurice (Mo) Bailey Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Grant Reauthorization Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3029
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2016-06-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Rural conditions and development
Transportation costs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: 

Maurice (Mo) Bailey Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Grant Reauthorization Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to reauthorize through FY2017 a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Rural Residencies Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3030
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Medical education
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

Restoring Rural Residencies Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reimburse medical residency training programs under Medicare for certain graduate medical education costs associated with resident time spent in rural community hospitals known as "critical access hospitals." 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3031
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Child health
Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Crime prevention
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Domestic violence and child abuse
Educational facilities and institutions
Mental health
Outdoor recreation
Personnel records
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2016 

 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require each covered program in a state, in order for the state to remain eligible for grants to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs, to prohibit child abuse and neglect and meet specified minimum standards. 
 
A "covered program" is one operated by a public or private entity that, with respect to one or more children who are unrelated to the program owner or operator, purports to provide treatment or modify behaviors in a residential environment. 
 
HHS shall: (1) implement a review process for overseeing, investigating, and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; and (2) establish a process to assist states in the oversight and enforcement of this bill.
 
HHS must refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General, who may bring an action on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made.
 
The bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. States receiving grants must develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs, including standards that meet or exceed the standards required under this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3032
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability assistance
Inflation and prices
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 
 
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016

 
 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2016, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.
 
 Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for an Atomic Veterans Service Medal.

Bill: 114-s-3033
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
Nuclear weapons
Radiation
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to design and produce an Atomic Veterans Service Medal to honor retired and former members of the Armed Forces who are radiation-exposed veterans.
 
The
 
 Department may provide for issuance of the Medal to the next-of-kin of a deceased radiation-exposed veteran.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Internet Freedom Act

Bill: 114-s-3034
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

Protecting Internet Freedom Act

 
This bill prohibits the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information from allowing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's responsibility for Internet domain name system functions, including the authoritative root zone file and the performance of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions, to cease unless a federal statute enacted after enactment of this bill expressly grants the Assistant Secretary such authority.
 
The Assistant Secretary must certify to Congress that the U.S. government has: (1) secured sole ownership of the .gov and .mil top-level domains, and (2) entered into a contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that provides the U.S. government with exclusive control and use of those domains in perpetuity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Maximizing Efficiency and Improving Access to Providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3035
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

Maximizing Efficiency and Improving Access to Providers at the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out an 18-month pilot program to increase the use of medical scribes to maximize the efficiency of physicians at VA medical facilities. A "medical scribe" is defined as a member of the medical team hired and trained to perform documentation in an electronic health record to maximize the productivity of a physician.
 
The program shall be conducted at not fewer than five medical facilities: (1) that the VA determines have a high volume of patients; or (2) which are located in rural areas, at which there is a shortage of physicians, and each physician of which has a high caseload.
 
To carry out such program, the VA shall enter into a contract with one or more appropriate nongovernmental entities that train and employ professional medical scribes who specialize in the collection of medical data and data entry into electronic health records. 
 
The VA shall collect data to determine the effectiveness of the program, including information on changes in the average wait times for veterans to receive care, the average number of patients that a physician is able to see, the average amount of time such a physician spends on documentation, physician satisfaction and retention scores, and patient satisfaction scores.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Offshore WIND Act

Bill: 114-s-3036
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Electric power generation and transmission
Great Lakes
Income tax credits
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act or the Offshore WIND Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax credit for investment in energy property to include a qualified offshore wind property until January 1, 2026. Under the bill, a qualified offshore wind property is an offshore facility that uses wind to produce electricity, excluding certain small wind energy property which uses a small wind turbine to generate electricity. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Disability Insurance Return to Work Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3037
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2016-06-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Disability assistance
Government trust funds
Health information and medical records
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Social Security Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: 

Social Security Disability Insurance Return to Work Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to: (1) establish specified new disability classifications, and (2) require periodic continuing disability reviews for beneficiaries classified as "medical improvement possible" or "medical improvement not likely."
 
The bill revises the standard of review for termination of disability benefits regarding an individual engaged in substantial gainful work as part of a certain process. 
 
The Social Security Administration (SSA) shall promulgate or revise, as appropriate, regulations relating to the determination, classification, and review of the disability status of individuals who apply for or receive disability insurance benefits. 
 
SSAct title II is amended to: (1) prescribe time limits for disability benefits classified "medical improvement expected" or "medical improvement likely," and (2) direct the SSA to establish a process for an individual entitled to a disability insurance benefit to elect to return to employment and receive an adjusted disability insurance benefit amount.
 
The SSA shall determine the amount of any reduction in expenditures from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund during the preceding calendar year. 10% of that amount shall be made available for continuing disability reviews.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-06-08
text: Introduced in Senate