hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Receiving Electronic Statements To Improve Retiree Earnings Act

Bill: 114-hr-2656
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Receiving Electronic Statements To Improve Retiree Earnings Act

 
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize a document of any type that is required or permitted to be furnished to a retirement plan participant, beneficiary, or other individual to be furnished in electronic form if: (1) the system for furnishing such a document is designed to result in effective access to the document; (2) an annual paper notice is provided to each pension plan participant, beneficiary, or other individual that describes the selection of the specific electronic means for the furnishing of such document; and (3) the electronically-furnished document is prepared and furnished in an appropriate style and format and includes a notice that apprises the recipient of the significance of the document. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
POWER Act

Bill: 114-hr-2657
Sponsor: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Income tax credits
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Power Efficiency and Resiliency Act or the POWER Act

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a 30% energy tax credit for combined heat and power system property and increase the capacity limitations for such property, (2) extend until December 31, 2018, the placed-in-service deadline for such property, and (3) allow a 30% energy tax credit for waste heat to power property (property comprising a system generating electricity through the recovery of a qualified waste heat resource) placed in service before January 1, 2019. 
 
Includes within the definition of "qualified waste heat resource": (1) exhaust heat or flared gas from any industrial process; (2) waste gas or industrial tail gas that would otherwise be flared, incinerated, or vented; and (3) a pressure drop in any gas for an industrial or commercial process. Excludes from such definition any heat resource from a process the primary purpose of which is the generation of electricity utilizing a fossil fuel or nuclear energy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act

Bill: 114-hr-2658
Sponsor: Rep. Barletta, Lou [R-PA-11]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude services rendered by bona-fide volunteers providing firefighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, or ambulance services to a state or local government or a tax-exempt charitable organization from the category of services usually rendered by an employee of an applicable large employer subject to the mandate to provide minimum essential health care coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), thus exempting such employers from PPACA requirements with respect to such volunteers.
 
The bill defines &quot;bona fide volunteer&quot; as an employee of any government entity and any tax-exempt charitable organization whose only compensation is in the form of: (1) reimbursement for (or reasonable allowance for) reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of volunteer services, or (2) reasonable benefits (including length-of-service awards) and nominal fees customarily paid by similar entities for the services of volunteers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Nepal Trade Preferences Act

Bill: 114-hr-2659
Sponsor: Rep. Crenshaw, Ander [R-FL-4]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
Customs enforcement
Free trade and trade barriers
Human rights
Labor standards
Nepal
Rule of law and government transparency
Tariffs
Terrorism
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Nepal Trade Preferences Act

 
It is the sense of Congress that it should be an objective of the United States to use trade policies and trade agreements to reduce poverty and eliminate hunger.
 
The President may give preferential treatment to certain articles imported directly from Nepal into the U.S. customs territory if that country meets certain requirements under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, including a market-based economy and the rule of law, the protection of human rights and internationally-recognized worker rights, elimination of trade barriers to the United States, and non-engagement in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests or support acts of international terrorism. Nepal must also meet certain eligibility criteria for designation as a beneficiary developing country under the Trade Act of 1974. 
 
Certain leather articles (trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, attache cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers) and textile or apparel articles imported directly from Nepal may enter the U.S. customs territory duty-free if: 
 
 
the article is the growth, product, or manufacture of Nepal;
 
Nepal is the country of origin of the textile or apparel article;
 
the President determines, after receiving advice from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), that the article is not import-sensitive; and 
 
 the sum of the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the manufacturing costs performed in, Nepal or the U.S. customs territory is at least 35% of the appraised value of the article at the time it is entered. Limits to 15% of the appraised value of an article at the time it is entered the cost or value of the materials produced in, and the manufacturing costs performed in, the U.S. customs territory and attributed to the 35% requirement.
 
 
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection must verify annually that textile and apparel articles imported duty-free into the United States from Nepal are not being unlawfully transshipped into the United States.
 
The President shall establish a trade facilitation and capacity building program to assist Nepal in the export of goods.
 
The extension of preferential treatment to Nepal shall terminate after December 31, 2025.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Wise Investment in our Children Act

Bill: 114-hr-2660
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Food assistance and relief
Medicaid
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Wise Investment in our Children Act or the WIC Act 

 
This bill amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the allowable age from five to six for children to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
National Discovery Trails Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2661
Sponsor: Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Colorado
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Land use and conservation
Maryland
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Utah
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

National Discovery Trails Act of 2015

 
 Amends the National Trails System Act to establish as part of the national trails system national discovery trails, which shall be extended, continuous interstate trails located to provide for outdoor recreation and travel and to connect representative examples of America's trails and communities. 
 
Authorizes the designation of such trails on federal lands and, with the owner's consent, on non-federal lands. 
 
 Designates as a national discovery trail the 6,000-mile American Discovery Trail extending from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware to Point Reyes National Seashore in California, splitting into northern and southern routes at Cincinnati, Ohio, and rejoining at Denver, Colorado. 
 
Sets forth requirements for designation of a trail as a national discovery trail. 
 
Requires the appropriate Department for each national discovery trail to: (1) administer the trail in cooperation with a competent trailwide volunteer-based organization; and (2) submit a comprehensive plan for the trail's protection, management, development, and use. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Fallen Heroes Family Assistance Act

Bill: 114-hr-2662
Sponsor: Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Conflicts and wars
Foreign aid and international relief
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Fallen Heroes Family Assistance Act
 
 
The Secretary of the military department concerned is required to provide transportation for the next of kin to attend the transfer ceremony of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who dies overseas in the line of duty in a combat or humanitarian relief operation or in combat zone designated by the Secretary of Defense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Structured Settlement Claimants Rights Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2664
Sponsor: Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Structured Settlement Claimants Rights Act of 2015

 
Amends the federal judicial code to declare that a claimant in any civil action before a federal court shall have the right to retain a structured settlement broker to act on behalf of that claimant for purposes of negotiating a schedule of payments or other terms of payment previously agreed to be paid by or on behalf of the defendant in satisfaction of a judgment against that defendant or in accordance with the terms of a settlement.
 
Requires that a party to an administrative proceeding have the same right to retain such a structured settlement broker for negotiations with other parties. 
Directs: (1) the court or the agency in an administrative proceeding to inform the claimant of this right at the appropriate time, and (2) the defendant to provide timely notice of any current or previous professional relationship between the defendant and the broker.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2665
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Washington State
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2015 

 
 Designates certain federal land in the Olympic National Forest in the state of Washington as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designates certain other land, identified on the same map as such proposed areas, as potential wilderness. 
 
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers specified segments of the following rivers in the state of Washington:
 
 
Elwha River;
 
Dungeness River;
 
Big Quilcene River;
 
Dosewallips River;
 
Duckabush River;
 
Hamma Hamma River;
 
South Fork Skokomish River;
 
Middle Fork Satsop River;
 
West Fork Satsop River;
 
Wynoochee River;
 
East Fork Humptulips River;
 
West Fork Humptulips River;
 
Quinault River;
 
Queets River;
 
Hoh River;
 
Bogachiel River;
 
South Fork Calawah River;
 
Sol Duc River; and
 
Lyre River.
 
 
Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to take necessary measures to control fire, insects, and diseases in the wilderness areas designated by this Act. 
 
Withdraws the federal land within the boundaries of the designated river segments from: (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
School Safety Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2667
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency communications systems
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

School Safety Act of 2015 

 
Amends the the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) authorize appropriations for the matching grant program for school security through FY2020, and (2) authorize such grants to be used for emergency notification and response technologies and the acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
National Care Corps Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2668
Sponsor: Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adult day care
Aging
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and paralysis
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Home and outpatient care
Medical education
National and community service
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

National Care Corps Act of 2015 

 
 Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services the National Care Corps through which Corps volunteers provide certain services to individuals in need who are age 65 or older or have a disability and have difficulty with self-care or living independently.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3881)
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Recruit Act

Bill: 114-hr-2671
Sponsor: Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Recruit Act

 
This bill specifies that a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health professional scholarship shall consist of up to the full amount of the tuition and other reasonable educational expenses for a school year.
 
The period of obligated service may exceed one calendar year for each such school year or part thereof if the VA determines that such period is appropriate based on the scholarship's amount and duration.
 
An individual who is enrolled in such program as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act may elect to be covered by the amendments made by this Act with respect to a quarter, semester, or term commencing on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Train Act

Bill: 114-hr-2672
Sponsor: Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Train Act

 
This bill revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee incentive scholarship program to increase: (1) the scholarship program from one to four years, (2) the required term of a graduate's full-time VA health service to up to four years, and (3) the maximum scholarship for a full-time student to $25,000 per year.
 
An individual who is enrolled in the program as of the day before the enactment of this Act may elect to be covered by this Act with respect to a quarter, semester, or term commencing on or after enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Retain Act

Bill: 114-hr-2673
Sponsor: Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Retain Act

 
This bill expands the eligibility of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees to participate in the education debt reduction program.
 
The VA must give participation priority to employees providing direct-patient care services or services incident to direct-patient care services for which recruitment or retention of qualified health-care personnel is difficult.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
Flexibility and Oversight Act

Bill: 114-hr-2674
Sponsor: Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Flexibility and Oversight Act

 
Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to transfer funds from one covered program to another covered program if: (1) such transfer will improve the quality of service provided by the VA to veterans, (2) the VA notifies Congress of the justification for such transfer, and (3) a period of 30 days has elapsed following the date of such notification. Defines &quot;covered program&quot; to mean the VA's Health Professional Scholarship Program, Employee Incentive Scholarship Program, and education debt reduction programs. 
 
Requires the VA's annual report on its educational assistance programs to include, during the 10-year period beginning on March 1, 2016, an evaluation of the efficacy of the programs in increasing the quality of health care provided to veterans and opportunities for improvement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in House