hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Equal Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2639
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Congressional agencies
Congressional operations and organization
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Library of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Equal Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to establish and maintain a public website containing Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports, and an index, that are searchable, sortable, and downloadable (including in bulk), for which no fee may be charged.
 
The CRS Reports on the website shall include CRS Authorization of Appropriations Products, Appropriations Products, and any other written CRS product containing CRS research or analysis available for general congressional access on the CRS Congressional Intranet.
 
The website shall exclude any:
 
 
custom product or service prepared in direct response to a request for custom analysis or research and not available for general congressional access on the CRS Congressional Intranet;
 
CRS Reports, Authorization of Appropriations Products, or Appropriations Products not so available; or
 
written CRS products that CRS has made available on a public website (besides this website) maintained by the GPO or the Library of Congress.
 
 
The GPO shall ensure that the website is updated contemporaneously, automatically, and electronically to include each new or updated CRS Report.
 
Before transmitting a CRS Report to the GPO for publication on the website, CRS may remove the name of, and any contact information for, any CRS employee.
 
The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 is amended to require CRS to comply with this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1279-1281)
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act

Bill: 114-s-2640
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fishes
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Genetics
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marketing and advertising
Seafood

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act

 
This bill requires the market name of genetically modified (commonly called &quot;GMO&quot;) salmon to include &quot;Genetically Engineered&quot; or &quot;GE&quot; in front of the existing market name.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that an independent scientific organization: (1) reviews and reports on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) environmental assessment of AquAdvantage Salmon, and (2) conducts its own environmental assessment of the salmon.
 Upon receipt of the report from the independent scientific organization, the FDA must conduct another environmental assessment of the salmon, taking into account the findings in the report.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Aidan's Law

Bill: 114-s-2641
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child health
Health promotion and preventive care
Hereditary and development disorders
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Aidan's Law

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals, child care centers, clinics, and similar institutions caring for infants who are 28 days or less of age to administer to such infants a test for adrenoleukodystrophy, a progressive genetic disease that can cause behavioral changes, seizures, and other neurological symptoms.
 To be eligible for funds under the Heritable Disorders Program, a state must establish adrenoleukodystrophy testing standards and procedures. These standards and procedures are subject to review and approval by the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. The committee must establish standards and procedures for states without approved standards and procedures.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2642
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Evidence and witnesses
Human trafficking
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act of 2016

 

This bill requires each air carrier providing passenger air transportation to train flight attendants and pilots who are employees or contractors of the carrier to combat human trafficking in the course of carrying out their duties. Such training shall cover: (1) common indicators of human trafficking, and (2) best practices for reporting suspected human trafficking to law enforcement officers.
 
An air carrier may provide such training using modules and materials developed by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the training modules and associated materials of the Blue Lightning Initiative of the DHS U.S. Customs and Border Protection and subsequent modules and materials developed and recommended by such Departments with respect to combating human trafficking.
 
The Federal Aviation Administration shall report recommendations for improving the identification and reporting of human trafficking by air carrier personnel while protecting the civil liberties of passengers.
 
The bill grants immunity to an air carrier for reporting any suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation relating to human trafficking.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Pueblo de Cochiti Self-Governance Act

Bill: 114-s-2643
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2016-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Dams and canals
Government liability
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers
New Mexico

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: 

Pueblo de Cochiti Self-Governance Act

 This bill amends the Act of August 26, 1992, to ratify modifications to the settlement agreement between the Pueblo de Cochiti of New Mexico and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In accordance with the amended agreement, the tribe assumes legal and financial responsibility for the operation and maintenance of a drainage system.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: 

Pueblo de Cochiti Self-Governance Act

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Act of August 26, 1992, to ratify modifications to the settlement agreement between the Pueblo de Cochiti of New Mexico and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In accordance with the amended agreement, the tribe assumes legal and financial responsibility for the operation and maintenance of a drainage system, and gaming is prohibited on land acquired using settlement funds.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 685.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment. With written report No. 114-381.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso with an amendment. With written report No. 114-381.
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Respect Act

Bill: 114-s-2645
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2016-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Sanctions
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Violent crime
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: 

Global Respect Act

 
The President shall submit to Congress a list of each foreign person that the President determines is responsible, or acted as an agent, for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against an individual in a foreign country based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
A listed foreign person shall be ineligible to enter or be admitted to the United States. Any visa issued for such person is revoked. 
 
The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security shall waive this prohibition if in U.S. national security interests or if necessary for compliance with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters. Congressional notification before any such waiver is required.
 
The Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor shall designate a senior officer or officers to track violence, criminalization, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms in foreign countries based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended to include information on sexual orientation or gender identity violence or restrictions in the annual country reports on human rights practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2647
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-03-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Treasury
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Insurance industry and regulation
Mental health
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: 

Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and Internal Revenue Code to direct the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury to require group health plans and health insurers to disclose specified information regarding compliance of plans or coverage with requirements for parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical and surgical benefits. Information that must be disclosed includes the specific analyses performed to ensure parity, findings and conclusions regarding parity in applying nonquantitative treatment limitations (e.g., tiered benefits, step therapy, or preauthorization), and a comparison of denials of claims between types of benefits.
 
HHS, Labor, and Treasury must: (1) issue guidance on the process for current and potential participants and beneficiaries to file formal complaints of plans or insurers being in violation of the requirement for parity, and (2) conduct audits of plans and insurers to determine compliance with parity requirements and publish information from those audits.
 
HHS must establish a consumer parity unit to collect and respond to complaints and provide information to consumers on parity. Plans and insurers must respond to consumer complaints received by the unit.
 
State health insurance commissioners must report on compliance of plans and insurers with parity requirements and include a comparison of benefits.
 The Government Accountability Office must report on HHS, Labor, and Treasury efforts to enforce parity.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Choice Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2649
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Hospital care
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: 

Veterans Choice Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to permit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recover or collect reasonable charges for hospital care or medical services from a health-care plan when an eligible veteran is furnished such care or services for a non-service-connected disability.
 
The VA shall have the primary (and sole) responsibility to pay any related health insurance cost sharing amount.
 
An eligible veteran shall not pay a greater amount for receiving hospital care or medical services than the amount the veteran would pay for receiving the same or comparable care or services at a VA medical facility or from a VA health care provider. (The bill repeals the VA's secondary responsibility to pay the costs of care in such circumstances.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act

Bill: 114-s-2650
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Athletes
Disability and paralysis
Income tax exclusion
Olympic games

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: 

United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, the value of any medal or prize money received on account of competition in the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games.

action_date: 2016-07-12
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, the value of any medal or prize money received on account of competition in the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Ordered held at desk.
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S5011)
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5011)
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5010-5011)
action_date: 2016-07-12
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5010-5011)
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1346)
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
PRIME Act

Bill: 114-s-2651
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2016-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Livestock
Meat
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: 

Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or the PRIME Act 

 
This bill amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to expand the exemption of custom slaughtering of animals from federal inspection requirements.
 
Under current law, the exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest, and employee uses. The bill expands the exemption to include meat that is: 
 
 
 slaughtered and prepared at a custom slaughter facility in accordance with the laws of the state where the facility is located; and 
 
prepared exclusively for distribution to household consumers in the state and restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments in the state that either prepare meals served directly to consumers or sell meat and food products directly to consumers in the state. 
 
 
The bill does not preempt any state law concerning the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at a custom slaughter facility, or the sale of meat or meat food products. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the authorization of the Highlands Conservation Act.

Bill: 114-s-2652
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Connecticut
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
New Jersey
New York State
Pennsylvania
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: 
This bill amends the Highlands Conservation Act to reauthorize through FY2021: (1) land conservation partnership projects in the highlands regions of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; and (2) Forest Service and Department of Agriculture programs to assist states, units of local government, and private forest and farm landowners in the conservation of land and natural resources in that region. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act

Bill: 114-s-2653
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2016-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Higher education
Preschool education
School administration
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: 

Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award National Classified School Employee Awards to classified public school employees within certain occupational specialties who provide exemplary service to students in prekindergarten through higher education.
 
ED shall choose an awardee each year, out of nominations received from each state, from one of the following occupational specialties: (1) paraeducator services, (2) clerical and administrative services, (3) transportation services, (4) food and nutrition services, (5) custodial and maintenance services, (6) security services, (7) health and student services, (8) technical services, and (9) skilled trades.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Crab Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2654
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Aquatic ecology
California
Disaster relief and insurance
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Oregon
Seafood
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: 

Crab Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2016

 
This bill appropriates funds to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide disaster relief funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. These funds will assist fisherman and small businesses, including restaurants, which have suffered economic hardship due to the shutdown of the commercial Dungeness and rock crab season on the U.S. West Coast. These funds become available when the Department of Commerce makes a determination declaring a commercial fishery failure or fishery disaster for either the Dungeness crab fishery or the rock crab fishery.
 
Dungeness and rock crab fisheries on the West Coast may contain dangerous levels of domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms that can cause shellfish poisoning. The bill appropriates funds to NOAA for the sampling and monitoring of domoic acid found in the fisheries. In addition, NOAA must distribute grants for research on harmful algal blooms and domoic acid toxicity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2016-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2655
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-03-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Historic sites and heritage areas
Income tax credits
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
State and local taxation
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-09
text: 

Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for the rehabilitation of buildings and historic structures, to: (1) allow an increased 30% credit, up to $750,000, for projects with rehabilitation expenditures not exceeding $3.75 million, for which no credit was allowed in either of the two immediately preceding taxable years (small projects); (2) allow the transfer of tax credit amounts for small projects; (3) treat a building as substantially rehabilitated if rehabilitation expenditures exceed the greater of 50% of the adjusted basis of the building or $5,000 (currently, the greater of the adjusted basis of the building or $5,000); (4) exempt from tax the proceeds of a state historic tax; and (5) limit the application of disqualified lease rules to tax-exempt use property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-03-09
text: Introduced in Senate
FAIR Fees Act

Bill: 114-s-2656
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-03-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Transportation
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-09
text: 

Forbid Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act of 2016 or the FAIR Fees Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to prescribe regulations: (1) prohibiting an air carrier from imposing any specified fees relating to a flight in interstate air transportation that are unreasonable or disproportional to the costs it incurs, and (2) establishing standards for assessing whether such fees are reasonable and proportional to those costs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-03-09
text: Introduced in Senate