hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster.

Bill: 114-hr-1765
Sponsor: Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Government information and archives
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 
Directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to report to Congress regarding its plans to provide: (1) consistent guidance to applicants on FEMA disaster funding procedures during the response to an emergency or disaster, (2) appropriate record maintenance and transfer of documents to new teams during staff transitions, and (3) accurate assistance to applicants and grantees to ease the administrative burden throughout the process of obtaining and monitoring assistance.
 
Requires the report to: (1) include a plan for implementing operating procedures and document retention requirements to ensure the maintenance of appropriate records throughout the life cycle of the emergency or disaster; and (2) identify new technologies to aid the disaster workforce in partnering with state, local, and tribal governments and private nonprofits in the wake of a disaster or emergency to educate, assist, and inform applicants on the status of their applications and projects.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Right to Lend Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1766
Sponsor: Rep. Pittenger, Robert [R-NC-9]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Business records
Credit and credit markets
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Small business
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Right to Lend Act of 2015

 
 Repeals provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as amended by Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, that require financial institutions to: (1) inquire whether businesses applying for credit for a women-owned, minority-owned, or small business are such a business; and (2) submit annually to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in a manner to be made available to the public, a record of the responses to such inquiry, including census tract information and disclosures as to the race, sex, and ethnicity of the principal owners of such businesses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Employee Privacy Protection Act

Bill: 114-hr-1767
Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Government information and archives
Labor-management relations
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Employee Privacy Protection Act 

 
 Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require the National Labor Relations Board, not earlier than seven days after it makes a final determination of the appropriate bargaining unit in a proposed election regarding collective bargaining representation, to acquire from the employer a list of all employees eligible to vote in the election, which shall: (1) be made available to all parties, and (2) include the employees' names as well as not more than one additional form of personal contact information (such as telephone number, email address, or mailing address) chosen by the employee in writing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

Bill: 114-hr-1768
Sponsor: Rep. Kline, John [R-MN-2]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act 

 
 Amends the National Labor Relations Act to require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to require that no investigative hearing take place until at least 14 days after the filing of an election petition regarding collective bargaining representation when the NLRB has reasonable cause to believe that the petition raises a question of representation affecting commerce. Requires such hearings to be non-adversarial, and the hearing officer, in collaboration with the parties, to identify any relevant and material pre-election issues.
 
Requires the NLRB, in cases where it finds that a question of representation exists, to: (1) direct an election by secret ballot as soon as practicable but not before 35 calendar days after the filing of the election petition; and (2) certify election results only after it has ruled on each pre-election issue not resolved before the election and any additional issue pertaining to the conduct or results of that election.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to count portions of income from annuities of a community spouse as income available to institutionalized spouses for purposes of eligibility for medical assistance, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-1771
Sponsor: Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act with respect to the payment of income from a qualifying annuity in determining the Medicaid eligibility of an institutionalized spouse.
 
One-half of the income from such an annuity made either solely or partly in the name of the community spouse. shall be considered available to the institutionalized spouse.
 
If payment of income is made in the names of the community spouse and another person or persons, one-half of the proportion of the community spouses's interest in that income shall also be considered available to the institutionalized spouse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Residue Entries and Streamlining Trade Act

Bill: 114-hr-1773
Sponsor: Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Residue Entries and Streamlining Trade Act

 
This bill amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to exempt from duty treatment the residue of bulk cargo contained in instruments of international traffic previously exported from the United States.
 
The following terms are defined:
 
 
&quot;residue&quot; means material of bulk cargo, of no or de minimis value, that remains in an instrument of international traffic after a certain amount of the bulk cargo is removed;
 
&quot;bulk cargo&quot; means cargo that is unpackaged and is in either solid, liquid, or gaseous form; and 
 
&quot;instruments of international traffic&quot; means certain reusable containers or holders (i.e. lift vans, cargo vans, shipping tanks, skids, pallets, caul boards, and cores for textile fabrics) arriving (whether loaded or empty) for use in the shipment of merchandise in international traffic, as well as any additional articles that the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection designates as instruments of international traffic.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Don't Interrupt America Act

Bill: 114-hr-1776
Sponsor: Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Shut Down the Shutdowns Act or the Don't Interrupt America Act 

 
This bill prevents a government shutdown by automatically providing continuing appropriations to a federal agency if an appropriation expires prior to passage of a new appropriations measure funding the agency. If the prior appropriation expires before new appropriations are provided, the bill appropriates funds to the agency at the rate of the previous appropriation and under the same terms and conditions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Helping Working Families Afford Child Care Act

Bill: 114-hr-1780
Sponsor: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child care and development
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Helping Working Families Afford Child Care Act 

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for employment-related expenses incurred for the care of a taxpayer's dependent, to: (1) increase to $110,000, the adjusted gross income threshold level above which such credit is incrementally reduced; (2) increase the dollar limit on the allowable amount of such credit; (3) allow an inflation adjustment to the threshold amount and the maximum credit amounts, beginning after 2016; and (4) make such credit refundable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Workforce Development Tax Credit Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1781
Sponsor: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Income tax credits
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Workforce Development Tax Credit Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for: (1) 50% of wages (up to $2,000) paid to an apprenticeship employee during an apprenticeship period, and (2) 40% of wages (up to $6,000) paid to such an employee during a post-apprenticeship period. Defines &quot;apprenticeship employee&quot; as any employee employed by an employer pursuant to an apprentice agreement registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Cuba Human Rights Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1782
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Cuba
Human rights
Human trafficking
International exchange and broadcasting
Latin America
Religion
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 
 
Cuba Human Rights Act of 2015
 
 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the United States-Cuba relationship should not be changed, nor should any federal law or regulation be amended, until the government of Cuba ceases violating the human rights of the people of Cuba; 
 
the United States should overcome the jamming of radio and television signals of the Radio y Television Marti by the government of Cuba, and that the Broadcasting Board of Governors should not cut staffing, funding, or broadcast hours for Radio y Television Marti;
 
if certain human rights conditions are not met the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (U.N.) should oppose and encourage other U.N. members to oppose Cuba's continued membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council; and 
 
the annual trafficking victims report to Congress should include an in-depth analysis of the facilitation of or involvement in severe forms of human trafficking by any official of the government of Cuba or of companies wholly or partially owned by the government of Cuba. 
 
 
Nothing in this Act may be construed as: 
 
 
prohibiting the donation of food to nongovernmental organizations or individuals in Cuba; 
 
restricting the export of medicine or medical supplies to Cuba, or abrogating any requirement that such exports be verified in conformity with the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 or any other applicable federal law; or 
 
prohibiting or restricting any other form of assistance specified in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, including telecommunications, mail, and support for democracy.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 114-hr-1783
Sponsor: Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area Act

 
 Establishes the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in Texas. Designates the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area Corporation as the management entity for the Heritage Area. Requires the Corporation to submit a management plan for the Heritage Area. Sets forth requirements for the approval or disapproval of such plan. 
 
Specifies this Act's effect on private property protections and water rights with regard to the Heritage Area. Bars anything in this Act from being meant as modifying the Rio Grande Natural Area Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Making the Education of Nurses Dependable for Schools Act

Bill: 114-hr-1784
Sponsor: Rep. Jenkins, Lynn [R-KS-2]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Allied health services
Department of Health and Human Services
Medical education
Medicare
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Making the Education of Nurses Dependable for Schools Act or the MEND Act 

 
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services, for any reimbursements to providers under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for the costs of nursing and allied health education activities, to apply the regulation establishing the payment methodology for such reimbursements by treating a provider as meeting the requirements:
 
 
for consideration as operating an approved nursing or allied health education program if the provider or a wholly owned subsidiary educational institution singly or collectively meets all such requirements;
 
for payment for certain nonprovider-operated programs at wholly owned subsidiary educational institutions if the provider meets all such requirements except that the transfer of a nursing or allied health education program to that wholly owned subsidiary educational institution to meet accreditation standards occurred after October 1, 2003, and
 
if the provider or its wholly owned subsidiary educational institution has been in continuous operation since October 1, 2003. 
 
 
Defines "wholly owned subsidiary educational institution" as one that: (1) is organized as a legal entity distinct from the provider, (2) has the provider as its sole owner or sole member, and (3) is organized in the same state in which the provider is organized or registered to do business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Voluntary Verification Program Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1785
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Energy
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Voluntary Verification Program Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rely on voluntary programs for certifying manufacturer compliance with energy conservation performance standards and Energy Star specifications for consumer products and industrial equipment.
 
 Consumer products are the following: central air conditioners and central air conditioning heat pumps, water heaters, furnaces, direct heating equipment, and pool heaters.
 
 Industrial equipment is the following: commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment, automatic commercial ice makers, packaged terminal air-conditioners and packaged terminal heat pumps, warm air furnaces and packaged boilers, and storage water heaters, instantaneous water heaters, and unfired hot water storage tanks.
 
The consumer products exclude those that are designed solely for use in recreational vehicles and other mobile equipment. 
 
DOE and the EPA must initiate a negotiated rulemaking to establish criteria, meeting certain minimum requirements, for achieving recognition by DOE or the EPA as an approved voluntary verification program. 
 
Neither DOE nor the EPA may require manufacturers that participate in a voluntary verification program to provide information that can be obtained through the program. If a voluntary program subjects products to periodic verification testing and provides test results to DOE or the EPA on request, DOE and the EPA may not subject participating manufacturers that are in compliance with the program to additional testing to verify the accuracy of the performance rating of the product or equipment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
Fair Pay Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1787
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Legal fees and court costs
Racial and ethnic relations
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 

Fair Pay Act of 2015 

 
 Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, or differentials based on bona fide factors that the employer demonstrates are job-related or further legitimate business interests.)
 
Prohibits the discharge of, or any other discrimination against, an individual for opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this Act, or for assisting in an investigation or proceeding under it. 
Directs courts, in any action brought under this Act for violation of such prohibition, to allow expert fees as part of the costs awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. Allows any such action to be maintained as a class action. 
Directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to: (1) undertake studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement this Act; and (2) carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance with specified components related to the purposes of this Act. 
Makes conforming amendments relating to congressional and executive branch employees to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E482)
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the alternative tax liability limitation for small property and casualty insurance companies.

Bill: 114-hr-1788
Sponsor: Rep. Paulsen, Erik [R-MN-3]
Introduced: 2015-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Insurance industry and regulation
Life, casualty, property insurance
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the eligibility of certain small insurance companies (other than life insurance companies) for the alternative corporate income tax by increasing the premium limitation used to determine such eligibility to $2.2 million (from $1.2 million), with an annual inflation adjustment to such increased amount after 2015.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-04-14
text: Introduced in House