hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Beach Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2335
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-12-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Outdoor recreation
Seashores and lakeshores
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: 

Beach Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program for monitoring, and notifying the public of, any pathogens in coastal recreation waters bordering public beaches.
 
The bill reauthorizes through FY2018 the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000.
 
The bill establishes requirements with respect to: (1) using rapid testing methods to detect unsafe levels of pathogens or pathogen indicators in those waters, and (2) notifying governmental agencies when pathogens exceed water quality standards. Those methods must provide testing results within four hours of receiving a sample. Communication with governments must occur within two hours of the receipt of the results of water quality samples.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must assess state and local compliance with coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification legal requirements and grant conditions. The bill limits federal support of grants to non-compliant state or local governments. The Government Accountability Office must review the EPA's compliance assessments and corrective actions.
 
States with coastal recreation waters must adopt the most protective water quality criteria and standards practicable for pathogens.
 
The EPA must: (1) update the national list of beaches that are used by the public regardless of the presence of a lifeguard within 12 months and biennially thereafter (currently, periodically); (2) study the long-term impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters; and (3) study the impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2336
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2015-12-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Defense
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Disability and health-based discrimination
Government studies and investigations
HIV/AIDS
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial procedure and administration
Military law
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: 

Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal HIV Discrimination Act of 2015 or the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act of 2015

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that federal and state laws, policies, and regulations regarding people living with HIV/AIDS should: (1) not place unique or additional burdens on such individuals solely as a result of their HIV status; and (2) demonstrate a public health-oriented, evidence-based, medically accurate, and contemporary understanding of HIV transmission, health implications, treatment, and the impact of punitive HIV-specific laws, policies, regulations, and judicial precedents and decisions on public health and on affected people, families, and communities.
 
The bill directs: (1) the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to initiate a national review of federal (including military) and state laws, policies, regulations, and judicial precedents and decisions regarding criminal and related civil commitment cases involving people living with HIV/AIDS; and (2) DOJ to transmit to Congress and make publicly available the results of such review with related recommendations.
 
DOJ and HHS must: (1) develop and publicly release guidance and best practice recommendations for states, and (2) establish an integrated monitoring and evaluation system to measure state progress.
 
DOJ, HHS, and DOD must transmit to the President and Congress any proposals necessary to implement adjustments to federal laws, policies, or regulations.
 
The bill prohibits this Act from being construed to discourage the prosecution of individuals who intentionally transmit or attempt to transmit HIV to another individual.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
LIFETIME Act

Bill: 114-s-2338
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-12-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Health programs administration and funding
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: 

Living Independently for Extended Time Act or the LIFETIME Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to enable eligible states to develop innovative programs to meet the unique need for long-term services and supports in the state. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the royalty rate for coal produced from surface mines on Federal land, to prohibit the export of coal produced on Federal land, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2339
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-12-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Coal
Congressional oversight
Energy revenues and royalties
Mining
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: 
This bill amends the the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) to direct the Department of the Interior to require that coal lease royalty payments from a new or renewed coal lease on federal land be at least 50% of the value of coal. 
 
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended to direct the President to promulgate a rule prohibiting the export of coal produced in the U.S. on federal land.
 
Interior shall not conduct a new lease sale, or enter into a new lease, for coal subject to the MLA until it certifies to Congress that this Act and its amendments have been implemented. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness.

Bill: 114-s-2341
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2015-12-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Arctic and polar regions
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: 
This bill amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to designate a specified portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System under the Wilderness Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Territories Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance Equity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2342
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2015-12-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Medicaid
Medicare
Prescription drugs
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: 

Territories Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance Equity Act of 2015

 
This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to make certain subsidies available to Medicare prescription drug program beneficiaries who reside in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory. Current law makes such beneficiaries ineligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies, but establishes a process for U.S. territories to apply for financial assistance with respect to the provision of Medicare prescription drugs. The bill eliminates this process and makes the subsidies available to beneficiaries who reside in a U.S. territory and are otherwise eligible. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2343
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2015-12-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: 

Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act of 2015

 
This bill amends titles XI (General Provisions) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish: (1) a telehealth service model, and (2) Medicare payment rules with respect to certain services tested under the model.
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall test Medicare coverage of expanded telehealth services, as defined by the bill, in conjunction with existing models that test the use of accountable care organizations, bundled payments, and other coordinated care models under Medicare. CMS must: (1) establish a methodology for determining the amounts of payment for such services, and (2) provide for evaluations of the service model by an independent entity.
 
CMS shall expand the application of a service tested under the model if: (1) the required evaluation demonstrates that the service either reduced Medicare spending without reducing the quality of care or improved the quality of care without increasing spending, and (2) the Chief Actuary of CMS certifies that such expansion would reduce net program spending. A service that meets these requirements is defined by the bill as a "certified enhanced telehealth service."
 
Medicare payment for a certified enhanced telehealth service shall equal 80% of the lesser of: (1) the actual charge for the service, or (2) the amount determined using the payment methodology established under the test model. 
 
CMS shall pay for such services without regard to a Medicare beneficiary's location or area of residence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Liberty Through Strength Act II

Bill: 114-s-2344
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2015-12-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Business records
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government information and archives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Telephone and wireless communication
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: 

Liberty Through Strength Act II

 
This bill requires the National Security Agency (NSA) to have access to business records, telephone call records, and other tangible things collected under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) prior to November 29, 2015, in the same manner and for the same purposes for which the NSA had access to such records prior to such date (thereby allowing the NSA to access such records in the same manner as prior to the effective date of amendments made by the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015).
 
The NSA must maintain such records for five years after they are acquired.
 
The NSA's authority to access such business records under this Act shall be in effect for five years after enactment of this Act.
 
The bill amends the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to make permanent expiring FISA provisions concerning: (1) roving electronic surveillance orders, (2) a revised definition of "agent of a foreign power" that includes any non-U.S. persons who engage in international terrorism or preparatory activities (commonly referred to as the "lone wolf" provision), and (3) authority for the Department of Justice and the Director of National Intelligence to authorize the targeting of non-U.S. persons located outside the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information.
 
The federal criminal code is amended to: (1) return procedures for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) access to toll and transactional records to how they operated prior to the USA FREEDOM Act in order to allow the FBI (without using a term that specifically identifies a person, entity, telephone, or account) to request the name, address, length of service, and local and long distance toll billing records of a person or entity if the FBI certifies to the wire or electronic communication service provider that such information is relevant to an authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities; and (2) add electronic communications transactional records as information that the FBI may request under such certification procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Introduced in Senate
IRS Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2345
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2015-12-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of the Treasury
Employee performance
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Judicial review and appeals
Merit Systems Protection Board

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: 

IRS Accountability Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 to allow the removal or transfer of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) senior executive employee based on performance or misconduct. The IRS must submit written notice to certain congressional committees of the removal or transfer of an employee and the reason for such removal or transfer. The bill provides for an expedited appeal of a removal or transfer to the Merit Systems Protection Board. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act

Bill: 114-s-2346
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2015-12-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Forests, forestry, trees
Fruit and vegetables
Horticulture and plants
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: 

Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a full deduction in the current taxable year of the cost of replanting lost or damaged citrus plants. The taxpayer must own an equity interest of at least 50% in such replanted plants and may deduct costs paid or incurred through 2025. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2347
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2015

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


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2349
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to report annually to specified congressional committees on Medicare Advantage enrollment data.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Full Expensing Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2350
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Computers and information technology
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Full Expensing Act of 2015
 
 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the expensing allowance for certain depreciable business property (section 179 property) by: (1) redefining "section 179 property" to include tangible property or computer software that is acquired by purchase for use in a trade or business or for the production of income, and (2) repealing the dollar limitation on the amount of such property that may be deducted as an expense in the current taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2351
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Health care costs and insurance
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend from 45 days to 60 days the annual notice period for the announcement of payment rates under Medicare Advantage (MA). MA organizations shall have at least 30 days to comment on proposed changes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2353
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Income tax credits
Motor fuels
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend through March 31, 2016, the income tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel used as fuel and the excise tax credit for biodiesel fuel mixtures, (2) allow through 2018 a new income and excise tax credit equal to $1.00 for each gallon of biodiesel produced, and (3) provide for an increased credit for small biodiesel producers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8380-8381)
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Strong Families Act

Bill: 114-s-2354
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee leave
Executive agency funding and structure
Government Operations and Politics
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Motor vehicles
Nuclear power
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Strong Families Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain employers a business-related tax credit for up to 25% of the amount of wages paid to their employees during any period (not exceeding 12 weeks) in which such employees are on family and medical leave, (2) limit the allowable amount of such credit to $3,000 per employee for any taxable year, and (3) terminate such credit after 2017. 
 
The Government Accountability Office shall complete a study on the effectiveness of the tax credit for paid family and medical leave. 
 
The Office of Management and Budget shall determine: (1) the dollar amount obligated by each executive agency to purchase and to lease civilian vehicles in FY2010, and (2) the total number of civilian vehicles purchased and leased by each executive agency in FY2010. Executive agencies may not obligate more than 90% of the amount they obligated in FY2010 to purchase or lease civilian vehicles in each of FY2016-FY2020. 
 
The bill permanently rescinds all unobligated amounts in the U.S. Enrichment Corporation Fund, except for amounts designated as an emergency requirement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2355
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2015-12-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Debt collection
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: 

Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a person or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to furnish to a consumer reporting agency information relating to the performance of a consumer in making payments: (1) under a lease agreement for a dwelling, including a lease in which HUD provides subsidized payments; or (2) pursuant to a contract for a utility or telecommunications service.
 
Information about a consumer's usage of any utility or telecommunications services may be furnished to a consumer reporting agency only to the extent that the information relates to payment by the consumer for such services or other terms of the provision of such services, including any deposit, discount, or conditions for interruption or termination of service.
 
An energy utility firm may not report payment information to a consumer reporting agency with respect to an outstanding balance of a consumer as late if the firm and the consumer have entered into a payment plan and the consumer is meeting the obligations of such plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-03
text: Introduced in Senate