hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Pension Fund Integrity Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2894
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Public participation and lobbying
Sales and excise taxes
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Pension Fund Integrity Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require salary reductions for certain employees of systemically important multiemployer pension plans that are in critical or declining status and that reduce participant benefits. 
 
When a benefit suspension is in effect, any compensation paid to employees of a plan that exceeds the amounts specified in this bill is a prohibited transaction that is subject to a tax to be paid by the plan sponsor. 
 
If a plan is in endangered, critical, or critical and declining status, payments for lobbying and political expenses for any person other than an employee of the plan are prohibited transactions and subject to a tax to be paid by the plan sponsor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Extending Justice for Sex Crime Victims Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2895
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Human trafficking
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Extending Justice for Sex Crime Victims Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise the statute of limitations for a victim of a human trafficking offense or federal sexual offense to file a civil action to recover damages. 
 
Under current law, the statute of limitations is 10 years from the date the cause of action arose. This bill sets a 10-year statute of limitations from the date the victim discovers the offense or injury.
 
Additionally, it extends the statute of limitations for a minor victim of a federal sex offense to file a civil action to 10 years (currently 3 years) from the date such individual reaches age 18.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2563)
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2896
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Licensing and registrations
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to make the Veterans Choice Program permanent.
 
Program eligibility is expanded to include all veterans who are enrolled in the annual patient enrollment system under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital care and medical services program.
 
The VA shall provide information about the availability of Program care and services to veterans who are new to, or already enrolled, in the system.
 
The VA shall contract with a national chain of walk-in clinics to provide hospital care and medical services in such clinics to veterans who are in the annual patient enrollment system. A veteran shall not be required to: (1) obtain pre-authorization for such care, or (2) pay a copayment to the clinic or to the VA.
 
Such national chain shall establish an automated system to provide the VA with weekly information on veterans receiving hospital care or medical services.
 
A covered health care professional may practice his or her health care profession at any location in any state, regardless of where such health care professional or the patient is located, if the health care professional is using telemedicine to treat an individual. Such treatment is permitted regardless of whether the professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility. 

&quot;Covered health care professional&quot; means a health care professional who is: (1) authorized by the VA to provide health care, including a private health care professional who provides such care under a VA contract or agreement; and (2) licensed, registered, or certified in a state to practice his or her health care profession.
 
The VA shall: 
 
 
extend the operating hours for each VA pharmacy to include weekday evenings until 8:00 p.m., weekends, and federal holidays; and 
 
contract with qualifying physicians and nurses to work at VA medical facilities during nights and weekends. 
 
 
The VA may: (1) hire support staff in connection with such extended operating hours, and (2) provide for a nongovernmental hospital organization best-practices peer review of each VA medical center.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-702.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Telecommunications Consumers Act

Bill: 114-s-2897
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Contracts and agency
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Justice for Telecommunications Consumers Act

 
This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a dispute arising out of a contract for commercial mobile services, multichannel video programming distributor services, telecommunications or information services, or common carrier services under the Communications Act of 1934.
 
The validity or enforceability of such an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than by an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement.
 
The bill does not apply to contracts between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall waive the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution, a federal or state statute, or related public policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business National Security Innovation Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2898
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Small Business National Security Innovation Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of the Navy to establish a pilot program for the commercialization of products and services produced by covered small business concerns under which the Department shall set up a multiple task or delivery order contract for those products and services.
 
 Nothing in this bill shall be construed to prevent the commercialization of products and services produced by a small business concern under a federal agency Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program through:
 
 
direct awards for Phase III of an SBIR or STTR program;
 
awards made under the Rapid Innovation Fund (for accelerating the fielding of innovative technologies developed using Department of Defense [DOD] research funding, and expedient DOD use of such technologies in defense acquisition programs); or
 
any other contract vehicle.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Zika Response and Regulatory Relief Act

Bill: 114-s-2899
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-04-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Insects
Licensing and registrations
Pest management
State and local government operations
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: 

Zika Response and Regulatory Relief Act 

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) by revising requirements for state permit programs under the national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES).
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must waive for 180 days after this bill's enactment: (1) state NPDES permit requirements for public health pesticide applications of a mosquito control program, and (2) certain reporting requirements for such pesticide applications in permits issued by the EPA before this bill's enactment. The EPA may extend the period during which permit and reporting requirements may be waived for up to an additional 180 days beyond the original period to protect the public health.
 
States administering NPDES programs must also waive reporting requirements with respect to the pesticide applications during those periods.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Terrorism Through Social Media Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2900
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 

Preventing Terrorism Through Social Media Act of 2016

 
This bill grants the Department of State discretion to offer a reward of at least $25,000 to an individual who furnishes information found on social media leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual for committing, conspiring or attempting to commit, or aiding or abetting in the commission of an act of terrorism in the United States. 
 
 The total amount of such rewards may not exceed $5 million.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Advancing U.S.-India Defense Cooperation Act

Bill: 114-s-2901
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
India
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 

Advancing U.S.-India Defense Cooperation Act

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
the U.S.-India defense partnership is vital to regional and international stability and security, and 
 
the President's commitment to enhancing defense and security cooperation with India should be considered a priority with respect to advancing U.S. interests in the South Asia and greater Indo-Pacific regions. 
 
 
The bill declares that the President should: 
 
 
take action to formalize India's status as a U.S. major partner; 
 
 resolve issues impeding U.S.-India defense trade, security cooperation, and coproduction and chemotherapeutic opportunities; 
 
pursue greater U.S.-India government-to-government and commercial military transactions; and 
 
facilitate the transfer of advanced technology with the Indian military for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.
 
 
The President is encouraged to coordinate with India annually to develop military contingency plans for addressing threats to mutual security interests.
 
The President shall: (1) annually assess the extent to which India possesses strategic operational capabilities to execute military operations of mutual interest to the United States and India; and (2) ensure that such assessment is used in reviewing applications to sell or export defense articles, defense services, or technical data. 
 
The Arms Export Control Act is amended to extend special foreign military sales status to India.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Max Cleland Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2903
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Georgia
Members of Congress
Senate
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 

Max Cleland Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Joseph Maxwell &quot;Max&quot; Cleland.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2628-2629)
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2904
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Disability assistance
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 

ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period for disability insurance benefits for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and require their payment starting the first month during all of which the individual is under a disability and in which the individual becomes entitled to the benefits. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Cyber Act of War Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2905
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Conflicts and wars
Military operations and strategy

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 

Cyber Act of War Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the President to: (1) develop a policy for determining when an action carried out in cyberspace constitutes an act of war against the United States, and (2) revise the Department of Defense Law of War Manual accordingly. 
 
In developing this policy, the President shall consider: (1) the ways in which a cyber attack's effects may be equivalent to a conventional attack's effects, including physical destruction or casualties; and (2) intangible effects of significant scope or duration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
China Market Economy Status Congressional Review Act

Bill: 114-s-2906
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
China
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 

China Market Economy Status Congressional Review Act

 
This bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to bar revocation of a determination by the administering authority (the Secretary of Commerce or any other U.S. officer) that the People's Republic of China is a nonmarket economy country unless: 
 
 
the administering authority determines and reports to Congress that China no longer meets the requirements of a nonmarket economy country; and 
 
Congress, within 45 days after the receipt of such a report, enacts a joint resolution of approval. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, to strike the termination date for funding for pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2907
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2016-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Arizona
Lakes and rivers
Nevada
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: 
This bill amends the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 to make permanent the authority of the Department of the Interior to fund pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the initial units of Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs to address the effects of historic drought conditions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-495.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1265 Hurffville Road in Deptford Township, New Jersey, as the "First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building".

Bill: 114-s-2908
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military personnel and dependents
New Jersey
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1265 Hurffville Road in Deptford Township, New Jersey, as the "First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
CAPTIVE Act

Bill: 114-s-2909
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2016-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Foreign property
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: 
 
Clarifying Amendment to Provide Terrorism Victims Equity Act or the CAPTIVE Act

 
This bill amends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 regarding the blocked assets of a terrorist party which shall be subject to execution or attachment in aid of execution in order to satisfy a judgment based upon an act of terrorism in an action brought by or on behalf of the person obtaining the judgment.
 
The bill redefines &quot;blocked asset&quot; to include any asset seized or frozen by the United States under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. 
 
The bill also defines a &quot;person&quot; who has obtained such a judgment as a natural person who, at the time the act of terrorism was committed upon which the judgment was obtained, was:
 
 
a national of the United States;
 
a member of the U.S. Armed Forces; or
 
otherwise an employee of the federal government, or of a federal government contractor, acting within the scope of employment.
 
 
If the person described is deceased, the personal representative of the estate of that deceased person shall count as the person.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
TRICARE Treatment for Fetal Repair Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2910
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Surgery and anesthesia
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: 

TRICARE Treatment for Fetal Repair Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to ensure that a covered beneficiary under the TRICARE program who is diagnosed with a fetal anomaly receives expedited evaluation and treatment from a qualified provider in the pediatric specialties of fetal medicine and surgery.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to make it unlawful for a packer to own, feed, or control livestock intended for slaughter.

Bill: 114-s-2911
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2016-05-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Livestock
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: 
This bill amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to prohibit livestock packers from owning, controlling, or feeding livestock to such an extent that the producer no longer materially participates in the management of the operation with respect to the production of the livestock. 
 
The bill includes exceptions for: (1) livestock held for not more than seven days before slaughter; (2) certain cooperatives that own, control, or feed livestock and provide such livestock for slaughter; (3) packers that are not required to report price and quantity information on each reporting day; or (4) packers that own one livestock processing plant. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-05-10
text: Introduced in Senate