hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-4194
Sponsor: Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Evidence and witnesses
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Organized crime
Performance measurement
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2015

 
 This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award competitive matching grants to state, local, and tribal governments to establish or maintain witness protection programs in cases related to: (1) a homicide, serious violent felony, or serious drug offense; or (2) gangs or organized crime.
 
DOJ must evaluate grant applications based on certain criteria, including the prevalence of witness intimidation, the presence of organized crime, and the per capita number of homicides, violent felonies, or serious drug offenses.
 
 The bill also requires DOJ to: (1) consider urban and rural applicants and ensure equitable geographic distribution of grant awards; and (2) develop and disseminate best practice models to help state, local, and tribal governments address witness protection and assistance issues. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
To repeal the authorizations for office space, office expenses, franking and printing privileges, and staff for former Speakers of the House of Representatives.

Bill: 114-hr-4195
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional leadership
Congressional operations and organization
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
House of Representatives
Members of Congress
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 
This bill repeals specified authorizations for office space, office expenses, franking and printing privileges, and staff for former Speakers of the House.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Trade Enforcement Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-4196
Sponsor: Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Customs enforcement
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Tariffs
Trade restrictions
U.S. International Trade Commission
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Trade Enforcement Improvement Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to direct the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to consider expanded factors when determining whether imports of merchandise receiving a countervailable subsidy from an exporting country substantially weaken the remedial effect of any countervailing duty order. These factors shall include:
 
 
an increase in the U.S. market share of those imports after the filing by domestic manufacturers or unions of a petition for remedies,
 
an increase in underselling of the domestic like product by the frequency or magnitude of such imports after the filing of the petition, and 
 
a weakening of the industry of the domestic like product after the petition filing.
 
 
The ITC shall consider the same expanded factors when determining whether imports of merchandise at less than fair value substantially weaken the remedial effect of any antidumping duty order.
 
The ITC may determine that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury if imminent future imports of subject merchandise will likely render the industry's performance materially worse than it would otherwise have been.
 
The Department of Homeland Security may publish semiannually in the Federal Register a list of any producer, manufacturer, supplier, seller, exporter, or other person located outside the U.S. customs territory to which the ITC has issued a penalty claim for customs violations involving fraud.
 
These violations include any practices aiding or abetting the transshipment, through a country not the country of origin, of textile, apparel, or any goods subject to antidumping or countervailing duty orders, in a manner concealing their true origin or permitting evasion of import quotas or duties.
 
 The President may publish an annual list of countries:
 
 
in which illegal activities have occurred involving transshipped goods or activities designed to evade U.S. quotas or duties; and
 
whose governments fail to demonstrate a good faith effort to cooperate with U.S. authorities in halting such activities.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
State Refugee Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-4197
Sponsor: Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Immigration status and procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

State Refugee Security Act of 2015

 
This bill directs the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify the state agency responsible for coordinating the placement or resettlement of an alien refugee not later than 21 days before the alien's arrival in the state. 
 
No alien refugee shall be placed or resettled in a state if the governor certifies to the Office of Refugee Resettlement that it has failed, in the sole determination of the governor, to provide adequate assurance that such person does not present a security risk to the state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Commercial Market Representatives Clarification Act

Bill: 114-hr-4198
Sponsor: Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Public contracts and procurement
Small Business Administration
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Commercial Market Representatives Clarification Act

 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to specify the principal duties of Commercial Market Representatives, government contracting staff stationed at area Small Business Administration (SBA) offices and reporting to specified senior SBA officers.
 
 Such duties shall include:
 
 
helping prime federal government contractors to find small business concerns capable of performing subcontracts;
 
counseling such contractors on their responsibility to maximize subcontracting opportunities for small business concerns;
 
 instructing such contractors on methods and tools to identify potential subcontractors that are small business concerns;
 
 assisting such constractors to increase awards to small business subcontractors through visits, training, and reviews of past performance;
 
 giving counseling on how a small business concern may promote its capacity to such contractors; and
 
conducting periodic reviews of such contractors to assess compliance with required subcontracting plans regarding small business subcontractors.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Military Family Stability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-4200
Sponsor: Rep. Gibson, Christopher P. [R-NY-19]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Licensing and registrations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Military Family Stability Act of 2015

 
This bill allows a member of the Armed Forces undergoing a permanent change of station and the member's spouse to elect jointly that the spouse may relocate to the new location at the time during the covered relocation period as the member and spouse jointly select.
 
The following families shall be eligible: 
 
 
the spouse is employed, or enrolled in a degree-, certificate-, or license-granting program, at the beginning of the covered relocation period; 
 
the member and spouse have one or more children in school; 
 
the spouse or children are covered under the Exceptional Family Member Program; 
 
the member and spouse are caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness; or 
 
the member is undergoing a permanent change of station as an individual augmentee or other deployment arrangement.
 
 
Families with other needs may receive exceptions granted by military commanders on a case-by-case basis.
 
A member undergoing a permanent change of station who has one or more specified dependents and is no longer married to the individual who is or was the parent of such dependents at the beginning of the covered period of relocation may elect that such dependents relocate to the new location as follows: 
 
 
by the member alone if the former spouse is dead or has no custodial rights, or 
 
by the member and the former spouse jointly in all other circumstances.
 
 
 A member may not make: 
 
 
 more than three elections; or 
 
any election unless the member's period of obligated service, or the time remaining under the member's enlistment contract, at the time of election is at least 24 months.
 
 
The bill prescribes related housing and housing allowance requirements. 
 
Transportation allowances authorized for personal property of a member and spouse may be allocated as the member and spouse select.
 
The Department of Defense shall establish a single application approval process for coverage under this Act which shall apply uniformly among the Armed Forces.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Restoring the Partnership for County Health Care Costs Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-4201
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medicaid
Medicare
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Restoring the Partnership for County Health Care Costs Act of 2015

 
This bill amends titles XVI (Supplemental Security Income), XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) to allow an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending charges to receive SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP benefits.
 
Any SSI benefits payable to such an individual: (1) must be withheld until the individual is no longer in custody; and (2) if the individual dies while in custody, shall be paid to the individual's estate. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1748)
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Comfortable and Fair Flight Act

Bill: 114-hr-4203
Sponsor: Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Consumer affairs
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Comfortable and Fair Flight Act

 
This bill prohibits an air carrier operating an aircraft from charging ticketed passengers a fee for the use of a lavatory on such aircraft. If an aircraft lacks an adequate number of functioning lavatories at the time of boarding, the carrier shall permit a ticketed passenger to select alternative equivalent air transportation operated by such carrier without charging an additional fee.
 
 A carrier must refund any baggage fee for baggage that does not arrive within two hours after the passenger arrives at the scheduled destination.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Alice Paul Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 114-hr-4204
Sponsor: Rep. MacArthur, Thomas [R-NJ-3]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Voting rights
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Alice Paul Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make arrangements for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Alice Paul to recognize her role in the women's suffrage movement and in advancing equal rights for women.
 
The medal shall be presented jointly to representatives of the Alice Paul Institute and the Sewall-Belmont House.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Christmas Tree Tax Exemption Act

Bill: 114-hr-4205
Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural research
Commemorative events and holidays
Department of Agriculture
Forests, forestry, trees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Christmas Tree Tax Exemption Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permit &quot;choose and cut&quot; Christmas tree producers to opt out of USDA's Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order with respect to trees sold directly to final consumers. 
 
(The order was authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and includes an assessment on Christmas tree producers to fund a promotion, research, and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Fair Drug Pricing Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-4207
Sponsor: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced: 2015-12-09 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: 

Medicare Fair Drug Pricing Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate with drug manufacturers in determining the price that may be charged for prescription drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
 
Under current law, CMS may not interfere with negotiations between drug manufacturers and prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors. The bill creates an exception to this prohibition with respect to specified drugs that: (1) are single-source or biological, (2) are not both manufactured by more than two drug manufacturers and manufactured by at least one manufacturer as a generic drug, and (3) meet other specified requirements. CMS must promulgate regulations regarding the identification of such drugs.
 
With respect to these drugs, CMS shall negotiate the price that may be charged to PDP sponsors and Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations for Medicare and MA enrollees. The bill establishes processes for negotiation and price determination in the initial plan year and subsequent plan years.
 
A manufacturer must participate in the negotiation process as a condition of coverage under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-09
text: Introduced in House
Authority for the Use of Military Force Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Act

Bill: 114-hr-4208
Sponsor: Rep. Rigell, E. Scott [R-VA-2]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Iraq
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Syria
Terrorism
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Authority for the Use of Military Force Against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Act

 
This bill authorizes the President to use the U.S. Armed Forces for three years against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), any closely related successor entity, or associated persons or forces.
 
This bill shall also constitute the sole statutory authority for U.S. military action against ISIL, superseding any prior authorization for the use of military force against ISIL.
 
The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 is repealed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in House
Minority Diabetes Initiative Act

Bill: 114-hr-4209
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Minority health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 

Minority Diabetes Initiative Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants to public and nonprofit private health care providers to provide treatment for diabetes in minority communities. HHS must ensure that these grants cover a variety of diabetes-related health care services, including routine care for diabetic patients, public education on diabetes prevention and control, eye care, foot care, and treatment for kidney disease and other complications of diabetes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to require voting members of the Financial Stability Oversight Council to testify before Congress at least twice each year when requested to do so or to otherwise permit certain Members of Congress to attend meetings of the Council whether or not such meetings are open to the public.

Bill: 114-hr-4210
Sponsor: Rep. Pittenger, Robert [R-NC-9]
Introduced: 2015-12-10 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Financial Stability Oversight Council
Financial crises and stabilization
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: 
This bill amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to: (1) require each voting member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council to testify at least twice each year before the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee if invited to do so; and (2) permit Members of Congress who serve on such committees to attend council meetings, regardless of whether such meetings are open to the public, if in any year a council member fails to testify at least twice before each such committee after being invited to do so.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-10
text: Introduced in House