hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3311
Sponsor: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Business investment and capital
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Oil and gas
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: 
 
 
increase to seven years the amortization period for geological and geophysical expenditures; 
 
repeal the tax credits for producing oil and gas from marginal wells and for enhanced oil recovery;
 
repeal the tax deduction for the intangible drilling and development costs of oil and gas wells; 
 
repeal percentage depletion for oil and gas wells;
 
repeal the tax deduction for tertiary injectant expenses; 
 
repeal the passive loss exception for working interests in oil and gas property; 
 
deny the tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production activities for oil and gas activities; 
 
prohibit the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method by major integrated oil companies; and 
 
limit the foreign tax credit for dual capacity taxpayers (i.e., taxpayers who are subject to a levy of a foreign country or U.S. possession and receive specific economic benefits from such country or possession). 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1181)
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Benefits Network Act

Bill: 114-hr-3312
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Government information and archives
Mental health
Public-private cooperation
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Veterans Benefits Network Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to make a grant to an eligible entity to establish or expand a regional technology system to provide an active database and enrollment system that can be used by a network of private, public, and non-profit entities to assist veterans and their family members in applying for benefits and services offered by such entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Resettlement Accountability National Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3314
Sponsor: Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disability assistance
Employment taxes
Food assistance and relief
Government studies and investigations
Housing and community development funding
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Low- and moderate-income housing
Medicaid
Medicare
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Resettlement Accountability National Security Act of 2015

 
This bill prohibits the admission of refugees into the United States until Congress passes a joint resolution giving the Department of Homeland Security authority to resume admitting refugees.
 
Requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on refugees who received benefits under any of the following programs: 
 
 
Medicare, 
 
Medicaid, 
 
disability insurance under title II of the Social Security Act, 
 
the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly the food stamp program), and 
 
section 8 rental assistance.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Waterway Safety Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3315
Sponsor: Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation safety and security
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Waterway Safety Improvement Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to authorize the Department of the Army to make modifications to deep-draft, high-commercial-use channels, including bends and entrances, as necessary to ensure safe navigation and efficient operations of such channels without regard to provisions of such Act regarding the maximum cost of water resources development and conservation projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Flood Insurance Integrity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3317
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Flood Insurance Integrity Act of 2015

 
 Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review every four years the rate tables established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for implementing the national flood insurance program under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, and determine whether: (1) the chargeable premium rates for flood insurance coverage determined by those tables are actuarially sound, based on standard actuarial practices used in the private sector; and (2) such chargeable premium rates are sufficient to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the national flood insurance program.
 
Directs GAO to review annually the process for establishing and updating flood insurance rate maps and determine the degree of accuracy of the mapping process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Reducing Tax Preparation Burdens for American Investments and Repairs Act

Bill: 114-hr-3318
Sponsor: Rep. Blum, Rod [R-IA-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business investment and capital
Department of the Treasury
Income tax deductions
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Reducing Tax Preparation Burdens for American Investments and Repairs Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to amend Treasury regulations relating to the election of a taxpayer to expense in the current taxable year certain depreciable business assets that would otherwise be capitalized and depreciated over a period of time. Current regulations provide for a safe harbor rule that allows expensing of such assets that do not exceed $500 per invoice for taxpayers without applicable financial statements. This bill would increase the safe harbor threshold to $2,500 per invoice for such taxpayers for taxable years beginning after 2015. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Timely Payment for Veterans' Medical Care Act

Bill: 114-hr-3320
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-3]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Hospital care
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Timely Payment for Veterans' Medical Care Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts with an eligible entity to serve as an administrative contractor with respect to the performance of any or all of the following functions relating to providing medical care and hospital services in non-VA facilities: 
 
 
determining and making the payments required to be made to a non-VA facility;
 
providing education and outreach to individuals enrolled in the patient enrollment system; 
 
providing consultative services to institutions, agencies, and other persons to enable them to maintain necessary fiscal records; 
 
communicating to non-VA facilities any information or instructions furnished to the administrative contractor by the VA; and 
 
performing functions relating to non-VA facility education, training, and technical assistance.
 
 
An administrative contractor that performs such payment-related functions shall implement a contractor-wide information security program.
 
The VA shall use claims payment error rates or similar methodology of administrative contractors in the processing or reviewing of claims in order to give such contractors an incentive to implement effective education and outreach programs for non-VA facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the volumetric excise tax credit for liquid fuel derived from natural gas through the Fischer-Tropsch process.

Bill: 114-hr-3321
Sponsor: Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-3]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an alternative fuel excise tax credit for liquid fuel derived from natural gas through the Fischer-Tropsch process. The Fischer-Tropsch process is a collection of chemical reactions that converts a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
To establish a Residence Star program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-3322
Sponsor: Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Building construction
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 
This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Residence Star program within the Energy Star program to recognize owners of separate residential spaces who voluntarily achieve high levels of energy efficiency. Owners recognized under the program and certain other third parties may advertise: (1) estimates of the monetary and energy savings included in the most recent program audit for their spaces, and (2) the Residence Star brand.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Dental and Optometric Care Access Act

Bill: 114-hr-3323
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Dental care
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Hearing, speech, and vision care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Dental and Optometric Care Access Act or the DOC Access Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and individual health insurance coverage from setting rates for items and services provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan or insurer does not pay a substantial amount.
 
An agreement between a plan or insurer and such a doctor: (1) may only be changed with the doctor's acknowledgement and acceptance, and (2) may not last longer than two years if the agreement is for limited scope dental or vision benefits.
 
Such a doctor must be allowed to participate in a: (1) plan or coverage without accepting terms for ancillary services or procedures, and (2) provider network without participating in a specific limited scope dental or vision benefit plan.
 
Plans and insurers may not: (1) directly communicate with an enrolled individual in a manner that interferes with an existing doctor-patient relationship or a state or federal requirement, or (2) restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers.
 The bill establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by a violation of this Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Fair Opportunities for American Manufacturers Act

Bill: 114-hr-3324
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Manufacturing
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military procurement, research, weapons development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Fair Opportunities for American Manufacturers Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to report to Congress on: 
 
 
efforts to engage U.S. manufacturers regarding opportunities to equip foreign military entities that receive U.S. assistance; 
 
an assessment of the estimated cost, including training, upgrading equipment, and meeting specifications, to U.S. manufacturers that wish to provide such goods; and 
 
strategies to engage U.S. manufacturers regarding such opportunities. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Azores Cooperative Initiative Program Act

Bill: 114-hr-3325
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agricultural research
Agricultural trade
Aquaculture
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Earth sciences
Economic theory
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Horticulture and plants
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Natural disasters
Pest management
Portugal
Rural conditions and development
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Azores Cooperative Initiative Program Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish the Azores Cooperative Initiative Program to provide bilateral cooperation, expertise, and resources to design and implement solutions to the provisions of the 1995 United States-Portugal Agreement on Cooperation and Defense in areas of science, technology, education, environment and agriculture in order to further Luso-American relations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3326
Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business ethics
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Crimes against property
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Evidence and witnesses
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Jurisdiction and venue
Product development and innovation
Trade agreements and negotiations
Trade secrets and economic espionage

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to create a private civil cause of action for trade secret misappropriation.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes a trade secret owner to file a civil action in a U.S. district court seeking relief for trade secret misappropriation related to a product or service in interstate or foreign commerce. It establishes remedies, such as an injunction and damages. The statute of limitation is set at five years from the date of discovery of the misappropriation. 
 
A trade secret owner may apply for and a court may grant a seizure order to prevent dissemination of the trade secret if the court makes specific findings, including that an immediate and irreparable injury will occur if seizure is not ordered. A court must take custody of the seized materials and hold a seizure hearing within seven days.
 
Any party harmed by the order may move to dissolve or modify the order and may also seek relief against the applicant of the seizure order for wrongful or excessive seizure. 
 
The Department of Justice must submit to Congress and publish a biannual report on trade secret theft outside the United States. 
 
 The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) trade secret theft occurs in the United States and around the world, (2) trade secret theft harms owner companies and their employees, and (3) the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 applies broadly to protect trade secrets from theft. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Kids Before Cons Act

Bill: 114-hr-3327
Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Education
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Kids Before Cons Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to limit waiver authority of the Department of Education (ED) under the Experimental Sites Initiative.
 
Specifically, it prohibits ED from waiving statutory provisions that ban Pell Grant eligibility and federal financial aid for incarcerated students (e.g., as part of an experimental initiative to allow incarcerated students to receive Pell Grants for postsecondary education opportunities). The legislation also prohibits ED from awarding funds to an institution of higher education for providing such postsecondary education to incarcerated individuals. 
 
ED must conduct and make publicly available a study that compares incarceration rates of: (1) private or charter school students who receive vouchers, and (2) traditional public school students. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3328
Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act of 2015

 
Requires each federal agency to establish a plan for the periodic review (every nine years) of: (1) its rules that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, and (2) any small entity compliance guide required to be published by an agency. Sets forth criteria for review of a rule, including the continued need for the rule, the complexity of the rule, and the economic impact of the rule on small entities. Requires: (1) each agency to publish in the Federal Register and on the agency website a list of the rules and small entity compliance guides to be reviewed under the plan, and (2) the agency Inspector General to determine whether the agency has conducted the required review.
 
Provides that each covered rule (i.e., any rule for which an agency is required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis and which is a major rule) promulgated by an agency shall cease to have effect seven years after the final version of such rule is published unless renewed by the agency using the notice and comment rulemaking process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House