hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
End Racial Profiling Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1056
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Customs enforcement
Department of Justice
Government information and archives
Government liability
Law enforcement administration and funding
Racial and ethnic relations
Right of privacy
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

End Racial Profiling Act of 2015

 
 Prohibits any law enforcement agent or agency from engaging in racial profiling. Grants the United States or an individual injured by racial profiling the right to obtain declaratory or injunctive relief.
 
Requires federal law enforcement agencies to maintain adequate policies and procedures to eliminate racial profiling and to cease existing practices that permit racial profiling.
 
Requires state or local governmental entities or state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies that apply for grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and the Cops on the Beat Program to certify that they maintain adequate policies and procedures for eliminating racial profiling and have eliminated any existing practices that permit or encourage racial profiling. 
 
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants and contracts for the collection of data relating to racial profiling and for the development of best practices and systems to eliminate racial profiling. Requires the Attorney General to issue regulations for the collection and compilation of data on racial profiling and for the implementation of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Geothermal Energy Opportunities Act

Bill: 114-s-1057
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative and renewable resources
Congressional oversight
Department of the Interior
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy revenues and royalties
Government information and archives
Land use and conservation
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Manufacturing
Oil and gas
Research and development
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

Geothermal Energy Opportunities Act or the GEO Act

 
This bill requires the Bureau of Land Management to identify high priority areas for new geothermal development and facilitate that development.
 
The bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the holder of an oil and gas lease of federal land to also apply for a noncompetitive lease for the production of geothermal energy if: (1) the holder of the oil and gas lease also has an approved drilling permit, (2) geothermal energy will be produced from a well producing or capable of producing oil and gas, (3) the geothermal lease will improve national energy security, and (4) oil and gas production is currently occurring under the existing lease.
 
To promote the goals of new geothermal energy capacity, the Department of Energy (DOE) may conduct a federally funded program of cost-shared drilling with industry partners to: (1) explore and document new geothermal resources; and (2) develop improved tools and methods for geothermal resource identification and extraction. Certain revenues from geothermal leases must be deposited into a separate account in the Treasury to carry out that program.
 
The bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to allow the Department of the Interior to award noncompetitive leases on up to 640 acres of federal land for geothermal development under certain circumstances. Lessees must make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively.
 
The bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to require DOE to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure:CR S2354; text of measure as introduced: CR S2354-2356)
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1058
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Research and development
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to revise and reauthorize through FY2019 the program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to accelerate the introduction of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production. The program must give priority to fostering accelerated research, development, and commercialization of technology.
 
The meaning of "marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy&quot; is expanded to include all forms of energy, not just electricity, from: (1) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; (2) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams; (3) free flowing water in man-made channels; and (4) differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion).
 
National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers must support in-water testing and demonstration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, including facilities capable of testing: (1) marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy systems of various technology readiness levels and scales, (2) a variety of technologies in multiple test berths at a single location, and (3) arrays of technology devices. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure:CR S2354; text of measure as introduced: CR S2356-2357)
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
College Options for DREAMers Act

Bill: 114-s-1059
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Border security and unlawful immigration
Department of Education
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

College Options for DREAMers Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow Dreamer students to receive federal financial aid for higher education.
 
A &quot;Dreamer student&quot; is an individual who was under age 16 upon entering this country, has provided a list of secondary schools the individual attended in this country, and, in this country:
 
 
has earned a high school diploma or the equivalent,
 
is scheduled to complete the requirements for a high school diploma or equivalent before the next academic year begins,
 
has acquired a degree from an institution of higher education,
 
has successfully completed at least two years of a program for a baccalaureate or higher degree,
 
is a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or
 
has served honorably in the uniformed services for at least four years. 
 
 
The Department of Education must provide for a hardship exception to the age and secondary school list requirements.
 
States are allowed to offer unlawful aliens postsecondary benefits on the basis of their residence in the state (e.g., in-state tuition).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Pell Grant Protection Act

Bill: 114-s-1060
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Education programs funding
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

Pell Grant Protection Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to appropriate for each fiscal year beginning with FY2016 the funding necessary to provide each eligible student with the maximum Pell Grant amount, minus the student's expected family contribution. (Currently, funds for the Pell Grant program come from a combination of mandatory and discretionary spending. This bill converts the Pell Grant program into a mandatory spending program.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Pell Grant Cost of Tuition Adjustment Act

Bill: 114-s-1061
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Higher education
Inflation and prices
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

Pell Grant Cost of Tuition Adjustment Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to set the maximum Pell Grant at a specified amount, increased for inflation each year, plus any additional amount specified in the last enacted appropriation Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Year-Round Pell Grant Restoration Act

Bill: 114-s-1062
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

Year-Round Pell Grant Restoration Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education to award an additional Pell Grant to a student who has received a Pell Grant for an award year and is enrolled in a program of study for payment periods during the same award year that are not covered by the Pell Grant. The total amount of the Pell Grants awarded to such a student for the award year may exceed the total maximum Pell Grant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
American Energy Efficiency Act

Bill: 114-s-1063
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Intergovernmental relations
Oil and gas
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: 

American Energy Efficiency Act 

 
This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to prescribe a federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers. 
 
The Secretary of Energy is directed to implement a program which establishes:
 
 
measurement and verification procedures and standards that count only measures and savings that are additional to business-as-usual customer purchase practices;
 
certain requirements governing retail electricity suppliers and retail natural gas suppliers;
 
other requirements governing applications for, and implementation of, delegated state administration; and
 
rules to govern transfers of electricity or natural gas savings between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving the same state and between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving different states. 
 
 
Mandatory performance standards for 2017-2030 are prescribed for retail energy suppliers. No standards for any subsequent year may be lower than the standard for 2030. 
 
Retail electricity and natural gas suppliers are subject to monetary penalties for failure to document the adequate savings required by this Act. 
 
The Secretary may delegate to a state responsibility for administering this Act within its territory upon determining that it will meet or exceed the energy efficiency required by this Act. 
 
The Secretary must: (1) review state implementation of this Act, every two years, in approximately one-half of the states; and (2) take certain measures where deficiencies are found. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Asthma Act

Bill: 114-s-1064
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Intergovernmental relations
Medical research
Research administration and funding
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: 

 Family Asthma Act

 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collaborate with state and local health departments to: (1) conduct activities regarding asthma, including deterring the harmful consequences of uncontrolled asthma, and disseminating health education and information regarding prevention of asthma episodes and strategies for managing asthma; and (2) develop state plans incorporating public health responses to reduce the burden of asthma, particularly regarding disproportionately affected populations.
 
 Revises and expands requirements for asthma surveillance activities.
 
 Requires the CDC to coordinate data collection activities to maximize the comparability of results.
 
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit an assessment of current activities related to asthma prevention, management, and surveillance along with recommendations for the future direction of asthma activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
School Asthma Management Plan Act

Bill: 114-s-1065
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Air quality
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
School administration

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: 

School Asthma Management Plan Act

 
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to enable public elementary schools and secondary schools to: (1) develop and implement a school asthma management plan; and (2) purchase drugs and devices for emergency use that are approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, including bronchodilators, spacers, and inhalers for students served by the school, as well as devices that measure pulmonary function or asthma education tools.
 
Authorizes ED to award a grant to a local health or education department to carry out such activities upon determining that in such local area such department is the entity that would routinely carry out such activities.
 
Requires ED to give priority in awarding grants to: (1) any LEA that will use grant funds to assist a public elementary school or secondary school that has a high burden of asthma, and (2) any department that proposes to carry out the grant activities at such a school.
 
Requires grantees to: (1) find innovative ways to encourage rapid bidirectional communication between schools and students' physicians and students' adherence to asthma treatment, (2) ensure that they have on staff a nurse or individual who is trained to administer emergency asthma care, (3) ensure that all student asthma action plans include asthma triggers, both allergens and irritants, for the student; and (4) ensure that each school served under the grant reports asthma emergency events involving students to the state health department by school identifier.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1066
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: 

Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act of 2015

 
Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover as a part D drug any devices approved for home use by the Food and Drug Administration for the safe and effective containment, removal, decontamination, and disposal of home-generated needles, syringes, and other sharps through a sharps container, decontamination/destructive device, or sharps-by-mail program or similar program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Review and Sunset Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1067
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2015-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: 

Regulatory Review and Sunset Act of 2015

 
 Requires federal agencies to review their covered rules and modify, consolidate, or terminate such rules on a periodic basis. Defines "covered rule" to include a significant rule that is likely to result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or any other rule designated by an agency or the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget for sunset review. 
 
Allows a person adversely affected by a rule that is not a significant rule to submit a public petition for sunset review of such rule. Provides for sunset review of a rule upon the request of a congressional committee or a majority of the members of such committee.
 
Requires the OIRA to: (1) conduct an inventory of existing rules and deadlines for their sunset review; (2) prioritize rules for sunset review based on specified criteria, including the cost of the rule and the burden of reviewing it; (3) group related rules for simultaneous sunset review; (4) provide guidance to agencies for conducting sunset reviews; and (5) provide feedback to agencies on sunset reviews and results. 
 
Sets forth review deadlines for existing and new significant rules. 
 
Requires each agency to designate a Regulatory Review Officer with responsibility for implementation of this Act. 
 
Provides for judicial review of a denial or substantial inexcusable delay in granting or denying a public petition for sunset review of a rule.
 
Terminates this Act 10 years after its enactment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system from cyber security threats.

Bill: 114-s-1068
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2015-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Canada
Computer security and identity theft
Electric power generation and transmission
Emergency planning and evacuation
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Mexico
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Secretary of Energy to require an entity that owns, controls, or operates a bulk-power system facility to take whatever actions the Secretary determines will best avert or mitigate a cyber security threat pursuant to a written notice from the President that immediate action is necessary to protect the bulk-power system from such threat.
 
The Secretary is encouraged to coordinate with Canadian and Mexican officials responsible for the protection of cyber security of the interconnected North American electricity grid.
 
The Secretary, before exercising this authority, shall consult about the cyber security threat with: (1) the entities indicated, (2) the Electric Reliability Organization, (3) the Electricity Sub-sector Coordinating Council, and (4) other appropriate federal officials. 
 
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall establish a mechanism that permits owners, operators, or users of the bulk-power system to seek recovery of prudently incurred costs required to implement actions ordered by the Secretary.
 
Rates or charges approved under this mechanism must be just and reasonable, and neither unduly discriminatory nor preferential.
 
Emergency orders under the bill are limited to a 30-day period unless the Secretary: (1) provides interested persons an opportunity to submit written data, recommendations, and arguments; and (2) affirms, amends (for up to 90 days), or repeals the order.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Complete America's Great Trails Act

Bill: 114-s-1069
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-04-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: 

Complete America's Great Trails Act

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the fair market value of any National Scenic Trail conservation contribution. Requires the Department of the Interior to study and report on the efficacy of such tax credit in completing, extending, and increasing the number of National Scenic Trails and the feasibility and cost of making such credit refundable and transferable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-23
text: Introduced in Senate