hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act

Bill: 114-s-942
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Tax-exempt organizations
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction from the taxable amount of gifts for gifts made to specified tax-exempt organizations, including: (1) social welfare organizations; (2) labor, agricultural, and horticultural organizations; and (3) business leagues, chambers of commerce, real-estate boards, boards of trade, and professional football leagues.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-943
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of the Treasury
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Lawyers and legal services
Right of privacy
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that IRS employees are familiar with and act in accord with taxpayer rights, including the right to be informed, to quality service, to pay no more than the correct amount of tax, to challenge the position of IRS and to be heard, to appeal an IRS decision to an independent forum, to finality, to privacy, to confidentiality, to retain representation, and to a fair and just tax system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-944
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Emergency planning and evacuation
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Nuclear power
Radioactive wastes and releases

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from approving the request of a licensee for a waiver of, or exemption from, a covered regulation applicable to a civilian nuclear power reactor that has permanently ceased to operate.
 
Specifies as a covered regulation: (1) an emergency preparedness or response regulation or requirement, or (2) a security regulation or requirement applicable to spent nuclear fuel.
 
Declares that this prohibition shall not apply to a civilian nuclear power reactor at which all spent nuclear fuel has been transferred to spent nuclear fuel dry casks.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Dry Cask Storage Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-945
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Emergency planning and evacuation
Government trust funds
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear power
Radioactive wastes and releases

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Dry Cask Storage Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to require each licensee of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to submit a plan for: (1) transfer (including on-going additional transfers) to spent nuclear fuel dry casks of any spent nuclear fuel stored by the licensee for at least seven years in spent nuclear fuel pools, and (2) configuration of the remaining spent nuclear fuel in the pool in a manner that minimizes the chance of a fire if there is a loss of water in the pool.
 
Requires the NRC to approve or disapprove the plan within 90 days after its submission.
 
Authorizes the NRC to make a grant to any licensee with an approved plan to assist in the cost of transferring spent nuclear fuel to dry casks under the plan.
 
Requires the emergency planning zone applicable to each civilian nuclear power reactor to be at least 10 miles in radius until all spent nuclear fuel at the reactor has been transferred to dry casks.
 
Directs the NRC to expand to 50 miles in radius the emergency planning zone applicable to each reactor not in compliance with an approved plan. Makes the licensee responsible for all coasts associated with expansion.
 
Requires the Department of the Treasury to transfer annually to the NRC, to pay the costs of the grants program, 10% of the interest generated during the preceding fiscal year from investments of the Nuclear Waste Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Transport for Horses Act

Bill: 114-s-946
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Civil actions and liability
Mammals
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Safe Transport for Horses Act

 
 Prohibits a person from transporting a horse in interstate commerce in a motor vehicle (except a vehicle operated exclusively on rail or rails) containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another. Prescribes civil penalties for persons who knowingly violate such prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the depreciation rules for property used predominantly within an Indian reservation.

Bill: 114-s-947
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions
Indian social and development programs
Minority and disadvantaged businesses

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the special depreciation rules for property used predominantly within an Indian reservation and to permit a taxpayer to elect not to have such rules apply to any class of property for any taxable year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the taxable income limit on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties.

Bill: 114-s-948
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the suspension of the taxable income limitation on percentage depletion for oil and natural gas produced from marginal properties. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-950
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the tax credit for adoption expenses refundable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-951
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of the Treasury
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that all IRS employees are familiar with and act in accordance with taxpayer rights, including: (1) the right to be informed, including through reasonable access to tax forms and instructions and to written guidance that is accessible, consistent, written in plain language and easy to understand; (2) the right to be treated fairly, professionally, and courteously by IRS employees; (3) the right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax; (4) the right to challenge the position of the IRS and to be heard; (5) the right to appeal a decision of the IRS in an independent forum; (6) the right to finality, privacy, and confidentiality; (7) the right to retain representation; and (8) the right to a fair and just tax system that does not target individuals or organizations based upon their beliefs. 
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
U.S. OUTDOOR Act

Bill: 114-s-952
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Government trust funds
Manufacturing
Outdoor recreation
Research and development
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

United States Optimal Use of Trade to Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Act or the U.S. OUTDOOR Act

 
 Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain recreational performance outerwear.
 
Establishes the Sustainable Textile and Apparel Research Fund (STAR Fund). 
 
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to impose and collect, with specified exceptions, a fee of 1.5% of the appraised value of imported recreational performance outerwear and to deposit amounts collected into the STAR Fund. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to make quarterly distributions from the STAR Fund to one or more appropriate organizations to conduct applied research, development, and education activities to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in clean, eco-friendly apparel, other textile and apparel products, and sewn-product design and manufacturing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Eastern Nevada Land Implementation Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-953
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Nevada
State and local government operations
User charges and fees
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Eastern Nevada Land Implementation Improvement Act

 
 Amends the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000 (the Act) to require implementation of a multispecies habitat conservation plan in Lincoln County, Nevada. 
 
Amends the Act and the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 to make certain amounts available for comprehensive, cost-effective, and multijurisdictional hazardous fuels reduction projects and wildfire prevention planning (particularly for pinyon-juniper dominated landscapes) and other rangeland and woodland restoration projects within the county, consistent with the Ely Resource Management Plan and subject to approval by the Department of the Interior. 
 
Requires establishment of cooperative agreements between the Bureau of Land Management and Lincoln County for certain county-provided law enforcement and planning related activities. 
 
Requires the use of a portion of proceeds from land sales under both Acts for the Lincoln County Regional Development Authority or any other county economic development organization. 
 
Excludes specified public land within certain utility corridors in Lincoln and Clark Counties, Nevada, from being withdrawn from public land, mining, and mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws. 
 
Amends the Pam White Wilderness Act to adjust the boundary of the Mt. Moriah Wilderness to include specified lands. Adjusts the boundary of the High Schells Wilderness to include and exclude specified lands. 
 
Amends the Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989 to adjust the boundary of the Arc Dome Wilderness to exclude specified land. 
 
Amends the Mesquite Lands Act of 1988 to require the proceeds of the sales of certain parcels of land by Interior to the city of Mesquite, Nevada, to be made available for use for the development and implementation of a conservation plan to benefit fish and wildlife species of the Virgin River in Clark County (rather than, as currently, for development of a multispecies habitat conservation plan).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
FDA Accountability for Public Safety Act

Bill: 114-s-954
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Federal officials
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

FDA Accountability for Public Safety Act

 
This bill requires the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to ensure that an advisory committee of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates each new drug application for an opioid (a drug with effects similar to opium, such as morphine) and issues a recommendation regarding approval of the drug. If the decision to approve the drug is inconsistent with the committee's recommendation, the Commissioner must make the final decision on approval.
 If the committee recommends a drug not be approved but the Commissioner decides to approve the drug, the Commissioner must: (1) submit a report to Congress that includes the evidence regarding patient safety that supports the Commissioner's decision and a disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest of FDA officials involved in the decision to approve the drug; and (2) testify before Congress regarding the decision, upon request. Such a drug cannot be sold until the Commissioner has submitted the required report.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Vichai Sae Tung (also known as Chai Chaowasaree).

Bill: 114-s-955
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Provides for the relief of Vichai Sae Tung (also known as Chai Chaowasaree).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Disaster Reform Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-956
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing finance and home ownership
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Small Business Disaster Reform Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Small Business Act with respect to obtaining the best available collateral for a disaster loan of up to $200,000 relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business. Prohibits the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), in obtaining such collateral, from requiring the small business owner to use the owner's primary residence as collateral if the owner has other assets with a value equal to or greater than the loan amount that could be used.
 
Allows the Administrator to authorize a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide assistance to small businesses outside the state of that SBDC, without regard to geographical proximity, if the small business is in a declared major disaster area.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator shall ensure that a SBDC is appropriately reimbursed for any legitimate expenses in carrying out such assistance.
 
Directs the Administrator to increase oversight of small businesses receiving economic injury disaster loans, including random site visits and random reviews of loan usage. Expresses the sense of Congress that no additional federal funds shall be made available for such increased oversight.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator should: (1) reduce paperwork burdens on small businesses applying for SBA disaster assistance loans; and (2) ensure that the application for such assistance facilitates deterring and detecting potential instances of waste, fraud, and abuse. Requires the Administrator to take steps to reduce such paperwork.
 
Requires a report from the Administrator to specified congressional committees relating to the creation of a web portal to track the status of applications for SBA disaster assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-959
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Military education and training
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business-related tax credit for up to $5,000 for the training of a qualified individual in a qualified apprenticeship program. Defines a "qualified individual" as an individual who: (1) is an apprentice participating in a qualified apprenticeship program, (2) has been employed in such a program for a period of at least seven months that ends within the taxable year, and (3) is not a highly compensated employee or a seasonal worker.
 
 Defines a "qualified apprenticeship program" as a program that: (1) provides qualified individuals with on-the-job training and instruction for a qualified occupation (i.e., a skilled trade occupation in a high-demand mechanical, technical, health care, or technology field); (2) is registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor; and (3) maintains records relating to the qualified individual.
 
Allows a premature distribution, without penalty, from a tax-qualified retirement plan to an employee who is serving as a mentor. Defines a &quot;mentor&quot; as a working individual who: (1) has attained age 55; (2) works reduced hours and engages in mentoring activities for at least 20% of such hours; and (3) is responsible for the training and education of employees or students in an area of expertise for which such individual has a professional credential, certificate, or degree. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act

Bill: 114-s-960
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-04-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Inflation and prices
Self-employed
Social security and elderly assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: 

Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act

 
Directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor to prepare and publish for each calendar month a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-EC) that indicates changes over time in consumption expenditures typical for individuals in the United States age 62 or older.
 
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to make the CPI-EC the applicable Consumer Price Index for computation of cost-of-living increases in OASDI benefits for such individuals. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prescribe special rules for the determination of wages and self-employment income above the contribution and benefit base after 2015.
 
Amends SSAct title II to include surplus average indexed monthly earnings in the determination of primary OASDI amounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-15
text: Introduced in Senate