hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to implement security measures in the electronic tax return filing process to prevent tax refund fraud from being perpetrated with electronic identity theft.

Bill: 114-s-845
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 
This bill directs the Internal Revenue Service to implement security measures, including the use of security questions, in the electronic tax return filing process to prevent tax refund fraud from being perpetrated through electronic identity theft. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-846
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
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: 2015-03-24
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: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

Bill: 114-s-847
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make it a crime to: (1) transmit to another person the location, movement, or activities of law enforcement agents while intending to further a federal crime relating to U.S. immigration; and (2) destroy, alter, or damage any physical or electronic device used by the federal government to control the border or any port of entry.
 
 Subjects a violator to fine, up to 10 years' imprisonment, or both.
 
Prohibits the carrying or use of a firearm in an alien smuggling crime.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-848
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Electric power generation and transmission
Emergency planning and evacuation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Pollution liability
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Power Act with respect to orders by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to generate, transmit, or sell electricity to prevent an emergency in energy reliability, where the order may result in a conflict with environmental law. FERC must ensure that the order: (1) requires generation, delivery, interchange, or transmission of electricity only during hours necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest; and (2) be consistent with applicable environmental law and minimize any adverse environmental impacts to the maximum extent practicable.
 
Compliance with such an order shall not be considered a violation of conflicting federal, state, or local environmental laws.
 
Orders that may result in a conflict with environmental law must expire within 90 days and may be renewed or reissued for subsequent periods as necessary to meet the emergency and serve the public interest. 
 
During an emergency, a municipality engaged in the transmission or sale of electricity and not otherwise subject to FERC's jurisdiction may make temporary connections with public utilities subject to FERC's jurisdiction and construct temporary facilities for the transmission of electricity in interstate commerce as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-849
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015

 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to: (1) enhance and expand infrastructure and activities to track the epidemiology of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; and (2) incorporate information obtained through those activities into a National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the System facilitates further research on neurological diseases.
 
Requires HHS to provide for the collection and storage of information on neurological diseases, including the incidence, prevalence, and other information, to the extent practicable. 
 
Requires HHS to: (1) make information and analysis in the System available to federal agencies and to the public, including researchers; and (2) ensure that privacy and security protections applicable to the System are at least as stringent as the protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

action_date: 2016-04-04
text: 

Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve the collection of epidemiological and surveillance data on neurological diseases and conditions. HHS may provide support to public or nonprofit entities for such purpose. Collected data must be made available for biomedical research. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 408.
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-850
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Civil actions and liability
Mammals
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2015 

 
 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: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-851
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Digital media
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act of 2015
 
 
Prohibits a state or local jurisdiction from imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on the sale or use of a digital good or service delivered or transferred electronically to a customer. Excludes from the definition of "digital service" a service that is predominantly attributable to the direct, contemporaneous expenditure of live human effort, skill, or expertise, a telecommunications service, an ancillary service, an Internet access service, an audio or video programming service, or a hotel intermediary service.
 
Restricts taxation of a digital good or service to taxation by a state or local jurisdiction whose territorial limits encompass a customer tax address, as defined by this Act. Makes the seller of digital goods or services responsible for obtaining and maintaining such address. Provides for the taxation of digital goods and services transactions that are aggregated and not separately stated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A Voice for Victims Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-852
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
Sex offenses
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

A Voice for Victims Act of 2015

 
This bill makes unenforceable any agreement between an employer and an employee to arbitrate a dispute with respect to a tort claim arising out of rape.
 
This declaration applies to: 
 
 
any &quot;employer&quot; engaged in an industry affecting commerce who has 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks (excluding the United States, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, or any agency of the District of Columbia subject to competitive service, or a bona fide private membership club [other than a labor organization] which is exempt from federal taxation); and
 
any &quot;employee&quot; except individuals elected to state public office, personal staff of such an officer, or policy-making appointees or immediate advisers to the office. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Sexual Abuse by School Personnel Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-856
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crimes against children
Criminal justice information and records
Domestic violence and child abuse
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employee hiring
Personnel records
School administration
Sex offenses
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Stop Sexual Abuse by School Personnel Act of 2015

 
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require each state and local educational agency (LEA) that receives funds under the ESEA to have policies and procedures in effect that require a criminal background check for each school employee in the LEA's public elementary and secondary schools.
 
Requires the background check to be conducted and administered by the state or the LEA.
 
Authorizes states or LEAs to use ESEA funds to establish, implement, or improve policies and procedures on background checks for school employees. Lists the policies and procedures to be implemented using that assistance, including training for school employees on how to recognize, respond to, and prevent child abuse.
 
Requires state and LEA school improvement plans (required for receipt of school improvement funds under part A of title I of the ESEA) to describe the laws, regulations, or policies and procedures in effect in the state that:
 
 
terminate individuals who fail to pass the criminal background check,
 
improve the reporting of those failures,
 
reduce the instances of a school employee being transferred following the employee's failure to pass the background check,
 
provide a school employee with a requested copy of the employee's criminal background check and a timely process for appealing its results,
 
provide the results of the criminal background check to the employer in a statement that indicates whether a school employee is eligible for employment, and
 
make the background check policies and procedures publicly available.
 
 
Directs the Secretary of Education, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General, to provide technical assistance and support to states, LEAs, and schools that shall include, at a minimum:
 
 
a comprehensive package of materials that outlines the steps that can be taken to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse by school personnel;
 
 the most cost-effective way to disseminate federal information so states, LEAs, child welfare agencies, and criminal justice entities are aware of such information and have access to it; and
 
 mechanisms to better track and analyze the prevalence of child sexual abuse by school personnel through existing federal data collection systems.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-857
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: 

Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover comprehensive Alzheimer's disease care planning services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-858
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public utilities and utility rates
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: 

Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2015

 
 
This bill amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to revise requirements for energy savings performance and utility energy service contracts (performance contracts). (These contracts allow federal agencies to work with private contractors on energy efficiency upgrades to federal facilities.) 
 
Each federal facility energy manager must provide an explanation regarding life cycle cost-effective measures that have not been implemented as part of the web-based compliance certification system. (Life cycle costs are the total cost of owning, operating, and maintaining a building over its useful life.)
 
The Department of Energy must report to the President and Congress on each agency's performance contracts, including their investment value and their energy savings.
 
The energy conservation measures that may be contained in performance contracts are expanded by including those involving energy consuming devices and required support structures.
 
Agencies may not limit recognition of operation and maintenance savings associated with energy systems that were modernized or replaced with energy conservation measures and water conservation measures (e.g. lower energy and water bills due to energy efficiency and conservation measures).
 
Agencies may sell or transfer energy savings and apply the proceeds to fund a performance contract.
 
The energy savings that may be contained in performance contracts are expanded to include: (1) the use, sale, or transfer of energy incentives, rebates, or credits (including renewable energy credits) from governments or utilities; and (2) any revenue generated from a reduction in energy or water use, more efficient waste recycling, or additional energy generated from more efficient equipment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-860
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Inflation and prices
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: 

Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and (2) make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and the lifetime gift tax exemption. Provides for an inflation adjustment to such exemption amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Appalachian Regional Development Amendments Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-863
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Appalachian Regional Commission
Computers and information technology
Economic development
Educational technology and distance education
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: 

Appalachian Regional Development Amendments Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes appropriations for the Appalachian Regional Commission for FY2016-FY2020, extends the termination date of the Appalachian Regional Development Program through the end of FY2020, and allots funding to enable the Commission to provide technical assistance, make grants, and enter into contracts in the Appalachian region to increase affordable access to broadband networks throughout Appalachia and for related projects and activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate
National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act

Bill: 114-s-864
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Medicaid
Medical education
Medicare
Nursing
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: 

National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act

 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals to implement and submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a staffing plan that complies with specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit. Requires HHS to develop a transparent method for establishing nurse staffing requirements above minimum ratios.
 
Directs HHS to adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs incurred in providing services to Medicare beneficiaries that are attributable to compliance with such ratios.
 
Gives nurses the right to act as the patient's advocate by initiating action to improve health care and by giving the patient an opportunity to make informed health care decisions. Allows a nurse to object to, or refuse to participate in, any assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if the nurse is not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing the nurse's license. Prohibits a hospital from: (1) taking specified actions against a nurse based on the nurse's refusal to accept an assignment for such a reason; or (2) discriminating against any individual for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or of any related facilities.
 
Adds stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program. Expands the nurse retention grant program to authorize programs to implement nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate