hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Airplane KITS Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2536
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2016-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Allergies
Aviation and airports
Child health
Department of Transportation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: 

Airplane Kids In Transit Safety Act of 2016 or the Airplane KITS Act of 201
6
 
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to require aircraft medical kits to include medications and equipment to meet the emergency medical needs of children, such as an epinephrine auto-injector.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
PLO Accountability Act

Bill: 114-s-2537
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
International law and treaties
Israel
Middle East
Palestinians
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: 

PLO Accountability Act

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress concerning the participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the peace process and adherence to diplomatic agreements with Israel, PA support for an International Criminal Court investigation of Israel, and the presence of a PLO office in Washington, DC. 
 
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 is amended to authorize the President to waive for up to six months the prohibition against establishment or maintenance of a PLO office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities within U.S. jurisdiction, if the President certifies to Congress that the Palestinians have entered into a final negotiated peace agreement with, and have ceased hostilities against, Israel or that: 
 
the Palestinians have not, on or after April 1, 2015, obtained state standing in the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians; 
 
the Palestinians have officially ceased to be members of the ICC and have withdrawn from the Rome Statute; 
 
any ICC investigation against Israel initiated by, or on behalf of, the Palestinians has been withdrawn and terminated;
 
the PLO and the PA no longer provide financial awards or salaries to Palestinians imprisoned in Israel for terrorist attacks, or to their families; and
 
the PLO and the PA no longer engage in a pattern of incitement against the United States or Israel.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
ICE Agent Support Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2538
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Executive agency funding and structure
Firearms and explosives
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement officers
Motor vehicles

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: 

ICE Agent Support Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to refund out of the Immigration Enforcement Account the amount paid out of any appropriation for expenses incurred by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for: 
 
 
identification, investigation, apprehension, detention, and removal of criminal aliens, including providing staffing levels within the Enforcement and Removal Operations division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 
 
maintenance and updating of systems used by the division to identify and track criminal aliens, deportable aliens, inadmissible aliens, and aliens illegally entering the United States; and 
 
purchase of firearms, vehicles, and other safety or apprehension equipment for the division. 
 
 
DHS shall establish the percentage of positions within the division that shall be classified as a criminal investigator position.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2540
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Crime victims
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Disability and paralysis
Elementary and secondary education
Immigration status and procedures
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Mental health
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to appoint or provide counsel at government expense to aliens in removal proceedings.
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall provide an alien in removal proceedings with all relevant documents in its possession, unless the alien has knowingly waived the right to such documents. In the absence of a waiver a removal proceeding may not proceed until the alien has received, and had time to review, the documents. 
 
DOJ may appoint or provide counsel to aliens in any INA proceeding.
 
DHS shall ensure that aliens have access to counsel inside all immigration detention and border facilities.
 
DOJ shall appoint counsel, at government expense if necessary, for an unaccompanied alien child or a particularly vulnerable individual.
 
DHS shall: (1) facilitate access to counsel for all aliens detained in facilities under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and (2) establish procedures to ensure that legal orientation programs are available for all detained aliens, including aliens held in CBP facilities.
 
DOJ shall develop and administer a two-year pilot program at not fewer than two immigration courts to grant access to legal information to non-detained aliens with pending asylum claims.
 
DHS shall establish a pilot program to increase the court appearance rates of unaccompanied alien children and particularly vulnerable individuals by contracting with nongovernmental, community-based organizations to provide such aliens with case management services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S876-877)
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Big Cat Public Safety Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2541
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Trade restrictions
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Big Cat Public Safety Act
 
of 2016

 
This bill amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit any person from breeding or possessing any live animal of any prohibited wildlife species (i.e., any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species). Breeding means facilitating propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or failing to prevent propagation or reproduction. The bill extends forfeiture provisions to fish, wildlife, or plants that are bred or possessed. 
 
The bill revises the list of entities that are exempt from Lacey Act prohibitions to include: 
 
 
institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; 
 
 certain facilities that have an active written contract with an Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan or Taxon Advisory Group for breeding prohibited wildlife species; 
 
persons who do not allow the transportation and display of prohibited wildlife species off-site; 
 
current owners of animals that were born before this bill's enactment if the animals are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service within 180 days; and
 
 certain traveling circuses that hold Class C licenses under the Animal Welfare Act.
 
 
Entities exempt from Lacey Act prohibitions must require that current owners and circuses not allow direct contact between the public and the prohibited wildlife species.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Cradle Act

Bill: 114-s-2542
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health facilities and institutions
Licensing and registrations
Medicaid
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Cradle Act

 
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow for alternative certification requirements for a residential pediatric recovery center to participate in a state Medicaid program. A "residential pediatric recovery center" is a facility that treats infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which is caused by exposure to opioids before birth.
 
With respect to certifying such facilities, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid must establish guidelines that: (1) include requirements specifically applicable to treating infants with NAS, and (2) take into account that certain requirements needed for centers that treat adults may not be necessary for facilities that treat such infants. A residential pediatric recovery center may satisfy the requirements set forth in these guidelines in lieu of any comparable requirements otherwise applicable for purposes of the center's participation under a state Medicaid program.
 
A facility licensed by a state as a residential pediatric recovery center shall be treated as having satisfied certification requirements for participation under the Medicaid program for that state. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Changing the Culture of the FDA Act

Bill: 114-s-2543
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Changing the Culture of the FDA Act

 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to amend its mission statement to take responsibility for protecting the public health by considering the danger of addiction and overdose death when approving and regulating prescription opioid medications. (Opioid medications are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as certain pain medications.)

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2544
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Firearms and explosives
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mental health
Organized crime
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violent crime
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to prohibit and punish the straw purchasing of firearms. A straw purchase occurs when: (1) a person buys a firearm from an unlicensed seller on behalf of a person prohibited by law from possessing one, or (2) a person buys a firearm from a licensed dealer on behalf of another person.
 
Any person that commits, attempts, or conspires to commit a straw purchasing offense is subject to a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years (25 years if the firearm is used to commit a crime of violence). 
 
The bill expands the penalty for committing a firearms trafficking offense. Individuals who commit such an offense are subject to a fine and/or prison term of up to 15 years. Under current law, the penalty is a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years.
 
The U.S. Sentencing Commission shall amend the sentencing guidelines and policy statements to reflect increased penalties for persons convicted of straw purchasing firearms or firearms trafficking offenses. 
 
Under current law, it is unlawful to import firearms into the United States with the intent to engage in illegal activity. This bill extends the prohibition to the exportation of firearms.
 
The bill makes it unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person intends to transfer the firearm or ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism, a crime of violence, or a drug trafficking offense.
 
Neither the Department of Justice (DOJ) nor its law enforcement coordinate agencies shall facilitate the transfer of an operable firearm to an individual if any DOJ law enforcement officer involved knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the recipient is an agent of a drug cartel, unless U.S. law enforcement personnel continuously monitor or control the firearm at all times.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S877-879)
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Choice Card Prompt Payment Act

Bill: 114-s-2545
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Veterans Choice Card Prompt Payment Act

 
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), upon receipt of a request from a non-VA entity for reimbursement for health care services provided to a veteran under the Veterans Choice Program, to reimburse the entity even if the request does not include the veteran's medical records. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
No Windfalls for Bailed Out Executives Act

Bill: 114-s-2546
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Government lending and loan guarantees
Income tax deferral
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

No Windfalls for Bailed Out Executives Act
 
 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny deferred compensation to, or to require repayment of deferred compensation received by, key employees, members of the board of directors or other officers of a corporation, or any other employee having annual compensation of more than $1 million during any 36-month period in which their employer receives extraordinary assistance from the federal government. The bill defines "extraordinary governmental assistance" as grants, loans, loan guarantees, or other assistance to an employer that is intended to prevent such employer from becoming imminently insolvent or to cure such insolvency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Real Transparency in Airfares Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2547
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Marketing and advertising
Small business
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Real Transparency in Airfares Act of 2016

 
 This bill sets at $55,000, or $2,500 for an individual or small business, the maximum civil penalty assessed on a person for an unfair or deceptive practice relating to unfair methods of competition in air transportation, the sale of air transportation, or specified regulations relating to price advertising and opt-out requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Treating Small Airports with Fairness Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2549
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Department of Homeland Security
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Treating Small Airports with Fairness Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct, and provide all necessary staff and equipment for, security screening at any airport that lost commercial air service on or after January 1, 2013, if the airport operator submits: (1) a request for the TSA to conduct such screening, and (2) written confirmation of a commitment from a commercial air carrier that it desires to resume service at the airport within one year.
 
The TSA shall ensure that the process of implementing security screening at such an airport is complete by the later of: (1) 90 days after the operator of the airport submits a request, or (2) the date on which the carrier intends to resume service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Civic Duty Act

Bill: 114-s-2550
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Judicial procedure and administration
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Civic Duty Act

 
This bill amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to repeal the exemption of elected legislative branch officials from serving on grand or petit juries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2551
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive Office of the President
Foreign aid and international relief
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2016

 
This bill states that it is U.S. policy to regard the prevention of mass atrocities and genocide as a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility.
 
The President may establish an interagency Atrocities Prevention Board, which shall: (1) ensure that atrocities and the risk of atrocities throughout the world are adequately considered and addressed, and (2) oversee the development and execution of policies and tools to enhance the capacity of the United States to prevent and respond to atrocities.
 
The Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended to provide for the training of Foreign Service Officers in conflict and atrocity prevention.
 
The bill establishes in the Treasury the Complex Crises Fund to enable the U.S. Agency for International Development to support programs and activities to prevent or respond to emerging or unforeseen foreign challenges and complex crisis overseas, including potential mass atrocities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S879)
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Interstate Threats Clarification Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2552
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Domestic violence and child abuse
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Interstate Threats Clarification Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to modify the provision that prohibits transmitting in interstate commerce a communication that contains a threat to injure another person (i.e., the federal threat statute).
 
Specifically, it adds criminal intent as an element for a criminal offense under the federal threat statute. The government must prove that a defendant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly transmitted a communication that contained a threat.
 
Additionally, the bill revises the manner of transmission with respect to such communication to include the mail or any facility or means of interstate commerce. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S879-880)
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Kari's Law Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2553
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-02-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Emergency communications systems
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: 

Kari's Law Act of 2016

 

 
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone systems to have a default configuration that allows users to directly initiate a call to 9-1-1 (without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or post-fix, including any trunk-access code such as the digit "9") from any station equipped with dialing facilities.
 
Businesses installing such systems must configure the systems to provide a notification to a central location at the facility where the system is installed when a person at the facility initiates a call to 9-1-1 using the system, provided that the system is able to be so configured without an improvement to the hardware.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Introduced in Senate