hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act

Bill: 114-s-821
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aging
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

BPA in Food Packaging Right to Know Act

 
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) issue a revised safety assessment for food containers composed in whole or in part of bisphenol A (BPA), taking into consideration different types and uses of such containers; and (2) determine whether there is reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to BPA through food containers or other items composed in whole or in part of BPA, taking into consideration potential adverse effects from low-dose exposure and the effects of exposure on vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and populations with high exposure to BPA.
 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale of a food if its container is composed in whole or in part of BPA unless the label includes the following statement: &quot;This food packaging contains BPA, an endocrine-disrupting chemical, according to the National Institutes of Health.&quot;

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1667)
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-822
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative and renewable resources
Department of the Interior
Government information and archives
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2015

 
This 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 if: (1) the land is available for leasing and not already leased or nominated to be leased, (2) the lessee has a legal right to develop geothermal resources on land adjacent to the federal land that will be leased, (3) sufficient data was submitted to Interior to show there is a valid discovery of geothermal resources on the adjacent land and that the thermal feature extends into the adjoining federal land, and (4) the lessee has not previously received a noncompetitive lease for the discovery.
 
Interior must lease the land at fair market value, publish a notice of any lease requests, and provide review of the final determination of fair market value.
 
 Lessees must make annual rental payments equal to those required for lands that are leased competitively.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1667; text of measure as introduced: CR S1668)
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 206 West Commercial Street in East Rochester, New York, as the "Officer Daryl R. Pierson Post Office".

Bill: 114-s-823
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
New York State
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 206 West Commercial Street in East Rochester, New York, as the "Officer Daryl R. Pierson Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
REVIEWS Act

Bill: 114-s-826
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Federal appellate courts
Judicial review and appeals
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Regulatory Examination Vital for Improving and Evaluating Working Solutions Act of 2015 or the REVIEWS Act

 
This bill makes existing rules of a federal agency (i.e. each authority of the federal government, except the Congress, U.S. courts, the governments of U.S. territories or possessions, and the government of the District of Columbia) inoperative 10 years after promulgation, but allows extensions for additional periods of not more than 10 years if the agency promulgates the expiring rule in compliance with the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.
 
The bill expands the definition of "final agency action" for purposes of judicial review to include interpretative rules, general statements of policy, and rules of agency organization, procedure or practice issued by an agency. 
 
The bill grants exclusive jurisdiction to the federal courts of appeal (except for the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) to review all rules of an agency that cease to be effective under this Act and that the agency continues to enforce. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1668; text of measure as introduced: CR S1668-1669)
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act

Bill: 114-s-828
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2015-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Environmental regulatory procedures
Forests, forestry, trees
General public lands matters
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
State and local government operations
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: 

Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands Act

 
 This bill gives states the sole authority to promulgate or enforce any regulation, guidance, or permit requirement regarding hydraulic fracturing on or under any land within their boundaries. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation.
 
Hydraulic fracturing on federal land must comply with the law of the state in which the land is located.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-829
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Improvement Act of 2015

 
This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate and approve independent accreditation organizations that apply quality standards for suppliers only if they are Boards for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification or essentially equivalent programs.
 
Special payment rules for certain prosthetics and custom-fabricated orthotics are extended to custom-fitted orthotics. Such rules do not apply, however, to off-the-shelf orthotics furnished on or after January 1, 2016, which are included in a competitive acquisition program.
 
Decisions about Medicare coverage of orthotics and prosthetics on or after January 1, 2016, must take into account the complexity of the item as well as supplier qualifications (which do not apply, however, to physicians, occupational therapists, or physical therapists state-licensed to provide such items).
 
Documentation created by an orthotist or prosthetist is considered part of the patient's medical record.
 
Requirements for suppliers of orthotics and prosthetics are separated from those for suppliers of durable medical equipment.
 
Orthotists and prosthetists must have a supplier number for Medicare payment to be made.
 
Patients are not liable for payment of furnished orthotics or prosthetics where payment may not be made or where payment is denied. Only the orthotists or prosthetists are liable in such circumstances.
 
Only the patient may make the minimal self-adjustment required to qualify off-the-shelf orthotics for Medicare coverage in a competitive acquisition program.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
LDRD Enhancement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-830
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Appropriations
Defense spending
Department of Energy
Executive agency funding and structure
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear weapons
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

LDRD Enhancement Act of 2015

 
Amends the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 to increase from 8% to 10% the percentage of Department of Energy (DOE) funding for government-owned, contractor-operated laboratories that may be used for laboratory directed research and development. 
 
Amends the Atomic Energy Defense Act to increase from 6% to 10% the maximum percentage of DOE funding to government-owned, contractor-operated laboratories for national security activities that DOE may provide to such laboratories for laboratory directed research and development.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act

Bill: 114-s-831
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Tennessee

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act

 
Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2015-FY2024: (1) for the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) or procurement of a long-range penetrating bomber aircraft; (2) to procure an SSBN-X submarine (and prohibits the use of such funds for FY2025 and thereafter to procure more than eight such submarines); or (3) for the RDT&E or procurement of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
 
Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated for FY2015 or thereafter for DOD or the Department of Energy: (1) to make the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons; (2) until the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy jointly certify that the total cost of the B61 life extension program has been reduced to not more than $4 billion; (3) for the W78 life extension program; (4) for the mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility project; (5) for the uranium processing facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; or (6) for RDT&E of a new air-launched cruise missile or for the W80 warhead life extension program.
 
Prohibits Navy forces, beginning in FY2021, from including more than eight operational ballistic-missile submarines available for deployment.
 
Requires initial and annual reports from the Secretaries of Defense and Energy outlining their respective plans to carry out the requirements of this Act.
 
Directs the President to submit to Congress an annual report containing a comprehensive accounting by the Office of Management and Budget of the amounts obligated or expended by the federal government for each nuclear weapon and related nuclear program during the fiscal year covered by the report for the life cycle of such weapon or program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
CARE for Reservists Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-832
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Defense spending
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
Military readiness
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Care and Readiness Enhancement for Reservists Act of 2015 or the CARE for Reservists Act of 2015

 
Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide care for behavioral health conditions to any member of the Selected Reserve for whom such Secretary determines, based on the member's most recent medical exam or mental health assessment, that the receipt of such care will ensure that the member meets applicable standards of medical readiness.
 
Provides funding for such care through the Defense Health Program.
 
 Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish counseling, which may include a comprehensive individual assessment, to any member of the Selected Reserve who has a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma. States that such counseling or assessment shall not require a prior referral.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Adoption Parity Act

Bill: 114-s-835
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Disability and paralysis
Income tax credits
Indian social and development programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

 Tribal Adoption Parity Act
 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow Indian tribes to make the determination that a child is a child with special needs for purposes of the adoption tax credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Health Care Flexibility Act

Bill: 114-s-836
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Family Health Care Flexibility Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that: (1) restrict payments from health savings accounts, Archer medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending and reimbursement arrangements for medications to prescription drugs and insulin only (thus allowing payments for over-the-counter medications); and (2) impose a $2,500 limitation on salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the criteria used by the Corps of Engineers to dredge small ports.

Bill: 114-s-837
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Navigation, waterways, harbors

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 
Sets the tonnage requirement for consideration of dredging of small ports by the Corps of Engineers at a minimum of 500,000 tons, as calculated by the relevant port authority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-838
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%.
 
Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Empowers state Attorneys General to enforce this Act.
 
Revises requirements for a periodic statement for each billing cycle with respect to where the total finance charge exceeds 50 cents for a monthly or longer billing cycle, or the pro rata part of 50 cents for a billing cycle shorter than monthly. Requires inclusion of the fee and interest rate, displayed as &quot;FAIR,&quot; instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1710-1711)
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-839
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend through calendar 2020 the payment increase (add-on) for Medicare home health services in rural areas.
 
 The ceiling on the total amount of the additional payments or payment adjustments otherwise made in the case of home health outliers with respect to a fiscal year or year is lowered, in the case of each of 2016 through 2020, from 2.5% to 2.25% of the total payments projected or estimated to be made under the prospective payment system for home health services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1711-1712)
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Prioritizing Veterans Access to Mental Health Care Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-841
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Mental health
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Prioritizing Veterans Access to Mental Health Care Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to make a veteran seeking mental health care in a non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) entity eligible for such care if the veteran provides a written statement (which may be sent electronically or made in person or by fax) that the veteran seeks mental health care from the VA and has not received timely and adequate mental health care through a VA facility or health care provider.
 
The VA shall give health professional hiring priority to those health professionals for which there is the greatest need, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health care providers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1716-1717)
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-842
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Arizona
Nevada
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to designate as a high priority corridor on the National Highway System, as part of Interstate Route I-11, the Intermountain West Corridor from the vicinity of Las Vegas, Nevada, extending:
 
 
north along U.S. Route 95, terminating at Interstate Route 80; and
 
south from the vicinity of Wickenburg to Interstate Route 10 and continuing south toward the Tucson vicinity to the Nogales, Arizona, region; and 
 
establishing an international trade corridor by employing Interstates in existence on the date of enactment of this Act or new alignments to be determined through appropriate studies.
 


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
Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-843
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015

 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to deem an individual receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital to be an inpatient with respect to satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital requirement in order to entitle the individual to Medicare coverage of any post-hospital extended care services in a skilled nursing facility.


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 bill to repeal the medical device excise tax, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-844
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Energy prices
Energy revenues and royalties
Gulf of Mexico
Health technology, devices, supplies
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 
This bill repeals the excise tax on medical devices and offsets the cost of such repeal by prohibiting: (1) major integrated oil companies from using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method; and (2) the issuance of new oil or natural gas production leases in the Gulf of Mexico under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to any person who does not renegotiate their existing leases to generate payment of royalties from such leases.


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