hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2033
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adoption and foster care
Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional oversight
Employee leave
Family relationships
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Library of Congress
National Guard and reserves
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: 

Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2015

 
This bill allows a federal employee, including an employee of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child, or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. The bill makes available (subject to specified requirements) for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) six administrative workweeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved, and (2) any accrued or accumulated annual or sick leave. 
 
The bill authorizes the Office of Personnel Management to promulgate regulations to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to such an employee to a total of 12 administrative workweeks, based on the consideration of: (1) the benefits to the federal government, including enhanced recruitment and employee retention; (2) the cost to the government; (3) trends in the private sector and in state and local governments; (4) the federal government's role as a model employer; and (5) the impact of increased paid parental leave on lower-income and economically disadvantaged employees and their children.
 
The bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow the same substitution for covered congressional employees, Government Accountability Office (GAO) employees, and Library of Congress (LOC) employees. Service by an employee of the executive branch, the TSA, Congress, the GAO, or the LOC while on active duty as a member of the National Guard or Reserves is counted as service for that branch or agency for purposes of determining such employee's eligibility to take or substitute leave as provided by this Act. 
 
The GAO must report to Congress, not later than five years after enactment of this Act, on its implementation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Thin Blue Line Act

Bill: 114-s-2034
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2015-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime victims
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health personnel
Law enforcement officers
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: 

Thin Blue Line Act

 
 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to expand the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2035
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Employee leave
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: 

Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2015

 
This bill requires federal employees furloughed or required to work due to a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after October 1, 2015, to be compensated after the lapse in appropriations ends. Employees required to work during the lapse in appropriations are permitted to use leave. The bill addresses a lapse in appropriations scheduled to occur if FY2016 appropriations legislation is not enacted prior to the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1, 2015. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 229.
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2015-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2037
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: 

Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015

 
 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to restore a student's Pell Grant eligibility for any period of time during which the student qualified for, or would have qualified for, federal student loan forgiveness due to school closure, assertion of a defense against repayment, or institutional fraud or misconduct. 
 
Specifically, this bill provides that Pell Grants received by a student during that period of time do not count toward the student's lifetime limit on Pell Grant eligibility (currently 12 full-time semesters). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Jumpstart GSE Reform Act

Bill: 114-s-2038
Sponsor: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN]
Introduced: 2015-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Housing finance and home ownership
Securities
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: 

Jumpstart GSE Reform Act 

 
 Prohibits the use of an increase in the guarantee fee required to be charged by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), or any affiliate of such organizations (enterprises) to offset an increase in outlays or a reduction in revenues for any purposes other than those related to the enterprises' business functions under: (1) the congressional budget, (2) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), or (3) the Statutory Pay-As-You-Act 2010. 
 
Prohibits the Department of the Treasury from selling, transferring, relinquishing, liquidating, divesting, or otherwise disposing of any outstanding shares of senior preferred stock acquired pursuant to a specified Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement between Treasury and an enterprise until Congress has passed and the President has signed into law legislation that includes a specific instruction to Treasury regarding the sale, transfer, relinquishment, liquidation, divestiture, or other disposition of the senior preferred stock so acquired.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the mountain at the Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, as Devils Tower, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2039
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2015-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land use and conservation
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: 
This bill declares that the mountain at the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming shall be known and designated as &quot;Devils Tower.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-496.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6700-6701)
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Life-Saving New Therapies for Neonates Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2041
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2015-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: 

Promoting Life-Saving New Therapies for Neonates Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to award the sponsor of a new drug or biological product for the treatment of newborns a neonatal drug exclusivity voucher upon approval of the medication. A neonatal drug exclusivity voucher is a transferable voucher for a one-year extension of all existing patents and marketing exclusivities for a brand name medication. For a sponsor to be eligible for a voucher, the new medication must: (1) treat a condition identified in the Priority List of Critical Needs for Neonates required under this Act, and (2) have been studied in newborns.
 
A voucher may be revoked if the new medication is not marketed in the United States within one year of approval.
 
A voucher may not be used: (1) to extend the marketing exclusivity period for a drug for which the FDA requires an assessment of the safety and effectiveness in newborns, or (2) on the same product as a priority review voucher.
 
A sponsor intending to use a voucher must notify the FDA at least 15 months before the expiration of the patents or exclusivity to be extended.
 The Government Accountability Office must study the effectiveness of this voucher program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2043
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2015-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: 

Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2015

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand lender disclosure requirements. 
 
A lender must provide a statement to a Federal Family Education Loan or Direct Loan borrower during a period when loan payments are not required. Such statement must include the current loan balance, original principal loan amount, interest rate, total interest paid, aggregate payments, lender or servicer contact information, and accumulated interest amount. It must also explain the option to pay accrued interest before it capitalizes and suggest a payment amount based on interest charged. 
 
Additionally, the legislation modifies loan counseling requirements for an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs. 
 
Currently, an IHE must provide one-time entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. This bill requires an IHE to provide pre-loan counseling to a student borrower of a federal student loan at or prior to the first disbursement of each new loan. 
 
It revises and expands required elements of pre-loan counseling to include a borrower's estimated debt-to-income ratio at graduation, a statement to borrow the minimum necessary amount, a warning that high debt-to-income ratio makes repayment more difficult, options to reduce borrowing, and an explanation of the importance of on-time graduation. 
 
Prior to certifying a Federal Direct Loan disbursement to a student, an IHE must ensure that such student manually enters the exact dollar amount of the loan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6702-6703)
action_date: 2015-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2045
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 

Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015 

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR 6/9/2016 S3723)
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order continuing a stay of a hydroelectric license for the Mahoney Lake hydroelectric project in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2046
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alaska
Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Lakes and rivers
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 
This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request of the City of Saxman, Alaska, to issue a stay of the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.
 
In addition, upon request, FERC must reinstate the construction license and make it effective as of the date the stay is lifted.
 
Subject to certain conditions, FERC is required to extend for up to six years the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the project.

action_date: 2015-12-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec. 1)This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request of the City of Saxman, Alaska, to issue a stay of the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the Mahoney Lake Hydroelectric Project located in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.
 
In addition, upon request, FERC must reinstate the construction license and make it effective as of the date the stay is lifted.
 
Subject to certain conditions, FERC is required to extend for up to six years the statutory deadline by which the city must commence construction on the project.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 335.
action_date: 2015-12-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-190.
action_date: 2015-12-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-190.
action_date: 2015-11-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-10-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-381.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Local Fishing Jobs and Communities Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2047
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean
Government information and archives
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 

New England Fishermen Preservation Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from requiring sectors of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery to comply with the independent, third-party monitoring program, unless the program is fully funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program monitors annual catch limits for fishing vessels in that sector. Currently, those sectors are required to develop and implement those programs, and are responsible for the program costs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2048
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Low- and moderate-income housing
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 

Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act of 2015

 
This bill extends through FY2016 authority for the following Department of Veterans Affairs programs: 
 
 
homeless veterans reintegration programs; 
 
the homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration program;
 
referral and counseling services for certain veterans at risk of homelessness; 
 
treatment and rehabilitation services for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, including a program to provide homeless veterans with benefits and services at certain locations; 
 
housing assistance for homeless veterans; 
 
financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing; and 
 
the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.
 
 
Extends through December 31, 2016, authority for the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a continuing medical education program for non-Department medical professionals who treat veterans and family members of veterans to increase knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2049
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a continuing medical education program for non-VA medical professionals, with the goal of: (1) increasing knowledge and recognition of medical conditions common to veterans and family members, and (2) improving outreach to veterans and family members.
 
The program must include education on: (1) dealing with patients who are veterans or family members; (2) identifying and treating common mental and physical conditions of veterans and family members; (3) programs and benefits available to veterans and family members through the VA, the Department of Labor, and other federal agencies and non-federal organizations; and (4) the VA health care system.
 
The VA shall: (1) carry out such program for five years on a VA website at no cost to participating non-VA medical professionals, and (2) ensure that the program is accredited in as many states as practicable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-24
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-702.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Private Education Loan Modification Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2050
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Rural conditions and development
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 

Private Education Loan Modification Act of 2015

 
This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of the Treasury to establish credit facilities, at no net cost to the federal government, to refinance private student loans to ensure lower interest rates for borrowers. Treasury must first determine that existing borrowers are unable to secure adequate credit accommodations to refinance private student loans. 
 
The bill directs Treasury to conduct a national awareness campaign to alert private student loan borrowers who may benefit.
 
It expresses the sense of the Congress that federal financial institutions and federally chartered private entities should assist borrowers in refinancing existing private student loans.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Billing Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2052
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Debt collection
Hospital care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Billing Accountability Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the requirement that a veteran make copayments for medications, hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services if: 
 
 
an error committed by the VA or a VA employee was the cause of delaying copayment notification to the veteran, and 
 
the veteran received such notification later than 120 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services.
 
 
In requiring a veteran to make a copayment for care or services provided at a VA or a non-VA medical facility the VA shall notify the veteran not later than 120 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services. If the VA does not provide notification by such date it may not collect the payment, including through a third-party entity, unless the veteran is provided with:
 
 
information about applying for a waiver and establishing a payment plan with the VA, and 
 
opportunity to make a waiver or establish a payment plan.
 
 
The VA shall review and improve its copayment billing internal controls and notification procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate