hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

Bill: 114-s-3102
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2016-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Birds
Cemeteries and funerals
Ecology
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Historical and cultural resources
Hunting and fishing
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Nevada
Outdoor recreation
Water use and supply
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: 

Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct sales or exchanges of eligible lands in Pershing County, Nevada, identified as the &quot;Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area.&quot;
 
Interior and the county shall jointly select which parcels of eligible land to offer for sale or acre-for-acre exchange. 
 
For purposes of acre-for-acre exchanges, Interior shall identify management priority areas within the Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area, including those considered to be:
 
 
 greater sage-grouse habitat;
 
 part of an identified wildlife corridor or designated critical habitat;
 
of value for outdoor recreation or public access for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes;
 
of significant cultural, historic, ecological, or scenic value; or
 
of value for improving federal land management. 
 
 
The bill prescribes requirements for the disposition of proceeds from the sales of lands under this bill. 
 
Interior shall offer for sale and convey to specified qualified entities, for fair market value, the remaining U.S. right, title, and interest in certain lands and interests in the county. 
 
Interior shall convey, without consideration, Unionville Cemetery to the county. 
 
The bill designates specified federal land in Nevada as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
The bill releases specified wilderness study areas from further review for designation as wilderness. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-509.
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3103
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2016-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Military history
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Racial and ethnic relations
South Carolina
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: 

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Park in South Carolina for the preservation and interpretation of the nationally significant historical values and cultural resources associated with Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, and Sullivan's Island Life Saving Station Historic District. 
 
The Department of the Interior shall arrange for the interpretation of historical events and activities that occurred in the vicinity of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, including:
 
 
the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776;
 
the Siege of Charleston during 1780; and 
 
the Civil War, including the bombardment of Fort Sumter by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861; and
 
the development of the coastal defense system of the United States during the period from the Revolutionary War to World War II, including that of Sullivan's Island Life Saving Station. 
 
 
Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with public and private entities and individuals to carry out this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Plymouth 400th Commemoration Commission Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3104
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Sciences and History
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Commemorative events and holidays
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Indian social and development programs
Massachusetts
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: 

Plymouth 400th Commemoration Commission Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes the Plymouth 400th Commemoration Commission to:
 
 
 assist in the planning, development, and implementation of programs and activities to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Mayflower and the founding of Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts; 
 
facilitate such activities throughout the United States; 
 
 encourage civic, military, historical, educational, religious, economic, and other organizations to organize and participate in commemoration activities to expand the understanding and appreciation of the significance of the founding and early history of Plymouth Colony; 
 
 coordinate and facilitate for the public scholarly research and publications regarding, and interpretation of, the cultures present in 17th Century Plymouth Colony, including the English colonists and the indigenous Wampanoag tribes; and 
 
 ensure that the 400th anniversary of Plymouth provides a lasting legacy and long-term public benefit by assisting in the development of appropriate programs and facilities.
 
 
The commission shall: (1) prepare a strategic plan and an annual performance plan; and (2) submit a final report by December 31, 2021, that includes a summary of its activities, a final accounting of its funds, and its findings or recommendations.
 
The commission shall terminate on December 31, 2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3105
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-06-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Indian social and development programs
Massachusetts
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: 

Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to issue up to 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the landing and settlement of Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, and the role of the indigenous Wampanoag tribes in the realization of the settlement.
 
These coins may be issued only during a two-year period beginning January 1, 2020.
 
Sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges, which shall be paid by Treasury as follows:
 
 
50% to Plymouth 400, Inc., to support the its work to develop, implement, and provide oversight for the commemorations surrounding the events of 2020-2021 and to be distributed, at the organization's discretion, to local historical preservation and cultural organizations to support their work in educating the public about the settlement of 1620 and their continued existence for the benefit of future generations; 
 
15% to Plimoth Plantation to support its effort to maintain the replica of the 1627 Plantation, the Mayflower II, and the replica of the Wampanoag Village; 
 
15% to a Wampanoag tribal organization to continue programs to educate people about the life of the Wampanoag people prior to the Plymouth settlement and their interactions with the settlers; 
 
10% to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants to support the continued restoration of the main facility in Plymouth, to provide funding for its research library at that site, and for educational purposes; and 
 
10% to the Pilgrim Society to continue its work in displaying the story of the settlement and settlement artifacts. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a temporary exception to the application of the Medicare long-term care hospital site neutral provisions for certain spinal cord specialty hospitals.

Bill: 114-s-3107
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Hospital care
Licensing and registrations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Neurological disorders
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish, with respect to certain spinal cord specialty hospitals, a temporary exemption from specified Medicare payment limits applicable to long-term care hospital (LTCH) inpatient services. Current law generally applies payment limits to inpatient services for LTCHs that do not meet certain discharge requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Food Recovery Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3108
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural education
Agricultural equipment and machinery
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Alternative and renewable resources
Charitable contributions
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Agriculture
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal preemption
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Horticulture and plants
Meat
Public contracts and procurement
Retail and wholesale trades
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Solid waste and recycling
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Food Recovery Act of 2016 

 
This bill provides funding and establishes requirements to reduce food waste and standardize date labeling on food. 
 
The bill expands and establishes grant and loan programs to: 
 
 
 raise awareness about wasted food and food recovery efforts to reduce the quantity of wasted food, 
 
 improve cooperation between agricultural producers and emergency feeding organizations, 
 
 assist schools in using food from farms that would otherwise go to waste and providing farms with compostable materials, and 
 
 install facilities that include composting or anaerobic digesters that use food or crop waste to produce energy. 
 
 
The bill provides funds for: (1) state storage and distribution costs under the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and (2) media campaigns to decrease food waste. 
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an Office of Food Recovery to coordinate programs to measure and reduce food waste.
 
The bill specifies that composting is eligible for support under USDA's conservation programs. 
 
Companies that receive federal food service contracts must donate surplus food to nonprofit organizations that assist food-insecure people. 
 

Food Date Labeling Act of 2016 
 
 
Producers, manufacturers, distributors, or retailers that place a date label on food packaging of a product must use the phrases &quot;best if used by&quot; to indicate food quality and the phrase &quot;expires on&quot; to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date. 
 
Labelers may include a quality date on packaging, but must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products. 
 
No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product after the quality date for the product has passed. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Inspector General Recommendation Transparency Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3109
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Inspector General Recommendation Transparency Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require each Inspector General, within one year after the first deadline for the semiannual report on its activities after enactment of this bill, to make available on its website a list of any recommendations by such Inspector General that have been open for more than one year. An &quot;open&quot; recommendation is one that has been made publicly available on such website but has not been adopted or implemented by such Inspector General's establishment.
 
The list shall include:
 
 
the number of recommendations issued by the Inspector General for the fiscal year and the number that are open, 
 
 each report in which an open recommendation was issued,
 
 the assigned number and a short description of each open recommendation,
 
 the date the open recommendation was first issued and its current status, and
 
 any comments of the Inspector General relating to why the recommendation remains open and any response from the establishment.
 
 
The list shall be updated by the Inspector General at least every six months.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3111
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aging
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to extend, through 2018, the rule that permits individuals who are 65 and older to deduct certain medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. (Under current law, the rule that reduces the 10% threshold for the medical expense deduction to 7.5% if a taxpayer or a taxpayer's spouse is 65 or older expires at the end of 2016.) 
 
The bill also expresses the sense of the Senate that the reduction in revenues resulting from this bill should be offset by an appropriate amendment to the IRC. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3112
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on the performance awards and bonuses presented to Regional Office Directors of the VA, Directors of Medical Centers of the VA, and Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
 
Each report shall include:
 
 
the amount of each award or bonus,
 
the job title of each recipient, and
 
the location where each recipient individual works.
 
 
 

action_date: 2016-12-10
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report to specified congressional committees on the performance awards and bonuses presented to Regional Office Directors of the VA, Directors of Medical Centers of the VA, and Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
 
Each report shall include:
 
 
the amount of each award or bonus,
 
the job title of each recipient, and
 
the location where each recipient individual works.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7108)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S7108)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7108)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7108)
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Act

Bill: 114-s-3113
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to public and nonprofit private health care providers to expand training and support services for families and caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to express the sense of the Senate regarding the safe and expeditious resettlement to Albania of all residents of Camp Liberty.

Bill: 114-s-3114
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Albania
Europe
Human rights
Iran
Iraq
Middle East
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 
This bill expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should: 
 
 
work with Iraq and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that all residents of Camp Liberty (located in Iraq) are safely and expeditiously resettled in Albania; 
 
work with Iraq, Albania, and the UNHCR to prevent Iran from intervening in the resettlement process; 
 
urge Iraq to protect residents during the resettlement process, including by ensuring that security personnel are vetted to determine that they are not affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Qods Force; 
 
urge Iraq to ensure access to food, clean water, medical assistance, and energy needs; 
 
work with Iraq to facilitate the sale of residents' property and assets; 
 
work with Iraq and the UNHCR to ensure that residents may exercise full control of all personal assets; and 
 
urge Albania and the UNHCR to ensure the continued recognition of the resettled residents as &quot;persons of concern&quot; entitled to international protections.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Pediatric Research Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3115
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Health information and medical records
Medical research
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Pediatric Research Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise the Pediatric Research Initiative to require collaboration with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and require establishment of a National Pediatric Research Network comprised of pediatric research consortia.
 The National Institutes of Health must award funding to entities supporting pediatric research consortia. Supported consortia must, upon request, provide assistance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for patient registries and other surveillance systems.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

Bill: 114-s-3116
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2016-06-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Educational guidance
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
School administration
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: 

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify loan counseling requirements for an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs.
 
Currently, an IHE must provide entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. This bill replaces required entrance counseling with required annual counseling. Also, it expands the required recipients of such annual counseling to include, in addition to student borrowers, Federal Pell Grant recipients and parent PLUS Loan borrowers.
 
Each annual counseling recipient must receive comprehensive information on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities with respect to a grant or loan and general information on a typical student budget, the right to request an annual credit report, average income and employment data, and financial management resources. Additionally, the bill revises and expands the required contents of annual counseling for student borrowers, specifies the authorized contents of annual counseling for Pell Grant recipients, and establishes the required contents of annual counseling for parent PLUS loan borrowers. 
 
The bill revises and expands exit counseling information requirements to include an outstanding loan balance summary, the anticipated monthly payments under standard and income-based repayment plans, an explanation of the grace period preceding repayment, the option to pay accrued interest before it capitalizes, the right to request an annual credit report, and loan servicer contact information.
 
It directs ED to maintain a consumer-tested online counseling tool that provides annual and exit counseling.
 
 The Institute of Education Sciences must study the impact and effectiveness of exit counseling, annual counseling, and the online counseling tool.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Introduced in Senate