hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Government Transformation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2269
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Government Transformation Act of 2015

 
This bill establishes the Government Transformation Board, which shall: 
 
 
review programs and conduct research to determine whether the organizational practices, operations, and reform efforts of federal agencies are useful, duplicative, efficient, effective, and economical;
 
develop and maintain approved criteria for the selection, prioritization, and scheduling of such reviews;
 
 analyze organizational practices and management challenges of federal agencies;
 
 identify best practices of federal agencies and opportunities for such agencies to share methods, tools, systems, and technologies; 
 
 coordinate input from appropriate federal agencies and provide opportunities for the Board to accept ideas on improving government performance; 
 
 upon request, provide information on Board activities to the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, other federal agencies, the Office of the Inspector General of each federal agency, and specified congressional committees; 
 
 conduct post-transformation follow-up reviews; 
 
 serve as a repository for best practices and successful processes, systems, and technologies for federal agencies;
 
 provide training and education to federal employees who are on detail to the Board about program improvement, government transformation, efficiency, and effectiveness;
 
 review program assessments performed by federal agencies; and 
 
 maintain data privacy and security.
 
 
The Board shall submit semiannual reports on its activities, including its suggestions for implementing the best practices of federal agencies and recommendations for improvement or investment in federal programs or elimination, reduction, or consolidation of federal programs.
 
The Board shall submit: (1) specific recommendations, after completion of a program assessment, for the improvement of the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of the program; and (2) biannual reports on historical data and trends in the information studied by the Board. 
 
The Board shall terminate on September 30 of the sixth fiscal year beginning after enactment of this Act.
 
The bill provides for expedited congressional consideration of legislation to implement Board recommendations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2271
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Chemistry
Income tax credits
Industrial facilities
Manufacturing
Materials

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the production of renewable chemicals. The bill defines "renewable chemical" as any chemical that: (1) is produced in the United States from renewable biomass; (2) is sold or used for the production of chemical products, polymers, plastics, or formulated products or as chemicals, polymers, plastics, or formulated products; (3) has a biobased content of 95% or higher; (4) is the product of, or reliant upon, biological or thermal conversion of renewable biomass; (5) is not sold or used for the production of any food, feed, or fuel; and (6) is not a combination of certain specified renewable chemicals. 
 
The bill also allows a tax credit for investment in renewable chemical production facilities.
 
The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a program to allocate renewable chemical tax credit amounts to eligible taxpayers and imposes an aggregate limit on the amount of credits that may be allocated to not more than $500 million during the 5-year period after enactment of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
POST Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2272
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2015 or the POST Act of 2015
 
 
 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to modify requirements for a proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institution of higher education (IHE) to participate in title IV (Student Assistance) federal student aid programs. 
 
Current law requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than title IV federal student aid. This legislation requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds (i.e., it replaces the so-called 90/10 rule with an 85/15 rule). It defines federal funds to mean title IV federal student aid, as well as education benefits for military personnel and veterans. 
 
Additionally, the bill limits what a proprietary institution may treat as revenue to the school in calculating whether it derives at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds. 
 
Finally, the bill moves the 85/15 rule from title IV to title I (General Provisions) of the HEA, making compliance a condition of institutional eligibility to participate in title IV federal student aid programs (i.e., failure to comply results in immediate loss of institutional eligibility). Currently, a proprietary IHE must violate the rule for two consecutive years before losing eligibility for title IV programs. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7916)
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training to Unleash the Potential of Veterans Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2273
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Business investment and capital
Military personnel and dependents
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Strengthening Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training to Unleash the Potential of Veterans Act of 2015 or the STARTUP Vets Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make two-year renewable grants to create and operate incubators and accelerators that provide technical assistance and training to covered individuals on how to become successful entrepreneurs and form small business concerns.
 
Such program shall be considered an SBA management and technical assistance training program. 
 
Program outreach materials shall be made available at local Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. 
 
"Covered individual" means: 
 
 
a member of the Armed Forces, without regard to whether he or she participates in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense; 
 
an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program; 
 
an individual who served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable; and 
 
a spouse or dependent.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for rental assistance for homeless or at-risk Indian veterans.

Bill: 114-s-2274
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing and community development funding
Indian social and development programs
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 
This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a rental assistance and supportive housing program, in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), for the benefit of Indian veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and who are residing on or near Indian areas.
 
 Rental assistance shall be: (1) made available to recipients eligible for housing assistance block grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996; and (2) awarded based on need, administrative capacity, and any other HUD funding criteria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2275
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Citizenship and naturalization
Criminal justice information and records
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant automatic citizenship to all qualifying children adopted by a U.S. citizen parent, regardless of the date on which the adoption was finalized. 
 
An individual born outside of the United States who was adopted by a U.S. citizen parent shall automatically become a U.S. citizen when the following conditions have been fulfilled: 
 
 
the individual was adopted by a U.S. citizen before the individual reached age 18, 
 
the individual was physically present in the United States in the citizen parent's legal custody pursuant to a lawful admission before the individual reached age 18, 
 
the individual never acquired U.S. citizenship before the enactment of this Act, and 
 
the individual was lawfully residing in the United States on the date of enactment of this Act. 
 
 
An individual who meets such criteria, except for lawfully residing in the United States on the date of enactment of this Act, shall automatically become a U.S. citizen on the date on which the individual is physically present in the United States pursuant to a lawful admission. 
 
 A visa may not be issued to such an individual unless: 
 
 
the individual was subjected to a criminal background check; and 
 
 the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State coordinated with law enforcement agencies to ensure that appropriate action is taken regarding any unresolved criminal activity.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Homebuyer Accessibility Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2277
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Veterans Homebuyer Accessibility Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for first-time homebuyers, to: (1) allow a veteran of the Armed Forces a tax credit for 10% of the purchase price of a principal residence purchased prior to January 1, 2018; (2) allow an additional tax credit for the cost, not exceeding $8,000 in a taxable year, of installing special fixtures or movable facilities in a residence to accommodate a disability of the veteran; and (3) require a recapture of credit amounts if the veteran sells such residence within 36 months after purchasing it. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Unlicensed Spectrum Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2278
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Promoting Unlicensed Spectrum Act of 2015 

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that spectrum allocation and assignment produces a balance between radio frequency bands available for: (1) exclusive licensing through an auction, and (2) unlicensed operations on a nonexclusive basis without the expectation of protection from interference. 
 
The FCC must consider whether to adopt rules that permit unlicensed operations in spectrum assigned by auction until the licensee brings the spectrum into use by initiating commercial service. 
 
The bill declares that it is the policy of the United States to:
 
 
 maximize the utility of the spectrum resources of the United States,
 
advance innovation and investment in wireless broadband services, and 
 
promote a balanced spectrum policy that makes adequate spectrum resources available for both licensed and unlicensed technologies.
 
 
The FCC must consult with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop a national strategy for making additional radio frequency bands available for unlicensed operations. The strategy must: (1) identify proposed radio frequency bands to be cleared of incumbent users; (2) ensure that consumers have access to additional low-, mid-, and high-band frequencies for unlicensed operations; and (3) consider rules and other ways to promote spectrum sharing and improve spectrum utilization.
 
The NTIA, in conjunction with the FCC and the Office of Management and Budget, must submit to Congress a report on the steps necessary to designate additional radio frequency bands used by federal entities for unlicensed operations without causing harmful interference to government operations. The report must consider the impact on homeland security or national security communications and include recommendations to ensure the solvency of the Spectrum Relocation Fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-2279
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Nursing
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a Docs-to-Doctors Program to recruit individuals separating from the Armed Forces who served in a health care capacity in the Armed Forces. 
 
The VA shall: (1) implement a uniform credentialing process for certain health care employees of the Veterans Health Administration; and (2) provide full practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and such other licensed VA health care professionals as consistent with their education, training, and certification.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
POWER Act

Bill: 114-s-2280
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Domestic violence and child abuse
Lawyers and legal services
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2015 or the POWER Act 

 
This bill requires the U.S. Attorney for a judicial district to lead at least one public event that promotes pro bono legal services as a critical way to: (1) empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (2) engage citizens in assisting those survivors.
 
A special but similar rule applies to districts containing Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
 
Each U.S. Attorney shall: (1) have discretion on the design, organization, and implementation of such public events; and (2) seek to maximize an event's local impact and the access of such survivors to high-quality pro bono legal services. 

action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) 
 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2015 or the POWER Act 

 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the U.S. Attorney for a judicial district to lead at least one public event that promotes pro bono legal services as a critical way to: (1) empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (2) engage citizens in assisting those survivors.
 
A special but similar rule applies to districts containing Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
 
Each U.S. Attorney shall: (1) have discretion on the design, organization, and implementation of such public events; and (2) seek to maximize an event's local impact and the access of such survivors to high-quality pro bono legal services.
 
(Sec. 5) The Department of Justice shall use existing funds to carry out this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7954-7955; text as passed Senate: CR S7954-7955)
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7954-7955; text as passed Senate: CR S7954-7955)
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue final rules relating to listing of the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes and Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2281
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2015-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Judicial review and appeals
Mammals
Michigan
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: 
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to reissue: (1) the final rule published on December 28, 2011, that removed the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and that removed the designation of critical habitat for that wolf in Minnesota and Michigan; and (2) the final rule published on September 10, 2012, that removed the gray wolf in Wyoming from the list and removed the Yellowstone Experimental Protection Area that was established to facilitate reintroduction of the wolf.
 
Rules reissued under this Act are not subject to judicial review.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2282
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-11-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Blood and blood diseases
Cell biology and embryology
Department of Health and Human Services
Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: 

Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act and the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 to revise and extend through FY2020 the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory program. (These programs help match patients in need of a transplant with unrelated bone marrow and cord blood donors.) 
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must review the state of the science of using adult stem cells and birthing tissues to develop new therapies and consider the inclusion of new therapies in the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program. 
Requirements for HHS contracts under the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 are revised.
 HHS must determine whether to include peripheral blood stem cells and umbilical cord blood in the definition of human organ.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7968-7969)
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Introduced in Senate