hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes Repair Act

Bill: 114-s-517
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
State and local taxation
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes Repair Act 

 
This bill extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program through FY2016 at FY2011 funding levels. This Program provides payments to state jurisdictions to compensate for the cost of providing services in tax-exempt federal lands within such jurisdictions. 
 
The bill also eliminates the fiscal year limitation on funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program. This program compensates local governments for tax revenue lost due to tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S992)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Highway Runoff Management Act

Bill: 114-s-518
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Hydrology and hydrography
Roads and highways
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Highway Runoff Management Act

 
 Requires each state to develop for approval a state highway stormwater management program consisting of management measures to prevent, reduce, or control highway runoff from federal-aid highway projects.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to publish guidance to assist states in the establishment of such measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S992-994; text of measure as introduced: CR S994)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act

Bill: 114-s-519
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Chesapeake Bay
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act 

 
This bill amends the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to permanently reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S995; text of measure as introduced: CR S995)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act.

Bill: 114-s-520
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Birds
Government trust funds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 
This bill reauthorizes the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act through FY2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S995; text of measure as introduced: CR S995)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
President Street Station Study Act

Bill: 114-s-521
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Maryland
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Railroads

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

President Street Station Study Act

 
 Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the President Street Station, a railroad terminal in Baltimore, Maryland, to evaluate the terminal's national significance and determine its feasibility for designation as a unit of the National Park System. 

action_date: 2015-09-09
text: 

President Street Station Study Act

 
 (Sec. 3) Directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the President Street Station, a railroad terminal in Baltimore, Maryland, to evaluate the terminal's national significance and determine its feasibility for designation as a unit of the National Park System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 206.
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 114-126.
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 114-126.
action_date: 2015-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-338.
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S995-996; text of measure as introduced: CR S996)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting And Retaining Our Children's Health Insurance Program Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-522
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Child health
Food assistance and relief
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Protecting and Retaining Our Children's Health Insurance Program Act of 2015

 
This bill revises and extends through FY2019 at generally increased levels the program under title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSAct), and adjusts CHIP allotment requirements accordingly, including the rebasing and growth factor update rules for computing state allotments. Appropriations are made for certain allotments.
 
Appropriations are made to the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund for FY2015-FY2018 (and for each of the semi-annual allotment periods for FY2019) for payments to eligible states. 
 
The aggregate cap to payments from the Fund is removed for such fiscal years and allotment periods.
 
Additional specified amounts, with fiscal year limitation, are made available for payments from the Fund. 
 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services must make payments to shortfall states from the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund in such fiscal years and allotment periods.
 
Performance incentive payments are revised and extended through FY2019.
 
Specified enrollment and retention provisions for children are outlined for FY2015 and each succeeding fiscal year. 
 
The option is extended through FY2019 of a qualifying state to be paid from the state's allotment for certain Medicaid expenditures related to low-income individuals under age 19.
 
Title XI of the SSAct is also amended to extend through FY2019: (1) the quality care for children demonstration project, (2) childhood obesity demonstration project, and (3) pediatric quality measures program.
 
Also extended through FY20019 are CHIP grants to improve outreach and enrollment and appropriations to award such grants. 
 
SSAct XIX (Medicaid) is amended to: (1) extend express lane eligibility through FY2019, and (2) allow use of income determinations under SSAct part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV or the supplemental nutrition assistance program of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to determine eligibility under the state Medicaid program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S996-997)
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to coordinate the provision of energy retrofitting assistance to schools.

Bill: 114-s-523
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 
This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the Department of Energy (DOE), acting through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, to act as the lead federal agency for coordinating and disseminating information on existing federal programs and assistance that may be used to help initiate, develop, and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects for schools. 
 
DOE must: 
 
 
carry out a review of existing programs and financing mechanisms available in or from appropriate federal agencies with jurisdiction over energy financing and facilitation that are currently used or may be used for such purposes;
 
 establish a federal cross-departmental collaborative coordination, education, and outreach effort to streamline communication and promote available federal opportunities and assistance for such projects that enables states, local educational agencies, and schools to use existing federal opportunities more effectively and to form partnerships with appropriate entities to support project initiation;
 
 provide technical assistance for states, local educational agencies, and schools to help develop and finance projects that meet specified requirements;
 
 develop and maintain a single online resource website with contact information for relevant technical assistance and support staff in the Office for states, local educational agencies, and schools to effectively access and use federal opportunities and assistance to develop such projects; and
 
establish a process for recognition of schools that have successfully implemented such projects and are willing to serve as resources for other local educational agencies and schools to assist initiation of similar efforts.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Sunset of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Act

Bill: 114-s-526
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Terrorism
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Sunset of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force Act

 
The Authorization for Use of Military Force (P.L. 107-40) terminates three years after the date of enactment of this Act, unless reauthorized.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering Parents and Students Through Information Act

Bill: 114-s-528
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2015-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Disability and paralysis
Elementary and secondary education
Special education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: 

Empowering Parents and Students Through Information Act

 
Amends the school improvement program under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require each state that elects to use alternate academic achievement standards for students that have the most significant cognitive disabilities to:
 
 
establish and monitor the implementation of clear and appropriate guidelines for individualized education program (IEP) teams to apply in determining, on an annual and subject-by-subject basis, when a child's significant cognitive disability justifies assessment using alternate standards;
 
ensure that the parents of students the state plans to assess using alternate assessments are involved in, and provide informed consent to, the decision to apply such alternate standards;
 
provide evidence that students with the most significant cognitive disabilities are making progress in the general curriculum for the grade in which the students are enrolled and in assessments aligned with that curriculum;
 
develop and promote the use of reasonable accommodations to increase the number of such students participating in grade-level academic instruction and assessments aligned with grade-level academic standards;
 
promote the use of such accommodations to increase the number of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are tested against grade-level academic achievement standards;
 
 ensure that general and special education teachers and other appropriate staff know how to administer assessments for disabled students;
 
require separate annual determinations about whether a student should be assessed using an alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards for each subject assessed; and
 
ensure that students who take such alternate assessments are not precluded from attempting to complete the state requirements for a regular secondary school diploma.
 
 
Prohibits states from using any student's IEP in the state accountability system.
 
Requires states' annual report cards to: (1) include the number and percentage of disabled students who take the alternate assessments; and (2) break that information down by grade and subject matter and by the disability categories described in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Bill: 114-s-530
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2015-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Federal Reserve System
Federal officials
New York City

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: 
Amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for terms of five years. 
 
Requires the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to testify annually to certain congressional committees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-03
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1032-1033)
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
ReLIEF Act

Bill: 114-s-531
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Comprehensive health care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: 

Removing Limitations on Insurance Effectiveness and Flexibility Act of 2015 or the ReLIEF Act

 This bill deems catastrophic health plans described in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be qualified health plans that are eligible for premium assistance and fulfill an individual's requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage. Limitations on eligibility for enrollment in catastrophic plans are eliminated.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-532
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Department of Transportation
Emergency communications systems
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Railroads
Roads and highways
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: 

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Act of 2015 

 
This bill authorizes appropriations for FY2016-FY2019 for the highway safety improvement program, with $50 million set aside for each fiscal year for the Railway-Highway Crossings Program.
 
The limitation to three states per year is eliminated, so all states now become eligible for the award of Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety improvement grants to develop or continue enhanced public education and awareness activities, in combination with targeted law enforcement, to reduce traffic law violations at highway-rail grade crossings, as well as to prevent and reduce injuries and fatalities along railroad rights-of-way. The limitation on grant amounts awarded to a state is increased from $250,000 to $2.5 million.
 
Eligibility requirements are revised for the award of capital grants to states under the rail line relocation and improvement program.
 
Increased appropriations under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 are authorized for FY2016-FY2019 for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make grants to the Operation Lifesaver program. 
 
The FRA shall hire:
 
 
 16 full-time grade crossing safety managers to work with state and local officials to identify safety improvements to highway-rail grade crossings; and 
 
8 trespass prevention managers to work with local governments, schools, businesses, and railroads to develop site-specific mitigation plans.
 
 
The Secretary of Transportation shall study the feasibility of requiring railroads to provide additional means for the public to report problems at highway-rail grade crossings, including via a website and text messaging.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-533
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Alaska
Atlantic Ocean
Atmospheric science and weather
California
Caribbean Sea
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Emergency planning and evacuation
Floods and storm protection
Government studies and investigations
Gulf of Mexico
Hawaii
Idaho
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Natural disasters
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Research administration and funding
Technology transfer and commercialization
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: 

Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015
 
 
 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2021 the Tsunami Warning and Education Act.
 
The tsunami warning systems for the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and for the Atlantic Ocean are consolidated into a single warning system. The system must support international tsunami forecasting and warning efforts. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must support or maintain tsunami warning centers to support the national warning system and develop uniform operational procedures for the centers. Warning centers are given additional responsibilities, including maintaining a fail-safe warning capability and an ability to perform back-up duties for each other.
 
The tsunami hazard mitigation program must provide for: (1) technical and financial assistance; (2) activities to support the development of regional hazard and risk assessments; (3) activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports and harbors; and (4) dissemination of guidelines and standards for community planning, education, and training products, programs, and tools.
 
The tsunami research program must develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami maps, models, and forecasts. 
 
NOAA no longer has to operate an International Tsunami Information Center to improve tsunami preparedness for Pacific Ocean nations. 
 
NOAA must: (1) designate an existing working group to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to provide advice on matters regarding tsunami science, technology, and regional preparedness; (2) maintain a coordinating committee to assist in the national tsunami hazard mitigation program; and (3) develop formal outreach activities to improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of resilient communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Indian Health Service Health Professions Tax Fairness Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-536
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Indian social and development programs
Medical education
Minority health
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: 

Indian Health Service Health Professions Tax Fairness Act of 2015
 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income amounts received under the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program and the Indian Health Professions Scholarships Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate