hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to reauthorize the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides health services to veterans through qualifying non-Department health care providers.

Bill: 114-s-2672
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2016-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Public contracts and procurement
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: 
This bill amends the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 to extend through August 7, 2021, the pilot program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides covered health services in highly rural areas to covered veterans through qualifying non-VA health care providers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2673
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2016-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental technology
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Public-private cooperation
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Technology assessment
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: 

Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to accelerate the testing, deployment, and commercialization of innovative water technologies. 
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)must evaluate the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technology and provide technical assistance to facilitate financial assistance tohelp communities use new technology.The new technology is designed to help communities address wastewater, storm runoff, and drinking water challenges.
 
Additionally, the EPA must carry out a grant program to accelerate the testing and deployment of innovative water technologies that address water challenges. Priority funding must be given to projects that have the potential to: (1)provide substantial cost savings across a sector, or (2)significantly improve human health or the environment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Lead in Drinking Water Disaster Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2674
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Environmental health
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: 

Lead in Drinking Water Disaster Act of 2016

 
This bill authorizes the President, upon request of a governor of a state, to declare a major disaster relating to lead contamination of drinking water from a public water system. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must promulgate regulations to carry out such authority within 60 days of this Act's enactment.
 
In the case of such a declared major disaster, the federal coordinating officer appointed under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act shall ensure that the coordination of administration of relief required under such Act includes coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, and any other relevant agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1464-1465)
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Puerto Rico Stability Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2676
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
American Samoa
Bankruptcy
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Caribbean area
Financial crises and stabilization
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Public contracts and procurement
Puerto Rico
State and local finance
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: 

Puerto Rico Stability Act of 2016 

 
This bill permits the government of Puerto Rico to restructure its debt by using a process that requires it to establish a Fiscal Stability and Reform Board, a Chief Financial Officer, and a fiscal plan. 
 
The Department of the Treasury may provide technical assistance to territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands) it determines are eligible for assistance relating to fiscal and financial practices. 
 
The bill amends the Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1992 to permit Puerto Rico to make purchases through the General Services Administration. 
 
Puerto Rico may restructure all of its debts using specified procedures if it passes a resolution to opt-in to the process by establishing a Fiscal Stability and Reform Board to monitor, review, and approve certain fiscal policy decisions. Once Puerto Rico passes the resolution, the bill provides a 12-month initial stay on debt-related litigation to permit Puerto Rico to organize its finances. 
 
The governor: (1) must appoint a Chief Financial Officer, (2) must develop and submit to the board for approval a five-year fiscal plan to restore solvency and fully fund pensions, and (3) may then submit a debt restructuring proposal to be considered using specified procedures. 
 

Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act of 2015 

 
The bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to treat Puerto Rico as a state under chapter 9 (Adjustment of Debts of a Municipality) to permit Puerto Rico to authorize its public corporations to be debtors. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate
In the Red Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2677
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Accounting and auditing
Capital gains tax
Corporate finance and management
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Employee benefits and pensions
Energy revenues and royalties
Financial services and investments
Foreign and international corporations
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Indian social and development programs
Inflation and prices
Legislative rules and procedure
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Minority education
Oil and gas
Securities
Senate
Student aid and college costs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Taxation of foreign income
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

In the Red Act of 2016

 
This bill authorizes and appropriates specified funds to the Department of Education (ED) for FY2016-FY2025 and each succeeding year for grants: (1) to waive tuition and fees for eligible students at community colleges, and (2) to waive or reduce tuition and fees for low-income students at four-year historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
 
It amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct ED to establish a program to refinance outstanding federal student loans for borrowers of Direct Loan program loans disbursed before July 1, 2016, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans. (FFELs were not disbursed after June 30, 2010.)
 
The bill modifies, for academic year 2018-2019 and succeeding years, the calculation of the mandatory add-on amount used to determine the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award.
 
It also amends various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to, among other things: (1) expand the expenses eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit to include the amount of a Federal Pell Grant used to pay for living expenses; and (2) include, as a qualified scholarship excludible from gross income, any amount received as a Federal Pell Grant.
 
Finally, the bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal royalty relief for: (1) deep gas wells in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and (2) deep water oil and gas leases in the central and western Gulf of Mexico.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Treatments and Opportunities to Prevent Pain Act

Bill: 114-s-2678
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

Safe Treatments and Opportunities to Prevent Pain Act or the STOP Pain Act

 
This bill authorizes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to intensify and coordinate NIH research into the understanding of pain, therapies for chronic pain, and alternatives to opioids (drugs with effects similar to opium) for pain treatments.
 The prioritization and direction of federally funded pain research must consider recommendations made by the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
San Juan County Settlement Implementation Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2681
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Coal
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers
Mining
New Mexico
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

San Juan County Settlement Implementation Act of 2016

 
This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to retire any coal preference right lease application for which it has made an affirmative commercial quantities determination by:
 
 
issuing bidding rights in exchange for relinquishment of the application, and
 
making a payment to the relevant state of 50% of the dollar amount of any bidding right subsequently used in lieu of any monetary bonus in a coal lease sale or of rental or royalty under a federal coal lease.
 
 
 Interior shall make such payments from amounts that would otherwise be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts under the Mineral Leasing Act.
 
The bill declares such bidding rights fully transferable to any other person. 
 
The bill cancels specified land selections made by the Navajo Nation pursuant to the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974. Subject to specified exclusions, the Navajo Nation may make new land selections to replace those canceled.
 
The bill designates approximately 7,242 acres of land as the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness and incorporates approximately 2,250 acres of specified federal land into the Bisti/De-Na-Zin 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: 2016-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Territories Relief Act

Bill: 114-s-2682
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: American Samoa
Bankruptcy
Caribbean area
Civil actions and liability
Financial crises and stabilization
Guam
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Specialized courts
State and local finance
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

Territories Relief Act

 
This bill allows a territory (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands), or a municipality of a territory, to petition the bankruptcy court for the judicial district in which it is located to effect a plan to adjust its debts. 
 
The chief judge of the court of appeals for the circuit of the district in which the case is commenced shall designate the bankruptcy judge to conduct the case. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
UAVs for Energy Infrastructure Act

Bill: 114-s-2684
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Aviation and airports
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Licensing and registrations
Natural disasters
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

UAVs for Energy Infrastructure Act

 
This bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to direct the Department of Transportation to establish a process by which a covered person may operate an unmanned aircraft system to conduct the following activities beyond the visual line of sight of the individual operating the system without any restriction on the time of the operation:
 
 
activities for which compliance with current law can be accomplished by the use of manned aircraft, including activities to ensure compliance with federal or state regulatory, permit, or other requirements (including surveys for permits for construction or maintenance of pipelines) and activities relating to ensuring compliance with federal requirements for the transportation of natural gas, other gas, or hazardous substances by pipeline;
 
activities to inspect, repair, or respond to critical infrastructure, including to respond to a pipeline incident, natural or man-made disaster, severe weather event, or other incident beyond the control of such person that may cause material damage to such infrastructure; and
 
other activities if the covered person notifies the local Flight Standards District Office before the operation of the unmanned aircraft system.
 
 
A &quot;covered person&quot; is a person who owns or operates a pipeline or other critical infrastructure, is an agent of such person, or is the sponsor of a pipeline project.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-2685
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Mental health
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to award grants to institutions of higher education to provide and improve mental and behavioral health services, conduct research regarding improving the mental health of students, and expand outreach and training at institutions of higher education.
 
SAMHSA must give special consideration to programs that: (1) demonstrate the greatest need, (2) propose effective approaches for initiating or expanding campus services, (3) target underserved and at-risk populations, (4) coordinate with a community mental health center or other community mental health resources, (5) identify how the institution of higher education will address psychiatric emergencies, (6) propose innovative practices to improve care or prevention programs, and (7) demonstrate the greatest potential for replication and dissemination.
 
SAMHSA must convene an interagency, public-private sector working group to plan, establish, and begin coordinating and evaluating a targeted public education campaign that is designed to focus on mental and behavioral health at institutions of higher education.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must establish the College Campus Task Force to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns at institutions of higher education. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1506-1508)
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act

Bill: 114-s-2686
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2016-03-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: 

Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to allow two or more employers to be considered joint employers for purposes of the Act only if each shares and exercises control over essential terms and conditions of employment and such control over these matters is actual, direct, and immediate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-16
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 394.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2016-03-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 615 6th Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the "Sergeant First Class Terryl L. Pasker Post Office Building".

Bill: 114-s-2688
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2016-03-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Iowa
Military personnel and dependents
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 615 6th Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the "Sergeant First Class Terryl L. Pasker Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Introduced in Senate
REGROW Act

Bill: 114-s-2689
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2016-03-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cell biology and embryology
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: 

Reliable and Effective Growth for Regenerative Health Options that Improve Wellness or the REGROW Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conditionally approve certain cellular therapeutic products without initiation of large-scale clinical trials. A conditionally approved cellular therapy may be marketed if certain conditions are met, including conditions on the source, processing, and function of the cells in the product.
 
 The sponsor of a conditionally approved cellular therapy must apply for approval of the product as a biological product within five years. Unless the FDA has decided not to approve the product, the product may be marketed during this five-year period and the FDA may permit continued marketing while the application is being reviewed.
 
An individual administering a conditionally approved cellular therapy must inform the recipient regarding conditional approval.
 
The premarket report for a medical device used for cellular therapy must include specified information regarding the preparation or delivery of the cellular therapy.
 
The approval of a medical device that is a cellular therapy must be based on laboratory performance testing and not clinical trials.
 
A medical device used for cellular therapy is subject to medical device classification. The FDA must not limit the use of these devices to only specific cell types unless unique to the use of the device.
 
The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research has primary jurisdiction for premarket review of combination products that act primarily through cellular components.
 The Department of Health and Human Services must work with stakeholders to promote the development of standards for regenerative medicine products.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2690
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2016-03-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Hunting and fishing
Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
Sales and excise taxes
State and local finance
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: 

Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make it one of the purposes of the Act to extend financial and technical assistance to the states for the promotion of hunting and recreational shooting.
 
The bill also prescribes a formula for the allocation of funds apportioned to a state that may be used for any activity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters.
 
Amounts apportioned to the states from any taxes on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows may be used for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. 
 
The funds apportioned to a state for wildlife restoration management may be used for related public relations.
 
If a state has not used all of the tax revenues apportioned to it for firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants, it may use its remaining apportioned funds for the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment. 
 
Up to $5 million of the revenues covered into wildlife restoration fund in the Treasury from any tax imposed for a fiscal year on the sale of certain bows, arrows, and archery equipment shall be available to the Department of the Interior exclusively for making hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-03-16
text: Introduced in Senate