hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Protecting Our Servicemembers' Children from Sexual and Violent Predators Act

Bill: 114-s-2625
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Child safety and welfare
Crimes against children
Criminal justice information and records
Domestic violence and child abuse
Elementary and secondary education
Employee hiring
Military personnel and dependents
Personnel records
Pornography
Sex offenses
User charges and fees
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Protecting Our Servicemembers' Children from Sexual and Violent Predators Act

 
This bill requires each Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary and secondary school and each local educational agency (LEA) that receives, under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, specified funds for children with a parent on active duty in the uniformed services to: 
 
 
require, for each employee of the LEA or school, a criminal background check that includes a search of specified registries and repositories; 
 
prohibit the employment of an individual who refuses to consent to, or who makes a false statement in connection with, a background check or who has been convicted of one of specified crimes; 
 
require background checks to be periodically repeated or updated in accordance with established policies; 
 
provide an employee with a timely process to appeal the results of a background check; and
 
allow the LEA or school to share the results of a school employee's recent background check with another LEA that is considering that individual for employment. 

 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Unmanned Aircraft Systems Modernization Act

Bill: 114-s-2626
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Aviation and airports
Higher education
Research administration and funding
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Higher Education Unmanned Aircraft Systems Modernization Act

 
This bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to authorize an institution of higher education to operate an unmanned aircraft system within the United States without the specific approval of, and without registering the system with, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if:
 
 
the institution has adopted a policy to ensure safe operation of such systems, which shall include the designation of a point of contact at the institution for review and approval of such operation and the requirement that such operation be conducted under the supervision of an operator in command; 
 
the point of contact has confirmed that the proposed operation is for educational or research purposes, is in accordance with applicable policies of the institution regarding safety, training or supervision requirements, privacy, and prior notice and permission, and will occur under the supervision of an operator in command;
 
the system is operated not higher than 400 feet above ground level and in a manner that will not create a hazard to persons or property, is marked with the identification and contact information of the owner, does not survey, create a nuisance on, or overfly private property without the permission of the property owner, gives right of way to, and avoids flying in the proximity of, full-scale aircraft, and is operated at a site that is of sufficient distance from populated areas to protect the safety of persons and property; and 
 
 the institution notifies and obtains permission, at least annually, from air traffic control or the airport manager (for small facilities) when the system will be operated within five statute miles of an airport around which the airspace is designated as class B or class C airspace, within two statute miles of any other airport or heliport, or within airspace designated as restricted or prohibited.
 
 
If an unmanned aircraft system operated by an institution of higher education is involved in any incident resulting in personal injury or property damage (other than to the system, to property of the institution, or to individuals directly involved in the system's operation), the point of contact shall report the incident to the FAA within 10 days.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-10
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-635.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2627
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to transfer administrative jurisdiction over 520 acres of federal land from the National Park Service to the Bureau of Land Management. Interior may acquire by donation up to four acres of land identified in the land protection plan of the Mojave National Preserve as suitable for acquisition to be used for mitigation for every one acre of land removed from the Preserve. 
 
 The acquired land shall become part of the Preserve. 
 
 Interior shall permit cattle grazing on the acquired land according to National Park Service laws and policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-502.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act

Bill: 114-s-2628
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: District of Columbia
Emergency medical services and trauma care
First responders and emergency personnel
Monuments and memorials
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act

 
This bill authorizes the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to pay tribute to the commitment and service represented by emergency medical services.
 
The Foundation shall: (1) be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work; and (2) transmit excess funds received for such work to the Department of the Interior for deposit into a National Park Foundation account.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-496.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Development Lab Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2629
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Research administration and funding
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Global Development Lab Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the United States Global Development Lab, whose duties shall include: 
 
 
 increasing the application of science, technology, innovation and partnerships to develop new solutions to end extreme poverty; 
 
 discovering and testing development innovations to increase cost effectiveness and support U.S. foreign policy and development goals; 
 
leveraging the expertise, resources, and investment of businesses, nongovernmental organizations, science and research organizations, and universities to increase program impact and sustainability; 
 
utilizing innovation-driven competitions to expand the number and diversity of solutions to development challenges; and 
 
supporting USAID missions and bureaus in applying science, technology, innovation, and partnership approaches to decision making, procurement, and program design.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Pay Stub Disclosure Act

Bill: 114-s-2630
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Personnel records
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Pay Stub Disclosure Act

 
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require each employer to provide an initial disclosure to each employee who is not subject to exemption from minimum wage and maximum hour requirements within 15 days after: (1) the employee is hired, or (2) specified information in the initial disclosure changes.
 
The information specified in that initial disclosure shall include:
 
 
the pay rate and form of compensation; 
the name of the employer and any other name used by the employer to conduct business; and 
the physical address and telephone number of the employer's main office or principal place of business, and a mailing address if different from the first one. 
 
 
The bill specifies additional disclosures that must be in each pay stub, including the pay period covered, the employee's name, the total hours worked by the employee, benefits, allowances, and reimbursements.
 
The bill also prescribes the form of the pay stub as well as employer notice requirements.
 
An employer shall keep records of the information disclosed in an employee's pay stub for three years from each stub's issuance.
 
In the event that an employee who is not subject to minimum wage and maximum hourexemptions requests an inspection of his or her records, the employer shall provide copies of them for up to three years before the request.
 
The bill prescribes civil penalties for employer failure to comply with this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2631
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing and community development funding
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promulgate regulations to update the standards for lead-contaminated dust and lead-contaminated soil, in accordance with health-based standards.
 
The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 is amended to define elevated blood lead level as the lower of:
 
 
5 mg/dL (micrograms of lead per deciliter), or
 
the most recent definition for elevated blood lead level or reference range level in children ages 1 through 5 set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
 
The bill also removes 0-bedroom housing from the definition of target housing.
 
The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act is amended to direct HUD to promulgate regulations that:
 
 
require an initial lead-based paint hazard risk assessment before a family with a child under age six occupies certain housing, unless lead-based paint has already been removed; and
 
 state that a visual assessment is not sufficient for these purposes.
 
 
These regulations shall apply to housing receiving federal assistance that was constructed before 1978, but exclude:
 
 
single-family housing covered by an application for mortgage insurance from the Federal Housing Administration, or
 
multi-family housing covered by such an application but does not receive any other federal housing assistance.
 
 
HUD regulations shall also require emergency relocation of such families, without placement on a waitlist, penalty, or lapse in assistance, to another unit of covered housing that has no lead-based paint hazards.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on lead hazards in federally assisted housing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2632
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Area studies and international education
Asia
Congressional oversight
Cultural exchanges and relations
Detention of persons
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Human rights
Human trafficking
International exchange and broadcasting
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
News media and reporting
Political movements and philosophies
Property rights
Protest and dissent
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Trade restrictions
Vietnam
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 
 
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2016 

 
This bill prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance in excess of FY2014 amounts to the government of Vietnam, or to any organization working within Vietnam under an agreement with an entity, agency, or organization of the government of Vietnam, unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, civil, media, Internet, and religious freedoms, minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, and actions to end trafficking in persons and the release of religious and political prisoners.
 
The President may waive such requirements: 
 
 
if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the U.S. national interest, and 
 
 with respect to all U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam, or one or more programs or projects. 
 
 
 It is the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
 it shall be U.S. policy that further easing of the prohibition on the sale of lethal military equipment to Vietnam shall require Vietnam to take additional and sustained steps to advance human rights protections; 
 
the United States should take measures to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by Vietnam and that the Broadcasting Board of Governors should not cut staffing, funding, or broadcast hours for the Vietnamese language services of the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia; 
 
U.S.-Vietnam educational and cultural exchange programs should promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam; 
 
Vietnam should be designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom; and 
 
Vietnam does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
One Health Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2634
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Congressional oversight
Environmental health
Foreign aid and international relief
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Medical education
Medical research
Multilateral development programs
Research administration and funding
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

One Health Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to coordinate and support a One Health Program to: (1) address infectious diseases in animals and the environment, and (2) help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases between animal populations and human populations.
 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy, in cooperation with the NSTC, must develop a framework for federal activities under the program. The framework must:
 
 
describe the activities of federal agencies and departments under the program,
 
establish goals and priorities for advancing scientific understanding and for workforce development and describe activities to achieve these goals and priorities,
 
identify and expand partnerships among federal agencies and others to develop new approaches for reducing hazards to human health from animal and environmental sources and to promote an integrated approach to addressing public health threats in a manner that prevents duplication, and
 
provide recommendations for additional action or legislation to assist in establishing the program.
 
 
The program must establish an initiative to coordinate and implement federal research and field activities. Program members must support activities described in the framework, including by awarding grants to establish national centers of excellence to carry out those activities.
 The President must direct representatives of the United States to advocate that international bodies adopt approaches consistent with the initiative, provide technical assistance to governments to remove unnecessary barriers to investment in similar programs, and use certain targets to measure the effectiveness of such initiatives.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Coast Guard Icebreaker Recapitalization Act

Bill: 114-s-2635
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Arctic and polar regions
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Government studies and investigations
Marine and inland water transportation
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Coast Guard Icebreaker Recapitalization Act

 
This bill authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard to renovate and reactivate the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea, a heavy icebreaker, for an additional 7 to 10 years of service life.
 
The Coast Guard must submit a polar icebreaker recapitalization plan to Congress within 90 days. The plan must include:
 
 
the number of heavy and medium polar icebreakers required in the polar regions,
 
the vessel details required for the design of heavy polar icebreakers,
 
 the specific appropriations required for the acquisition of each icebreaker, and
 
a description of any polar icebreaking capacity gaps that exist based on the current fleet and procurement outlook.
 
 
The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to submit to Congress, within six months, a report on the international funding models used to sustain the icebreaking fleets of foreign countries in the polar regions or other areas. The report must include:
 
 
an analysis of icebreaking activity carried out by foreign countries,
 
an overview of the fees used to compensate foreign countries for icebreaking escorts,
 
the impact of escort fees in the polar regions on the shipping industry,
 
the effectiveness of escort fees in funding foreign icebreaking vessels, and
 
policy recommendations for funding U.S. polar icebreaking vessels.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Reservation Land Consolidation Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2636
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 

Reservation Land Consolidation Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act to have land within or contiguous to an Indian tribe's reservation taken into trust for the benefit of the tribe immediately upon the tribe's submission to the Department of the Interior of an application that contains title evidence for the land. Currently, such applications must be reviewed and approved by Interior before the land is taken into trust.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-539.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify the treatment of authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft containing nonedible migratory bird parts, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2637
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Art, artists, authorship
Birds
Indian lands and resources rights
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 
This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to provide that nothing in such Actprohibits possessing, selling, bartering, purchasing, shipping, and transporting any authentic Alaska Native handicraft, clothing or art on the basis that it contains a non-edible migratory bird part, so long as the bird was not taken in a wasteful manner.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the issuance of a Battle of Midway 75th Anniversary Semipostal Stamp.

Bill: 114-s-2638
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2016-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Conflicts and wars
Department of Defense
Executive agency funding and structure
Military history
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2016-03-03
text: 
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Battle of Midway 75th Anniversary Semipostal Stamp, to be made available to the public for one year, beginning not later than June 4, 2017.
 
Amounts from the sale of this semipostal stamp shall be transferred to the Department of Defense to contribute to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.


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