hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Aviation Screening Contractor Reform and Accountability Act

Bill: 114-hr-3415
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Business records
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Foreign and international corporations
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Aviation Screening Contractor Reform and Accountability Act 

 
This bill prohibits subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies from performing security screening at commercial airports and establishes additional requirements for private screening companies. 
 
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) must not: 
 
 
contract with private screening companies that are U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies or have compromised covert security testing, 
 
permit the screening to be performed by a subcontractor, or 
 
provide funding to any company that provides screening services at an airport in excess of the required amount.
 
 
Private screening companies must:
 
 
provide the right of first refusal to federal or private sector employees who are performing screening at an airport when a contract is awarded; and 
 
report to the TSA regarding security breaches, retention rates of employees, adverse employment actions, and customer complaints. 
 
 
The TSA must use Government Accountability Office (GAO) guidance to compare the costs of overseeing private companies with using federal employees for screening, enhance monitoring of the performance of private screening companies, and require companies to train employees on handling sensitive information. 
 
Each airport must notify passengers if screening is conducted by a contractor and provide contact information for reporting complaints.
 
The GAO must conduct annual covert testing of airports that use private screening companies. 
 
The TSA must establish a process for confidentially reporting deficiencies, waste, or vulnerabilities with respect to private screening services. The companies must not retaliate against individuals who report this information, refuse to engage in illegal activities, or testify during government proceedings. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Flight School Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3416
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Licensing and registrations
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Flight School Security Act of 2015

 
 Revises requirements with respect to the training of aliens and other individuals designated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security in the operation of certain aircraft. 
 
Authorizes a flight instructor, pilot school, or aviation training center to provide training in the operation of an aircraft with a takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds to an individual who does not hold a valid Federal Aviation Administration airman's certification only if: (1) that individual has been checked against the terrorist watchlist by the TSA to determine if he or she poses a threat to aviation or national security or a threat of terrorism, and (2) the TSA determines that the individual does not pose a threat that warrants denial of access to such training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation Security.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Coast Guard Academy Opportunity Act

Bill: 114-hr-3417
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Marine and inland water transportation
Members of Congress
Military education and training
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Coast Guard Academy Opportunity Act 

 
 Modifies the Coast Guard Academy cadet nomination process by requiring that half of each incoming class be composed of cadets nominated by: (1) the Vice President or, if there is no Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate; (2) a Senator; (3) a Member of the House of Representatives; and (4) the various delegates to Congress, including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. Entitles each Senator, House Member, Delegate, and Resident Commissioner to nominate three persons each year.
 
Requires nominees to be citizens or nationals of the United States and meet any minimum requirements established by the Secretary of the respective department in which the Coast Guard is operating.
 
Directs the Academy to furnish any Member of Congress, upon written request, the name of the nominating authority responsible for the nomination of any named or identified person for appointment to the Academy.
 
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security, acting through the Chief Human Capital Officer, to issue a comprehensive strategy to improve outreach and recruitment to attract candidates to the Academy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Support for Student Veterans with Families Act

Bill: 114-hr-3419
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child care and development
Education programs funding
Higher education
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Support for Student Veterans with Families Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to make up to 50 grants in FY2016 to eligible educational institutions to provide child care services on campus for student veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2015-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act

Bill: 114-hr-3420
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public contracts and procurement
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act 

 
This bill amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to reauthorize the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income persons through FY2020.
 
The Department of Energy (DOE) must make competitive grants to qualified tax-exempt charitable organizations for energy efficiency retrofits of low-income homes. The grants may be used for single-family and multifamily housing.
 
Contractors carrying out weatherization with funds under the bill must be selected through a competitive bidding process and be accredited as specified by this bill. In order to receive a grant, organizations must use a crew chief who is certified or accredited as required by this bill. 
 
Beginning on October 1, 2016, DOE must ensure that: (1) each retrofit for which weatherization assistance is provided meets minimum efficiency and quality of work standards, (2) at least 10% of the dwelling units are randomly inspected by an accredited third party to ensure compliance with the standards, and (3) the standards meet or exceed the current industry standards for home performance work.
 
The bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to reauthorize the program for state energy conservation plans through FY2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
A PLUS Act

Bill: 114-hr-3421
Sponsor: Rep. Walker, Mark [R-NC-6]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success or the A PLUS Act
 
 
This bill allows each state to receive federal elementary and secondary education funds on a consolidated basis and manage the funds to advance the educational policy of the state. States must submit to the Department of Education a declaration of intent no less than every five years. 
 
Each declaration must be formulated by a combination of specified state officials or by referendum and must list the programs for which consolidated funding is requested. States may use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law, but must make certain assurances that they will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, abide by federal civil rights laws, advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged, and use federal funds to supplement rather than supplant state funding. 
 
Each declaration state shall: (1) inform the public about its student achievement assessment system; (2) report annually on student progress toward the state's proficiency standards by specified student groups; and (3) provide for the equitable participation of private school children and teachers in the same manner as provided for under current law. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
VA Vendor Verification Act

Bill: 114-hr-3422
Sponsor: Rep. Walorski, Jackie [R-IN-2]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Public contracts and procurement
Surgery and anesthesia
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

VA Vendor Verification Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish uniform credentialing standards for medical vendors based on the standards prescribed in the &quot;Joint Recommendation for Healthcare Industry Representative (HCIR) Credentialing Best Practices&quot; by the Coalition for Best Practices in HCIR Requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3423
Sponsor: Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Medical research
Military operations and strategy
Research administration and funding
Veterans' medical care
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Agent Orange Extension Act of 2015

 
This bill extends for two years the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicides, including Agent Orange, with respect to veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.
 
The Agent Orange Act of 1991 is amended to extend for two years the authority of the VA to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate the scientific evidence regarding associations between diseases and exposure to dioxin and other chemical compounds in herbicides, including the association between exposure to a herbicide used in U.S. and allied military operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era and each disease suspected to be associated with such exposure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3424
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Housing and community development funding
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Moving to Work Reform Act of 2015

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from entering into or extending any Moving to Work agreement for any public housing agency (PHA) for participation in the Moving to Work Demonstration Program, unless the agreement is subject to specified terms and conditions set forth by this Act for its entire duration.
 
(Under the Moving to Work Demonstration Program up to 30 selected PHAs, including Indian housing authorities, may administer the public or Indian housing program and the Section 8 housing assistance payments program in ways designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower-income families.) 
Under such an agreement a PHA:
 
 
 may not establish any new rent policy that raises rent burdens for a significant portion of participating families, or causes specified other results, unless certain conditions are met;
 
may use funds appropriated for renewal of tenant-based rental assistance only for payments assisting eligible families with housing costs;
 
 shall receive funding for renewal of tenant-based rental assistance under the same formula applied to nonparticipating PHAs;
 
must provide ongoing housing assistance to substantially the same number of eligible low-income families as it could assist ordinarily but with average cost burdens no higher than those of families assisted under Sections 8 (low-income housing assistance) and 9 (Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; and 
 
develop and implement a plan to expand families' access to neighborhoods with low crime, high-performing schools, or other indicators of high opportunity, if a disproportionately low share of PHA-assisted families lives in such neighborhoods. 
 
 
HUD may not waive specified housing-related requirements.
 
HUD must conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Demonstration Program to:
 
 
analyze the risks and potential benefits of expanding it to additional agencies; and
 
identify reforms, and selection criteria in case the Demonstration Program is expanded, that would improve its effectiveness in testing innovative policies while minimizing adverse effects on low-income families and ensuring efficient use of federal funds to meet the most pressing housing needs.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
FREE Act

Bill: 114-hr-3425
Sponsor: Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Firearm Rights Equally Enforced Act or the FREE Act

 
Amends the federal criminal code to permit an individual who is not prohibited from receiving a firearm under federal law, and to whom a state has issued a license or permit either to carry a concealed firearm or to carry a firearm that is partially or fully visible to the public, to carry a firearm in any other state, subject to the limitations imposed by the state that issued the license or permit. 
 
Authorizes a state to: (1) impose a less restrictive limitation than the state that issued the license or permit; and (2) condition the exercise of such right upon the payment of a fee, as long as such fee is not set at a level that unduly burdens the exercise of the right.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Adoption Information Act

Bill: 114-hr-3428
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Family planning and birth control
Government information and archives
Health programs administration and funding
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Adoption Information Act 

 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require family planning service projects or programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants or contracts, to assure the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that they will provide each person who inquires about their services with a pamphlet containing a comprehensive list of adoption centers in their state.
 
Directs HHS to prepare, annually update, and distribute such pamphlets to such projects or programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Pro-LIFE Act

Bill: 114-hr-3429
Sponsor: Rep. Yoder, Kevin [R-KS-3]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Health care costs and insurance
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Prohibiting the Life-Ending Industry of Fetal Organ Exchange Act or the Pro-LIFE Act

 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the transfer of fetal tissue in exchange for valuable consideration, including payments associated with the transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, or storage of human fetal tissue.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a reduction in improper claims of refundable credits by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure consistency of requirements for self and paid tax return preparers, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-3430
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Todd [R-IN-9]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Higher education
Income tax credits
Poverty and welfare assistance
Student aid and college costs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) direct the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that all procedures and questions used to determine eligibility for the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit, and the American Opportunity, Hope Scholarship, and Lifetime Learning tax credits are substantially the same regardless of the method used for preparing and filing a tax return; and (2) extend the due diligence requirement for determining eligibility for the earned income tax credit to tax return preparers who prepare returns claiming such other tax credits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3431
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Todd [R-IN-9]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government trust funds
Marine and inland water transportation
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the excise tax rate for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to equal 29 cents per gallon or the per energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel in the case of liquefied natural gas, as defined by this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House