hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Opportunity KNOCKS Act

Bill: 114-hr-2219
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Higher education
State and local government operations
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Opportunity Kindling New Options for Career and Knowledge Seekers Act or the Opportunity KNOCKS Act

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Unemployment Tax Act to deem approved by the Secretary of Labor any state laws that provide unemployment compensation to an individual for any week while in training, including: (1) any program on a state's eligible training provider list developed under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, or (2) any coursework necessary to attain a recognized postsecondary credential if that individual is likely to exhaust his or her regular unemployment compensation.
 
Defines &quot;recognized postsecondary credential&quot; as a credential consisting of an industry-recognized certificate, a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.
 
Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 and the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 to authorize a state unemployment compensation agency to elect to approve job training or educational programs for purposes of an individual receiving extended or emergency unemployment compensation while in training. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2220
Sponsor: Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-21]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Research and development
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to revise and reauthorize through FY2019 the program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to expand marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy production. The program must give priority to fostering accelerated research, development, and commercialization of technology.
 
The meaning of "marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy&quot; is expanded to include all forms of energy, not just electricity, from: (1) waves, tides, and currents in oceans, estuaries, and tidal areas; (2) free flowing water in rivers, lakes, and streams; (3) free flowing water in man-made channels; and (4) differentials in ocean temperature (ocean thermal energy conversion).
 
National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers must support in-water testing and demonstration of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, including facilities capable of testing: (1) marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy systems of various technology readiness levels and scales, (2) a variety of technologies in multiple test berths at a single location, and (3) arrays of technology devices. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2221
Sponsor: Rep. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL-8]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Intergovernmental relations
Small business
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2015

 
Amends the Small Business Act to require the interagency task force that is responsible for coordinating federal efforts to improve the business development and federal contracting opportunities available to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans to coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals to provide access to, and manage the distribution of, excess or surplus U.S. property to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate state agency for surplus property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Eliminate Special Treatment for Congress Act

Bill: 114-hr-2222
Sponsor: Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Income tax deductions
Members of Congress
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Eliminate Special Treatment for Congress Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the $3,000 limitation on the tax deduction allowed to Members of Congress for ordinary and necessary business expenses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Youth Access to American Jobs Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2224
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Manufacturing
Science and engineering education
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Youth Access to American Jobs Act of 2015

 
 Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to 10 eligible entities (partnerships among a local educational agency (LEA), a community college, and a state apprentice program or a joint-labor management training program) to carry out a program for students to: 
 
 
 take science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses and STEM-focused Career and Technical Education courses and other courses during grades 11 and 12 at a secondary school served by the LEA that prepare them for community college; 
 
 enroll in a course of study related to the manufacturing field at the community college upon graduating from the secondary school; and 
 
 enroll, for a two-year period, in the state apprenticeship program or the joint-labor management training program upon receiving an associate's degree from the community college.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Prioritizing Reinvestment in Infrastructure and Military while Eliminating Debt Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2225
Sponsor: Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Defense spending
Foreign and international corporations
Government trust funds
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Roads and highways
Taxation of foreign income
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Prioritizing Reinvestment in Infrastructure and Military while Eliminating Debt Act of 2015 or the PRIMED Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow corporate taxpayers to elect a tax deduction for cash dividends received from a controlled foreign corporation during the period beginning after the bill's enactment date and ending on December 31, 2016. The dividends received are subject to an effective tax rate of 5.25% when repatriated in the United States. 
 
The bill divides tax revenues attributable to such repatriated earnings equally for: (1) federal debt reduction, (2) transfers to the Highway Trust Fund, and (3) adjustments to limitations on defense discretionary spending. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Home Energy Utility Assistance Act

Bill: 114-hr-2226
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Home Energy Utility Assistance Act 

 
This bill amends the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to reauthorize the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for FY2016-FY2025. The bill also requires states to ensure that households seeking assistance under the program are not required to file more than one application per year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2015-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
STRONG Act

Bill: 114-hr-2227
Sponsor: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Atmospheric science and weather
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Ecology
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Strengthening The Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground Act or the STRONG Act.

 
 Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy, with input from the Department of Homeland Security, to establish and chair an interagency working group with cabinet-level representation from all relevant federal agencies in order to: (1) provide a strategic vision of extreme weather resilience; (2) conduct a gap and overlap analysis of current and planned federal activities related to achieving short- and long-term resilience to extreme weather and its impacts on the United States, such as flooding and drought; and (3) develop a National Extreme Weather Resilience Action Plan. 
 
Requires the Plan to include the establishment of an online, publicly available information portal to be used by federal agencies and other stakeholders that directs users to key data and tools to inform resilience-enhancing efforts and to build off and complement existing federal efforts. Provides for a coordinating entity to establish and maintain such portal. 
 
Requires such coordinating entity to coordinate the implementation of the Plan and to track its progress. 
 
Requires the submission of specified reports. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2015-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2228
Sponsor: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Canada
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives
Prescription drugs
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2015

 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations within 180 days permitting individuals to import a prescription drug purchased from an approved Canadian pharmacy that:
 
 
 is dispensed by a pharmacist licensed in Canada;
 
 is purchased for personal use in quantities not greater than a 90-day supply;
 
is filled using a valid prescription issued by a physician licensed to practice in the United States; and
 
has the same active ingredient or ingredients, route of administration, dosage form, and strength as a prescription drug approved under the FFDCA.
 
 
 Sets forth exceptions, including for controlled substances and biological products.
 
 Establishes a certification process for approving Canadian pharmacies. Requires HHS to publish a list of approved Canadian pharmacies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2229
Sponsor: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Securities
State and local finance
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2015

 
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the small issuer exemption from interest expense allocation rules for financial institutions to: (1) permanently increase from $10 million to $30 million the annual limit on the amount of tax-exempt obligations that a small issuer may issue, and (2) allow an inflation adjustment to such increased limit amount after 2015.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Disaster Savings Accounts Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2230
Sponsor: Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency planning and evacuation
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Disaster Savings Accounts Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish tax-exempt disaster savings accounts to pay the expenses of homeowners for disaster mitigation and recovery expenses, (2) allow a deduction from gross income (above-the-line deduction) up to $5,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) in a taxable year for cash contributions to such accounts, (3) exclude from gross income distributions from such accounts to pay disaster mitigation and recovery expenses; and (4) set forth tax rules and penalties for excess contributions to disaster savings accounts and for failure to file required reports on such accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Vaccinate All Children Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2232
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
Introduced: 2015-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Elementary and secondary education
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Immunology and vaccination

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: 

Vaccinate All Children Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from awarding grants to public entities of a state for preventive health service programs unless the state requires each student in public elementary or secondary school to be vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The bill provides an exception for students whose health would be endangered by vaccination in the opinion of a physician conforming to the accepted standard of medical care. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-01
text: Introduced in House
Emerging Business Encouragement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2234
Sponsor: Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
Introduced: 2015-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government lending and loan guarantees
Public contracts and procurement
Small Business Administration
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: 

Emerging Business Encouragement Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), for each industry category for which the Administrator established a size standard, to establish procedures, by rule, for designating a small business in that industry category as an emerging business enterprise (EBE).
 
Requires the designation to expire when the small business is no longer in compliance with the criteria, except that:
 
 
in the case of an EBE which existed as a business entity before its EBE designation, the designation shall not expire until five years after it was made; and
 
if the EBE exceeds the required size limitation its designation shall expire only if the size is 50% or more of the maximum size of a small business within that industry category.
 
 
Directs the Administrator to establish specified criteria for designation of an EBE.
 
Requires the head of each federal agency to establish goals for participation by the designated EBEs in at least 5% of all contracts, including prime contracts and subcontracts, for each fiscal year.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to make a loan to a designated EBE under the SBA Express Loan Program, but only in accordance with specified terms.
 
Requires the Administrator, by rule, to establish a process for initial self-certification of EBEs for purposes of participation in federal contracts and eligibility for the Express Loans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Transparency for Lethal Control Act

Bill: 114-hr-2236
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]
Introduced: 2015-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Pest management

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: 

Transparency for Lethal Control Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to report annually to Congress on the animals killed under the Wildlife Services program or by a state or local entity acting in cooperation with or on behalf of the program. The report must be made publicly available on the Internet and must include: the number of animals killed, species names, methods used to kill the animals, and reasons for killing the animals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
Craft Beverage Bond Simplification Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2238
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3]
Introduced: 2015-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alcoholic beverages
Sales and excise taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: 

Craft Beverage Bond Simplification Act of 2015 

 
This bill allows taxpayers who are liable for not more than $50,000 per year in excise taxes on distilled spirits, wine, or beer to file and pay such taxes quarterly without the requirement to post a bond covering the operations and withdrawals of such distilled spirits, wines, or beer. The bill also allows such a taxpayer who reasonably expects to have a tax liability of not more than $1,000 per year and who was liable for not more than $1,000 in taxes in the preceding calendar year to file and pay such taxes annually rather than quarterly. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to increase the target financing of exports by small business concerns.

Bill: 114-hr-2239
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2015-05-05 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Government lending and loan guarantees
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: 
This bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to require the Export-Import Bank of the United States to increase from at least 20% to at least 25% the amount of its aggregate loan, guarantee, and insurance authority it makes available to finance direct small business exports for each fiscal year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-05-05
text: Introduced in House