hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to improve the transition between experimental permits and commercial licenses for commercial reusable launch vehicles.

Bill: 114-s-592
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Licensing and registrations
Spacecraft and satellites

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 
 Amends commercial space launch licensing requirements.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to issue an experimental permit for a particular reusable suborbital rocket (as under current law) or rocket design after a license has been issued for the launch or reentry of a rocket of that design. Declares that any permits already issued shall remain valid for research and development and other specified purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-594
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2015

 
This bill establishes tiered hiring preferences for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. The bill grants: (1) a 2-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed at least 6 years of service in a reserve component and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service, and (2) a 3-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed a least 10 years of service and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service.
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on federal employment opportunities for members of a reserve component and the impact of this Act on the hiring of reservists and veterans by the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Hunter and Farmer Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-595
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Birds
Hunting and fishing
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Hunter and Farmer Protection Act
 
of 2015

 
This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to revise standards for determining what constitutes baiting for purposes of the prohibition on taking migratory game birds. 
 
A baited area, in the case of waterfowl, cranes, and coots, includes a standing, unharvested crop that has been manipulated through activities such as mowing, discing, or rolling, unless the activities are normal agricultural practices. An area is not considered to be a baited area if it: (1) has been treated with a normal agricultural practice, (2) has standing crops that have not been manipulated, or (3) has standing crops that have been or are flooded.
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must submit to the Department of the Interior a report on changes to normal agricultural practices across the range of crops grown by agricultural producers in each region of the United States in which USDA harvest practice recommendations are provided to agricultural producers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
San Francisco Bay Restoration Act

Bill: 114-s-596
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: California
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Water quality
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

San Francisco Bay Restoration Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to provide funding for prioritized activities, studies, or projects that advance the goals and objectives of the comprehensive management plan for the San Francisco estuary. Funding may be provided through cooperative agreements, grants, or other means. Funding may not be used for the administration of a management conference for the San Francisco estuary under the National Estuary Program.
 
Funding amounts provided under this Act may not exceed 75% of the total cost of eligible activities to be carried out using those amounts.
 
This bill authorizes appropriations for the funding program through FY2019.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1165; text of measure as introduced: CR S1165-1166)
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
States' Rights Municipal Broadband Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-597
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal preemption
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

States' Rights Municipal Broadband Act of 2015

 
Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to declare that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) authority to take actions to accelerate deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities shall not be construed to authorize the FCC to prevent states from implementing state laws regarding the provision of broadband Internet access service by states, municipalities, or political subdivisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1166)
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-598
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Medical education
Medical research
Medicare
Minority health
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Research administration and funding
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2015

 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise Medicare payments for dialysis services provided to individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute kidney injury. Makes individuals with ESRD eligible for Medicare Advantage.
 
Allows dialysis facilities to provide kidney disease education services and allows physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists to refer individuals to those services.
 
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an ESRD Care Coordination program to provide higher Medicare payments to nephrologists, dialysis facilities, and other providers that reduce spending on ESRD by being part of a coordinated care organization.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to include dialysis as a service provided by the National Health Service Corps in health professional shortage areas. Makes nephrologists and non-physician practitioners who provide dialysis eligible for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and Loan Repayment Program.
 Requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report identifying gaps in chronic kidney disease research and comparing research funding to expenditures on disease treatment. Requires HHS to report on: (1) the causes of kidney disease and efforts to treat kidney disease in disproportionately affected minority populations, and (2) disincentives in Medicare payment systems that create barriers to kidney transplants and post-transplant care for beneficiaries with ESRD.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1166; text of measure as introduced: CR S1166-1168)
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency retrofit pilot program.

Bill: 114-s-600
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Energy efficiency and conservation
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 
This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a pilot program to award matching grants for nonprofit organizations to retrofit their buildings with energy-efficiency improvements.
 
This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to decrease the amount of appropriations authorized in FY2015 for the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
ACCTION Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-601
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Business investment and capital
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Government lending and loan guarantees
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Oil and gas
Public-private cooperation
Research and development
Securities
Technology transfer and commercialization
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Advanced Clean Coal Technology Investment in Our Nation Act of 2015 or the ACCTION Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Department of Energy (DOE) to implement a program to demonstrate the integration of systems for the capture, transportation, and injection of carbon dioxide from industrial sources for long-term geological storage or enhanced oil recovery at a commercial scale. 
 
The types of activities that must be undertaken under the existing coal and related technologies program are expanded. DOE may carry out a Transformational Coal Technology Program. 
 
DOE must establish an advisory committee to report on the carbon capture and sequestration program and the coal and related technologies program.
 
Projects under the Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program are eligible to receive other forms of federal assistance. Within two years, DOE has to give final approval to applications for loan guarantees and make loans for advanced fossil energy technology projects under the Program. 
 
DOE must take steps to streamline and expedite review of federal authorizations for clean coal generating projects. 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow accelerated amortization of any mechanical or electronic system which is installed on a coal-fired electric generation unit and which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by specified means; (2) allow a new credit for investment in carbon dioxide capture, transport, and storage property; and (3) create a clean energy coal bond. 
 
This bill establishes the Enhanced Recovery Program, a variable price support program, to accelerate the construction and operation of advanced coal-fueled projects that capture carbon dioxide emissions and sell or use the carbon dioxide for enhanced recovery.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
GI Bill Fairness Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-602
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Higher education
Military medicine
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

GI Bill Fairness Act of 2015

 
Includes as active duty for purposes of eligibility for post-9/11 veterans educational assistance service of a member of a reserve component ordered to active duty to receive authorized medical care, to be medically evaluated, or to complete a required Department of Defense health care study.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-182.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-603
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Health care coverage and access
Mental health
Rural conditions and development
Transportation costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

 
Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to transport individuals to and from VA facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, or care.
 
Treats Vet Centers (centers for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans) as VA facilities for purposes of providing payment of actual expenses of travel or allowance for travel to or from a VA facility.
 
Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2015-06-03
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-201.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Veteran Education Empowerment Act

Bill: 114-s-604
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Higher education
Military personnel and dependents
School administration
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Veteran Education Empowerment Act

 
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award up to 30 four-year grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of IHEs to establish, maintain, and improve Veteran Student Centers.
 
Permits a grantee to use a portion of the grant to provide veteran students with supportive instruction services.
 
Requires a grantee to be an IHE or consortium that: (1) enrolls in undergraduate or graduate courses a significant number or percentage of veterans or members of the Armed Forces, and (2) presents a sustainability plan demonstrating that its Veteran Student Center will be maintained and will continue to operate after the grant ends.
 
Defines a &quot;Veteran Student Center&quot; as a dedicated space on a campus that provides students who are veterans or members of the Armed Forces with: (1) a lounge or meeting space for themselves, their spouses or partners, and veterans in the community; (2) a centralized office for veteran services that is staffed by trained employees and volunteers and serves as a single point of contact to coordinate veterans support services; and (3) comprehensive academic and tutoring services to veterans.
 
Requires that office to provide such students with assistance in:
 
 
transitioning from the military to student life,
 
transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce, 
 
networking with other veteran students and veterans in the community, 
 
understanding and obtaining benefits provided by the IHE and federal and state government for which they may be eligible, 
 
understanding how to succeed in the IHE, and
 
understanding their disability-related rights and protections under specified federal laws.
 
 
Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a website for veteran student services at IHEs, which details best practices for serving veteran students at IHEs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in Innovation for Education Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-605
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Performance measurement
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Special education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Investing in Innovation for Education Act of 2015

 
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), educational service agencies, and nonprofit organizations to support the school innovation efforts of public schools and LEAs.
 
Requires at least 25% of the grant funds to be awarded for projects in rural areas. 
 
Requires each grant applicant to demonstrate that it has partnered with at least one private, nonprofit, community-based, or governmental entity that will provide matching funds. Allows the Secretary to waive the matching funds requirement upon a showing of exceptional circumstances.
 
Requires each grant to be used to address at least one of the following areas of school innovation:
 
 
improving the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders and promoting their equitable distribution,
 
strengthening the use of data to improve education,
 
providing high-quality instruction that is based on rigorous academic content standards and measuring students' proficiency using high-quality assessments that are aligned to those standards,
 
turning around the lowest-performing schools, and
 
any other area of school innovation the Secretary chooses.
 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish performance measures for tracking each grantee's progress in: (1) improving the academic performance of public elementary and secondary school students, and specified subgroups of those students; and (2) implementing its project in rural schools, as applicable. Requires grantees to use grant funds to develop or expand strategies to improve high-need students' showing on those performance measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendments Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-606
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations
Merit Systems Protection Board
Postal service
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: 

Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendments Act of 2015

 
Extends federal employee protections against adverse personnel actions, including the right to appeal such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board, to any U.S. Postal Service (USPS) officer or employee who is not represented by a bargaining representative and is in a supervisory, professional, technical, clerical, administrative, or managerial position covered by the Executive and Administrative Schedule.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act

Bill: 114-s-608
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2015-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: 

Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act 

 
 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, to extend the exclusion from gross income of income attributable to the discharge of indebtedness on a principal residence that was discharged subject to an arrangement entered into and evidenced in writing before January 1, 2017.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-609
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health personnel
Income tax exclusion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: 

Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 2015 

 
Amends Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exclusion for benefits paid to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers by states and local governments, to: (1) increase the amount of benefits excludible; and (2) make such tax exclusion available for taxable years beginning in 2015, 2016, or 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate