hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program on awarding grants for provision of furniture, household items, and other assistance to homeless veterans to facilitate their transition into permanent housing, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-223
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Housing and community development funding
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a three-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of awarding grants to veterans service agencies, veterans service organizations, and nongovernmental tax-exempt organizations with experience assisting veterans or the homeless to provide veterans who are receiving specified VA homeless benefits with furniture, household items, and other assistance to facilitate their settlement into permanent housing.
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) give grant priority to applicants who serve communities that have the greatest need of homeless services, and (2) inform veterans of their eligibility to receive benefits under the pilot program.
 
Caps the amount of each grant and the amount of each grant that a grantee may use to provide benefits to an individual veteran.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-224
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Crimes against women
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic development
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Reconstruction and stabilization
Rule of law and government transparency
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
United Nations
Women's employment
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: 

Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2015

 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) implementation of the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP) is paramount in improving the lives of women around the world and increasing global stability and prosperity, (2) Congress is committed to advancing NAP principles, and (3) the President should ensure NAP's implementation and coordinate with the international community to reaffirm global commitments to implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. 
 
States that it is U.S. policy to implement NAP.
 
 Directs the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to: (1) integrate gender goals into diplomatic and development efforts, and into agency guidance and contracting; (2) include gender in strategic and budget planning processes; and (3) review existing U.S. policies and programs on women and girls in foreign countries from a gender perspective.
 
Directs the heads of federal departments and agencies to ensure that NAP's tenets are incorporated into all programs related to: (1) conflict prevention, (2) humanitarian and disaster response, (3) conflict mediation, (4) peacekeeping, (5) post-conflict reconstruction, (6) institution building, and (7) democracy promotion.
 
Urges the Secretary to promote the inclusion of women in coordination and consultation with international partners.
 
Directs the Secretary, the Administrator, the Secretary of Defense and representatives of other federal agencies to implement NAP and ensure relevant personnel training.
 
Directs the Secretary to facilitate the efforts of partner governments to improve women's participation in peace and security processes, conflict prevention, peace-building, transitional processes, and decision making institutions in conflict-affected environments.
 
Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to establish guidelines for overseas U.S. personnel to consult with specified stakeholders regarding U.S. efforts to: (1) prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict; and (2) enhance the success of mediation and negotiation processes by ensuring women's meaningful participation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act

Bill: 114-s-225
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Hunting and fishing
Outdoor recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: 

Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act

 
This bill exempts components of firearms and ammunition and sport fishing equipment and its components (such as lead sinkers) from regulations on chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate
National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-228
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2015-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Land use and conservation
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: 

National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015

 
This bill requires the President, before a national monument can be designated on public land, to obtain congressional approval, certify compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and determine that the state in which the monument is to be located has enacted legislation approving its designation. 
 
The Department of the Interior may not implement restrictions on the public use of a national monument until the expiration of an appropriate review period providing for public input and congressional approval. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate
DISCLOSE Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-229
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2015-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Business records
Congressional elections
Corporate finance and management
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Labor-management relations
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: 

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2015 
or the
 DISCLOSE Act of 2015 

 
 Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidate's character, qualifications, or fitness for office.
 
Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
 
Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA (but only with respect to such accounts).
 
Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S349-350; text of measure as introduced: CR S350-352)
action_date: 2015-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 523 East Railroad Street in Knox, Pennsylvania, as the "Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Memorial Post Office".

Bill: 114-s-231
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military personnel and dependents
Pennsylvania
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 523 East Railroad Street in Knox, Pennsylvania, as the "Specialist Ross A. McGinnis Memorial Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-05-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Nevada Land Sovereignty Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-232
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Land use and conservation
Monuments and memorials
Nevada
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Nevada Land Sovereignty Act of 2015
 
 
Prohibits any further extension or establishment of national parks and monuments in Nevada from being undertaken, except by express authorization of Congress. 
 
 Prohibits the Department of the Interior from implementing, administering, or enforcing Secretarial Order No. 3310 issued on December 22, 2010, which requires the Bureau of Land Management to inventory public lands with wilderness characteristics. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Working Families Flexibility Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-233
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government studies and investigations
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Working Families Flexibility Act of 2015

 
 Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to authorize private employers to provide compensatory time off to private employees at a rate of 1 1/2 hours per hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required. Authorizes an employer to provide compensatory time only if it is in accordance with an applicable collective bargaining agreement or, in the absence of such an agreement, an agreement between the employer and employee.
 
Prohibits an employee from accruing more than 160 hours of compensatory time. Requires an employee's employer to provide monetary compensation, after the end of a calendar year, for any unused compensatory time off accrued during the preceding year.
 
Requires an employer to give employees 30-day notice before discontinuing compensatory time off.
 
Prohibits an employer from intimidating, threatening, or coercing an employee in order to: (1) interfere with the employee's right to request or not to request compensatory time off in lieu of payment of monetary overtime compensation, or (2) require an employee to use such compensatory time.
 
Makes an employer who violates such requirements liable to the affected employee in the amount of the compensation rate for each hour of compensatory time accrued, plus an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, reduced for each hour of compensatory time used.
 
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress every three years on: (1) the extent to which employers provide compensatory time off and employees opt to receive it; (2) the number of complaints filed by an employee with the Secretary of Labor alleging a violation of the requirements as well as enforcement actions commenced by the Secretary on behalf of an aggrieved employee; (3) the disposition of such complaints and actions; and (4) any unpaid wages, damages, penalties, injunctive relief, or other remedies sought by the Secretary in connection with such actions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-234
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Licensing and registrations
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to define the period of time in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized to restrict or deny a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill materials into navigable waters as the period that:
 
 
begins on the date that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes a notice for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters at specified disposal sites, and 
 
ends on the date that the Army Corps issues the permit.
 
 
The EPA must make all the information and data that it reviewed in making a determination publicly available.
 
The EPA's authority to withdraw a specification of a defined area as a disposal site for the discharge of dredged or fill materials is eliminated.
 
Any previous action by the EPA that occurred outside of this period to deny or restrict a permit or to prohibit the specification of any defined area as a disposal site is nullified.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-235
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Disaster relief and insurance
Executive agency funding and structure
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require specified adjustments to discretionary spending limits in FY2016-FY2025 to accommodate appropriations for wildfire suppression operations in the Wildland Fire Management accounts at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Department of the Interior.
 
If USDA or Interior determines that supplemental appropriations are necessary for wildfire suppression operations, the bill requires the relevant department to submit to Congress a request for the funding and a plan for obligating the funds. 
 
The bill also requires the President's budget to include the average costs for wildfire suppression over the previous 10 years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S422)
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Airport Regulation Relief Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-239
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Noise pollution
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Small Airport Regulation Relief Act of 2015

 
 Prescribes a special rule to require the Secretary of Transportation for FY2015-FY2017 to apportion amounts for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and programs to sponsors of primary airports based on the number of passenger boardings at the airport during calendar year 2012 if it had: (1) fewer than 10,000 passenger boardings during the calendar year used to calculate the apportionment for FY2015-FY2017, and (2) 10,000 or more passenger boardings during calendar year 2012.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Broadband Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-240
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Community Broadband Act of 2015 

 
Bars states or local governments from prohibiting or inhibiting states, local government agencies, entities affiliated with state or local agencies, or Indian tribes from providing telecommunications services or advanced telecommunications capabilities to any person or any public or private entity. 
 
Prohibits government providers of public telecommunications services from favoring themselves over competing providers in the application of regulations, ordinances, public rights-of-way, or permitting requirements. 
 
Directs local governments or affiliates intending to provide public telecommunications services to consider public-private partnerships. 
 
Requires local governments or affiliates, before providing telecommunications services to the public, to provide public notice and opportunities for public input and private-sector bidding. 
 
Provides an exemption from the prohibition on local governments favoring themselves in the application of regulations, and from the requirement to provide public notice and private bidding opportunities, during an emergency declared by the President, a governor, or an authorized elected local official. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Family Relief Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-241
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Military Family Relief Act of 2015

 
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay temporary (not to exceed six months) dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) to the surviving spouse of a veteran if, at the time of death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated as total for at least one year preceding the veteran's death. 
 
Authorizes the payment to such survivor, for the same period, of any veteran's pension that the deceased was receiving at the time of death, without regard to the annual income and net worth of the surviving spouse.
 
Allows a surviving spouse who is entitled to a pension or DIC under any other VA provision to be paid the amount by which such pension or DIC exceeds the amount of pension paid under this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Allocating for Children's Education Act

Bill: 114-s-243
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
School athletics
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 

Allocating for Children's Education Act or the ACE Act

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to Coverdale education savings accounts, to: (1) increase from $2,000 to $5,000 the maximum allowable contribution to such accounts in a taxable year, and (2) allow distributions from such accounts for the purchase of athletic equipment at elementary and secondary schools. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require an independent comprehensive review of the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs assesses cognitive impairments that result from traumatic brain injury for purposes of awarding disability compensation, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-244
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government studies and investigations
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Neurological disorders
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: 
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a comprehensive review of VA examinations that assess the cognitive impairments of individuals who submit claims for compensation for service-connected traumatic brain injury.
 
Requires: (1) the Institute, in conducting the review, to convene a group of experts in clinical neuropsychology and other related disciplines; and (2) the review to include a determination of the adequacy of the VA's tools and protocols used in conducting such examinations and the credentials that are necessary for health care specialists and providers to perform the portions of such examinations that assess cognitive functions. 
 
Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress any Institute recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve the adjudication of claims.
 
Requires Secretary to seek to enter an agreement with a similar nongovernmental, nonprofit organization to conduct such review if the Secretary is unable to enter into an acceptable agreement with the Institute.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate