hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Domestic Violence Gun Homicide Prevention Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2198
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Domestic violence and child abuse
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Sex offenses
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

Domestic Violence Gun Homicide Prevention Act of 2015

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to award grants to states to carry out certain policies and procedures that restrict and penalize firearm possession by or transfer to a person subject to a domestic violence protection order or a person convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Authority Clarification Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2199
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

Regulatory Authority Clarification Act of 2015

 
This bill prohibits a federal agency from promulgating a rule that conflicts with or fails to carry out any concurrent resolution enacted by Congress that clarifies the meaning of a provision of law, including a clarification of whether a law delegates certain authority to an agency. If an agency has a rule in effect that conflicts with or fails to carry out the meaning of the resolution, the agency must promulgate new rules that carry out such meaning. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Workplace Advancement Act

Bill: 114-s-2200
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

Workplace Advancement Act

 
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discharging or retaliating against any employee because such employee has inquired about, discussed, or disclosed comparative compensation information for the purpose of determining whether the employer is compensating an employee in a manner that provides equal pay for equal work.
 
The prohibition does not apply to instances in which an employee who has access to the wage information of other employees as a part of the employee's job functions discloses such wages to an individual who has no access to them, except in response to a charge or complaint or in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action with respect to prohibited sex discrimination, including an investigation conducted by the employer.
 
It is the sense of Congress that: (1) gender-based discrimination in wages or compensation violates existing law, and (2) Congress recommits itself to the principles of equal pay for equal work.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-26
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 278.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Depreciation Act

Bill: 114-s-2202
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural equipment and machinery
Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Depreciation Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the placed-in-service restriction on the depreciation of certain farming business machinery and equipment and to make permanent the five-year recovery period for such property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Rico Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2203
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Caribbean area
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Poverty and welfare assistance
Puerto Rico
Tax treatment of families
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Rico Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make citizens of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit and allow them to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit on the same basis as U.S. taxpayers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
End of Suffering Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2204
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug therapy
Health personnel
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical ethics

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

End of Suffering Act of 2015

 
This bill prohibits any federal or state law, regulation, or agency action from restricting the right of a mentally competent adult who is suffering from an advanced illness with intolerable pain or a terminal illness to receive pain relief treatment from a physician.
 A physician who treats such an individual is not subject to criminal or civil prosecution or professional disciplinary action if the physician obtains the written informed consent of the patient through a form that must be developed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2205
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2015-10-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Indian social and development programs
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement administration and funding
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: 

Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts Act of 2015

 
This bill permits the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to tribal governments acting in partnership with state or local governments for tribal healing to wellness courts. (A tribal healing to wellness court is a drug court that is a component of a tribal justice system and includes substance abuse treatment and may include cultural activities.)
 
Courts receiving grants must monitor individuals under their jurisdiction and must periodically test each individual for drug use. DOJ may require these courts to increase punitive or treatment responses for an individual who fails a drug test.
 Violent offenders may not be under the jurisdiction of these courts unless the court has received a waiver from DOJ.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-27
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-326.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2015-10-22
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of State to offer rewards of not less than $10,000,000 for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of suspects in connection with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Bill: 114-s-2207
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2015-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Europe
Scotland
Terrorism
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 
This bill directs the Department of State to offer a reward (pursuant to the Rewards for Justice program) of up to $10 million to an individual who furnishes information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual responsible for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Security and Financial Empowerment Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2208
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional agencies
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Domestic violence and child abuse
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Financial literacy
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Indian social and development programs
Insurance industry and regulation
Labor standards
Library of Congress
Life, casualty, property insurance
Poverty and welfare assistance
Sex offenses
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Women's employment
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 

Security and Financial Empowerment Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Violence Against Women Act to require the National Resource Center on Workplace Response provide information and assistance through domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions and survivor service organizations. These organizations and coalitions shall provide resource materials and assistance to employees, employers, and labor organizations to aid in efforts to develop adequate workplace responses to domestic and sexual violence.
 
In addition, the bill requires employers to provide employees 30 days of leave per year, including 56 hours of earned paid leave, which can be used as a result of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking of an employee or an employee's family member. States may provide nonrecurring short-term emergency benefits to employees using such leave.
 

Survivors' Employment Sustainability Act

 
The Survivors' Employment Sustainability Act prohibits employers, public benefit agencies, and insurers from discriminating against survivors of:
 
 
domestic violence,
 
dating or sexual violence,
 
sexual assault, or
 
stalking.
 
 
Under the Internal Revenue Code, employers must give unemployment compensation to survivors who are separated from work due to conditions related to the individuals being survivors. The bill amends title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act to require state agency personnel that administer TANF programs to be adequately trained to assist survivors seeking assistance.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must study the barriers survivors encounter to maintain economic security. HHS may arrange financial literacy support for survivors.
 
The Department of Labor must establish a public outreach campaign.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Lawful Purpose and Self Defense Act

Bill: 114-s-2209
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2015-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Hunting and fishing
Military personnel and dependents
Outdoor recreation
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 

Lawful Purpose and Self Defense Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to modify the definition of &quot;armor piercing ammunition&quot; for purposes of federal firearms provisions to: (1) include a projectile that is designed and intended by the manufacturer or importer for use in a handgun (currently, a projectile that may be used in a handgun); (2) repeal the exclusion of a projectile that the Department of Justice (DOJ) finds is primarily intended for sporting purposes; and (3) exclude a projectile that is primarily intended by the manufacturer or importer to be used in a rifle or shotgun and a handgun projectile that is designed and intended by the manufacturer or importer to be used for hunting, recreational, or competitive shooting.
 
It repeals a prohibition on assembling from imported parts a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun that is identical to one prohibited from importation as not being suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.
 
It repeals the condition that in order for a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to be permitted to ship to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty outside the United States or to clubs whose entire membership is composed of such members, and for such members or clubs to be permitted to receive, a firearm or ammunition intended for the lawful personal use of such members or club, the firearm or ammunition must be determined by DOJ to be generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes.
 
The bill includes among the categories of firearms or ammunition that may be authorized for importation into the United States by DOJ, within 30 days after receiving an application therefor: (1) ammunition that is not armor piercing ammunition; (2) a firearm or ammunition that is being brought in for the use of a federal, state, or local government agency; and (3) a firearm or ammunition that is being imported for the purpose of exportation.
 
It amends the National Firearms Act to modify the definition of &quot;destructive device&quot; to exclude: (1) a shotgun or shotgun shell which the Department of the Treasury finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for lawful (currently, sporting) purposes; and (2) an antique or a rifle which the owner intends to use for (currently, solely for) sporting purposes.
 
It authorizes the temporary interstate transfer of a firearm for lawful (currently, sporting) purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Veteran Partners' Efforts to Enhance Reintegration Act

Bill: 114-s-2210
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Neurological disorders
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 

Veteran Partners' Efforts to Enhance Reintegration Act or Veteran PEER Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish peer specialists in patient aligned care teams at VA medical centers to promote the use and integration of mental health services in a primary care setting. 
 
At least 5 centers shall be polytrauma centers, and at least 10 shall be non-polytrauma centers. 
 
The VA shall ensure that the needs of female veterans are specifically addressed and that female peer specialists are included in the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-707.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7547-7548, S7548-7549; text of measure as introduced: CR S7548)
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Spectrum Relocation Fund Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2211
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2015-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: 

Spectrum Relocation Fund Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to make amounts available from the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF) for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to pay federal entities for research and development activities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their use of electromagnetic spectrum under government station licenses in order to make frequencies available for: (1) reallocation for nonfederal use, shared federal and nonfederal use, or a combination of such uses; and (2) auctions in accordance with such reallocation.
 
As a condition to the OMB paying a federal entity for such activities, the federal entity must have a plan: (1) approved by a technical panel within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and (2) submitted by the OMB to the appropriate congressional committees for a period of 60 days.
 
The bill also provides for incumbent federal entities to receive payment from the SRF for relocation and sharing costs incurred to accommodate sharing spectrum frequencies assigned to such entity with another federal entity the operations of which are being relocated from other frequencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Real Time Transparency Act

Bill: 114-s-2212
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2015-10-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: 

Real Time Transparency Act of 2015

 
 This bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to revise the requirement of a 48-hour notification of a campaign contribution of $1,000 or more to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and certain other officials by the principal campaign committee of a candidate for federal office.
 
(Currently, a candidate's principal campaign committee is required to give a written 48-hour notification to the Secretary of the Senate or the FEC, and the Secretary of State, as appropriate, after the receipt of any contribution of $1,000 or more by any authorized committee of such candidate after the 20th day, but more than 48 hours before, any election.) 
 
This requirement, with certain additions, shall now apply to any political committee, not just a candidate's principal campaign committee, regarding cumulative contributions (instead of single contributions) of $1,000 or more from any contributor during a calendar year. A report shall now be made only to the FEC.

 
Any amount transferred by a joint fundraising committee established by a candidate's authorized committee to any other authorized committee of that candidate shall be treated as a contribution by the joint fundraising committee to such authorized committee (and thus subject to the 48-hour notification requirement). 
 
Senate candidates must file designations, statements, and reports directly with the FEC (instead of via the Secretary of the Senate, as currently required).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Background Check Completion Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2213
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2015-10-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: 

Background Check Completion Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to prohibit a licensed gun dealer from transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person prior to completion of a background check. (Current law permits a licensed gun dealer to transfer a firearm to an unlicensed person if a submitted background check remains incomplete after three business days.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Cody Miller Patient Medication Information Act

Bill: 114-s-2214
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-10-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: 

Cody Miller Patient Medication Information Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the authorship, content, format, and dissemination of patient medication information for prescription drugs. (Patient medication information includes the instructional brochures provided to patients when a prescription is filled.)
 
FDA regulations must require drug patient medication information to be scientifically accurate, to be based on the approved professional labeling, and to include plain language that is not promotional in tone or content and that provides specified information including drug uses and side effects.
 
The regulations must include standards for: (1) timely reviews and updates of patient medication information, (2) updates to help communicate information that is shared by similar drugs, and (3) assessing the effectiveness of patient medication information in promoting patient understanding and safe and effective use of medications. The FDA must develop a public electronic repository for all patient medication information.
 
When a prescription drug is sold or dispensed, patient medication information must be provided.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Introduced in Senate
No Bonuses for Tax Cheats Act

Bill: 114-s-2215
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2015-10-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Department of the Treasury
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: 

No Bonuses for Tax Cheats Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from providing any discretionary performance award to any employee of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with respect to whom there is substantial evidence of misconduct or a seriously delinquent tax debt. Treasury shall consider such a denial or withholding of a discretionary performance award as an action necessary to protect the integrity of the IRS, for purposes of any collective bargaining agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-10-28
text: Introduced in Senate