hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
RESPECT Act

Bill: 114-s-2796
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: 

Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act or the RESPECT Act

 This bill repeals outdated provisions regarding treatment of Native Americans, including provisions on hostile tribes, alcohol, work requirements, penalties for truancy, and placement of youth in reform school without the consent of a parent or guardian.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-401.
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2026-2027)
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act

Bill: 114-s-2797
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: 

Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish and implement a Refund to Rainy Day Savings Program to permit a taxpayer to defer payment on 20% of a tax refund to be deposited into a Treasury account, accumulate interest, and disbursed to the taxpayer in six months. 
 
The bill also amends the Assets for Independence Act to reauthorize the Assets for Independence (AFI) federal matched savings program through FY2021 and require appropriations for the program to be reserved for: 
 
 
 general research and evaluation, 
 
 grants for AFI innovation projects to expand the availability of matched savings accounts to low-income individuals, and 
 
 a three-year pilot program to evaluate savings matches for low-income taxpayers. 
 
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a three-year matched savings account pilot program to encourage savings by low-income taxpayers. Under the program, HHS may provide grants to qualified entities to match funds saved by low-income taxpayers under the Refund to Rainy Day Savings Program. 
 
Qualified entities for the pilot program include: 
 
 
 nonprofit organizations, 
 
state or local government agencies or tribal governments applying with a nonprofit organization, 
 
 sites that offer free tax assistance under certain Internal Revenue Service programs, and 
 
 low-income credit unions and community development financial institutions that work with a local community-based organization to address poverty and the needs of community members for economic independence and stability. 
 
 
HHS must: (1) contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the pilot program, and (2) report annually to Congress on the progress and outcomes of the pilot program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Free Market Flights Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2798
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2016-04-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Budget deficits and national debt
Rural conditions and development
Small towns
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: 

Free Market Flights Act of 2016

 
This bill terminates on October 1, 2016, Department of Transportation authority to carry out the essential air service program.
 
The bill requires deposit in the Treasury for deficit reduction of any overflight fees collected by the Federal Aviation Administration for air traffic control and related services that would otherwise be made available for the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-04-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Firefighter Cancer Registry Act

Bill: 114-s-2799
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Health information and medical records
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Minority employment
Minority health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Women's employment
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: 

Firefighter Cancer Registry Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and maintain a voluntary patient registry to monitor, collect, and make available epidemiological information related to cancer incidence and trends among firefighters. The CDC should seek to include specified information in the registry, including the number and types of fire incidents attended by an individual.
 
To collect information for the registry, the CDC may incorporate questions into existing public health surveys, questionnaires, and other databases.
 
The CDC must: (1) encourage the inclusion in the registry of data on minority, female, and volunteer firefighters; and (2) seek feedback on the registry from nonfederal experts.
 The CDC must develop an approval process for making registry data available for research without a fee if findings or publications derived from the research are made public or available to stakeholders.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act

Bill: 114-s-2800
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2016-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: 

Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual the discharge of student loans or private education loans due to the death or disability of the student.
 
The bill also amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to discharge the liability on loans that parents received on behalf of a student who: (1) has become permanently and totally disabled, or (2) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or is expected to last continuously for at least 60 months. (Under current law, ED is required to discharge the loans to parents if the student dies.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Malachy McAllister, Nicola McAllister, and Sean Ryan McAllister.

Bill: 114-s-2801
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-04-14 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Provides for the relief of Malachy McAllister, Nicola McAllister, and Sean Ryan McAllister.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act

Bill: 114-s-2802
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2016-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Firearms and explosives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Mental health
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social security and elderly assistance
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: 

Protecting Gun Rights and Due Process Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code and other laws to raise the threshold that must be met with respect to disqualifying an individual, for reasons relating to mental health, from possessing or receiving a firearm. Specifically, such an individual must have been either adjudicated mentally incompetent or committed to a psychiatric hospital.
 
In addition, the bill excludes, for purposes of a determination of whether an individual is disqualified from possessing or receiving a firearm: (1) certain state health reports, and (2) specified determinations made by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Social Security Administration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayers Before Insurers Act

Bill: 114-s-2803
Sponsor: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]
Introduced: 2016-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: 

Taxpayers Before Insurers Act 

 
This bill rescinds specified departmental management funds from the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) unless HHS deposits into the Treasury specified funds derived from contributions collected under the Transitional Reinsurance Program. 
 
The rescission is required unless HHS deposits into the Treasury: (1) $2 billion for each of calendar years 2014 and 2015 within 45 days of enactment of this bill, and (2) $1 billion for 2016 by March 1, 2017. 
 
(The Transitional Reinsurance Program was created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA] to stabilize premiums in the individual health insurance market by partially reimbursing insurers for high-cost enrollees. Health insurance issuers and certain group health plans make contributions to the program, and reinsurance payments are made to issuers for enrollees in certain individual market plans with claim costs within a specified level. Portions of the reinsurance contributions are allocated for the reinsurance payment pool, administrative expenses, and the Treasury.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2805
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-04-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Minnesota
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: 
This bill modifies the boundaries of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. 
 
The bill transfers to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over: 
 
 
any land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the boundaries of the park, and 
 
any additional public land identified by the BLM as appropriate for transfer within the boundaries of the park. 
 
 
Any land located within or adjacent to the boundaries of the park that is owned by Minnesota (or a political subdivision) may be acquired by Interior through donation or exchange only. 

action_date: 2016-09-06
text: 
(Sec. 1) This bill modifies the boundaries of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. 
 
The bill transfers to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over: 
 
 
any land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the boundaries of the park, and 
 
any additional public land identified by the BLM as appropriate for transfer within the boundaries of the park. 
 
 
Any land located within or adjacent to the boundaries of the park that is owned by Minnesota (or a political subdivision) may be acquired by Interior through donation or exchange only. 
 
Upon completion of any such acquisition from Minnesota, Interior shall revise the park's boundaries to reflect the acquisition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 603.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment. With written report No. 114-330.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment. With written report No. 114-330.
action_date: 2016-07-13
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-06-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-502.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-04-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act

Bill: 114-s-2807
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Great Lakes
Hunting and fishing
Intergovernmental relations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Parks, recreation areas, trails
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 

Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to obtain approval from the relevant fish and wildlife management agency of a state or territory before restricting fishing access to state or territorial marine waters that are within the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, including coastal waters and estuaries. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-502.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2808
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: District of Columbia
Humanities programs funding
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Performing arts

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 

John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2016

 This bill amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to reauthorize appropriations for FY2017-FY2020 for maintenance, repair, and security, and capital projects for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2016

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to reauthorize appropriations for FY2017-FY2020 for maintenance, repair, and security, and capital projects for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
action_date: 2016-06-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)
 

John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2016

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the John F. Kennedy Center Act to reauthorize appropriations for FY2017-FY2020 for maintenance, repair, and security, and capital projects for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-06-20
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-06-20
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-06-17
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-06-16
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4323; text as passed Senate: CR S4323)
action_date: 2016-06-16
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4323; text as passed Senate: CR S4323)
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe without amendment. With written report No. 114-254.
action_date: 2016-05-16
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe without amendment. With written report No. 114-254.
action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to preserve taxpayers' rights to administrative appeal of deficiency determinations, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2809
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Corporate finance and management
Department of the Treasury
Evidence and witnesses
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish new procedures and requirements for administrative appeals of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deficiency determinations. 
 
If the IRS determines that there is a deficiency with respect to a tax imposed, it may send a notice of deficiency to a taxpayer after: 
 
 
 the taxpayer has been issued a letter of proposed deficiency that explains the basis for the determination of deficiency and provides an opportunity for administrative review in the IRS Office of Appeals; and 
 
either: (1) the time provided in the letter for contacting the office has expired and the taxpayer has not contacted the office, or (2) the office has issued a decision with respect to the deficiency. 
 
 
The bill includes exceptions to these requirements for frivolous tax positions and issues in cases designated for litigation. 
 
The IRS must permit a taxpayer to appeal a deficiency prior to issuing a deficiency notice if 60 or fewer days remain on the statute of limitations and the taxpayer agrees to extend the period for 12 months. 
 
The bill modifies appeals dispute resolution procedures. It also restricts the authority of the IRS to: (1) designate cases for litigation without permitting an appeal, or (2) offer settlement agreements that preclude an appeal. 
 
The bill modifies the authority of the IRS to issue a summons and limits the access that people outside of the IRS have to returns and return information acquired by a summons. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2810
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Business education
Education programs funding
Financial literacy
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 

Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act to establish a Department of Agriculture (USDA) program to provide competitive grants to small cheese producers and cooperative groups of small cheese producers. 
 
In awarding grants, USDA must define the term &quot;small cheese producer&quot; and give preference to producers that: (1) purchase raw dairy product from producers located in the same state as the small cheese producers, or (2) produce raw dairy product on the farms of the small cheese producers.
 
Grant recipients may use the funds to: 
 
 
 purchase equipment or renovate and make repairs to production facilities,
 
develop a business plan or perform a feasibility study to grow the business, 
 
 promote and market cheese,
 
 participate in accounting and financial literacy education and training, and
 
 carry out food safety upgrades and training. 
 
 
Using no more than 10% of the funds provided for this bill, USDA must establish a cheese production, education, and promotion pilot project at eligible institutions, including:
 
 
land-grant colleges or universities, 
 
local offices of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture or other regional USDA offices, 
 
groups of regional experts that advise beginning farmers or ranchers, or
 
nonprofit organizations. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Chaplain (First Lieutenant) Joseph Verbis LaFleur for acts of valor during World War II.

Bill: 114-s-2811
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Japan
Military history
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of the Army to award the Distinguished Service Cross to Chaplain (First Lieutenant) Joseph Verbis LaFleur for acts of valor during World War II.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2813
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commuting
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 

Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2016

 
This bill prohibits a state from imposing an income tax on the compensation of a nonresident individual for any period in which such individual is not physically present in or working in such state or from deeming such nonresident individual to be present in or working in such state on the grounds that: (1) such individual is present at or working at home for convenience, or (2) such individual's work at home fails any convenience of the employer test or any similar test.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in Senate