hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Veterans Registry and Study Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3226
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Veterans Registry and Study Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain the Enewetak Atoll Veterans Health Registry of each veteran who performed a radiation cleanup mission in the Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands between January 1, 1977, and December 31, 1980, while serving as a member of the Armed Forces and who:
 
 
applies for medical care or services from the VA;
 
files a claim for compensation on the basis of any disability associated with such service;
 
dies and is survived by a spouse, child, or parent who files a claim for dependency and indemnity compensation on the basis of such service; 
 
 requests a health examination from the VA; or
 
receives such a health examination and submits a request to be included in the registry.
 
 
The registry shall include relevant medical data relating to the health status of each such individual who: (1) grants the VA permission to include such information, or (2) is deceased when the individual's name is added to the registry.
 
In the case of such an individual who is deceased, the VA shall provide that individual's spouse, child, or parent with consultation and counseling with respect to the results of an examination of such individual, upon request.
 
The VA shall: (1) periodically notify individuals listed in the registry of significant developments in research on the health consequences of potential radiation exposure related to such service, (2) provide for an independent study on such potential exposure, and (3) carry out outreach activities with respect to health examinations and consultation and counseling services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5166-5167)
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Economic Growth and Development Act

Bill: 114-s-3227
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Economic development
Foreign aid and international relief
Public-private cooperation
Rule of law and government transparency
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Economic Growth and Development Act

 
This bill requires the President to: (1) establish a primary, interagency mechanism to assist the private sector in coordinating U.S. development programs with private sector investment activities; and (2) submit, annually, a strategy for the facilitation and coordination of private sector investments and activities for the purposes of development. 
 
Such mechanism shall: (1) streamline and integrate private sector liaison, coordination, and investment promotion functions of U.S. development agencies; (2) facilitate the use of development and finance tools across such agencies to attract greater private sector participation in development activities; and (3) establish a single point of contact for the private sector for partnership opportunities with such agencies.
 
The Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shall direct their policy teams to include private sector facilitation and coordination in all country, sector, and global development strategies.
 
 The State Department, USAID, and other relevant federal agencies shall ensure that analyses of rigorous, current constraints on growth and investment guide all such strategies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Assessing Coastal Areas to Assist States Act

Bill: 114-s-3228
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Assessing Coastal Areas to Assist States Act

 
This bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study to identify the risks and vulnerabilities of the coastal areas located within the geographic boundaries of the South Atlantic Division of the Corps of Engineers to increased hurricane and storm damage as a result of sea level rise.
 
In carrying out the study, the Corps of Engineers shall: (1) conduct necessary analyses, with special emphasis on regional sediment management as a method to sustainably maintain or enhance current levels of storm protection to produce a comprehensive understanding of coastal vulnerabilities in the affected areas and to identify initial measures to address such vulnerabilities; and (2) develop a long-term strategy for addressing such increased damage and for identifying opportunities to enhance resiliency, increase sustainability, and lower risks in population centers, areas of concentrated economic development, and areas with vulnerable environmental resources.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3229
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2016

 
 This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase the amount of unpaid debt permitted per borrower under Department of Agriculture farm ownership and operating loans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Senior Home Modification Assistance Initiative Act

Bill: 114-s-3230
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Government information and archives
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Senior Home Modification Assistance Initiative Act

 
This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Administration on Aging to:
 
 
carry out an initiative to coordinate federal resources to provide home modifications for older individuals to support enabling them to live independently and safely in a home environment; and
 
identify and publish an educational brochure on home modifications and repairs for use by older individuals attempting to live independently and safely in their homes and by their caregivers.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Stronger Way Act

Bill: 114-s-3231
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Poverty and welfare assistance
Tax treatment of families
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Stronger Way Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a program, through grant agreements with state and local government agencies, that provides eligible unemployed or partially employed individuals with opportunities to work in a transitional job for the purpose of enabling them to gain, through wage-paying jobs, the experience and skills needed to move into regular employment.
 
The Internal Revenue Code is amended to revise the earned income tax credit.
 
The bill eliminates the existing child care tax credit and establishes in its place a refundable child tax credit equal to a specified percentage of the taxpayer's earned income, with limitations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Lowell National Historical Park Creative Partnerships Act

Bill: 114-s-3232
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Historic sites and heritage areas
Massachusetts
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Lowell National Historical Park Creative Partnerships Act

 
This bill requires any loan made in 1984 by the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission to the Lowell Development and Financial Corporation to enable it to furnish low-interest loans for the preservation, restoration, or development of certain properties in the Lowell National Historical Park or the Lowell Historic Preservation District in Massachusetts to have a maturity of 42 years.
 
(Under current law, all such loans, regardless of the year in which they were made, must have a maturity of 35 years.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
PACE Act

Bill: 114-s-3233
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child care and development
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone Act or the PACE Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment (known as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit), to: (1) make the credit refundable, (2) increase the rate for the credit, and (3) require the dollar amounts for such credit to be adjusted for inflation after 2016. 
 
The bill also increases the amount of employer-provided dependent care assistance which may be excluded from the gross income of an employee and requires the increased exclusion amount to be adjusted for inflation after 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3234
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Business education
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Credit and credit markets
Economic development
Federal-Indian relations
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Indian social and development programs
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Minority employment
Public contracts and procurement
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000 to establish duties for the Office of Native American Business Development (ONABD), including: (1) advising the Department of Commerce regarding the relationship between the United States and Indian tribes; and (2) serving as the point of contact for tribes, tribal organizations, and members of tribes regarding economic development.
 
The ONABD, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, and the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund must coordinate to support economic development in Native American communities.
 
CDFI Fund assistance for Native American communities provided through certain entities does not require matching funds.
 
For purposes of financing and economic or community development, the essential governmental functions of a tribe are the same as those of a state or local government with general taxing authority.
 
The bill establishes the Indian Economic Development Fund to provide credit subsidies for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) loan guarantee program and for certain community development financial institutions.
 
This bill amends the Buy Indian Act, including to require the Department of Health and Human Services to use Native American labor and purchase Native American products.
 
This bill amends the Indian Trader Act to permit the BIA, under specified conditions, to waive the requirement for persons to be licensed to engage in trade with a tribe.
 This bill amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to permit the BIA to provide financial assistance to certain community development financial institutions for Native American projects.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-21
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2016-09-07
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-538.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5167)
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the troops who defended Bataan during World War II.

Bill: 114-s-3235
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military history
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Philippines
Smithsonian Institution
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the collective award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the troops from the United States and the Philippines who defended Bataan, Philippines, and were subsequently prisoners of war in recognition of their personal sacrifice and service during World War II. 
 
The medal shall be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, which is urged to make the medal available for display at other locations associated with such troops.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
BENES Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3236
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Medicare
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2016 or the BENES Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to:
 
 
establish requirements for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to notify individuals of their potential eligibility for Medicare;
 
require the Internal Revenue Service to disclose to CMS specified taxpayer information for the purpose of establishing individuals' potential Medicare eligibility;
 
restructure Medicare enrollment periods; and 
 
expand Medicare beneficiaries' rights to appeal certain enrollment errors.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3237
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing credit, to rename the credit &quot;the affordable housing credit&quot; and make several modifications to the credit. 
 
The bill increases state allocations for the credit and modifies the cost-of-living adjustments. It also revises tenant eligibility requirements, with respect to: 
 
 
 the average income test, 
 
income eligibility for rural projects, 
 
 increased tenant income, 
 
 student occupancy rules, and
 
tenant voucher payments that are taken into account as rent. 
 
 
The bill revises various requirements to:
 
 
 establish a 4% minimum credit rate for certain projects, 
 
permit relocation costs to be taken into account as rehabilitation expenditures,
 
 repeal the qualified census tract population cap, 
 
require state housing credit agencies to make certain determinations regarding community revitalization plans, 
 
 prohibit local approval and contribution requirements, 
 
 increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households, 
 
 increase the credit for certain bond-financed projects designated by state agencies, and
 
 eliminate the basis reduction for low-income housing properties that receive certain energy-related tax credits and deductions. 
 
 
The bill also modifies requirements regarding the reconstruction or replacement period after a casualty loss, rights related to building purchases, the prohibition on claiming acquisition credits for properties placed in service in the previous 10 years, and projects that assist Native Americans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Electrochromic Glass Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3238
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Electrochromic Glass Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to specify that the use of electrochromic glass qualifies for the tax credit for investment in energy property. (Electrochromic glass is able to switch from clear to dark using a switch, sensor, timer, or similar controls.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
RACE for Children Act

Bill: 114-s-3239
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Child health
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Medical research

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity for Children Act or the RACE for Children Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand requirements for assessing the use of medications in pediatric populations.
 
Applications and supplements to applications for certain drugs and biological products, including orphan drugs, that could be used to treat pediatric cancer must include an assessment of pediatric use. Upon request, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must meet with the sponsor of such a medication to discuss the plan for pediatric studies.
 
The FDA may require the sponsor of an approved medication that could be used to treat pediatric cancer to complete a pediatric assessment if: (1) the medication is used for a substantial number of pediatric cancer patients, or (2) there is reason to believe the medication would have a meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing therapies for pediatric cancer patients.
 
The bill limits waivers of pediatric assessment requirements for certain medications that could be used to treat a pediatric cancer for which there is a need for additional treatment options.
 The FDA must meet with medication sponsors to discuss a deferral or waiver of the pediatric assessment requirement.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3240
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Legislative rules and procedure
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2016 

 
This bill prohibits provisions that increase or extend an increase of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums from being counted as an offset to determine budget points of order for legislation in the House or the Senate. 
 
(The PBGC is a federal agency that insures the benefits of private sector, defined benefit pension plans. The PBGC is financed by insurance premiums paid by sponsors of the plans, investment income, assets from pension plans taken over by the PBGC, and recoveries from the companies formerly responsible for the plans. This bill prevents increases in PBGC premiums from being used to pay for provisions that increase the deficit in determining whether a budget point of order applies to legislation.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3242
Sponsor: Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]
Introduced: 2016-07-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: 

Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 201

6

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exclusion for distributions from health flexible spending arrangements provided under a cafeteria plan, to: (1) increase the annual limit on employee salary reduction contributions to $5,000, with an additional $500 for each additional employee dependent above two dependents that has not been taken into account by another person for the year; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation after 2017; and (3) allow a carryforward into the next year for unused amounts in such plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-07-14
text: Introduced in Senate