hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to improve the effectiveness and coordination of nutrition education.

Bill: 114-s-2445
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-01-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Nutrition and diet
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study and report to Congress on state administrative expense funds, including: 
 
 
the use of the funds by state agencies; 
 
policies, practices, and training methods being implemented using the funds; 
 
factors that interfere with the ability of a state agency to use the funds effectively; and 
 
ways the funds are being used to encourage the implementation of effective and consistent school nutrition workforce training and technical assistance. 
 
 
USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion must study and report to Congress on the effectiveness and level of coordination between nutrition education in the child nutrition programs and other federal programs that include nutrition education. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2446
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2016-01-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Building construction
Coal
Electric power generation and transmission
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Hydrology and hydrography
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Licensing and registrations
Public participation and lobbying
Soil pollution
Solid waste and recycling
State and local government operations
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: 

Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2016

 
This bill amends subtitle D (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a permit program for coal combustion residuals (coal ash) that states may elect to administer. The program outlines the criteria that a state must use if it chooses to adopt and enforce a permit program regulating the management and disposal of coal ash generated by electric utilities and independent power producers. The program applies to the disposal of coal ash into landfills or surface impoundments, sand or gravel pits, quarries, or lateral expansions of the structures. The structural criteria concern: (1) design, location, and integrity; (2) financial assurance; (3) groundwater and surface water protections; (4) closure procedures; and (5) air quality with respect to fugitive dust. 
 
A state that chooses to adopt a coal ash program is given sole enforcement authority. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must implement a program for a state if: (1) a state's program fails to meet those criteria, or (2) a state does not implement a program. 
 
The bill revises implementation of the EPA rule governing the disposal of coal ash, entitled &quot;Hazardous and Solid Waste Management System; Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities.&quot; The rule may be implemented only through the permit program established by this bill. 
 
The agency implementing the permit program must ensure that certain information concerning the program is publicly available.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-02
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-349.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act

Bill: 114-s-2447
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-01-19 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Foreign property
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Protest and dissent
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Trade restrictions
Vietnam
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: 

Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act 

 
This bill requires the President to: (1) impose financial and immigration/entry sanctions on listed nationals of Vietnam who are complicit in human rights abuses committed against nationals of Vietnam or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Vietnam; and (2) submit to Congress a publicly available list of individuals determined to be complicit in such human rights abuses.
 
The President may waive sanctions to comply with international agreements or if in the U.S. national interest.
 
Sanctions shall be terminated if the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has: (1) released all political prisoners; (2) ceased its practices of violence, detention, and abuse of citizens of Vietnam engaging in peaceful political activity; and (3) conducted a transparent investigation into the killings, arrest, and abuse of such political activists and prosecuted those responsible.
 
It is the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S.-Vietnam relationship cannot progress while the government of Vietnam's human rights record continues to deteriorate, and (2) the Secretary of State should designate Vietnam as a country of particular concern with respect to religious freedom.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2448
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2016-01-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Caribbean area
Delaware
Florida
Judges
Maryland
Michigan
Nevada
North Carolina
Puerto Rico
Tennessee
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: 

Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of
 
2016

 
This bill amends the federal judicial code to:
 
 
convert certain temporary bankruptcy judges to permanent bankruptcy judges and authorize the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges in Delaware and Michigan; 
 
convert temporary bankruptcy judges to permanent bankruptcy judges in specified judicial districts in Florida, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and Virginia; and 
 
authorize the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges in the middle district of Florida. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-01-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2449
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Immigration status and procedures
Iraq
Middle East
Syria
Terrorism
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 

Equal Protection in Travel Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the prohibition against participation in the visa waiver program of an alien who, regardless of whether the alien is a national of a program country, is a national of: (1) Iraq or Syria, (2) a country designated as a country that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism, or (3) any other country or area of concern.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the area between the intersections of International Drive, Northwest and Van Ness Street, Northwest and International Drive, Northwest and International Place, Northwest in Washington, District of Columbia, as "Liu Xiaobo Plaza", and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-2451
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional tributes
Detention of persons
District of Columbia
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Human rights
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 
This bill designates as &quot;Liu Xiaobo Plaza&quot; the area between the intersections of International Drive Northwest and Van Ness Street Northwest and International Drive Northwest and International Place Northwest in Washington, DC. 

action_date: 2016-02-12
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec. 1) This bill designates as &quot;Liu Xiaobo Plaza&quot; the area between the intersections of International Drive Northwest and Van Ness Street Northwest and International Drive Northwest and International Place Northwest in Washington, DC. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-02-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2016-02-23
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-02-22
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-02-12
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S886-887)
action_date: 2016-02-12
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(text: CR S886-887)
action_date: 2016-02-12
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S886-887)
action_date: 2016-02-12
text: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S886-887)
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the use of funds to make payments to Iran relating to the settlement of claims brought before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal until Iran has paid certain compensatory damages awarded to United States persons by United States courts.

Bill: 114-s-2452
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government liability
International law and treaties
Iran
Middle East
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 
This bill prohibits the use of funds by the United States to make a payment to the government of Iran or an Iranian national relating to the settlement of any claim before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal until the President certifies to Congress that Iran has paid all compensatory damages awarded to a U.S. person or entity in a final judgment of a federal or state court arising from an act of international terrorism for which the government of Iran was determined not to be immune from the court's jurisdiction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-21
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-533.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Duplication Reduction and Scoring Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2453
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 

Duplication Reduction and Scoring Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate with relevant federal agencies to: (1) use available administrative authority to eliminate, consolidate, or streamline federal programs and agencies with duplicate and overlapping missions identified in specified reports of the Government Accountability Office issued between 2011 and 2015; (2) determine the total cost savings from the use of such authority; and (3) rescind from appropriate accounts the greater of $10 billion or the total amount of estimated cost savings and apply the savings towards deficit reduction.
 
The bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to submit an analysis of whether any legislation reported from a congressional committee that creates a new federal program, office, or initiative would duplicate or overlap with any existing program, office, or initiative with a similar mission, purpose, or goal. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Legislative Performance Review Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2454
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional committees
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 

Legislative Performance Review Act of 2016 

 
This bill limits the duration of authorizations of appropriations, requires programs with expired authorizations to be terminated, and establishes reporting requirements. 
 
The bill prohibits Congress from considering legislation that: (1) authorizes appropriations for more than four years, or (2) authorizes the enactment of an unlimited amount of appropriations for any purpose. 
 
If Congress determines that an authorization for more than four years is necessary to accomplish the purposes of an authorization, it may waive the time limit by considering a waiver resolution using expedited legislative procedures. 
 
Congressional committees that report legislation authorizing appropriations must include in committee reports: (1) an analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of existing programs for which appropriations are authorized; and (2) specified details regarding the purpose and need for new programs for which appropriations are authorized. 
 
Federal agencies must implement a two-year plan to terminate programs with expired authorizations. 
 
The bill establishes new points of order against legislation that provides appropriations that are either unauthorized or are pursuant to authorizations that violate the time limits and other requirements established by this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Educational Freedom Accounts Act

Bill: 114-s-2455
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
District of Columbia
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Public contracts and procurement
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 

Educational Freedom Accounts Act 

 
This bill requires the District of Columbia to provide education savings accounts for children who are eligible to receive a free public education in the District, but whose parents choose not to enroll them in a public school or home schooling. 
 
To receive an account, a child must be either entering kindergarten or prekindergarten or have been enrolled in a public school in the District during the previous year. 
 
The Chief Financial Officer of the District must award a contract to a tax-exempt entity based in the District to administer the program. 
 
The District must fund the accounts with amounts that are adjusted based on the family's income and range from 80% to 90% of the funds that the District of Columbia Public School System would otherwise spend on the child. 
 
Upon the direction of a parent, the administering entity must distribute the funds for educational expenses, including: 
 
 
 tuition at a nonpublic school or for distance education, 
 
 tutoring, 
 
 curricula or online courses, 
 
 special education, 
 
individual courses or extracurricular activities at a public school within the District, 
 
 dual credit courses that qualify for both secondary and postsecondary education credit, 
 
 examinations, 
 
 transportation to and from a provider, 
 
contributions to qualified tuition programs (529 plans) or Coverdell education savings accounts, or
 
 other educational expenses approved by the administering entity. 
 
 
At the end of the contract period, any remaining balances must be returned to the District. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Dynamic Repayment Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2456
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
User charges and fees
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 

Dynamic Repayment Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace several existing federal student loan programs with a single repayment plan that caps annual debt repayments based on income and forgives remaining balances after 20 or 30 years of payments. 
 
The bill terminates the authority of the Department of Education (ED) to make federal Direct Stafford Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Direct PLUS loans, subject to exceptions for existing student borrowers, PLUS loans made to parents of undergraduates, and Direct Consolidation Loans. 
 
To replace the programs, the bill establishes the Income Dependent Education Assistance (IDEA) Loan Program and the IDEA Loan Repayment Program, which: 
 
 
 limit annual repayments based on the borrower's income; 
 
 forgive remaining balances after either 20 or 30 years of payments, depending on the amount of the loan; and 
 
prohibit the accrual of interest on loans for active duty service members. 
 
 
The bill amends the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require ED and the Department of Health and Human Services to exchange information necessary to use the National Directory of New Hires to assist in the collection of student loans. 
 
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require the Department of the Treasury to disclose to ED tax return information necessary to carry out the IDEA Loan Repayment Program, and (2) to exclude loan forgiveness under the program from gross income. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Employer Participation in Repayment Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2457
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 

Employer Participation in Repayment Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance to include payments of qualified education loans paid to either an employee or a lender.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, relating to the restriction of the use of the Visa Waiver Program for aliens who travel to certain countries.

Bill: 114-s-2458
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Iraq
Middle East
Syria
Terrorism
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, to include Department of State designation of a country or area as a country or area of concern among the criteria for visa waiver program ineligibility based upon an alien's nationality or presence.
 
Exceptions to program ineligibility shall include include an alien who was present in a prohibited country to perform official duties as an employee of an international organization for a program country.
 
 Visa waiver program disqualification under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 shall not take effect until 180 days after enactment of such Act for an alien: (1) who, regardless of whether the alien is a national of a program country, is a national of Iraq or Syria, a national of a country designated as supporting terrorism, or a national of any other country or area of concern; or (2) who has been present in such countries or areas on or after March 1, 2011.
 
The Department of Homeland Security or the State Department may waive such prohibition for a period of up to 90 days if either determines that the waiver is in U.S. national security interests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2459
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2016-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-21
text: 

Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2016
 
 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the Director is appointed by the Attorney General.
 
It also limits the BOP Director to a single term of 10 years. 
 
 The incumbent Director may continue to serve for three months after the date of enactment. The President may appoint that individual to be the Director in accordance with the requirements of this Act. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S161)
action_date: 2016-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Defense Acquisition Workforce Human Capital Management Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-2460
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-01-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2016-01-21
text: 

Defense Acquisition Workforce Human Capital Management Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) strategic workforce plan to include information on the use of certain special hiring authorities by the military departments and the defense agencies, and a description of the additional authorities required to enhance DOD's civilian employee workforce. 
 
DOD shall transmit to Congress each report submitted to DOD by the military departments and the heads of the defense agencies relating to the strategic workforce plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-01-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-01-21
text: Introduced in Senate