hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Restoring America's Watersheds Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1780
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-07-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Disaster relief and insurance
Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fires
Fishes
Floods and storm protection
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Lakes and rivers
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Public contracts and procurement
Roads and highways
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: 

Restoring America's Watersheds Act of 2015

 
 Directs the Forest Service to establish a Water Source Protection Program for National Forest System land derived from the public domain. 
 
Authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into water source investment partnerships with specified end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds that provide water to non-federal partners. 
 
Authorizes USDA to produce a water source management plan.

Directs the Forest Service to establish a Watershed Condition Framework for System land derived from the public domain to: 
 
 
evaluate and classify the condition of watersheds,
 
identify for restoration up to five priority watersheds in each National Forest and up to two priority watersheds in each national grassland,
 
develop a watershed restoration action plan for each priority watershed,
 
prioritize restoration activities for each watershed restoration action plan,
 
implement each watershed restoration action plan, and
 
monitor the effectiveness of restoration actions and indicators of watershed health. 
 
 
Requires USDA, before awarding a contract funded by the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund, to determine whether the contractor has the ability to complete the proposed restoration activities, including: 
 
 
the financial ability to raise the funds necessary, and 
 
sufficient capacity to perform the type and scope of those activities. 
 
 
Reauthorizes the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund for each of FY2016-FY2024. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to modify a provision relating to the obligation and release of funds.

Bill: 114-s-1781
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-07-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government trust funds
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: 
This bill modifies requirements that apply to the obligation and release of federal highway funds by states. 
 
Under current law, any funds released by the final payment or a modification for a project must be credited to the same class of funds previously apportioned or allocated to the state for the project and are immediately available for obligation. 
 
This bill permits the funds to be credited to a similar class of funds if the same class is no longer authorized. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to permit a State transportation department to approve a justification report for a project to build or modify a freeway-to-crossroad interchange on the Interstate Highway System within a transportation management area in such State.

Bill: 114-s-1782
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-07-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government information and archives
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to permit a state transportation department to approve a justification report for a project to build or modify a freeway-to-crossroad interchange on the Interstate Highway System within a transportation management area in such state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to clarify a provision relating to the designation of a northern transportation route in Washington County, Utah.

Bill: 114-s-1783
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-07-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Roads and highways
Travel and tourism
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: 
This bill amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to require the Department of the Interior, in developing a comprehensive travel management plan for the land managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Washington County, Utah, to ensure that the plan: (1) designates a northern transportation route in the County that follows the route depicted on the map titled &quot;Washington Parkway,&quot; and (2) declares that the route's designation and construction are not subject to additional restrictions or requirements from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-07-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1784
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 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: 2015-07-16
text: 

Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2015 
 
 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the Director is appointed by the Attorney General. 

 
 
The bill permits continued service by the incumbent Director for three months after the date of enactment. The President may appoint that individual to be the Director of the Bureau of Prisons in accordance with the requirements of this Act. 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5172)
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Davis-Bacon Repeal Act

Bill: 114-s-1785
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Building construction
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Labor standards
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Davis-Bacon Repeal Act

 
 Repeals the Davis-Bacon Act (which requires that the locally prevailing wage rate be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works).
 
States that references in any law to a wage requirement of the Davis-Bacon Act shall be null and void. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Centennial Monetary Commission Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1786
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Federal Reserve System
Government studies and investigations
Inflation and prices
Monetary policy

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Centennial Monetary Commission Act of 2015

 
 This bill establishes the Centennial Monetary Commission to: (1) examine how U.S. monetary policy since the creation of the Federal Reserve Board in 1913 has affected the performance of the U.S. economy in terms of output, employment, prices, and financial stability over time; (2) evaluate various operational regimes under which the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee may conduct monetary policy in terms achieving the maximum sustainable level of output and employment and price stability over the long term; and (3) recommend a course for U.S. monetary policy going forward.
 
The Commission shall evaluate as a tool of monetary policy: (1) macro-prudential supervision and regulation, and (2) the lender-of-last-resort function of the Board.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5172-5173)
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1787
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Adult education and literacy
Advisory bodies
Child care and development
Child health
Community life and organization
Crime prevention
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Family relationships
Health care coverage and access
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Mental health
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Preschool education
Public-private cooperation
School administration

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a full-service community schools grant program. A &ldquo;full-service community school&rdquo; is a public elementary or secondary school that participates in a community-based effort to coordinate, integrate, and provide year-round access to educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services for students, families, and the community. 
 
ED must require each grant recipient to provide matching funds based on a sliding scale that accounts for the grantee&rsquo;s ability to obtain matching funds and the relative poverty of the grantee&rsquo;s targeted population. However, ED may not consider an applicant&rsquo;s ability to match funds when determining which applicants will be awarded grants under the program. The duration of each renewable grant is five years.
 
With respect to program guidance, the bill also establishes principles of effectiveness as well as a Full-Service Community Schools Advisory Committee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe and Affordable Prescription Drugs Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1790
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Africa
Asia
Australia
Canada
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Europe
European Union
Government information and archives
Israel
Japan
Middle East
New Zealand
Oceania
Prescription drugs
South Africa
Switzerland
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Safe and Affordable Prescription Drugs Act of 2015

 
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations within 180 days permitting individuals to import a prescription drug purchased from an approved foreign pharmacy that:
 
 
 is dispensed by a pharmacist licensed in that country;
 
 is purchased for personal use in quantities not greater than a 90-day supply;
 
is filled using a valid prescription issued by a physician licensed to practice in the United States; and
 
has the same active ingredient or ingredients, route of administration, dosage form, and strength as a prescription drug approved under the FFDCA.
 
 
 Sets forth exceptions, including for controlled substances and biological products.
 
 Establishes a certification process for approving pharmacies in certain foreign countries. Requires HHS to publish a list of approved foreign pharmacies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Delta Development Act to include Vernon and Sabine parishes in the definition of the term "Lower Mississippi".

Bill: 114-s-1791
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Economic development
Louisiana
Mississippi River

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 
Amends the Delta Development Act to include Vernon and Sabine Parishes of Louisiana within the Lower Mississippi Delta region of the Delta Regional Authority. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1792
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Commuting
Employee benefits and pensions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Income tax exclusion
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to equalize and increase to $250, with a cost-of-living adjustment after 2015, the tax exclusion for both transportation and parking fringe benefits. 
 
Authorizes agencies to establish a program involving such benefits in lieu of transit passes to encourage commuting by federal employees by means other than single-occupancy motor vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act

Bill: 114-s-1793
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government information and archives
Health promotion and preventive care
Physical fitness and lifestyle

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish a report at least every 10 years that contains physical activity recommendations for the general public based on the most current scientific and medical knowledge, including information for population subgroups, as needed.
 
HHS must publish updated reports that detail evidence-based practices and highlight continuing physical activity issues between the publications of full reports. Updated reports may focus on particular population subgroups or issues relating to physical activity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1794
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Arctic Ocean
Arctic and polar regions
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mining
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2015 

 
This bill declares that it is the policy of the United States that the Arctic Ocean should be managed for the best interests of the people of the United States, including by keeping fossil fuels in the ground to avoid the dangerous impacts of climate change. 
 
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act is amended to prohibit the Department of the Interior from issuing or renewing a lease or any other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in the Arctic Ocean, including the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
WIC Act

Bill: 114-s-1796
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Food assistance and relief
Medicaid
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Wise Investment in our Children Act of 2015 or the WIC Act 

 
This bill amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid) to permit the age limit for children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to be increased from five to six if a state agency determines it is necessary to accommodate the unique circumstances of an individual child. The bill also permits states to certify infants (under one year of age) participating in the program for a period of up to two years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Connect with Veterans Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1797
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Personnel records
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Connect with Veterans Act of 2015

 
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a program to facilitate VA outreach to veterans, primary state agencies for the administration of veterans' benefits and services, political subdivisions of states, and Indian tribes. 
 
Requires the VA, to carry out such program, to: (1) establish a national veterans directory, and (2) share directory information with any such entities from which a participating individual has expressed interest in receiving information. 
 
Prohibits: (1) the VA from selling information collected under this Act, (2) the VA or any participating entity from sharing such information with a non-participating entity, or (3) any participating entity from using any such information for any political communication or from requiring any participating individual to purchase any product or service.
 
Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) provide to each member of the Armed Forces separating from service a form for the collection of information to be included in the directory, (2) ensure that completion of the form is voluntary, and (3) take steps to protect the privacy of individuals and the security of information. 
 
Directs DOD and the Department of Labor jointly to take steps to integrate the collection of information under this Act into the Transition Assistance Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5163-5165)
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Bank Sensible Regulation Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1799
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Community Bank Sensible Regulation Act of 2015

 
 This bill amends the following Acts governing insured depository institutions to authorize the respective regulatory agencies to exempt from their regulatory purview depository institutions having less than $10 billion in total assets after the agencies have considered specified factors:
 
 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (insured depository institutions),
 
the Revised Statutes (national banks),
 
the Home Owners' Loan Act (savings associations, savings and loan holding companies, and mutual holding company),
 
the Federal Reserve Act (state member banks), and
 
the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (bank holding companies).
 
 
 When issuing an exemption from a provision or rule the regulatory agencies must consider the extent to which:
 
 
the provision or rule would impose an unnecessary or undue burden or cost on the depository institution;
 
the provision or rule is unnecessary or unwarranted to promote the safety and soundness of the depository institution; and
 
the exemption is necessary, appropriate, or consistent with the public interest. 
 
 
The asset threshold of such depository institutions shall increase annually at a percentage equal to the percentage change in the total aggregate assets of insured depository institutions for each 12-month period ending in December of each year, rounded to the nearest $10 million.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5173-5174)
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Depreciation Act

Bill: 114-s-1801
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural equipment and machinery
Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
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: 2015-07-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in Senate