hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Empower Burma Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3325
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

Empower Burma Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the President to establish a multiyear strategy to encourage international efforts to promote sustainable economic development in Burma in order to reduce poverty, drive economic growth, and support democracy. 
 
The President may establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate the activities of U.S. agencies involved in carrying out such strategy.
 
The President should direct U.S. representatives to appropriate international bodies to advocate for increased economic development efforts in Burma. 
 
The U.S. government should ensure that international development assistance projects that it supports in Burma: 
 
 
do not benefit entities on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (SDN list) or entities otherwise undermining peace in Burma,
 
do not benefit the military,
 
do not marginalize vulnerable populations or exclude any ethnic or religious communities, and 
 
promote good governance and meet internationally recognized labor standards. 
 
 
It is the sense of Congress that: 
 
 
preferential duty treatment should be extended to Burma as soon as Burma meets specified eligibility criteria; 
 
the Millennium Challenge Corporation should provide assistance to Burma as soon as Burma qualifies as an eligible country and enters into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the United States; and 
 
the President should not remove any entity from the SDN list without credible evidence that the entity is no longer participating in the activities for which it was listed and is not undermining peace in Burma.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
State Flexibility to Provide Affordable Health Options Act

Bill: 114-s-3326
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

State Flexibility to Provide Affordable Health Options Act

 
This bill deems to be a qualified health plan for 2017 any state-authorized health insurance offered in the individual or small group market in certain states. (Qualified health plans purchased through a health insurance exchange are eligible for premium subsidies.) This applies in states that: (1) determine that temporary access to affordable private health insurance outside of a health insurance exchange is necessary to ensure access to an adequate number of affordable private health insurance options in the individual or small group market; and (2) notify the Department of Health and Human Services of that determination no later than November 1, 2016.
 Residents of such a state are not subject to the requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage in 2017.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 628.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5724-5725)
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Pay for Printing Act

Bill: 114-s-3327
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

Pay for Printing Act

 
This bill requires the sponsor of a ceremonial or commemorative Senate resolution to reimburse the Government Publishing Office for the total costs of printing the resolution out of the sponsor's Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account.
 
It excludes from such requirement a resolution sponsored by at least two-thirds of the Senators.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3328
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Evidence and witnesses
Health information and medical records
Personnel records
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits appeals process to permit a claimant to request: 
 
 
a review of the agency of original jurisdiction's decision by a higher-level adjudicator within the agency based on the original evidence; or 
 
a Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) review under which no BVA hearing is requested and no additional evidence may be submitted or under which a BVA hearing is requested and the appellant requests an opportunity to submit additional evidence at, and within 90 days of, the hearing (for which the BVA shall maintain two separate dockets). 
 
 
(The term &quot;agency of original jurisdiction&quot; means the activity which entered the original determination with regard to a claim for veterans benefits.) 
 
The bill prescribes additional information that must be included in the notice of a denied benefit.
 
A finding favorable to a claimant is binding on all subsequent VA adjudicators unless clear and convincing evidence is shown to the contrary. 
 
 If a claim is denied the claimant may, within one year after the agency of original jurisdiction issues a decision with respect to such claim: (1) file a request for higher-level review, (2) file a supplemental claim, or (3) file a notice of disagreement. 
 
The BVA may remand a claim to the agency to obtain a corrective advisory medical opinion. 
 
 The VA shall provide for expedited treatment by the agency of original jurisdiction of any claim that is remanded by the BVA.
 
The bill revises effective dates of awards provisions.
 
 The bill repeals a provision authorizing the BVA to secure an independent medical expert's opinion when warranted by the medical complexity or controversy involved in an appeal case. 
 
The VA's duty to assist a claimant shall not apply: (1) once the claimant is provided notice of the agency's initial decision, and (2) to higher-level agency or BVA review.
 
The VA is not required to send notice for a supplemental claim or to readjudicate a claim that has been disallowed except when new and relevant evidence is presented or secured (currently such provision applies to reopening such claim).
 
A claimants's notice of disagreement must set out specific allegations of error of fact or law. The BVA is authorized to dismiss an appeal that fails to do so.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
JCPOA Enforcement Transparency Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3329
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

JCPOA Enforcement Transparency Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the President to notify the appropriate congressional committees: (1) within 30 days after enactment of this Act, of all past decisions made by the Joint Commission or the Technical Working Group under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015; and (2) of each subsequent decision made by such commission, such working group, or any subsequent working group established under the JCPOA within 30 days after such decision is made.
 
 The Department of State shall publish on a publicly available Internet website a description of the decision-making process and a summary of all decisions granted by such commission or working group.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Accountability to Safeguard Veterans from Violent Crimes Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3330
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

Accountability to Safeguard Veterans from Violent Crimes Act of 2016

 
This bill prohibits the covered service of an individual who is removed (or who retires before being removed) from a specified medical professional position in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and who is convicted of committing a crime of violence against a veteran while employed in such position from being taken into account for purposes of calculating a federal retirement annuity for such individual. 
 
&quot;Covered service&quot; means the period of service beginning on the date the VA determines such individual engaged in activity that gave rise to the removal action and ending on the date such individual is removed from or leaves VA employment. An individual whose annuity is reduced pursuant to this bill shall be entitled to be paid so much of such individual's lump-sum credit as is attributable to such period of covered service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Territory Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3331
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2016-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: American Samoa
Caribbean area
Government information and archives
Guam
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Insurance industry and regulation
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates
User charges and fees
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: 

Territory Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exclude premiums paid by residents of U.S. territories from a health insurer's net premiums when calculating the annual fee on the health insurer, thereby lowering the fee for health insurers that collect such premiums. These premiums are still included in total health premiums when calculating the annual fee on health insurers, thus the total amount collected annually from health insurers is reduced.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Terror Intelligence Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3332
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Detention of persons
Firearms and explosives
Government studies and investigations
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Terror Intelligence Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill requires each federal department or agency to provide to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) information about a person who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation.
 
The FBI and its Joint Terrorism Task Forces must immediately be notified of a request to transfer a firearm or explosive to a person who is, or was within the previous 10 years, under a federal terrorism investigation.
 
The Inspector General of the Intelligence Community must audit the federal government's terrorism-related screening and watch list procedures.
 
The bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a process to delay and prevent the transfer of a firearm or explosive to a person who is, or was within the previous 10 years, under a federal terrorism investigation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Mohave County Federal Land Management Act

Bill: 114-s-3333
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Land transfers
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Mohave County Federal Land Management Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct sales of eligible lands in Mohave County, Arizona, which are administered by the Bureau of Land Management and have been designated for disposal by Interior.
 
Interior and Mohave County shall jointly select which parcels of eligible land to offer for sale.
 
Before carrying out a sale, Mohave County shall certify to Interior that qualified bidders have agreed to comply with:
 
 
local zoning ordinances; and
 
any master plan for the area approved by the county. 
 
 
Each sale of eligible land shall be:
 
 
through a competitive bidding process, under which adjoining landowners are offered the first option, unless otherwise determined by Interior;
 
for not less than fair market value, based on an appraisal; and 
 
conducted in accordance with the requirements regarding the administration of a sale of such land pursuant to this bill. 
 
 
The bill sets forth requirements for the disposition of proceeds from the sales of eligible lands under this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Historic Routes Preservation Act

Bill: 114-s-3334
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of the Interior
Government liability
Judicial review and appeals
Land use and conservation
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Historic Routes Preservation Act

 
This bill allows any state, county, political subdivision or agency of a state, company, or other person that asserts public acceptance of a right-of-way granted for the construction of highways over public lands to file a claim within a 25-year period.
 
The bill sets forth a procedure for conclusively verifying, proving, and establishing the acceptance of such rights-of-way.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3335
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Corporate finance and management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Inflation and prices
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require manufacturers of certain drugs and biological products to report to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) price increases that result in a 10% or more increase in the price of a drug over a 12-month period. Reports are required for prescription drugs and drugs commonly administered in hospitals, except vaccines, drugs for rare conditions, and drugs with annual sales for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees of less than $1.
 
Manufacturers that do not submit a required report are subject to a civil penalty. The Inspector General of HHS must review drug price information to determine compliance. Collected penalty funds must be used to carry out activities related to this reporting requirement and to improve consumer and provider information about drug value and drug price transparency.
 HHS must publish manufacturer reports, a summary of those reports, and supporting analyses.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing Government Travel Act

Bill: 114-s-3337
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Commuting
Congressional oversight
General Services Administration
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Modernizing Government Travel Act

 
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to prescribe regulations to provide for the reimbursement of federal employees traveling on official business for the use of a transportation network company or an innovative mobility technology company. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall prescribe such regulations regarding the reimbursement of judicial branch employees.
 
An &quot;innovative mobility technology company&quot; is an entity that applies technology to expand and enhance available transportation choices, better manage demand for transportation services, and provide alternatives to driving alone. A &quot;transportation network company&quot; is an entity that uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers. 
 
Each agency shall submit to the General Services Administration (GSA) by November 31 of each year an analysis of the total costs of transportation service by type and of the total number of trips using each transportation type for official travel.
 
By January 31 of each year, the GSA shall submit to the OMB and specified congressional committees:
 
 
an examination of the data and analyses on employee travel and transportation submitted by specified federal departments and agencies with Chief Financial Officers,
 
a survey of such data and analyses for other agencies, and
 
a description of any regulations or changes in employee travel and transportation regulations promulgated during the previous year.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Employee Retirement Savings Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3338
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Small Business Employee Retirement Savings Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of retirement plans for small employers with no more than 100 employees. The bill: (1) increases from $500 to $5,000 the limit on the amount of the tax credit for small employer pension plan startup costs, and (2) allows a three-year $500 business-related tax credit for small employers that include and maintain an automatic contribution arrangement in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. 
 
The bill also removes the 10% cap on the amount of an employee's wages that an employer may contribute to a retirement plan under an automatic contribution arrangement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act

Bill: 114-s-3339
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to roll back the increased threshold for determining the amount of the tax deduction for medical expenses. Currently, individual taxpayers under age 65 may only deduct those medical expenses that exceed 10% of their adjusted gross income. This bill reduces that percentage to 7.5% for all taxpayers for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015. 
 
The threshold percentage remains at 10% for purposes of computing the alternative minimum tax (AMT). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Respectful Interment for Passing Veterans Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3340
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

Respectful Interment for Passing Veterans Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into a contract with at least one funeral home near each VA medical center for the expeditious provision of burial and funeral services for deceased veterans:
 
 
who at the time of death were in receipt of compensation or a pension, or 
 
with respect to whom the VA determines that there is no next of kin or other person claiming the body and there are insufficient resources to cover burial and funeral expenses. 

 
The VA must: 
 
 
establish a policy on the provision of respectful and timely burial of such veterans, 
 
ensure that such policy is based on best practices used in the private sector, and 
 
balance the interests of the deceased in identifying the deceased's next of kin and in having a timely burial. 

 
The VA shall follow state and local government practices with respect to the treatment of unclaimed remains of deceased veterans until it establishes such policy.
 
The VA shall report annually regarding the remains of covered veterans who died in the most recently completed calendar year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate
American Apprenticeship Act

Bill: 114-s-3341
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-09-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: 

American Apprenticeship Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Labor to make competitive grants to assist states in, and to pay for the federal share of between 20% and 50% of the cost of, carrying out projects that defray the cost of instruction associated with pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.
 
The bill defines: (1) "apprenticeship" as one registered under the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937; and (2) "pre-apprenticeship" as an initiative or set of strategies that provides training, that is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in an apprenticeship program, and that includes a formal agreement enabling participants who complete it to enter an apprenticeship program with an employer, joint labor-management partnership, trade association, professional association, labor organization, or other entity and agreements concerning earning credit recognized by a postsecondary educational institution.
 
A joint team of employees from Labor and the Department of Education shall review, and make recommendations regarding approval of, grant applications. 
 
A state that receives a grant shall use the funds to defray related costs of tuition and fees, textbooks, equipment, curriculum development, and other required educational materials.
 
Labor shall: (1) establish performance measures and an evaluation system for such grant program; and (2) identify in-demand occupations that lack the use of apprenticeships, analyze the use of the apprenticeship model in those occupations, and report on such analysis to states and Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-09-15
text: Introduced in Senate