hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Secure Data Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-135
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: 

Secure Data Act of 2015

 
 Prohibits a federal agency from requiring a manufacturer, developer, or seller of any computer hardware, software, or electronic device made available to the general public to design or alter the security functions in such products to allow the surveillance of any user or the physical search of such product by any agency. Exempts from such prohibition products used by law enforcement agencies for electronic surveillance as authorized under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S102-103; text of measure as introduced: CR S103)
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Protection and Preparer Proficiency Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-137
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of the Treasury
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: 

Taxpayer Protection and Preparer Proficiency Act of 2015 

 
This bill gives the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to regulate the practice of tax return preparers and to sanction preparers for incompetency or misconduct. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S103-104; text of measure as introduced: CR S104)
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate
I Teach Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-138
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax credits
Rural conditions and development
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: 

Incentives to Educate American Children Act of 2015 or the I Teach Act of 2015

 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a refundable tax credit of $1,000 for: (1) teachers in public or elementary or secondary schools or public kindergartens in rural areas or areas with high poverty, and (2) teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Increases such credit to $2,000 for a teacher meeting both requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S104; text of measure as introduced: CR S104-105)
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-141
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2015-01-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Health care costs and insurance
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: 

Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015

 
Repeals sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (and restores provisions of law amended by those sections) related to the establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board to develop proposals to reduce the per capita rate of growth in spending under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S107)
action_date: 2015-01-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Local Leadership in Education Act

Bill: 114-s-144
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2015-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Intergovernmental relations
School administration
State and local government operations
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-09
text: 

Local Leadership in Education Act

 
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to prohibit a federal officer or employee, either directly or indirectly through grants, contracts, or other cooperative agreements under ESEA, from:
 
 
mandating, directing, or controlling a state's, local educational agency's (LEA's), or school's academic standards, curriculum, program of instruction, or allocation of state or local resources;
 
mandating a state or subdivision to spend any funds or incur any costs not paid for under ESEA;
 
incentivizing a state's, LEA's, or school's adoption of any specific academic standards or a specific curriculum or program of instruction;
 
conditioning the availability of financial support on such an entity's adoption of specific instructional content, academic standards, or curricula, or on the administration of assessments or tests, even if such requirements are specified in ESEA; or
 
mandating or requiring states to administer assessments or tests to students.
 
 
Requires the school improvement program under part A of title I of ESEA to be carried out without regard to any requirement that a state carry out academic assessments or that LEAs and elementary and secondary schools make adequate yearly progress.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of Education from conditioning the provision of a statutory or regulatory waiver under ESEA on a state, LEA, Indian tribe, or school: (1) getting their academic standards approved by the federal government, or (2) administering assessments or tests to students. Makes that prohibition applicable to future and previously issued waivers.
 
Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit a department, agency, officer, or federal employee from: (1) exercising any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum (including its development), program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational institution, school, or school system or over the selection of library resources, textbooks, or other printed or published instructional materials by any educational institution or school system; or (2) requiring the assignment or transportation of students or teachers in order to overcome racial imbalance.
 
Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to prohibit the use of Race to the Top funds to develop, pilot test, field test, implement, administer, or distribute any assessment or testing materials.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
National Park Access Act

Bill: 114-s-145
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-01-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Intergovernmental relations
Parks, recreation areas, trails
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: 

National Park Access Act

 
 Requires the Director of the National Park Service to refund to each state all of the funds that it used to reopen and temporarily operate a unit of the National Park System during the period in October 2013 in which there was a lapse in appropriations for that unit.

action_date: 2015-09-09
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

National Park Access Act

 
 (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Park Service to refund to each state all of the funds that it used to reopen and temporarily operate a unit of the National Park System during the period in October 2013 in which there was a lapse in appropriations for that unit.
 
Funds of the National Park Service appropriated after the enactment of this Act shall be used to carry out this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 204.
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-124.
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-124.
action_date: 2015-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-338.
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Access to Public Land Guarantee Act

Bill: 114-s-146
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-01-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure
Forests, forestry, trees
Intergovernmental relations
Parks, recreation areas, trails
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: 

Public Access to Public Land Guarantee Act 

 
 Directs the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture, with respect to land under their respective jurisdictions, pursuant to a state or local government offer, to enter into an agreement under which the United States may accept funds from the state or local government to reopen any unit of the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, or the National Forest System within the state or local government during any period in which there is a lapse in appropriations for that unit.
 
Makes such authority effective only during a period in which the department is unable to operate and manage covered units at normal levels. 
 
Requires the appropriate department to refund to the state or local government all amounts it provided to the United States under such an agreement: (1) upon enactment of an Act retroactively appropriating amounts sufficient to maintain normal operating levels at the reopened covered unit, or (2) on the date on which the state or local government establishes that the department collected entrance or user fees for the covered units during the period in which the agreement was in effect. 
 
Allows the appropriate department, if such refund requirements are not met, to reimburse the state or local government voluntarily for any amounts it provided to the United States under such an agreement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 114-338.
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-148
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2015-01-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Medicare
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: 

Medicar
e
 DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act of 2015

 
 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program.
 
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from accepting a bid from an entity for an area unless it: (1) meets state licensure requirements for the area for all items in the submitted bid for a product category, and (2) has obtained a bid surety bond of between $50,000 and $100,000 for each such area.
 
Prescribes requirements for the treatment of losing bidders and successful bidders that do not accept a contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-01-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act

Bill: 114-s-149
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act

Bill: 114-s-150
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Financial crises and stabilization
Homeland security
Performance measurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act 

 
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require biennial (currently, annual) budget resolutions, biennial appropriations Acts, and biennial government strategic and performance plans. 
 
States that budget biennium is the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. 
 
Requires the Office of Management and Budget to report to Congress on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-04
text: Committee on the Budget. Hearings held.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S202)
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Filipino Veterans Promise Act

Bill: 114-s-151
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Life, casualty, property insurance
Military history
Military personnel and dependents
Philippines
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Filipino Veterans Promise Act

 
Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a process for determining whether individuals who served in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines or in the Philippine Scouts while in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II and who are not included in the Missouri List are eligible for certain benefits relating to their U.S. service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep the Promise Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-152
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Arizona
Gambling
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Keep the Promise Act of 2015

 
 Restricts gaming on land within the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area acquired by the Secretary of the Interior in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe after April 9, 2013. Terminates the restriction on January 1, 2027. 

action_date: 2015-12-18
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Keep the Promise Act of 2015

 
 (Sec. 4) This bill restricts gaming on land within the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area acquired by the Department of the Interior in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe after April 9, 2013. The restriction ends on January 1, 2027. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 342.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso without amendment. With written report No. 114-199. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Barrasso without amendment. With written report No. 114-199. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2015-04-29
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Mineral Materials Contracts Termination Act

Bill: 114-s-154
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Mining
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Mineral Materials Contracts Termination Act 

 
 Amends the Materials Act of 1947 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to terminate a mineral materials contract and to return to the contract holder any bid deposit and performance bond paid to the Bureau of Land Management if the contract holder submits a request to terminate the contract before production is initiated and before any surface disturbance has occurred.
 
States that the contract holder's acceptance of the amount returned by the Secretary to terminate the contract constitutes: (1) full and final settlement of the contract, and (2) an agreement not to bring a civil action against the United States with respect to it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Tax Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-155
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Department of the Treasury
Employment taxes
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign and international corporations
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Gambling
Games and hobbies
General taxation matters
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Intergovernmental relations
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Medicare
Poverty and welfare assistance
Sales and excise taxes
Small business
Social security and elderly assistance
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax reform and tax simplification
Taxation of foreign income
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Fair Tax Act of 2015

 
This bill is a tax reform proposal that imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services in lieu of the current income and corporate income tax, employment and self-employment taxes, and estate and gift taxes. The rate of the sales tax will be 23% in 2017, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. There are exemptions from the tax for used and intangible property, for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions. 
 
Under the bill, family members who are lawful U.S. residents receive a monthly sales tax rebate (Family Consumption Allowance) based upon criteria related to family size and poverty guidelines.
 
The states have the responsibility for administering, collecting, and remitting the sales tax to the Treasury.
 
Tax revenues are to be allocated among: (1) the general revenue, (2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund, (3) the disability insurance trust fund, (4) the hospital insurance trust fund, and (5) the federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund. 
 
No funding is allowed for the operations of the Internal Revenue Service after FY2019. 
 
Finally, the bill terminates the national sales tax if the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (authorizing an income tax) is not repealed within seven years after the enactment of this Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S552-553)
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-156
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government studies and investigations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2015

 
 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to submit a report to Congress and the Department of Energy (DOE) before promulgating a final rule that regulates any aspect of the production, supply, distribution, or use of energy and that is estimated by the EPA or the Office of Management and Budget to impose aggregate costs of more than $1 billion. The report must contain: (1) an estimate of the total costs and benefits of the rule, (2) an estimate of the increases in energy prices that may result from implementation or enforcement of the rule, and (3) a detailed description of the employment effects that may result from implementation or enforcement of the rule. 
 
DOE must: (1) prepare an independent analysis to determine whether the rule will cause any increase in energy prices for consumers, any impact on fuel diversity of the nation's electricity generation portfolio or on electric reliability, or any adverse effect on energy supply, distribution, or use; and (2) determine whether the rule will cause significant adverse effects to the economy and publish the determination.
 
The EPA may not promulgate the final rule if DOE determines that the rule will cause significant adverse effects to the economy.
 
The EPA may not use the social cost of carbon in any cost-benefit analysis relating to an energy-related rule estimated to cost more than $1 billion unless a federal law is enacted authorizing such use. The social cost of carbon is an estimate of the monetized damages associated with an incremental increase in carbon dioxide emissions in a given year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate
No Obamacare Mandate Act

Bill: 114-s-157
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2015-01-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business records
Comprehensive health care
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Sales and excise taxes
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: 

No Obamacare Mandate Act 

 
This bill repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that impose: (1) an excise tax on medical devices, (2) a requirement that individuals obtain minimum essential health care coverage, and (3) a penalty on large employers who fail to offer health care coverage to their eligible employees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-01-13
text: Introduced in Senate