hyperdemocracy/usc-textversion huggingface dataset:
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1238 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Mr. Lee (for himself, Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Daines , Mr. Enzi , Mr. Hatch , Mr. Inhofe , Mr. Isakson , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Kirk , Mr. Perdue , Mr. Portman , Mr. Roberts , Mr. Sessions , Mr. Sasse , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Thune , Mr. Vitter , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Risch , Mr. Scott , Mr. Wicker , and Ms. Ayotte ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To provide for an accounting of total United States contributions to the United Nations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Annual Report on United States Contributions to the United Nations Act . 2. Report on United States contributions to the United Nations (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to Congress a report on all assessed and voluntary contributions, including in-kind, of the United States Government to the United Nations and its affiliated agencies and related bodies during the previous fiscal year. (b) Content The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements: (1) The total amount of all assessed and voluntary contributions, including in-kind, of the United States Government to the United Nations and United Nations affiliated agencies and related bodies. (2) The approximate percentage of United States Government contributions to each United Nations affiliated agency or body in such fiscal year when compared with all contributions to such agency or body from any source in such fiscal year. (3) For each such contribution— (A) the amount of the contribution; (B) a description of the contribution (including whether assessed or voluntary); (C) the department or agency of the United States Government responsible for the contribution; (D) the purpose of the contribution; and (E) the United Nations or United Nations affiliated agency or related body receiving the contribution. (c) Scope of initial report The first report required under subsection (a) shall include the information required under this section for the previous five fiscal years. (d) Public availability of information Not later than 14 days after submitting a report required under subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall post a public version of the report on a text-based, searchable, and publicly available Internet website.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1239 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Mr. Donnelly (for himself, Mr. Grassley , and Mrs. Fischer ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for the Reid vapor pressure limitations under that Act.

1. Ethanol waiver Section 211(h)(4) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7545(h)(4) ) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or more after 10 percent ; and (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking additional alcohol or .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1242 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Mr. King introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Natural Gas Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider regional constraints in natural gas supply and whether a proposed LNG terminal would benefit regional consumers of natural gas before approving or disapproving an application for the LNG terminal, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Regional Gas Consumer Protection Act . 2. Required considerations for approval or disapproval of applications for LNG terminals Section 3(e) of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) Required considerations Before the Commission may approve or disapprove an application for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of an LNG terminal under this subsection, the Commission shall consider— (A) regional constraints in the natural gas supply of the United States; and (B) whether the application includes provisions of benefit to the regional consumers of natural gas that would be affected by the exportation of natural gas. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1246 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Ms. Stabenow (for herself and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to revise the definition of municipal solid waste for purposes of the renewable electricity production credit.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting America’s Paper for Recycling Act . 2. Revising definition of municipal solid waste under the renewable electricity production credit (a) In general Paragraph (6) of section 45(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking does not include and all that follows through the period and inserting the following: does not include— (A) paper which is commonly recycled and which has been segregated from other solid waste (as so defined), or (B) solid waste (as so defined) which is collected as part of a system which includes materials recovery and which commingles commonly recycled paper with other solid waste which is not commonly recycled at any point from the time of collection through materials recovery. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1247 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Mrs. McCaskill (for herself and Mr. Blunt ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To designate Union Station in Washington, DC, as Harry S. Truman Union Station .

1. Harry S. Truman Union Station (a) Designation Union Station, located at 40 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC, shall be known and designated as Harry S. Truman Union Station . (b) References Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Harry S. Truman Union Station .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1248 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Ms. Warren (for herself and Mr. Vitter ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To amend the Federal Reserve Act to reform the Federal Reserve System.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fed Accountability Act of 2015 . 2. Office staff for members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Section 11(l) of the Federal Reserve Act ( 12 U.S.C. 248(l) ) is amended by inserting Of amounts made available for staff of the Federal Reserve System, each member of the Board of Governors may employ not more than 4 individuals for the purpose of staffing the member’s office, with such individuals selected by such member and the salaries of such individuals set by such member. after the period at the end. 3. Vote by Board of Governors on certain settlements Section 10 of the Federal Reserve Act is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (12) ( 12 U.S.C. 247b ) as paragraph (11); and (2) by adding at the end the following: (12) (A) The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall vote, at a properly noticed public meeting of the Board, on whether to resolve any enforcement action if the resolution of that action involves the payment of not less than $1,000,000 in compensation, penalties, or fines, or other payments. (B) The results of the vote of each member of the Board under subparagraph (A) shall— (i) be included at the appropriate place in the official minutes of the Board; and (ii) be made publicly available on the website of the Board. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1254 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Mr. Grassley (for himself and Ms. Stabenow ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To provide for the issuance and sale of a semipostal by the United States Postal Service to support effective programs targeted at improving permanency outcomes for youth in foster care.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Families for Foster Youth Stamp Act of 2015 . 2. Families for foster youth semipostal (a) In general In order to increase funding for effective programs targeted at improving permanency outcomes for youth in foster care, the United States Postal Service shall, for a period of not less than 4 years, provide for the issuance and sale of a semipostal, in accordance with section 416 of title 39, United States Code, subject to subsection (b) of this section. (b) Disposition of amounts Any amounts becoming available from the sale of the semipostal under this Act shall be transferred to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for programs and activities authorized under section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 ( 42 U.S.C. 5113 ) that specifically target improvement in permanency outcomes for youth in foster care through adoption, guardianship, or kinship care. (c) Definition In this Act, the term semipostal has the meaning given that term in section 416 of title 39, United States Code. (d) Limitation For purposes of section 416 of title 39, United States Code (including any regulation prescribed under subsection (e)(1)(C) of that section), the semipostal issued under this Act shall not apply to any limitation relating to whether more than 1 semipostal may be offered for sale at the same time.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1257 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2015 Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Sanders , and Mr. Merkley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify authorities relating to the collective bargaining of employees in the Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Fairness Act of 2015 . 2. Modification of authorities on collective bargaining of employees of the Veterans Health Administration Section 7422 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d); and (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (c).
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1265 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Rounds (for himself, Mr. Hoeven , Ms. Heitkamp , Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Cruz , and Mr. Cassidy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to make certain certifications to Congress before retiring B–1, B–2, or B–52 bomber aircraft.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Long Range Bomber Sustainment Act of 2015 . 2. Limitations on retirement of B–1, B–2, and B–52 bomber aircraft No B–1, B–2, or B–52 bomber aircraft may be retired during a fiscal year unless the Secretary of Defense certifies, by not later than March 1 of the preceding fiscal year, that— (1) the retirement of the aircraft will not detrimentally affect the capacity of the Armed Forces of the United States to carry out the full range of long range bomber aircraft missions anticipated in operational plans of the Armed Forces in effect as of the date of the submission of that certification; (2) the Secretary has completed assessments of— (A) planning scenarios that span the range of plausible future challenges for such aircraft; and (B) the severity, likelihood, and imminence of risk associated with each such planning scenario; (3) the Secretary has concluded, based on the assessments referred to in paragraph (2), that retirements of B–1, B–2, and B–52 bomber aircraft in the near term will not detrimentally affect operational capability; and (4) the Secretary has developed a plan to replace any operational capability lost as a result of the retirement of such bomber aircraft.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1266 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. King ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To expand the HUBZone program for communities affected by base realignment and closure, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the HUBZone Expansion Act of 2015 . 2. Expanding HUBZone program for communities affected by base realignment and closure (a) In general Section 3(p)(5)(A)(i)(I) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(5)(A)(i)(I) ) is amended— (1) in item (aa), by striking or at the end; (2) by redesignating item (bb) as item (cc); and (3) by inserting after item (aa) the following: (bb) pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (3), that its principal office is located in a HUBZone described in paragraph (1)(E) (relating to base closure areas) (in this item referred to as the base closure HUBZone ), and that not fewer than 35 percent of its employees reside in— (AA) a HUBZone; (BB) the census tract in which the base closure HUBZone is wholly contained; (CC) a census tract the boundaries of which intersect the boundaries of the base closure HUBZone; or (DD) a census tract the boundaries of which are contiguous to a census tract described in subitem (BB) or (CC); or . (b) Period for base closure areas (1) Amendments (A) In general Section 152(a)(2) of title I of division K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 ( 15 U.S.C. 632 note) is amended by striking 5 years and inserting 8 years . (B) Conforming amendment Section 1698(b)(2) of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 ( 15 U.S.C. 632 note) is amended by striking 5 years and inserting 8 years . (2) Effective date; applicability The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall— (A) take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) apply to— (i) a base closure area (as defined in section 3(p)(4)(D) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(4)(D) )) that, on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, is treated as a HUBZone described in section 3(p)(1)(E) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(1)(E) ) under— (I) section 152(a)(2) of title I of division K of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 ( 15 U.S.C. 632 note); or (II) section 1698(b)(2) of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 ( 15 U.S.C. 632 note); and (ii) a base closure area relating to the closure of a military instillation under the authority described in clauses (i) through (iv) of section 3(p)(4)(D) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(4)(D) ) that occurs on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1270 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Gardner introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize hydroelectric production incentives and hydroelectric efficiency improvement incentives, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act or the RIVER Act . 2. Hydroelectric production incentives Section 242(g) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15881(g) ) is amended by striking each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2015 and inserting each of fiscal years 2016 through 2025 . 3. Hydroelectric efficiency improvement Section 243(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15882(c) ) is amended by striking each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2015 and inserting each of fiscal years 2016 through 2025 .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1271 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to prevent or minimize the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations in the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fuel Loss Abatement and Royalty Enhancement Act or the FLARE Act . 2. Regulations to prevent or minimize venting and flaring of gas (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall issue regulations under this Act— (1) to prevent or minimize the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on Federal land onshore and offshore in the United States; and (2) to promote the capture and beneficial use or reinjection of gas in the operations referred to in paragraph (1). (b) Royalties A regulation issued under this section shall include provisions that treat gas that is flared or vented in operations under a lease under this Act as production for which royalty is required to be paid to the United States. (c) Limitation on application to existing leases Regulations issued under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to production under a lease in effect on the date of enactment of this Act to the extent such application would constitute a breach of the terms of the lease by the United States. 3. Assessment of venting and flaring of gas in production operations in United States Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) assess the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on Federal land onshore and offshore in the United States; and (2) submit to Congress a report on the venting and flaring of gas in oil and gas production operations on Federal land onshore and offshore in the United States, including an estimate of the volume of gas that is vented or flared in such operations each year. 4. Regulations The Secretary of the Interior shall issue regulations that define the terms vent , venting , flare , and flaring for purposes of this Act.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1272 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Markey (for himself and Ms. Warren ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the effects of forward capacity auctions and other capacity mechanisms.

1. GAO Capacity market impact study and report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) conduct a study of the effects of forward capacity auctions or other capacity mechanisms that have been established by Independent System Operators or Regional Transmission Organizations on— (A) consumer prices for electricity; (B) the installation of new electrical generation systems; (C) the preservation of existing electrical generation systems; and (D) competition in energy markets, including the potential for the use of undue market power or manipulation in the auctions; and (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1), including an assessment of whether the auctions or capacity mechanisms are producing rates that are just and reasonable.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1274 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to authorize Federal agencies to enter into long-term contracts for the acquisition of energy.

1. Contracts for federal purchases of energy Part 3 of title V of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act is amended by adding after section 553 ( 42 U.S.C. 8259b ) the following: 554. Long-term contracts for energy (a) In general Notwithstanding section 501(b)(1)(B) of title 40, United States Code, a contract for the acquisition of renewable energy or energy from cogeneration facilities for the Federal Government may be made for a period not to exceed 30 years. (b) Standardized energy purchase agreement Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Federal Energy Management Program, shall publish a standardized energy purchase agreement setting forth commercial terms and conditions that agencies may use to acquire renewable energy or energy from cogeneration facilities. (c) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to assist agencies in implementing this section. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1280 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish an annual production incentive fee with respect to Federal onshore and offshore land that is subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas under which production is not occurring, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States Exploration on Idle Tracts Act or the USE IT Act . 2. Production incentive fee (a) Establishment (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary ) shall issue regulations to establish an annual production incentive fee with respect to Federal onshore and offshore land that is subject to a lease for production of oil or natural gas under which production is not occurring. (2) Application The annual production incentive fee described in paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to land that is subject to a lease described in paragraph (1) that is— (A) in effect on the date on which final regulations are issued pursuant to this subsection; or (B) executed after that date. (b) Amount For each acre of land from which oil or natural gas is produced for less than 90 days in a calendar year, the amount of the fee shall be— (1) in the case of onshore land— (A) for each of the first 3 years of the lease, $4 per acre (in 2015 dollars); (B) for the fourth year of the lease, $6 per acre (in 2015 dollars); and (C) for the fifth year of the lease and each year thereafter for which the lease is otherwise in effect, $8 per acre (in 2015 dollars); and (2) in the case of offshore land— (A) for each of the third, fourth, and fifth years of the lease, $4 per acre (in 2015 dollars); (B) for the sixth year of the lease, $6 per acre (in 2015 dollars); and (C) for the seventh year of the lease and each year thereafter for which the lease is otherwise in effect, $8 per acre (in 2015 dollars). (c) Assessment and collection The Secretary shall assess and collect the fee established under this section. (d) Deposit Amounts received by the Secretary for the fee under this section shall be reserved for the Secretary for expenditures on inspection, enforcement, and permitting relating to oil and gas. (e) Regulations The Secretary may issue regulations to prevent evasion of the fee under this section.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1281 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Udall (for himself and Mr. Boozman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a standard home office deduction.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Our Middle-Class Entrepreneurs Act or the HOME Act . 2. Standard deduction for business use of home (a) In General Subsection (c) of section 280A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Standard home office deduction (A) In general In the case of an individual who is allowed a deduction for the use of a home office because of a use described in paragraph (1), (2), or (4), notwithstanding the limitations of paragraph (5), if such individual elects the application of this paragraph for the taxable year, such individual shall be allowed a deduction equal to the standard home office deduction for the taxable year in lieu of the deductions otherwise allowable under this chapter for such taxable year by reason of such use. (B) Standard home office deduction For purposes of this paragraph, the standard home office deduction is the lesser of— (i) $1,500, or (ii) the gross income derived from the individual’s trade or business for which such use occurs. (C) Inflation adjustment In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2015, the dollar amount in subparagraph (B)(i) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting 2014 for 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof. Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. . (b) Effective Date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1282 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. Manchin (for himself and Ms. Heitkamp ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to consider the objective of improving the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels in carrying out research and development programs under that Act.

1. Fossil energy Section 961(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16291(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) Improving the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1284 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Mr. King introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To clarify the treatment of carbon emissions from forest biomass, and for other purposes.

1. Carbon emissions from forest biomass In taking an action regarding air emissions from an energy source or facility that uses forest biomass, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall assume that forest biomass emissions do not increase overall carbon accumulations in the atmosphere if— (1) a Forest Inventory and Analysis of the Department of Agriculture that is current at the time the action is taken shows that forest carbon stocks in the United States are stable or increasing; or (2) the forest biomass is derived from mill residuals, harvest residuals, or forest management activities.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1285 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2015 Ms. Heitkamp (for herself and Mr. Manchin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Energy to enter into contracts to provide certain price stabilization support relating to electric generation units that use coal-based generation technology.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coal with Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) the high cost of installing and using technology to capture carbon dioxide from coal-fueled electric generating units can be mitigated by providing certainty, for a limited period of time, with respect to revenues from the sale of captured carbon dioxide; (2) the volatility of crude oil prices that determine the price paid for carbon dioxide creates uncertain market prices for carbon dioxide that is purchased and used to recover crude oil or for other beneficial purposes; (3) assistance to stabilize the price received for carbon dioxide captured during the use of coal provides a degree of certainty to debt providers and investors with respect to the revenues to be received from the sale of carbon dioxide; and (4) creating added certainty that captured carbon dioxide would receive a certain, agreed upon price for a limited period of time would help to ensure that carbon capture and storage technology would be developed and used. 3. Contracting authority of the Secretary (a) Definition of electric generation unit In this section, the term electric generation unit means an electric generation unit that uses coal-based generation technology. (b) Contracting authority Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy may enter into binding contracts on behalf of the Federal Government, the duration of which shall not exceed 25 years, with qualified parties to provide price stabilization support for electricity generated at an electric generation unit or carbon dioxide captured from an electric generation unit and sold to a purchaser for— (1) the recovery of crude oil; or (2) other purposes for which a commercial market exists.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1288 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To require States to implement a cash withdrawal daily limit for recipients of cash assistance under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Welfare Abuse Prevention Act . 2. Cash withdrawal daily limit for assistance under State TANF programs (a) State requirement Section 408(a)(12) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph: (B) Cash withdrawal daily limit A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall maintain policies and practices as necessary to ensure that cash assistance disbursed through an electronic benefit transfer card or an electronic payment card shall not be used to withdraw more than $25 per day from an automated teller machine or through a cash-back procedure at a point-of-sale terminal that is located in a place that is not prohibited from being used under subparagraph (A). . (b) Penalty Section 409(a)(16) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 609(a)(16) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and realigning the left margins accordingly; (B) by striking section 408(a)(12) and inserting section 408(a)(12)(A) ; (C) by striking If, within and inserting the following: (i) Prohibited places for spending of benefits If, within ; and (D) by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii) Cash withdrawal daily limit If, within 2 years after the date of the Welfare Abuse Prevention Act , any State has not reported to the Secretary on such State's implementation of the policies and practices required by section 408(a)(12)(B), or the Secretary determines, based on the information provided in State reports, that any State has not implemented and maintained such policies and practices, the Secretary shall reduce to $0 the State family assistance grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for— (I) the fiscal year immediately succeeding the year in which such 2-year period ends; and (II) each succeeding fiscal year in which the State does not demonstrate that such State has implemented and maintained such policies and practices. ; (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting clause (i) or (ii) of before subparagraph (A) ; and (3) in subparagraph (C), by inserting clause (i) or (ii) of before subparagraph (A) . (c) Additional State plan requirement Section 402(a)(1)(A) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(A) ) is amended— (1) in clause (vii), by striking section 408(a)(12) and inserting section 408(a)(12)(A), and to comply with the cash withdrawal daily limit required under section 408(a)(12)(B) ; and (2) in clause (viii), by inserting the cash withdrawal daily limit and after information on .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1289 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Rounds introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain contractor personnel in matters on the defense acquisition workforce in the annual strategic workforce plan of the Department of Defense.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Defense Acquisition Contractor Workforce Improvement Act of 2015 . 2. Inclusion of certain contractor personnel in matters on the defense acquisition workforce in the annual strategic workforce plan of the Department of Defense (a) Inclusion of certain contractor personnel Section 115b(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking including both military and civilian personnel. and inserting including military, civilian, and contractor personnel that directly support the acquisition processes of the Department of Defense. For purposes of this subsection, contractor personnel shall be treated as directly supporting the acquisition processes of the Department if, and to the extent that, such contractor personnel perform functions that, if performed by civilian personnel, would be make such civilian personnel a part of the defense acquisition workforce. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to annual strategic workforce plans of the Department of Defense submitted to Congress after that date.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1290 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Rounds introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To ensure the ability of covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program to access care under a health plan under such program in each TRICARE program region, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the TRICARE Portability Act of 2015 . 2. Portability of health plans under the TRICARE program (a) Health plan portability (1) In general The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program who are covered under a health plan under such program are able to seamlessly access health care under such health plan in each TRICARE program region. (2) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out paragraph (1). (b) Mechanisms To ensure portability In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall do the following: (1) Provide for the automatic electronic transfer of demographic, enrollment, and claims information between the contractors responsible for administering the TRICARE program in each TRICARE region when covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program relocate between such regions. (2) Ensure such covered beneficiaries are able to obtain a new primary health care provider within ten days of undergoing such relocation. (3) Develop a process for such covered beneficiaries to receive urgent care without preauthorization while undergoing such relocation. (c) Publication The Secretary shall— (1) publish information on any modifications made pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to the ability of covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program who are covered under a health plan under such program to access health care in each TRICARE region on the primary Internet website of the Department that is available to the public; and (2) ensure that such information is made available on the primary Internet website that is available to the public of each current contractor responsible for administering the TRICARE program. (d) Definitions In this section, the terms covered beneficiary and TRICARE program have the meaning given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1291 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mrs. Fischer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the Northport Irrigation District in the State of Nebraska.

1. Early repayment of construction costs (a) In general Notwithstanding section 213 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 ( 43 U.S.C. 390mm ), any landowner within the Northport Irrigation District in the State of Nebraska (referred to in this section as the District ) may repay, at any time, the construction costs of project facilities allocated to the landowner’s land within the District. (b) Applicability of full-Cost pricing limitations On discharge, in full, of the obligation for repayment of all construction costs described in subsection (a) that are allocated to all land the landowner owns in the District in question, the parcels of land shall not be subject to the ownership and full-cost pricing limitations under Federal reclamation law (the Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093), and Acts supplemental to and amendatory of that Act ( 43 U.S.C. 371 et seq. ), including the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 ( 13 U.S.C. 390aa et seq. ). (c) Certification On request of a landowner that has repaid, in full, the construction costs described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall provide to the landowner a certificate described in section 213(b)(1) of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 ( 43 U.S.C. 390mm(b)(1) ). (d) Effect Nothing in this section— (1) modifies any contractual rights under, or amends or reopens, the reclamation contract between the District and the United States; or (2) modifies any rights, obligations, or relationships between the District and landowners in the District under Nebraska State law.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1293 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Ms. Heitkamp (for herself and Mr. Manchin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To establish the Department of Energy as the lead agency for coordinating all requirements under Federal law with respect to eligible clean coal and advanced coal technology generating projects, and for other purposes.

1. Coordination of clean coal and advanced coal technology generating projects (a) Definition of eligible project In this section, the term eligible project means— (1) any project undertaken to install and operate an advanced carbon capture and storage technology or carbon capture utilization and storage technology at a new or existing steam generating unit; or (2) any project designed to increase the efficiency of converting coal to useful energy or to a feedstock for the manufacture of other products. (b) Lead agency The Department of Energy shall be the lead agency for the purposes of coordinating all requirements under Federal law with respect to eligible projects, including any requirements of— (1) the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. ); (2) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. ); (3) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ); (4) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ); and (5) the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f et seq. ). (c) Schedule In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary of Energy shall establish a schedule for all Federal authorizations with respect to each eligible project, including by— (1) setting binding intermediate milestones and deadlines to ensure expeditious completion of all proceedings and final action on all Federal authorizations relating to the eligible project; (2) requiring that all permit decisions and related environmental reviews under applicable Federal law shall be completed not later than 1 year after the date on which a complete application for each environmental review is submitted, or as soon as practicable thereafter; and (3) coordinating, to the maximum extent practicable, any State permitting and environmental requirements. (d) Memoranda of understanding To streamline and expedite review of Federal authorizations for eligible projects, the Secretary of Energy shall— (1) enter into memoranda of understanding with applicable Federal agencies; (2) facilitate a pre-application review process with applicable Federal agencies; and (3) consolidate all environmental reviews of the eligible project into a single environmental review document. (e) Judicial review With respect to an application for Federal authorization relating to an eligible project, the applicable Federal circuit court may review and remedy— (1) any failure by a Federal agency to complete action on the application by the date that is 1 year after the date on which the complete application was submitted to the agency; and (2) any issuance of an action or order by a Federal agency with respect to the application that is inconsistent with applicable Federal law.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1295 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Gardner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To adjust the boundary of the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2015 . 2. Arapaho National Forest boundary adjustment (a) In general (1) Boundary adjustment The boundary of the Arapaho National Forest in the State of Colorado is adjusted to incorporate the approximately 92.95 acres of land generally depicted as The Wedge on the map entitled Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment and dated November 6, 2013, and described as lots 3, 4, 8, and 9 of section 13, Township 4 North, Range 76 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado. (2) Limitation A lot described in paragraph (1) may be included in the boundary adjustment only after the Secretary of Agriculture obtains written permission for the inclusion from the lot owner or owners. (b) Bowen Gulch Protection Area The Secretary of Agriculture shall include all Federal land within the boundary described in subsection (a) in the Bowen Gulch Protection Area established under section 6 of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 ( 16 U.S.C. 539j ). (c) Land and Water Conservation Fund For purposes of section 200306(a)(2)(B)(i) of title 54, United States Code, the boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest, as modified under subsection (a), shall be considered to be the boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest as in existence on January 1, 1965. (d) Public motorized use Nothing in this Act opens privately owned land within the boundary described in subsection (a) to public motorized use. (e) Access to non-Federal land (1) Definition of covered access point In this subsection, the term covered access point means land within the boundary described in subsection (a)— (A) owned by the United States on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (B) historically used by owners of any non-Federal land within the boundary described in subsection (a) to access that non-Federal land. (2) Motorized access authorized Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6(f) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 ( 16 U.S.C. 539j(f) ) regarding motorized travel, owners of non-Federal land within the boundary described in subsection (a) shall have the continued right of motorized access to that non-Federal land across covered access points.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1303 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Tillis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the enrollment of veterans in certain courses of education, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Education Priority Enrollment Act of 2015 . 2. Priority enrollment for veterans in certain courses of education (a) In general Chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3680A the following new section: 3680B. Priority enrollment in certain courses (a) In general With respect to an educational assistance program provided for in chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, if an educational institution administers a priority enrollment system that allows certain students to enroll in courses earlier than other students, the Secretary or a State approving agency may not approve a program of education offered by such institution unless such institution allows a covered individual to enroll in courses at the earliest possible time pursuant to such priority enrollment system. (b) Covered individual defined In this section, the term covered individual means an individual using educational assistance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, including— (1) a veteran; (2) a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty or a member of a reserve component (including the National Guard); (3) a dependent to whom such assistance has been transferred pursuant to section 3319 of this title; and (4) any other individual using such assistance. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3680A the following new item: 3680B. Priority enrollment in certain courses. .