hyperdemocracy/usc-textversion huggingface dataset:
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1306 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 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 use existing funding available to further projects that would improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Energy Independence Investment Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) in 2008, Congress authorized $8,000,000,000 in authority to the Secretary of Energy to issue loan guarantees for qualifying advanced fossil energy projects; (2) the Secretary of Energy has issued 2 requests for proposals under the loan guarantee authority for which applicants have applied for loan guarantees; (3) no loan guarantee has been issued to a fossil energy project by the Secretary of Energy under a loan guarantee; (4) advanced fossil energy technologies could significantly improve the efficiency of the conversion of coal to useful energy; (5) the use of advanced fossil energy technologies could result in dramatic reductions of greenhouse gases and other emissions from coal use; and (6) a report issued by the National Coal Council in January 2015 concludes that— (A) funding for carbon capture and storage projects is a major challenge; and (B) as of the date of enactment of this Act, each large-scale carbon capture and storage project under development has both public and private funding so as to minimize the risk exposure of the project. 3. Program study (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall carry out, and submit to Congress a report describing the results of, a study on the effectiveness of the advanced fossil loan guarantee incentive program and other incentive programs for advanced fossil energy of the Department of Energy. (b) Contents In carrying out the study under subsection (1), the Secretary of Energy shall— (1) solicit industry and stakeholder input; (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the advanced fossil loan guarantee incentive program, alone or in combination with other incentives, in advancing carbon capture and storage technology; (3) review each Federal incentive provided by the Department of Energy and other Federal agencies for carbon capture and storage demonstration projects to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the combined Federal incentives in advancing carbon capture and storage and advanced fossil energy technologies; (4) assess whether combinations of the incentive programs in existence as of the date of enactment of this Act could be effective to advance carbon capture and storage and advanced fossil energy technologies; and (5) evaluate the impact of implementing the recommendations described in the January 2015 National Coal Council report entitled Fossil Forward: Revitalizing CCS, Bringing Scale and Speed to CCS Deployment on the effectiveness of the advanced fossil loan guarantee program.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1307 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Wyden introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget A BILL To amend section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, to require that the annual budget submissions of the Presidents include the total dollar amount requested for intelligence or intelligence related activities of each element of the Government engaged in such activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Intelligence Budget Transparency Act of 2015 . 2. Funding for intelligence activities of each element of the Government Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (40) (A) the total dollar amount proposed in the budget for intelligence or intelligence related activities of each element of the Government engaged in such activities in the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and the estimated appropriation required for each of the ensuing four fiscal years; and (B) as used in subparagraph (A), the term element of the Government refers to each element of the intelligence community as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) ). .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1309 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Peters (for himself and Mrs. Capito ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To provide for the removal of default information from a borrower’s credit report with respect to certain rehabilitated education loans.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Adjustment in Reporting Student Credit Act of 2015 or the FAIR Student Credit Act of 2015 . 2. Rehabilitation of qualified education loans Section 623(a)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s–2(a)(1) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (E) Rehabilitation of qualified education loans (i) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person may request to remove a previously reported default regarding a qualified education loan from a consumer report, and such request shall not be considered inaccurate, if— (I) the lender chooses to offer a loan rehabilitation program that requires a number of consecutive on-time monthly payments, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the loan rehabilitation program, or any valid and legally binding modification thereto, equal to the number of payments specified under section 428F(a)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1078–6(a)(1)(A) ); and (II) the consumer of such loan successfully and voluntarily meets the requirements of that loan rehabilitation program. (ii) Limitation A consumer may obtain the benefits available under this subsection with respect to rehabilitating a loan only one time per loan. (iii) Qualified education loan defined For purposes of this subparagraph, the term qualified education loan has the meaning given such term under section 221(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. . 3. GAO Study (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study on— (1) the implementation of section 623(a)(1)(E) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as added by section 2; and (2) any hurdles borrowers experience with the private loan rehabilitation program. (b) Report Not later than the end of the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall issue a report to the Congress containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a).
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1311 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 12, 2015 Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to modify certain penalties to deter oil spills.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Oil Spill Deterrent Act . 2. Penalties for drilling on Federal land Section 109 of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 ( 30 U.S.C. 1719 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by striking $5,000 and inserting $100,000 ; and (2) in subsection (g), by inserting, , or, after notice and an opportunity for public comment, by regulation increase after reduce . 3. Penalties for drilling on outer Continental Shelf Section 24(b)(1) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1350(b)(1) ) is amended— (1) in the first sentence by striking $20,000 and inserting $250,000 ; and (2) by adding After notice and an opportunity for public comment, the Secretary may by regulation increase the penalty specified in this paragraph. after the period at the end.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1313 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Murray , and Mr. Durbin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To expand eligibility for reimbursement for smoking cessation services to include copayments for such services paid after fiscal year 2009 by covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program who are eligible for Medicare.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strong Lungs, Strong Lives Act of 2015 . 2. Expansion of reimbursement for smoking cessation services for certain TRICARE beneficiaries Section 713(f) of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 ( Public Law 110–417 ; 122 Stat. 4503) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking during fiscal year 2009 ; (2) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking during such period ; and (3) in paragraph (2), by striking during fiscal year 2009 and inserting after September 30, 2008 .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1319 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mr. Heller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To validate final patent number 27–2005–0081, and for other purposes.

1. Final patent and land reconfiguration in Clark County and Lincoln County, Nevada (a) In general Patent number 27–2005–0081 and the associated land reconfiguration issued by the Bureau of Land Management on February 18, 2005, as depicted on the map prepared by the Bureau of Land Management entitled Lincoln County Land Patent and dated December 4, 2014, is affirmed and validated as having been issued pursuant to, and in compliance with, the Nevada-Florida Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1988 ( Public Law 100–275 ; 102 Stat. 52), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. ) for the benefit of the desert tortoise, other species, and the habitat of the desert tortoise and other species to increase the likelihood of the recovery of the desert tortoise and other species. (b) Issuance of lincoln county patent (1) In general The Director of the Bureau of Land Management may issue a patent for 7,548 acres of land in Lincoln County, Nevada, that is— (A) depicted on the map described in subsection (a); and (B) described in the legal description of the proposed lease and fee land on file in the Ely District Office of the Bureau of Land Management. (2) Applicable law A patent issued under paragraph (1) shall be considered to have been issued pursuant to, and in compliance with, the Nevada-Florida Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1988 ( Public Law 100–275 ; 102 Stat. 52). (c) Ratification of reconfiguration The process used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management in reconfiguring the land described in subsection (a), as depicted on Exhibit 1–4 of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Development Project MSHCP, Lincoln County, NV (FWS–R8–ES–2008–N0136) and the reconfiguration provided for in Special Condition 10 of Army Corps of Engineers Permit No. 200125042 are ratified.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1321 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Portman , Ms. Ayotte , and Mr. Peters ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To expand benefits to the families of public safety officers who suffer fatal climate-related injuries sustained in the line of duty and proximately resulting in death.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fairness for Fallen Officers Act of 2015 . 2. Benefits for families of public safety officers who suffer fatal climate-related injuries Section 1201 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3796 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by inserting or climate-related injury (as defined in subsection (l)) after personal injury ; (2) in subsection (k)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking or vascular rupture and inserting vascular rupture, or climate-related injury ; (B) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting exposure to extreme environmental conditions, after disaster relief, ; (C) in paragraph (2), by striking or vascular rupture and inserting vascular rupture, or climate-related injury ; (D) in paragraph (3), by striking or vascular rupture and inserting vascular rupture, or climate-related injury ; and (E) in the flush text following paragraph (3), by striking or vascular rupture and inserting vascular rupture, or climate-related injury ; and (3) by amending subsection (l) to read as follows: (l) For purposes of subsection (k)— (1) the term climate-related injury means an injury that is caused by an environmental condition experienced by an officer, including hypothermia, heatstroke, and hyperthermia; and (2) the term nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical excludes actions of a clerical, administrative, or nonmanual nature. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1325 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mr. Portman (for himself and Mr. Brown ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community based outpatient clinic in Newark, Ohio, as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

1. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Daniel L. Kinnard was born on October 21, 1949, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. (2) While residing in Newark, Ohio, Daniel L. Kinnard enlisted in the Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio, on November 14, 1966, and served as a Specialist Fourth Class in the 101st Airborne Division. (3) Specialist Kinnard was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Parachutist Badge, Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Medical Badge. (4) Specialist Kinnard’s citation for the Bronze Star said, For heroism in combat against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 17 February 1968. Specialist Four Kinnard distinguished himself while attached as a medic on a combat operation near Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam. The point platoon made contact with enemy positions in a hedgerow and two of the point men were seriously wounded. Without hesitation, Specialist Kinnard rushed through the heavy volume of enemy fire to reach the wounded men. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Kinnard remained exposed to enemy fire while he treated the wounded men. Once he administered first aid to the wounded, Specialist Kinnard organized their evacuation under fire. His personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and United States Army. . (5) Specialist Kinnard was killed in action on March 9, 1968, while rendering aid to his fellow paratroopers. 2. Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic (a) Designation The community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in Newark, Ohio, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic . (b) References Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1327 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Graham , Mrs. Feinstein , and Mr. Grassley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Controlled Substances Act relating to controlled substance analogues.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances Act of 2015 or the SALTS Act . 2. Controlled substance analogues Section 203 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 813 ) is amended— (1) by striking A controlled and inserting (a) In general .—A controlled ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Determination In determining whether a controlled substance analogue was intended for human consumption under subsection (a), evidence related to the following factors may be considered, along with all other relevant evidence: (1) The marketing, advertising, and labeling of the substance. (2) The known efficacy or usefulness of the substance for the marketed, advertised, or labeled purpose. (3) The difference between the price at which the substance is sold and the price at which the substance it is purported to be or advertised as is normally sold. (4) The diversion of the substance from legitimate channels and the clandestine importation, manufacture, or distribution of the substance. (5) Whether the defendant knew or should have known the substance was intended to be consumed by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other immediate means. (c) Limitation For purposes of this section, the existence of evidence that a substance was not marketed, advertised, or labeled for human consumption shall not preclude the Government from establishing, based on all the evidence, that the substance was intended for human consumption. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1329 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mr. Kaine introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To remove the use restrictions on certain land transferred to Rockingham County, Virginia, and for other purposes.

1. Removal of use restriction Public Law 101–479 (104 Stat. 1158) is amended to read as follows: 1. Removal of use restriction (a) In general Notwithstanding any restrictions in the deed in existence on or after the date of enactment of this Act, the parcel comprised of approximately 3.03 acres of land (including any improvements to the land) transferred by the United States to Rockingham County, Virginia (referred to in this section as the County ) on April 11, 1989, as described in deed book number 953 at page 600, may be used by the County as if the land had been transferred in fee simple with no use or other restrictions. (b) Documentation As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of the Interior shall take such actions as are necessary to issue to the County a fee simple deed to the land described in subsection (a) with no restrictions to the use of the land. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1330 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mr. Franken , Ms. Warren , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Booker , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Markey , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Hirono , Ms. Baldwin , Mrs. Feinstein , and Mrs. Boxer ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2015 . 2. Prohibition against discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity Subsection (a)(1) of section 701 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691 ) is amended by striking on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, and inserting , actual or perceived, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, . 3. Definitions Section 702 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691a ) is amended— (1) by striking subsections (f) and (g); and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections: (f) The term gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth. (g) The term person means a natural person, a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, trust, estate, partnership, cooperative, or association. (h) The term sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. (i) Any reference to any requirement imposed under this title or any provision of this title shall be deemed to include a reference to the regulations of the Bureau under this title or the provision of this title in question. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1333 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2015 Mr. Gardner (for himself, Mr. Wyden , Mr. Hatch , Mr. Isakson , Mr. Merkley , and Mr. Bennet ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants from the definition of marihuana, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2015 . 2. Exclusion of cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants from definition of marihuana (a) In general Section 102(16) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 802(16) ) is amended, in the second sentence— (1) by striking or the sterilized seed and inserting the sterilized seed ; and (2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: , cannabidiol, or cannabidiol-rich plants . (b) Definitions Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 802 ), as amended, is further amended by adding at the end the following: (57) (A) The term cannabidiol-rich plant means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. (B) A cannabidiol-rich plant shall not be treated as a controlled substance under this Act. (58) (A) The term cannabidiol means the substance cannabidiol, as derived from a cannabidiol-rich plant. (B) Cannabidiol shall not be treated as a controlled substance under this Act. (59) The term tetrahydrocannabinol con­cen­tra­tion means— (A) the percent of the delta-9 te­tra­hy­dro­can­nabinol content per dry weight of any part of the plant Cannabis sativa L. or per volume of weight of marihuana product; or (B) the combined percent of the delta-9 tet­ra­hy­dro­can­nab­i­nol and tet­ra­hy­dro­can­nab­i­nol­ic acid in any part of the plant Cannabis sativa L., regardless of moisture content. . 3. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict any activities related to the use, production, or distribution of marijuana in a State in which such activities are legal under State law.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1338 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 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 Federal Power Act to provide licensing procedures for certain types of projects.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Hydropower Dependable Regulatory Order Act of 2015 or the Small HyDRO Act of 2015 . 2. Licensing procedures for certain types of projects Part I of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 792 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 34. Licensing procedures for certain types of projects (a) Definition of covered project In this section, the term covered project means a project— (1) that does not alter the existing flowrate of the body of water the project is on; and (2) (A) that has a power production capacity that is not more than 5 megawatts; or (B) to power a nonpowered dam. (b) Special category of license Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a license with respect to a covered project shall only be issued in accordance with this section. (c) Application An applicant for a license for a covered project under this section shall submit to the Commission an application for a license in such form and manner and requiring such information as the Commission may require. (d) Rebuttable presumption In deciding whether to issue any license for a covered project under this section, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the license be issued. (e) Environmental compliance For purposes of issuing a license under this section, if there is a conflict between any environmental analysis prepared by the Commission under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) with respect to the covered project and any environmental analysis prepared by any other Federal or State agency under that Act, the Commission shall resolve the differences. (f) Term of license The term of a license for a covered project issued under this section shall be 10 years. (g) Deadline for issuance Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Commission receives an application for a license for a covered project under subsection (c), the Commission shall— (1) approve the license and issue the license; or (2) disapprove the license. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1339 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Hatch (for himself and Mr. Cardin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To permanently authorize the special immigrant nonminister religious worker program.

1. Special immigrant nonminister religious worker program Section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii) ) is amended— (1) in subclause (I), by striking the comma at the end and inserting a semicolon; (2) by striking before September 30, 2015, each place such phrase appears; and (3) in subclause (II), by striking , or and inserting ; or .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1342 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Ms. Warren (for herself and Mr. Crapo ) 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 Energy to conduct a study and issue a report that quantifies the energy savings benefits of operational efficiency programs and services for commercial, institutional, industrial, and governmental entities.

1. Study and report on energy savings benefits of operational efficiency programs and services (a) Definition of operational efficiency programs and services In this section, the term operational efficiency programs and services means programs and services that use information and communications technologies (including computer hardware, energy efficiency software, and power management tools) to operate buildings and equipment in the optimum manner at the optimum times. (b) Study and report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall conduct a study and issue a report that quantifies the energy savings benefits of operational efficiency programs and services for commercial, institutional, industrial, and governmental entities, including Federal agencies. (c) Measurement and verification of energy savings The report required under this section shall recommend methodologies or protocols for utilities, utility regulators, and Federal agencies to evaluate, measure, and verify energy savings from operational efficiency programs and services.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1343 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Rubio (for himself and Mr. Nelson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting, and for other purposes.

1. Hurricane forecast improvement project (a) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in collaboration with the American weather industry and such academic entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, shall maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting. (b) Goal The goal of the project maintained under subsection (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy, with a focus on— (1) improving the prediction of rapid intensification and track of hurricanes; (2) improving the forecast and communication of storm surges from hurricanes; and (3) incorporating risk communication research to create more effective watch and warning products. (c) Project plan Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service and in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Assistant Administrator for the National Ocean Service, shall develop a plan for the project maintained under subsection (a) that details the specific research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal set forth in subsection (b).
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1344 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Portman introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To clarify that nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity can accept donated mortgage appraisals, and for other purposes.

1. Exemption from Truth in Lending Act Section 129E(i)(2) of the Truth in Lending Act is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; (2) by striking For purposes of and inserting (A) In general .—For purposes of ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (B) Rule of construction related to appraisal donations In the case of an appraisal for which the appraiser voluntarily does not receive a fee, the appraiser is not, and shall not be construed to be, with respect to the donated appraisal, a fee appraiser for purposes of this section. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1346 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Ms. Murkowski 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 Energy to establish an e-prize competition pilot program to provide up to 4 financial awards to eligible entities that develop and verifiably demonstrate technology that reduces the cost of electricity or space heat in a high-cost region.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the E-Prize Competition Pilot Program Act of 2015 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Competition Board The term Competition Board means the competition board established under section 3(a)(2). (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means any— (A) nonpublic entity; or (B) public-private partnership in which the private entity is more than 1/2 of the partnership. (3) Energy Technology Commercialization Fund The term Energy Technology Commercialization Fund means the fund established under section 1001(e) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16391 ). (4) High-cost region The term high-cost region means a region in which the average cost of electrical power or space heat exceeds 150 percent of the national average retail cost, as determined by the Secretary. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. 3. Prize Competition Pilot Program (a) In general The Secretary shall— (1) establish a prize competition under which eligible entities compete to develop and verifiably demonstrate technology that reduces the cost of electricity or space heat in high-cost regions by at least 25 percent; (2) establish a Competition Board to award not more than 4 prizes, each in an amount of not more than $1,000,000; and (3) use for each award amounts made available to the Energy Technology Commercialization Fund. (b) Duration The duration for the prize competition shall be not less than 2 years or more than 5 years. (c) Selection In selecting a winner for each prize, the Competition Board shall evaluate the technology based on the following criteria: (1) Cost-effectiveness and ease of installation and maintenance of the technology. (2) Amount by which the technology will decrease electricity or space heating costs in a high-cost region. (3) Ability of the technology to be deployed in a variety of climates and locations. (4) Ease of use of the technology. (5) Whether the technology is designed to be of immediate or imminent use. (6) Potential for private sector investment in the technology. (7) Potential of the technology to transform an existing industry or establish a new industry.
114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1347 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful EHR use, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Ambulatory surgery centers were not covered under the provisions of the HITECH Act of 2009, which created certification standards and incentives for adopting electronic health record (EHR) technology in the physician office and hospital settings. (2) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) defines a meaningful EHR user as an eligible professional having 50 percent or more of the professional’s outpatient encounters at practices or locations equipped with certified EHR technology. (3) Physicians with patient encounters in an ambulatory surgical center are at a disadvantage when attempting to meet meaningful use requirements because there currently is not certified EHR technology for such centers. (4) Until such time as EHR technology is certified specifically for use in the ambulatory surgical centers, patient encounters that occur in such a center should not be used when calculating whether an eligible professional meets meaningful use requirements, unless an eligible professional elects to include those encounters. 3. Treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful EHR use Section 1848(o)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(o)(2) ) is amended by adding at the end of the following new subparagraph: (E) Treatment of patient encounters at ambulatory surgical centers (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), for a payment year after 2015, any patient encounter of an eligible professional occurring at an ambulatory surgical center (described in section 1833(i)(1)(A)) shall not be treated as a patient encounter in determining whether an eligible professional qualifies as a meaningful EHR user. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may implement this clause by program instruction or otherwise. (ii) Sunset Clause (i) shall no longer apply as of the first payment year that begins more than 3 years after the date the Secretary determines, through notice and comment rulemaking, that certified EHR technology is applicable to the ambulatory surgical center setting. .

Passed the Senate August 5, 2015. Secretary
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1347 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Isakson (for himself and Mr. Bennet ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful EHR use, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Ambulatory surgery centers were not covered under the provisions of the HITECH Act of 2009, which created certification standards and incentives for adopting electronic health record (EHR) technology in the physician office and hospital settings. (2) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) defines a meaningful EHR user as an eligible professional having 50 percent or more of the professional’s outpatient encounters at practices or locations equipped with certified EHR technology. (3) Physicians with patient encounters in an ambulatory surgical center are at a disadvantage when attempting to meet meaningful use requirements because there currently is not certified EHR technology for such centers. (4) Until such time as EHR technology is certified specifically for use in the ambulatory surgical centers, patient encounters that occur in such a center should not be used when calculating whether an eligible professional meets meaningful use requirements, unless an eligible professional elects to include those encounters. 3. Treatment of patient encounters in ambulatory surgical centers in determining meaningful EHR use Section 1848(o)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(o)(2) ) is amended by adding at the end of the following new subparagraph: (E) Treatment of patient encounters at ambulatory surgical centers (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), any patient encounter of an eligible professional occurring at an ambulatory surgical center (described in section 1832(i)(1)(A)) shall not be treated as a patient encounter in determining whether an eligible professional qualifies as a meaningful EHR user. (ii) Sunset Clause (i) shall no longer apply as of the first year that begins more than 3 years after the date the Secretary certifies EHR technology for the ambulatory surgical center setting. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1348 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mr. Burr , Mr. Kaine , and Mr. Warner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 with respect to high priority corridors on the National Highway System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Route to Opportunity And Development Act of 2015 or the ROAD Act of 2015 . 2. High priority corridors on National Highway System (a) In general Section 1105(c) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2032) is amended by striking paragraph (13) and inserting the following: (13) Raleigh-Norfolk Corridor from Raleigh, North Carolina, through Rocky Mount, Williamston, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to Norfolk, Virginia. . (b) Inclusion of certain route segments on interstate system Section 1105(e)(5)(A) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (109 Stat. 597; 118 Stat. 293) is amended by inserting subsection (c)(13), after subsection (c)(9), .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1351 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to update certain procedures applicable to commerce in firearms and remove certain Federal restrictions on interstate firearms transactions.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act . 2. Authority to conduct interstate firearms transactions (a) Firearms dispositions Section 922(b)(3)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking rifle or shotgun and inserting firearm ; (2) by striking located and inserting located or temporarily located ; and (3) by striking both such States and inserting the State in which the transfer is conducted and the State of residence of the transferee . (b) Dealer location Section 923 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (j)— (A) in the first sentence, by striking , and such location is in the State which is specified on the license ; and (B) in the last sentence— (i) by inserting transfer, after sell, ; and (ii) by striking all that follows Act and inserting a period; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (m) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the sale, transfer, delivery, or other disposition of a firearm or ammunition— (1) by a person licensed under this chapter to another person so licensed, at any location in any State; or (2) by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to a person not licensed under this chapter, at a temporary location described in subsection (j) in any State. . (c) Residence of united states officers Section 921 of such title is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: (b) For purposes of this chapter: (1) A member of the Armed Forces on active duty, or a spouse of the member, is a resident of— (A) the State in which the person maintains legal residence; (B) the State in which the permanent duty station of the member is located; and (C) the State in which the member maintains a place of abode from which the member commutes each day to the permanent duty station. (2) An officer or employee of the United States (other than a member of the Armed Forces) stationed outside the United States for a period exceeding one year, or a spouse residing with such an officer or employee, is a resident of the State in which the person maintains legal residence. .
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1354 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Enzi (for himself and Mr. Carper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act of 2015 . 2. Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients (a) Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians To serve hospice patients (1) In general Section 1861(dd)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(3)(B) ) is amended— (A) by striking or nurse and inserting , the nurse ; and (B) by inserting , or the physician assistant (as defined in such subsection) after subsection (aa)(5)) . (2) Clarification of hospice role of physician assistants Section 1814(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) ) is amended by inserting or a physician assistant after a nurse practitioner . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2016.
II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1356 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. Johnson (for himself, Mr. McCain , Mr. Tester , and Mr. Carper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed A BILL To clarify that certain provisions of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 will not take effect until after the Director of the Office of Personnel Management promulgates and makes effective regulations relating to such provisions.

1. Effective dates (a) In general Section 2 of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–277 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Effective dates Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (g), and the amendments made by such subsections, shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2016, except that— (1) any provision in section 5550(b) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (b), relating to administering elections and making advance assignments to a regular tour of duty, shall be applicable before such effective date to the extent determined necessary by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and (2) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may issue such regulations as may be necessary before such effective date. . (b) Retroactive application The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be deemed to have been enacted on the date of the enactment of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 .
114th CONGRESS 1st Session In the House of Representatives, U. S., November 5, 2015 AMENDMENT:

That the bill from the Senate (S. 1356) entitled An Act to clarify that certain provisions of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 will not take effect until after the Director of the Office of Personnel Management promulgates and makes effective regulations relating to such provisions. , do pass with the following Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: Remainder of text not available at this time.

Karen L. Haas Clerk.
114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1356 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To clarify that certain provisions of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 will not take effect until after the Director of the Office of Personnel Management promulgates and makes effective regulations relating to such provisions.

1. Effective dates (a) In general Section 2 of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–277 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Effective dates Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (g), and the amendments made by such subsections, shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2016, except that— (1) any provision in section 5550(b) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (b), relating to administering elections and making advance assignments to a regular tour of duty, shall be applicable before such effective date to the extent determined necessary by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and (2) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may issue such regulations as may be necessary before such effective date. . (b) Retroactive application The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be deemed to have been enacted on the date of the enactment of the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014 .

Passed the Senate May 14, 2015. Secretary
II Calendar No. 86 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1357 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2015 Mr. McConnell introduced the following bill; which was read the first time May 18, 2015 Read the second time and placed on the calendar A BILL To extend authority relating to roving surveillance, access to business records, and individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 until July 31, 2015, and for other purposes.

1. Extensions of authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (a) Roving surveillance and access to business records Section 102(b)(1) of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 ( 50 U.S.C. 1805 note) is amended by striking June 1, 2015 and inserting July 31, 2015 . (b) Individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers Section 6001(b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ( 50 U.S.C. 1801 note) is amended by striking June 1, 2015 and inserting July 31, 2015 .

May 18, 2015 Read the second time and placed on the calendar