jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Immigration
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

This bill amends the "Joint Resolution to approve the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America" to extend until December 31, 2029, the transition period during which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall regulate immigration in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) pending full applicability of U.S. immigration laws to the CNMI.

The annual supplemental vocational education fee currently charged to the employer of each CNMI transition period nonimmigrant worker shall be charged instead to the employer of each temporary worker. The CNMI shall provide the Department of Labor with an annual plan for the expenditure of such funds for U.S. worker job placement.

DHS is authorized to not reduce the annual transitional nonimmigrant worker visa allocation to zero during the transition period if a reduction in the number of available workers would adversely affect the CNMI's economy.

The bill caps the number of transitional nonimmigrant worker visas at 18,000.

An employer shall pay a CW-1 transitional worker: (1) wages that are at least the actual wage level paid by the employer to all other similarly qualified individuals; (2) wages that are at least the prevailing wage level for the occupational classification; or (3) for job classifications without a certified prevailing wage, wages equal to or greater than the mean wage of the three lowest wages within the CNMI's prevailing wage system.

Labor, by April 30, 2027, shall ascertain the CNMI's current and anticipated labor needs and determine whether a five-year extension of the transition program is necessary to ensure the availability of an adequate number of workers.

The bill provides for, and set forth the criteria under which, long-term CNMI residents may be admitted as CNMI permanent residents.

The bill sets forth specified reporting and data collection requirements.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2016-09-14 00:00:00

Puerto Rico Health Insurance Fairness Act of 2016

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exempt health insurers in jurisdictions where premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions are not available from the annual fee on health insurers. Currently, premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions are not available in U.S. territories. The bill reduces the total amount to be collected annually from health insurers by the amount that would have been collected from those jurisdictions.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Immigration
Date: 2016-11-29 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Northern Mariana Islands Economic Expansion Act

(Sec. 2) This bill: (1) requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase the supplemental education fee charged to a prospective employer for each CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)-Only Transitional Worker who is issued a permit during the transition period to U.S. immigration law, (2) allows such a permit for construction occupations to be issued only to extend a permit first issued before October 1, 2015, and (3) caps the number of permits issued for such nonimmigrant workers for FY2017 at 15,000.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act of 2015

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the exclusion of residents of Puerto Rico from deemed enrollment under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) and thus apply it to them.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for a special seven-month enrollment period for such residents.

Requires recalculation of the late enrollment penalty to 15% of the usual penalty for residents of Puerto Rico who are current enrollees or who enroll during a specified transition period.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Native Americans
Date: 2015-06-03 00:00:00

This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exempt Indian health facilities and services, programs administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and programs under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2015-07-15 00:00:00

Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act of 2015

Amends the federal bankruptcy code to treat Puerto Rico as a state under chapter 9 (Adjustment of the Debts of a Municipality).
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2015-07-23 00:00:00

United States-Philippines Security Partnership Enhancement Act of 2015

This bill amends the Arms Export Control Act to extend special foreign military sales status to the Philippines.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to: (1) terminate limitations on general Medicaid funding, as well as the specific federal medical assistance percentage, for U.S. territories; (2) extend to additional U.S. territories the authority to waive or modify certain Medicaid requirements; and (3) establish a formula for Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to the territories.

Federal financial participation shall generally not be available to a territory for medical assistance for an individual whose family income exceeds 100% percent of the official poverty line for a family of that size.

The bill also amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the SSAct to: (1) revise the formula for the Medicare inpatient hospital services payment rate for hospitals in Puerto Rico to increase the applicable federal percentage from 75% to 100%, (2) apply Medicare HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) payments to certain hospitals in Puerto Rico, (3) establish a formula element for calculating Medicare DSH payments under the inpatient prospective payment system for certain hospitals in Puerto Rico, (4) allow residents of Puerto Rico to enroll under Medicare hospital services, (5) increase the geographic adjustment practice expense index for Puerto Rico, and (6) alter how U.S territories are treated under Medicare Advantage and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2015-10-01 00:00:00

This bill amends title I (Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to add a definition of “Indian.” This definition includes individuals of Indian descent who are members of an Indian community served by the Indian Health Service and individuals considered by the Department of Health and Human Services to be Indian for purposes of eligibility for Indian health care services, including California Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, or other Alaska Natives.

Individuals included in the above definition are eligible for special monthly enrollment periods on health insurance exchanges and elimination of cost-sharing under individual health coverage for those whose income is not more than 300% of the poverty line. (Currently, only members of Indian tribes are eligible for these benefits.)

Indians are exempted from the penalty for not maintaining minimum essential health coverage.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-10-22 00:00:00

Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Rico Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make citizens of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit and allow them to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit on the same basis as U.S. taxpayers.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2015-12-02 00:00:00

Territories Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance Equity Act of 2015

This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to make certain subsidies available to Medicare prescription drug program beneficiaries who reside in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory. Current law makes such beneficiaries ineligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies, but establishes a process for U.S. territories to apply for financial assistance with respect to the provision of Medicare prescription drugs. The bill eliminates this process and makes the subsidies available to beneficiaries who reside in a U.S. territory and are otherwise eligible.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-12-07 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on August 30, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Omnibus Territories Act of 2015 

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1982, to eliminate the restriction on the use of resettlement and relocation funds by people of the Bikini Atoll for resettlement and relocation to areas only within the Marshall Islands.

The bill limits eligibility for the funds to Bikini people living on Kili and Ejit Islands, but they may use the funds to relocate and resettle outside the Marshall Islands. The use of resettlement funds is subject to the condition that the Department of the Interior submit to Congress a resettlement plan developed in coordination with the Bikini Atoll leadership.

Annual fiscal year expenditures from the resettlement fund may not exceed 90% of its average annual earnings for the preceding five years unless for resettlement purposes outside of the Marshall Islands.

(Sec. 3) To provide and sustain air transportation in American Samoa between the islands of Tutuila and Manu'a, the Department of Transportation may renew a foreign air carrier's emergency air transportation exemption every 180 days (instead of the current 30-day renewal period that still applies to other areas).

(Sec. 4) The bill amends the REAL ID Act of 2005 to provide that citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau who have been admitted as nonimmigrants pursuant to a Compact of Free Association are eligible for driver's licenses or personal identification cards.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: International affairs
Date: 2016-03-01 00:00:00

This bill approves, with specified exceptions, the agreement and appendices signed by the United States and the Republic of Palau on September 3, 2010, in connection with the Compact of Free Association between the United States and Palau.

If Palau withdraws more than $5 million from the trust fund set up by the Compact in FY2016, or more than $8 million in FY2017, certain amounts will be withheld from Palau until it reimburses the fund for the total amounts withdrawn that exceeded $5 million in FY2016 or $8 million in FY2017.

 The bill authorizes appropriations to: (1) subsidize postal services to Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia for FY2017-FY2024; and (2) carry out specified federal responsibilities under the Compact through FY2023.

The bill repeals specified offset requirements.

Funding is provided through:

 FY2018 to reduce government arrears of Palau, FY2023 for additional economic assistance, and FY2024 for infrastructure projects. Funding is provided through FY2024 to create an Infrastructure Maintenance Fund for routine and periodic maintenance of major capital improvement projects. (Palau is required to provide specified quarterly amounts for the Fund.)

The bill revises specified passport requirements.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2016-03-14 00:00:00

Puerto Rico Recovery Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make citizens of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit and allow them to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit on the same basis as U.S. taxpayers.

Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) is amended to terminate the limitations on general Medicaid funding, as well as the specific federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP, or matching rate), beginning FY2017 for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa (territories).

The authority to waive or modify certain Medicaid requirements in American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands shall now extend as well to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

Federal financial participation shall not be available to a territory, however, for medical assistance (with certain exceptions) for an individual whose family income exceeds 100% percent of the official poverty line.

The bill prescribes a formula for Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to the territories beginning FY2017, and revises a formula element for calculating Medicare DSH payments under the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for subsection (d) hospitals in Puerto Rico. (Generally, a subsection [d] hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's IPPS when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)

The bill repeals the exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from deemed enrollment under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits), permitting them now to be deemed enrolled. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall extend such residents a special seven-month enrollment period. The late enrollment penalty shall be recalculated to 15% of the usual penalty for residents of Puerto Rico who are current enrollees or who enroll during a specified transition period.

HHS shall increase the geographic adjustment practice expense index for Puerto Rico.

The blended benchmark component of payments to Medicare+Choice organizations for an area in a territory under SSAct title XVIII part C (Medicare+Choice) shall be at least 80% of the national average of specified base payment amounts for the year (but never more than the lowest blended benchmark amount).

The bill also eliminates the exclusion from eligibility for premium and cost-sharing subsidies of territory residents otherwise eligible for Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) benefits.

HHS shall report to Congress on:

 the treatment of territories under Medicare part D, and the adverse impacts in each territory from practical exclusion from the establishment of American Health Benefit Exchanges or the administration of a federally facilitated exchange.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Economics and public finance
Date: 2016-03-14 00:00:00

Puerto Rico Stability Act of 2016 

This bill permits the government of Puerto Rico to restructure its debt by using a process that requires it to establish a Fiscal Stability and Reform Board, a Chief Financial Officer, and a fiscal plan.

The Department of the Treasury may provide technical assistance to territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands) it determines are eligible for assistance relating to fiscal and financial practices.

The bill amends the Omnibus Insular Areas Act of 1992 to permit Puerto Rico to make purchases through the General Services Administration.

Puerto Rico may restructure all of its debts using specified procedures if it passes a resolution to opt-in to the process by establishing a Fiscal Stability and Reform Board to monitor, review, and approve certain fiscal policy decisions. Once Puerto Rico passes the resolution, the bill provides a 12-month initial stay on debt-related litigation to permit Puerto Rico to organize its finances.

The governor: (1) must appoint a Chief Financial Officer, (2) must develop and submit to the board for approval a five-year fiscal plan to restore solvency and fully fund pensions, and (3) may then submit a debt restructuring proposal to be considered using specified procedures.

Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act of 2015 

The bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to treat Puerto Rico as a state under chapter 9 (Adjustment of Debts of a Municipality) to permit Puerto Rico to authorize its public corporations to be debtors.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Economics and public finance
Date: 2016-03-15 00:00:00

Territories Relief Act

This bill allows a territory (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands), or a municipality of a territory, to petition the bankruptcy court for the judicial district in which it is located to effect a plan to adjust its debts.

The chief judge of the court of appeals for the circuit of the district in which the case is commenced shall designate the bankruptcy judge to conduct the case.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-05-26 00:00:00

Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2016

 This bill deems certain service performed before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to be active military service for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

 The VA shall, in determining eligibility under this Act, take into account any relevant service documentation, including documentation other than the Missouri List (the list of all discharged and deceased veterans from the 20th century).
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Health
Date: 2016-09-14 00:00:00

Territory Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2016

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exclude premiums paid by residents of U.S. territories from a health insurer's net premiums when calculating the annual fee on the health insurer, thereby lowering the fee for health insurers that collect such premiums. These premiums are still included in total health premiums when calculating the annual fee on health insurers, thus the total amount collected annually from health insurers is reduced.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2016-09-29 00:00:00

U.S. Territories Investor Protection Act of 2016 

 This bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to repeal the exemption from its coverage of investment companies created under the laws of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or any other U.S. possession.
Topic: Public Lands — Dependencies & Territories
Subject: Labor and employment
Date: 2016-12-06 00:00:00

Economic Mobility for Productive Livelihoods and Expanding Opportunity Act of 2016 or the EMPLEO Act

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require every employer to pay to each of his or her eligible Puerto Rican employees who in any workweek are engaged in commerce and who receive qualified wage subsidy payments minimum wages of $5.00 an hour, determined without regard to those wage subsidy payments.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat certain employers who make qualified wage subsidy payments to eligible Puerto Rico employees as having paid payroll taxes in an amount equal to the wage subsidy payment.

 An “eligible Puerto Rico employee” is any individual who: (1) is a U.S. citizen, (2) has a Social Security number, and (3) certifies to the employer that he or she is a resident of Puerto Rico and intends to remain a resident for at least the next six months.

 A “qualified wage subsidy payment” is a payment equal to 50% of the excess (if any) of: (1) the median hourly wage for Puerto Rico ($10 for 2017 and 2018), over (2) the hourly wage paid to the eligible Puerto Rico employee.

 The bill sets forth reporting requirements for participating employers and requirements for determining the median hourly wage for Puerto Rico after 2018.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Conveys to the U.S. Virgin Islands specified submerged lands in the area between the island of Saint Croix and the islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John. States that for purposes of U.S. laws, except as otherwise provided by international law or international agreement in force for the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands' territorial waters shall extend 12 miles seaward from the line of ordinary low water along that portion of the coast which is in direct contact with the open sea and the line marking the seaward limit of inland waters.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2007-01-04 00:00:00

Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to convey specified parcels of federal land to certain counties and cities in central Idaho. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to convey, to the state of Idaho a specified parcel or parcels of BLM land, including roads thereon, for a motorized recreation park. Designates specified parcels of federal land in central Idaho as wilderness areas to be managed as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). Repeals existing law requiring review of portions of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) for possible inclusion in the NWPS. Establishes the Boulder-White Cloud Management Area on federal lands in the Challis National Forest, the Sawtooth National Forest, SNRA, and Challis District of the BLM that are not designated as wilderness areas under this Act.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Animals
Date: 2007-01-05 00:00:00

Amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to: (1) prohibit the sale or transfer of any free-roaming horse or burro or its remains on U.S. public lands for consideration for processing into commercial products; and (2) repeal provisions permitting the sale of certain excess animals or their remains and excluding from criminal fine or imprisonment a person who processes or permits the processing of such animals' remains.