jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2013-10-22 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on February 25, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2014 - Requires each communication funded by a federal agency that is an advertisement, or that provides information about any federal program, benefit, or service to clearly state: (1) in the case of a printed communication, including mass mailings, signs, and billboards, that the communication is printed or published at taxpayer expense; and (2) in the case of a communication transmitted through radio, television, or the Internet, that the communication is produced or disseminated at taxpayer expense. Requires such notification to state that a communication is provided by the U.S. government, rather than at taxpayer expense, if the communication is funded entirely by user fees or by other sources that do not include federal funds.

Requires any such printed communication: (1) to be of sufficient size to be clearly readable; and (2) to the extent feasible, to be contained in a printed box set apart from the other contents of the communication and to be printed with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the printed statement. Sets forth similar requirements for audio, video, and email communications.

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop and issue guidance on implementing the requirements of this Act.

Prohibits judicial review of the compliance or noncompliance with any provision of this Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2013-10-24 00:00:00

Verifying Agencies' Lasting Use of Expenditures Act of 2013 or the VALUE Act of 2013 - Requires a federal agency, when making a rule, to: (1) clearly identify the nature and source of the problem that the proposed rule is designed to address, (2) assess the costs and benefits of the rule, and (3) identify and assess available alternatives to the rule.

Allows a rule that does not meet such requirements to take effect temporarily only if the President makes a determination by executive order that such rule is: (1) necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, (2) necessary for the enforcement of criminal laws, (3) necessary for national security, or (4) issued to implement an international trade agreement.

Requires the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), every five years, to: (1) review the rules of each agency; (2) assess the costs and benefits of such rules to determine whether any such rules are outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome; and (3) report to the head of each agency on such review.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Families
Date: 2013-11-20 00:00:00

Protecting Adoption Act - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and maintain an automated National Responsible Father Registry.

Requires the Registry to: (1) contain specified kinds of information sufficient to identify a possible father, and (2) provide a mechanism for men to register such identifying information directly with the Registry.

Limits access to Registry information to eligible parties, including: (1) public and licensed private adoption or child placement agencies, (2) licensed attorneys representing a party in a planned or pending adoption or in the termination of rights of one or more possible fathers, (3) state agencies or entities responsible for the placement of children, and (4) state courts.

Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide campaign designed to inform possible fathers, unwed mothers, possible adoptive parents, and eligible parties of the National Registry, the advantages of possible fathers registering either in the National Registry or State Responsible Father Registries, or both, the rights and responsibilities of such parties with regard to a proceeding, and the role of such Registries in a proceeding.

Directs the Secretary to use all reasonable efforts to encourage states to enter into agreements to establish automated State Responsible Father Registries and centers that make registration forms easily accessible to possible fathers.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a state to establish a State Registry or modify an existing one to meet the requirements of this Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2013-11-20 00:00:00

Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2013 - Amends the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 to require the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to: (1) establish and maintain the National Deaths Registry to provide information relating to the deaths of individuals for the purpose of supporting the Do Not Pay Initiative and otherwise preventing, identifying, or recovering improper payments; (2) enter into cooperative agreements with federal agencies, including Inspectors General, and states, local and tribal governments to provide information in the Registry to such agencies and entities to prevent and recover improper payments; and (3) implement procedures for identifying and correcting errors in the Registry.

Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to identify each agency that operates or maintains a database relating to federal beneficiaries and annuity recipients. Requires each agency to establish: (1) a data matching procedure to compare agency information with information in the Registry, and (2) a procedure for prompt reporting to the Commissioner of information relating to the death of a recipient of federal benefits or a retirement annuity.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress on data analytics performed as part of the Do Not Pay Initiative and the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and investigatory efforts have reduced improper payments or awards.

Directs OMB to convene a task force of agencies to: (1) identify ways to improve the sharing of information relating to deaths of individuals receiving a federal retirement annuity, (2) share best practices for identifying deceased annuitants, and (3) report to Congress on such efforts.

Requires the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to provide agencies access to information on delivery addresses, including Commercial Mail Receiving Agency lists of known locations of commercial mail boxes, for purposes of improved detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2013-11-20 00:00:00

Entrepreneur-in-Residence Act of 2013 - Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish an entrepreneur-in-residence program to appoint in-house entrepreneurs who have demonstrated success in working with business concerns and entrepreneurs to: (1) assist federal agencies in improving outreach to business concerns and entrepreneurs, (2) provide recommendations on inefficient or duplicative agency programs and on methods to improve agency efficiency, (3) facilitate meetings and forums to educate business concerns and entrepreneurs on agency programs and initiatives, and (4) provide technical assistance or mentorship. Limits to 10 the number of entrepreneurs-in-residence that the Director may appoint in any year.

Authorizes the Director to establish an informal working group to allow entrepreneurs-in-residence to meet to discuss best practices, experiences, and recommendations in order to create an informal knowledge base for current and future entrepreneurs-in-residence.

Terminates such program after FY2017.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Date: 2014-01-10 00:00:00

Assessing NASA Science Mission Extensions Act - Instructs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in conducting assessments of the costs and benefits of extending the date of the termination of data collection for those science missions that have exceeded their planned mission lifetime, to consider: (1) the potential continued benefit of instruments on such missions; and (2) the cost and schedule impacts, if any, of mission extension on other NASA activities and science missions.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-01-14 00:00:00

Sound Regulation Act of 2014 - Establishes additional requirements for rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), including:

 identification by a federal agency, in the context of a coherent conceptual framework and supported with objective data, of the nature and significance of the market failure, regulatory failure, or other problem that necessitates regulatory action and why other alternatives, such as market forces or state or local regulations, could not address the problem better than federal regulation;  establishment by an agency of an achievable objective for its regulatory action; development of at least three regulatory options, in addition to not regulating, that the agency estimates will provide the greatest benefits for the least cost in meeting the regulatory objective; an estimate by each agency of the costs and benefits of each regulatory option developed, at least to the extent the agency is able to exclude options whose costs exceed their benefits, and rank such options by cost from lowest to highest; publication for public comment of all analyses, documentation, and data relating to the requirements of this Act for a public comment period of at least 30 days; establishment, by rule, of the specific cost-benefit analysis methodology appropriate to the functions and responsibilities of the agency and establishment of an appropriate period for review of new rules to assess their cost-effectiveness; and justification of why the agency does not select the least-cost regulatory option as its proposed rule. Requires the Comptroller General (GAO), for purposes of congressional review, to examine and report on: (1) each agency cost-benefit analysis for compliance with the requirements of this Act, including the agency methodology for such analysis; (2) risk analysis pertaining to the cost-benefit analysis; and (3) agency quadrennial regulatory reviews for consistency with the requirements of this Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-01-14 00:00:00

Federal Sunset Act of 2014 - Establishes the Federal Agency Sunset Commission to: (1) submit to Congress a schedule for review by the Commission, at least once every 12 years, of the abolishment or reorganization of each federal executive agency, including advisory committees; (2) review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency using specified criteria; (3) recommend whether each agency should be abolished or reorganized; and (4) report to Congress on all legislation introduced that would establish a new agency or a new program to be carried out by an existing agency. Requires the abolishment of any agency within one year of the Commission's review, unless the agency is reauthorized by Congress. Authorizes the deadline for abolishing an agency to be extended for an additional two years by legislation enacted by a super majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Terminates the Commission on December 31, 2033.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), to prepare an inventory of federal programs within each agency, including the budget authority for each such program, to assist Congress and the Commission in carrying out the requirements of this Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-02-10 00:00:00

Security Clearance Reform Act of 2014 - Directs the President to submit a strategic plan to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the intelligence committees of Congress (appropriate congressional committees) to improve security clearance and background investigation activities. Sets forth the required contents of such plan, including the development of a continuous evaluation or monitoring system of information used for security clearances, improvement of information sharing procedures between agencies, and the reduction or elimination of databases and information sources that cannot be accessed and processed electronically.

Prohibits the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from awarding a contract to any entity for investigative support services or background investigation fieldwork services if such entity has another contract in effect with the federal government to provide such services.

Requires the OPM Director to report to the appropriate congressional committees listing any state or local entity covered by the definition of "criminal justice agency" that has failed to cooperate with three or more criminal history record information requests of the Director. Reduces criminal justice grant funding to state and local entities that fail to substantially comply with such requests.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2014-02-11 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 2014 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) remove any individual from the Senior Executive Service upon determining that such individual's performance warrants such removal, and (2) remove such individual from federal service or transfer the individual to a General Schedule position at any grade the Secretary deems appropriate.

Requires: (1) the Secretary to notify the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees within 30 days after removing such an individual, and (2) such removal to be done in the same manner as the removal of a professional staff member employed by a Member of Congress.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-03-11 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Federal Register Modernization Act - Requires the Federal Register to be published (e.g., by electronic means), rather than printed, and that documents in the Federal Register be made available for sale or distribution to the public in published form. Revises requirements for the filing of documents with the Office of the Federal Register for inclusion in the Federal Register and for the publication of the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the publication requirement.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-03-27 00:00:00

Prohibits the number of limousines in the federal fleet for FY2015 and each fiscal year thereafter from exceeding 50% of the number of such limousines in the fleet as of the last day of FY2014. Excepts any limousine determined to be essential for reasons of national security.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Date: 2014-04-02 00:00:00

Repeals the National Technical Information Act of 1988, effective one year after the enactment of this Act (thus abolishes the National Technical Information Service [NTIS]).

Directs: (1) the Secretary of Commerce, the Archivist of the United States, the Comptroller General (GAO), and the Commissioner of Social Security to consult with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine if any NTIS function is critical to the U.S. economy; (2) the Comptroller General to determine which of any such critical functions are not being carried out by any other agency or instrumentality of the federal government; and (3) the Secretary of Commerce, prior to the effective date of this Act, to submit to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Finance a written certification that all NTIS operations have been terminated.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Date: 2014-04-10 00:00:00

Financial Regulatory Clarity Act of 2014 - Requires the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), before issuing a regulation or order, to assess other federal regulations and orders to determine whether the agency's proposal is in conflict with, is inconsistent with, or is duplicative of such other regulations or orders and whether such other federal regulations or orders are outdated.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-04-30 00:00:00

NSA Internal Watchdog Act - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require the President to appoint, with advice and consent of the Senate, the Inspector General of the National Security Agency (NSA). (Currently, the NSA Inspector General is appointed by the NSA Director.)

Directs the Inspector General to include in an annual report to Congress a review of the mechanisms for NSA employees or contractors to submit complaints.

Establishes a General Counsel to the NSA Inspector General, to be appointed by the Inspector General.

Requires the General Counsel to prescribe professional rules of ethics and responsibilities for NSA employees, officers, and contractors.

 Authorizes the Inspector General, after providing the Attorney General (DOJ) with seven days' advance notice, to subpoena the attendance and testimony of former NSA employees or NSA contractors, former contractors, or former detailees.

Requires the Inspector General to provide Congress with an evaluation of any notice or statement of reasons the Inspector General receives from the Secretary of Defense (DOD) regarding the Secretary's exercise of authority in the interest of national security to prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation.

Directs the Inspector General, in carrying out any audit or investigation of a surveillance or data collection program, to assess the impact of such program on civil rights and liberties.

Requires the Inspector General's reports to Congress to be made available to all Members of Congress.

Directs the Inspector General to audit and report to Congress regarding the effectiveness and use (including improper or illegal use) of NSA surveillance and data collection programs, including programs under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) that authorize: (1) the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to submit applications to the FISA court for an order requiring the production of tangible things (commonly referred to as business records, including books, records, papers, documents, and other items); and (2) the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), with the approval of the FISA court or under exigent circumstances, to authorize the targeting of persons located outside the United States.

Requires such audit to address: (1) the interactions between the NSA and the FISA court, and (2) the process for conducting background investigations of persons for NSA employment or for receiving access to classified information.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-05-06 00:00:00

Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act - Establishes the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies. Requires such Commission to evaluate federal agencies and their programs each year for a six-year period to determine whether: (1) two or more agencies or programs are performing the same essential function and such function can be consolidated or streamlined; (2) any agency or program has wasted federal funds by egregious spending, mismanagement of resources and personnel, or use of funds for personal benefit or the benefit of a special interest group; and (3) any agency or program has completed its intended purpose, has become irrelevant, or has failed to meet its objectives. Requires the realignment or elimination of such agencies or programs.

Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Commission. Sets forth procedures for consideration and implementation by Congress of Commission recommendations.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-05-09 00:00:00

Government Reporting Efficiency Act of 2014 - Terminates any statutory requirement for reporting by a federal agency to Congress on the date that is five years after the enactment of this Act and every five years after such original termination date. Allows a permanent exception to such termination rule.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-05-09 00:00:00

Regulatory Improvement Act of 2014 - Establishes in the legislative branch the Regulatory Improvement Commission. Requires the Commission to evaluate and provide recommendations and proposed legislation for modification, consolidation, or repeal of regulations that have been finalized not later than 10 years before the establishment of the Commission and have not been amended after being finalized (covered regulations) for the purpose of reducing compliance costs, encouraging growth and innovation, improving competitiveness, and protecting public health and safety. Sets forth reporting requirements for the Commission and procedures for congressional consideration of Commission reports and recommendations and proposed legislation.
Topic: Government Operations — Bureaucracy
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2014-05-09 00:00:00

Unfunded Mandates Accountability Act of 2013 [sic]- Amends the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 to: (1) require regulatory impact analyses for rules that do not involve a legislative mandate and for final rules that do not have a prior notice of proposed rulemaking; (2) require federal agencies to prepare and publish in the Federal Register an initial and final regulatory impact analysis prior to promulgating any proposed or final rule that may have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or that may result in the expenditure of $100 million or more in any one year by state, local, and tribal governments; (3) require such agencies to identify and consider regulatory alternatives before promulgating any proposed or final rule and select the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative; (4) define "cost" as the cost of compliance and any reasonably foreseeable indirect cost resulting from agency rulemaking; (5) exempt rules concerning monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee from provisions of such Act relating to regulatory accountability and reform, review of federal mandates, and judicial review; and (6) expand provisions relating to judicial review of regulatory impact analyses.

Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require independent regulatory agencies to conduct regulatory impact analyses.