jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-03-04 00:00:00

Ozone Regulatory Delay and Extension of Assessment Length Act of 2015 or the ORDEAL Act of 2015

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to lengthen from 5 years to 10 years the intervals at which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to review and revise air quality criteria and primary and secondary national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This bill eliminates the EPA's authority to review and revise criteria or promulgate new standards for ozone concentrations earlier or more frequently than required. The EPA may not review and revise NAAQS for ozone concentrations before February 1, 2019. The EPA must complete a thorough review of the NAAQS for ozone concentrations and make revisions no later December 31, 2019.

The intervals at which an independent scientific review committee is required to review air quality criteria and NAAQS and recommend any new standards or revisions to existing criteria and standards are lengthened from 5 years to 10 years. The bill delays the review by an independent scientific review committee of NAAQS for ozone concentrations until February 1, 2019.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-03-17 00:00:00

Clean Air, Strong Economies Act

This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from lowering its national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone until at least 85% of counties that are in nonattainment areas (counties that are exceeding the limit) have attained the standard.

In promulgating a primary or secondary NAAQS for ozone, the EPA must:

 only consider a county to be a nonattainment area on the basis of direct air quality monitoring (rather than modeling); take into consideration feasibility and cost; and include in the regulatory impact analysis for the proposed and final rule at least one analysis that does not include any calculation of benefits resulting from reducing emissions of any pollutant other than ozone.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-03-23 00:00:00

Bringing Reductions to Energy's Airborne Toxic Health Effects Act or the BREATHE Act

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to repeal prohibitions against: (1) aggregating emissions from any oil or gas exploration or production well and emissions from any pipeline compressor or pump station with emissions from other similar units, whether or not the units are in a contiguous area or under common control, to determine whether the units or stations are major sources of listed toxic air pollutants under such Act; (2) aggregating such emissions for any purpose under such Act, in the case of any oil or gas exploration or production well; and (3) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listing an oil and gas production well as an area source category of toxic air pollutants under such Act.

The EPA must: (1) issue a final rule adding hydrogen sulfide to the list of hazardous air pollutants; and (2) revise the list within 365 days after issuing the rule to include categories and subcategories of major sources and area sources of hydrogen sulfide, including oil and gas wells.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-13 00:00:00

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to apply limitations on Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Limitations on Reid vapor pressure are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-22 00:00:00

Climate Change Education Act 

 This bill declares that the evidence for human-induced climate change is overwhelming and undeniable.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must establish a Climate Change Education Program to:

 broaden the understanding of human-induced climate change, possible consequences, and potential solutions; apply the latest scientific and technological discoveries to provide learning opportunities to people of all ages; conduct a national information campaign to help people understand and promote implementation of new technologies, programs, and incentives related to energy conservation, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas reduction; and inform the public of impacts to human health and safety as a result of climate change. NOAA must establish a grant program for climate change education. This grant program must be included in the Program.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-04-22 00:00:00

Climate Solutions Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 by directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to promulgate regulations that require the percentage of electric energy generated from renewable sources that is sold at the retail level to increase each year beginning in 2020 so that in 2050 and each subsequent year, the percentage is at least 80%.

DOE must also promulgate regulations that set cumulative energy savings targets for retail electric energy and natural gas suppliers that require each supplier to secure annual savings that are achieved through end-use efficiency improvements at customer facilities. For electric energy suppliers, the targets must increase from .25% of sales in 2018 to 1.5% of sales in 2023 and each year thereafter through 2028. For natural gas suppliers, the target must increase from .25% of sales in 2018 to .5% of sales in 2023 and each year thereafter through 2028. DOE must allow suppliers to achieve the targets through a market-based trading system.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must promulgate annual emission reduction targets for each of 2030 through 2050 to ensure that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions: (1) in 2035 are at least 40% below those in 1990, and (2) in 2050 are at least 80% below those in 1990. The EPA must promulgate final regulations to implement those targets within 7 years and review them at least every 5 years thereafter.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-23 00:00:00

Stop EPA Overregulation of Rural Americans

This bill nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency rule entitled, "Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces," published on March 16, 2015.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-28 00:00:00

Ratepayer Protection Act of 2015 

(Sec. 2) This bill extends compliance deadlines for rules under the Clean Air Act that address carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants pending final judicial review. This extension applies to any final rule that succeeds either:

 the proposed rule entitled "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units"; or the supplemental proposed rule entitled "Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: EGUs in Indian Country and U.S. Territories; Multi-Jurisdictional Partnerships." The extension period begins 60 days after the notice of promulgation of a final rule appears in the Federal Register and ends when the rule is no longer subject to judicial appeal or review.

The bill urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in promulgating, implementing, or enforcing the rules, to address how the megawatt hours discharged from a pumped hydroelectric storage system will be incorporated into implementation plans adopted pursuant to the rules.

 (Sec. 3) A state is not required to submit or follow an implementation plan that addresses carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants if it determines that the plan would have a significant adverse effect on: (1) the state's residential, commercial, or industrial ratepayers; or (2) the reliability of the state's electricity system.

(Sec. 4) The EPA must treat hydropower as renewable energy when implementing or enforcing the rules.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-05-01 00:00:00

Tax Pollution, Not Profits Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel products and from any facility which is required to report emissions or to which emissions are attributed. The tax is equal to $30 per metric ton of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent in 2016, increasing each subsequent year at 4% above inflation.

The bill amends the Social Security Act to establish a Low-Income Cost Mitigation Program to provide an energy refund amount to certain low and middle-income households to compensate such households for increases in energy costs due to this bill.

The Department of Labor may use revenues generated by this bill to implement a program to assist displaced workers in the coal industry.

The bill also provides for a gradual reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 32% in taxable years beginning in 2016 to 28% in taxable years beginning after 2019.

The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a website to make information regarding the amount and sources of revenue attributable to this bill publicly available.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Common Sense Waiver Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive an emission standard or other requirement for hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act applicable to the control of asbestos emissions in the demolition or renovation of a building if the building has been condemned and there is a reasonable expectation of the building's structural failure.

The EPA must approve or disapprove a request for a waiver by a state or local government within 90 days. If the EPA doesn't meet the deadline, the request is approved.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-03 00:00:00

Coal Country Protection Act or the Protecting Jobs, Families, and the Economy From EPA Overreach Act 

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation or guidance that limits or prohibits new carbon dioxide emissions from a fossil fuel-fired power plant until it is certified:

 by the Department of Labor that the regulation or guidance will not generate a loss of employment, by the Congressional Budget Office that it will not result in a loss in the gross domestic product, by the Energy Information Administration that it will not generate an increase in electricity rates, and by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation that it will not effect the reliability of electricity delivery.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-16 00:00:00

Manufacturers First Act of 2015

This bill requires the primary and secondary national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for air pollutants under the Clean Air Act that are in effect on this bill's enactment date to remain in effect. The Environmental Protection Agency may not issue, implement, or enforce revisions to those NAAQS or any new NAAQS. (Primary NAAQS provide public health protection and secondary NAAQS provide public welfare protection.)
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-07-09 00:00:00

EPA Regulatory Domestic Benefit Act of 2014 

 This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing, implementing, and enforcing any proposed or final rule addressing emissions of carbon dioxide from any new, existing, modified, or reconstructed electric power plant unless the regulatory impact analysis for the rule primarily considers, and separately reports on, the domestic benefits of the rule that are associated with the carbon dioxide emission reductions projected to occur under the rule.

The bill also nullifies the following proposed rules: (1) Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, (2) Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, and (3) Carbon Pollution Standards for Modified and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-07-16 00:00:00

America's Energy Security Trust Fund Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax, beginning in calendar year 2016, on any taxable carbon substance sold by its manufacturer, producer, or importer. Defines "taxable carbon substance" as: (1) coal (including lignite and peat); (2) petroleum and any petroleum products; and (3) natural gas that is extracted, manufactured, or produced in the United States, or entered into the United States for consumption, use, or warehousing.

Establishes in the Treasury the America's Energy Security Trust Fund to assist industries negatively affected by this Act, make transfers to the Highway Trust Fund to cover shortfalls, and provide payroll tax relief.

Allows individual taxpayers a tax credit equal to carbon tax rebate amounts calculated by the Department of the Treasury.

Directs Treasury to study and report to Congress on the best methods to assess and collect taxes on non-carbon greenhouse gases.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should establish binding agreements with major greenhouse gas emitting nations to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-07-29 00:00:00

Quiet Communities Act of 2015

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reestablish an Office of Noise Abatement and Control and reauthorizes the Office's activities through FY2020.

The responsibilities of the Office must include: (1) promoting the development of effective state and local noise control programs, (2) carrying out a national noise control research program, (3) carrying out a national noise environmental assessment program, (4) establishing regional technical assistance centers to assist state and local noise control programs, (5) assessing the effectiveness of the Noise Control Act of 1972, and (6) conducting related outreach and educational activities. The Office must emphasize noise abatement approaches that rely on local and state activities, market incentives, and coordination with other agencies.

Using funds made available to the Office, the EPA must carry out a study of airport noise.

The bill amends the Noise Control Act of 1972 to expand the quiet communities grant program to include grants for establishing and implementing training programs on use of noise abatement equipment and implementing noise abatement plans.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Energy
Date: 2015-07-29 00:00:00

Carbon Capture Research and Development Act

This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Department of Energy to consider the objective of improving the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels when carrying out certain research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs in fossil energy.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-09-08 00:00:00

Gas Accessibility and Stabilization Act of 2015

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive fuel mandates if there is a problem with distribution or delivery equipment that is necessary for the transportation or delivery of fuel or fuel additives.

The EPA may extend the effectiveness of such waiver for more than 20 days if the problem exists for more than 20 days.

If the EPA does not approve or deny a request for such waiver within three days, the waiver must be considered to be approved.

The bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise requirements for a fuel system requirements harmonization study by: (1) including the consideration of biofuels in the study, and (2) extending the deadline for reporting on the study until June 1, 2016.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-09-28 00:00:00

Ensuring Affordable Energy Act 

This bill prohibits funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from being used to implement or enforce: (1) a cap-and-trade program, or (2) any statutory or regulatory requirement pertaining to emissions of one or more greenhouse gases from stationary sources that is issued or becomes applicable or effective after the date of enactment of this bill.

A cap-and-trade program is any regulatory program established after enactment of this bill that provides for the sale, auction, or other distribution of a limited amount of allowances that permit the emission of one or more greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, or any other designated anthropogenic gas (caused by human activity).
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-10-09 00:00:00

Carbon Pollution Transparency Act of 2015

 This bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to calculate a carbon score for legislation. The carbon score is the projected net greenhouse gas emissions that would result from: (1) enactment and implementation of a bill or resolution, and (2) the appropriation of any amounts authorized in the legislation.

The CBO must include the carbon score in cost estimates for reported legislation that are submitted to congressional committees pursuant to the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-10-22 00:00:00

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

Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment Act or the SENSE Act

(Sec. 2) This bill modifies the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule as it applies to certain electric utility steam generating units (electric power plants) that convert coal refuse into energy. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must maintain the existing limits for sulfur dioxide emissions from coal refuse utilities under the cap-and-trade system, instead of applying the more restrictive limits that are scheduled to go into effect in 2017. (Under the current system, a cap sets a limit on emissions. The cap is lowered over time to reduce the amount of pollutants released. Utilities may only emit as much carbon as permitted under their allowances, which may be traded with others.) Thus, the EPA must allocate to coal refuse utilities in 2017 and subsequent years the same number of emissions allowances for sulfur dioxide that have been previously allocated to coal refuse utilities, instead of reducing allowances.

After January 1, 2017, a coal refuse utility may not trade any unused sulfur dioxide allowances. Those allowances may be saved by the coal refuse utilities for use in future compliance periods.

The EPA may not increase the total number of allowances for sulfur dioxide emissions from all sources that are allocated to each state.

The bill eases emission limits for hazardous air pollutants from coal refuse utilities. The EPA must allow the utilities to meet compliance requirements by meeting the maximum achievable control technology standards for either hydrogen chloride or sulfur dioxide.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-11-05 00:00:00

FAA Community Accountability Act of 2015

This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in considering flight paths or procedures as part of the implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, to limit negative impacts on the human environment near airports. The FAA may give preference to overlays of existing flight paths or procedures to ensure compatibility with land use.

The FAA shall appoint an FAA Community Ombudsman for each of its regions to:

 act as a liaison with communities regarding problems related to the impact of commercial aviation on the human environment; monitor the impact of System implementation on communities near affected airports; make recommendations to address community concerns and improve the use of community comments in FAA decisionmaking; and report periodically on the impact of commercial aviation on the human environment and on FAA responsiveness to community concerns. The FAA, in implementing the System, may not treat the establishment or revision of a flight path or procedure as covered by a categorical exclusion if an Ombudsman or airport operator submits notification that: (1) extraordinary circumstances exist, or (2) the establishment or revision will have a significant adverse impact on the human environment near such airport. The FAA, before treating such establishment or revision as covered by a categorical exclusion, shall provide notice and an opportunity for comment to persons affected.

The bill requires the FAA to: (1) reconsider a flight path or procedure established or revised after February 14, 2012, as part of the implementation of the System if an Ombudsman or airport operator submits written notification that the establishment or revision is resulting in a significant adverse impact on the human environment near the airport, (2) provide notice of such reconsideration and an opportunity for public comment, (3) assess the impacts on the human environment, and (4) report on comments received, assessment results, and changes to be made.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-11-16 00:00:00

Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Deadline Harmonization Act of 2015

This bill delays the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2015 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone issued under the Clean Air Act.

 Each state must designate all of its areas as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable with respect to the 2015 ozone standards by October 26, 2024. The EPA must promulgate final designations for those areas by October 26, 2025. States must submit a state implementation plan for the 2015 ozone standards by October 26, 2026.

The 2015 ozone standards do not apply to the review and disposition of an application for a preconstruction permit for the construction or modification of a major emitting facility or major stationary source if: (1) the application is completed before final designations under the Clean Air Act, or (2) the applicable permitting authority publishes a public notice of a preliminary determination or draft permit for the application before a certain date.

The bill changes the interval by which the EPA must review its NAAQS for criteria pollutants from a 5-year review cycle to a 10-year review cycle. The EPA must not complete any review of ozone criteria or its ozone NAAQS before October 26, 2025, or propose any revisions to them.
Topic: Environment — Air Pollution
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-11-17 00:00:00

This bill prohibits the head of any federal agency from implementing or enforcing any regulations, proposals, or actions establishing any carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions reductions until the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Information Administration, and Department of Commerce certify in writing that China, India, and Russian have proposed, implemented, and enforced measures requiring substantially similar reductions.

Any regulation, proposal, or action that requires those emission reductions and that is in effect before this certification is made is nullified.