lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2015-04-14 00:00:00

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

Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2015

(Sec. 4) This bill requires the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish a nonregulatory Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which it shall: (1) draw on management plans for the basin or portions of the basin and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including representatives of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the federal government, other state and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the basin; (2) adopt a basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective projects with measurable results, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees; and (3) establish the voluntary grant and technical assistance programs in accordance with this bill.

"Basin" is defined as the four-state Delaware Basin region, including all of Delaware Bay and portions of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania located in the Delaware River watershed.

(Sec. 5) The USFWS shall: (1) establish the Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out restoration and protection activities within the basin, and (2) develop criteria to ensure that funded activities accomplish specified purposes and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the strategy adopted under this bill.

The USFWS may contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or another organization that offers grant management services.

(Sec. 6) The USFWS shall submit to Congress annually a report on the implementation of this bill, including a description of each project that has received funding.

(Sec. 7) Appropriations are authorized to carry out this bill for FY2016-FY2021. The USFWS shall use at least 75% of any amount made available for each fiscal year to carry out the grant program and to provide or provide for technical assistance under such program.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-04-16 00:00:00

Water Rights Protection Act

 Prohibits the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from:

 conditioning or withholding the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement (permit) on the limitation or encumbrance of any water right or the transfer of any water right to the United States or any other designee, or any other impairment of any water right under state law by federal or state action; requiring any water user (including a federally recognized Indian tribe) to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition of such a permit; asserting jurisdiction over groundwater withdrawals or impacts on groundwater resources, unless consistent with state groundwater resource laws, regulations, and policies; or infringing on the rights and obligations of a state in evaluating, allocating, and adjudicating state waters originating on or under, or flowing from, land owned or managed by the federal government.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-21 00:00:00

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize for FY2017-FY2021 the Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Under a five-year action plan, the initiative must prioritize and carry out programs and projects for Great Lakes protection and restoration, including: (1) the remediation of toxic substances and areas of concern, (2) the prevention and control of invasive species and their impacts, (3) the protection and restoration of near-shore health and the prevention and mitigation of nonpoint source pollution, and (4) habitat and wildlife protection and restoration.

Funding made available to implement the initiative may not be used for any water infrastructure activity (other than a green infrastructure project that improves habitat and other ecosystem functions in the Great Lakes) for which funding is made available under the clean water or drinking water state revolving fund program. Federal agencies must: (1) maintain the base level of funding for their Great Lakes activities without regard to funding under the initiative, and (2) identify new activities to support the environmental goals of the initiative and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-04-23 00:00:00

Complete America's Great Trails Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the fair market value of any National Scenic Trail conservation contribution. Requires the Department of the Interior to study and report on the efficacy of such tax credit in completing, extending, and increasing the number of National Scenic Trails and the feasibility and cost of making such credit refundable and transferable.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-30 00:00:00

Defending Rivers from Overreaching Policies Act of 2015

This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) a Supplemental Scientific Review Panel to make recommendations regarding metrics to quantify the connection between any body of water or wetland and a traditionally navigable water, and (2) an Ephemeral and Intermittent Streams Advisory Commission to develop criteria to define whether a body of water or wetland has a significant nexus to a traditional navigable water using the metrics developed by the review panel.

The commission must report to the Army Corps and the EPA on the criteria after a public comment period and release public versions of the reports.

The Army Corps and the EPA may not develop, finalize, adopt, implement, apply, administer, or enforce the proposed rule entitled, "Definition of 'Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act" and published on April 21, 2014, or begin the drafting of any substantially similar rule, until they receive a final report from the commission.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-05-20 00:00:00

Columbia River Basin Restoration Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program to reduce toxic contamination and clean up contaminated sites. The program must be collaborative and stakeholder-based.

The EPA must: (1) assess trends in water quality and toxic contamination or toxics reduction; (2) collect, characterize and assess data on toxics and water quality to identify possible causes of environmental problems; (3) update the Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Plan (Action Plan) and the Estuary Partnership Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (Estuary Plan) and ensure that the plans form a coherent toxic contamination reduction strategy; and (4) provide technical assistance in implementing and updating the Action Plan.

The EPA must establish a Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Working Group to: (1) participate in developing updates to the Action Plan, (2) recommend and prioritize projects and actions for the Action Plan, and (3) review progress made.

The Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership has to perform those duties and fulfill those responsibilities of the Working Group relating to the Lower Columbia River Estuary.

The EPA must establish a Columbia River Basin toxics grant program to provide funding to develop or implement projects to implement the Action Plan and the Estuary Plan.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

This bill prohibits the President, in designating a national monument, from reserving any implied or expressed water rights associated with it.

Water rights for an associated national monument may only be acquired in accordance with the laws of the state in which the water rights are to be located.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Health
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ban cosmetics that contain synthetic plastic microbeads beginning on January 1, 2018.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-05-21 00:00:00

Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act

This bill address issues related to preventing and responding to oil spills.

This bill amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain areas in the Gulf of Mexico until June 30, 2027.

This bill sets forth provisions concerning Coast Guard responsibilities, including designating areas that are at heightened risk of oil spills and implementing measures to ameliorate that risk.

 This bill amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to establish a Gulf Coast Regional Citizens' Advisory Council to advise on facilities and tank vessels.

 This bill makes an owner of oil responsible for oil spill cleanup. Currently, owners of oil are only responsible if the oil is being transported in a single-hull vessel.

This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permit the Coast Guard or the Department of Commerce to request a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of any accident occurring in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Commerce must establish an inspection fee for OCS facilities for the cost of inspections of facilities and other duties.

This bill requires a comprehensive review of the capacity of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to respond to oil spills. NOAA must develop and maintain oil spill trajectory modeling capability.



 The Coast Guard must evaluate and validate oil pollution containment and removal methods and technologies.

NOAA must carry out long-term marine environment monitoring and research program for the Gulf of Mexico.

The bill requires the Coast Guard to publish within 12 hours an Incident Action Plan in response to an oil spill.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-03 00:00:00

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

 Sensible Environmental Protection Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state from requiring a permit under the Clean Water Act for a discharge from a point source into navigable waters of:

 a pesticide authorized for sale, distribution, or use under FIFRA, or a residue resulting from the application of the pesticide. Point source pollution is waste discharged from a distinct place, such as a pipe, channel, and tunnel.

The EPA or a state may require a permit for the following discharges containing a pesticide:

 a discharge resulting from the application of a pesticide in violation of FIFRA that is relevant to protecting water quality, if the discharge would not have occurred without the violation, or if the amount of pesticide or residue contained in the discharge is greater than would have occurred without the violation; a stormwater discharge regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); and a discharge of manufacturing or industrial effluent (wastewater), treatment works effluent, or a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, including discharges from ballast water operations or vessel biofouling prevention. The EPA must report on: (1) coordination between the Office of Water and the Office of Pesticide Programs regarding streamlining information collection, standards of review, and data use relating to water quality impacts from the registration and use of pesticides; (2) the effectiveness of regulatory actions relating to pesticide registration and use aimed at protecting water quality; and (3) recommendations on modifying FIFRA in order to improve the protection of water quality and human health.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-08 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 26, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise the National Estuary Program by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to make competitive awards to address urgent and challenging issues that threaten the economic and ecological well-being of coastal areas, including:

 extensive seagrass habitat losses, recurring harmful algae blooms, unusual marine mammal mortalities, invasive exotic species, jellyfish proliferation limiting community access to water during peak tourism seasons, flooding that may be related to sea level rise or wetland degradation or loss, and low dissolved oxygen conditions in estuarine waters and related nutrient management. (Sec. 2) The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2017-FY2021 for: (1) EPA administrative expenses relating to a grant or award, and (2) making grants and awards. The bill allocates funding for conservation and management plans for estuaries and for competitive awards.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-16 00:00:00

Great Lakes Water Protection Act 

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) from discharging untreated or partially treated sewage into the Great Lakes or a tributary of the Great Lakes when the discharge is the result of the POTW intentionally diverting waste streams to bypass any portion of a treatment facility. A bypass is allowed if: (1) it is unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage, there is no feasible alternative, and the treatment works provides notice; or (2) it does not cause effluent (waste) limitations to be exceeded and is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation of the treatment facility.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must work with relevant states to create requirements for providing immediate notice to the public about discharges.

The EPA must establish procedures to ensure that permits issued to POTWs under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System include requirements to comply with this bill.

This bill establishes a maximum civil penalty of $100,000 per day for violations of the bill occurring on or after January 1, 2035. The penalties must be deposited into the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund, which is established by this bill. The Fund must be used for improving wastewater discharges.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-24 00:00:00

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

Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to expand the duties of the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study to include: (1) a study on environmental impacts on the Long Island Sound watershed; (2) planning initiatives for the Long Island Sound; (3) developing and implementing strategies to increase public education and awareness about the ecological health and water quality conditions of the Long Island Sound; and (4) monitoring of progress toward meeting goals, actions, and schedules of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Grants in support of the Conservation and Management Plan (other than citizen involvement and education grants) must not exceed 60% (currently 50%) of the cost of research, studies, or work.

The bill revises the Offices's biennial reporting requirement with respect to the implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan and requires that reports be made available to the public.

The President must submit in the President's annual budget information about the involvement of each federal department and agency in the protection and restoration of the Long Island Sound watershed, including an interagency budget for each department and agency.

The Environmental Protection Agency must coordinate the actions of all federal departments and agencies that impact water quality in the Long Island Sound watershed to improve the water quality and living resources of the watershed.

The bill: (1) extends the Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee through 2020, and (2) exempts the Advisory Committee from requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

(Sec. 3) The bill reauthorizes through FY2020 the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study, the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006, the Long Island Sound Grants, and the Long Island Sound Stewardship grants.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-25 00:00:00

Mitigation Facilitation Act of 2015

This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a mitigation loan and loan guarantee program to enable political subdivisions of states to: (1) purchase credits from mitigation banks or in-lieu fee programs, or (2) acquire interests in property that are acquired pursuant to a mitigation project required by the Corps of Engineers under a Clean Water Act permit to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

Mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs are designed to compensate for lost functions of waters of the United States resulting from activities under those permits.

The authority provided by the bill expires in 10 years.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-06-25 00:00:00

Infrastructure Rehabilitation Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to forgo providing notice or opportunity for public hearings when issuing permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into the navigable waters at specified disposal sites in the event of a natural disaster that has damaged transportation infrastructure, if immediate construction is required to restore the infrastructure to working order.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-07-29 00:00:00

Coordinated Ocean Monitoring and Research Act

 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2019 the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009.

The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a network of federal and regional entities that provide information about the nation's coasts and oceans, as well as the Great Lakes.

 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must: (1) serve as the lead federal agency for the implementation of the IOOS, and (2) establish an IOOS Program Office to oversee daily operations and coordination of the IOOS. The bill outlines the requirements for NOAA as the lead agency.

 The bill establishes a process for regional associations to certify their regional coastal observing systems.

 The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council must: (1) conduct an Ocean Chemistry Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment on ocean acidification within a year and every five years thereafter; and (2) develop a plan to deploy ocean acidification sensors prioritized by the threat to coastal economies and ecosystems, gaps in data on ocean acidification, and research needs.

 The National Science Foundation's research on ocean acidification must include research on: (1) impacts of multiple stressors on ecosystems exhibiting hypoxia (a dead zone that is depleted of oxygen), harmful algal blooms (rapid accumulation of algae), or sediment delivery; and (2) the effects of those impacts combined with changes in ocean chemistry.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-07-30 00:00:00

Commonsense Permitting for Job Creation Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise requirements for permit guidelines applicable to the designation of disposal sites for discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Those guidelines may not prohibit the designation of a disposal site due to the lack of a final site plan because there is not an identified end user, industry, or industrial classification for the site.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-08-05 00:00:00

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act of 2015

 This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to assess and report on the cultural and historic resources in the waters of the Great Lakes. NOAA must make recommendations in the report on whether: (1) underwater geographic areas in the Great Lakes should be designated as national marine sanctuaries to protect resources of historical and archeological significance; and (2) the designation of a network of underwater Great Lakes areas that protect those resources could bring significant educational opportunities, economic development, jobs, and tourism to the Great Lakes region.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-09-10 00:00:00

National Oceans and Coastal Security Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund as a tax exempt fund for supporting programs and activities to protect, conserve, and restore ocean and coastal resources and coastal infrastructure.

Donations from a foreign government may not be deposited into the fund.

Commerce must prioritize projects that have non-federal partners sharing the project costs.

According to a specified allocation formula, the Foundation must award a minimum percentage of funds as grants to eligible coastal states while awarding a lesser percentage of funds to entities including states, Indian tribes, regional bodies, associations, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.

The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require the President to ensure that a certain percent of offshore energy revenues are deposited into the fund.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

This bill extends the authorization of appropriations for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) through FY2025.

Appropriations deposited into the LWCF shall be allocated in the ratio of 60% and 40% for state and federal purposes, respectively.