lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2015-10-20 00:00:00

Terms of Credit Act 

This bill establishes expedited legislative procedures for spending reduction legislation, limits regulatory activity, and increases the debt limit.

Eleven House committees must submit to the House Budget Committee legislation to reduce direct spending by specified amounts, and Congress must consider the legislation using expedited procedures. The bill restricts legislative activities and adjournment of the House until the spending reduction legislation and appropriations legislation is passed.

Congress must vote on a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution by December 31, 2015.

Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act of 2015 

Until July 1, 2017, the bill imposes a moratorium on significant regulatory actions that are likely to result in an annual cost to the economy of at least $50 million or adversely affect the economy or a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, small entities, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities.

Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2015 

Agencies may not propose or finalize certain rules during the final months of a President's term.

The bill includes an exception for repealing existing regulations and permits waivers for specified regulations.

The bill also increases the debt limit to $19.6 trillion. (Under current law the debt limit is suspended through March 15, 2017, and will be increased on March 16, 2017, to accommodate obligations issued during the suspension period.)
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2015-11-19 00:00:00

Library of Congress Administrative Reform Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Library of Congress (LOC) to purchase, maintain, or replace reproducers for books published either in raised characters, on sound-reproduction recordings, or in any other form (currently limited to reproducers of sound-reproduction recordings) for the use of the blind and for other physically disabled U.S. residents.

The bill establishes the Library of Congress National Collection Stewardship Fund, whose amounts may be used directly for preparing collection materials for long-term storage.

The use of the LOC revolving fund associated with the national audiovisual conservation center shall include preservation and storage of audiovisual materials and associated collections.

Use of the LOC revolving fund currently devoted to the gift shop, decimal classification, photo duplication, and related services shall extend to traveling exhibitions and exhibition materials as well as to training services.

The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) program shall provide specified services on behalf of tribal governments.

The types of gifts the LOC may accept shall include bequests of personal property, nonpersonal services, voluntary and uncompensated personal services, or securities.

The bill also provides for the continued service on the Joint Committee on the Library in a new Congress of Members of Congress who served on such Committee in a previous Congress.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2015-12-10 00:00:00

(Sec. 1) This bill requires the Librarian of Congress, concurrently with the planned renovation and replacement of such panels, to obtain a stained glass panel depicting the seal of the District of Columbia and install it among the existing panels that depict the seals of states that overlook the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-01-06 00:00:00

Read the Bill Act

This bill prohibits consideration of any bill or resolution in the House of Representatives or the Senate unless its text is published on an official website of the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate at least the applicable minimum number of hours (excluding those in which the chamber is not in session) before consideration of the bill or resolution, namely:

 72 hours, for text of 300 or fewer pages; or for text of more than 300 pages, the sum of 72 hours plus 24 hours for each additional increment of text of 100 or fewer pages. Whenever a House or Senate Committee reports a bill or joint resolution proposing to repeal or amend all or part of a statute, it must include in its report or in an accompanying document:

 the entire text of each section of the statute proposed to be repealed or amended, and a comparative print of each amendment to the section of the statute that the bill or joint resolution proposes to make. Neither chamber, nor Congress jointly, may dispense with or otherwise waive or modify the requirements of this Act.

Any Act of Congress that was considered as a bill or resolution in the House or Senate in violation of this Act shall have no force or effect, and no legal, equitable, regulatory, civil, or criminal action may be brought under it.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-01-06 00:00:00

One Subject at a Time Act

 This bill requires: (1) each bill or joint resolution to embrace no more than one subject, and (2) the subject to be clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title.

The bill prohibits an appropriations bill from containing any general legislation or change of existing law requirement, if its subject is not germane to the subject of such bill.

The bill also declares void: (1) an entire Act or joint resolution if its title addresses two or more unrelated subjects, (2) provisions in legislation not clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title, (3) appropriation provisions in legislation outside the relevant subcommittee's jurisdiction, and (4) provisions of appropriation bills not germane to their subject matter.

Aggrieved persons and Members of Congress shall have the right to bring an action against the United States to seek appropriate relief, including an injunction against the enforcement of any law the passage of which did not conform to this Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-02-04 00:00:00

Do Your Job Act 

This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress if the chamber has not considered and voted on final passage of each regular appropriations bill before the beginning of the fiscal year.

The salaries are withheld until the earlier of the: (1) the date on which the chamber has considered and held votes on final passage of each of the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress. In the House of Representatives, consideration of the bills must include permitting Members to offer amendments.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-02-11 00:00:00

This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to specify that it covers employees of the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the Helsinki Commission).
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2016-02-25 00:00:00

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

Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits a federal agency (excluding the Federal Election Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the U.S. Postal Service) from proposing or finalizing any midnight rule unless the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget finds that it will not result in: (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices; (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete internationally; or (4) a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses.

The bill defines "midnight rule" as an agency statement of general applicability and future effect that is issued during the moratorium period, that is intended to have the force and effect of law, and that is designed to: (1) implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy; or (2) describe the procedure or practice requirements of an agency. The "moratorium period" begins on the day after the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in every fourth year succeeding a presidential election and extends through January 20 of the following year in which a President is not serving a consecutive term.

(Sec. 3) Such prohibition shall not apply to any deadline for, relating to, or involving any midnight rule that: (1) was established before the beginning of the moratorium period, and (2) is required to occur during the moratorium period.

(Sec. 4) The bill exempts any midnight rule that the President determines is necessary: (1) because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, (2) to enforce criminal laws, (3) to protect U.S. national security, or (4) to implement an international trade agreement. The moratorium does not apply to a midnight rule if the OIRA finds that such rule is limited to repealing an existing rule and certifies such finding in writing.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Date: 2016-03-03 00:00:00

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

United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Preservation Act

(Sec. 3) This bill prohibits any action to modify, abrogate, or replace the stipulations, agreements, and commitments contained in the Guantanamo Lease Agreements, or to impair or abandon the jurisdiction and control of the United States over United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, unless specifically authorized or otherwise provided by:

 a statute enacted on or after the enactment of this Act; a treaty ratified with the advice and consent of the Senate on or after enactment of this Act; or a modification of the Treaty Between the United States of America and Cuba signed at Washington, DC, on May 29, 1934, that is ratified with the advice and consent of the Senate on or after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 4) "Guantanamo Lease Agreements" means:

 the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba for the Lease to the United States of Lands in Cuba for coaling and naval stations, signed by the President of the United States on February 23, 1903; and the Lease to the United States by the Government of Cuba of Certain Areas of Land and Water for Naval or Coaling Stations, signed by the President of the United States on October 2, 1903.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-03-03 00:00:00

Equal Access to Congressional Research Service Reports Act of 2016

This bill directs the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to establish and maintain a public website containing Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports, and an index, that are searchable, sortable, and downloadable (including in bulk), for which no fee may be charged.

The CRS Reports on the website shall include CRS Authorization of Appropriations Products, Appropriations Products, and any other written CRS product containing CRS research or analysis available for general congressional access on the CRS Congressional Intranet.

The website shall exclude any:

 custom product or service prepared in direct response to a request for custom analysis or research and not available for general congressional access on the CRS Congressional Intranet; CRS Reports, Authorization of Appropriations Products, or Appropriations Products not so available; or written CRS products that CRS has made available on a public website (besides this website) maintained by the GPO or the Library of Congress. The GPO shall ensure that the website is updated contemporaneously, automatically, and electronically to include each new or updated CRS Report.

Before transmitting a CRS Report to the GPO for publication on the website, CRS may remove the name of, and any contact information for, any CRS employee.

The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 is amended to require CRS to comply with this Act.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-03-14 00:00:00

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

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 to authorize the U.S. Capitol Police, by interagency transfer, donation, sale, trade-in, or other appropriate method, to dispose of any property in their possession because it has been disposed of, forfeited, voluntarily abandoned, or unclaimed. (Currently the U.S. Capitol Police are authorized to use these methods to dispose of only their own surplus or obsolete property.)

Upon notifying specified congressional committees, the U.S. Capitol Police may accept surplus or obsolete property offered by another federal department, agency, or office.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-03-14 00:00:00

Architect of the Capitol Administrative Operations Improvement Act of 2016

This bill establishes in the Treasury a Working Capital Fund for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), whose amounts shall be available for:

 appropriate, efficient, and economical common agency services, activities, equipment, and other common costs; and construction, capital repairs, renovations, rehabilitation, maintenance of real property, and similar agency expenses, on a reimbursable basis within the AOC. The Fund shall consist of, among other things, appropriations as well as:

 the reasonable value of stocks of supplies, equipment, and other assets and inventories on order that the AOC transfers to the Fund, minus related liabilities and unpaid obligations; receipts from the sale or exchange of property held in the Fund; all miscellaneous receipts compensating the AOC for loss or damage to any government property under its jurisdiction or care, including the U.S. Botanic Garden; and reimbursements and transfers from certain other accounts. The Fund shall be reimbursed from available AOC accounts for supplies, materials, services, and related expenses, at rates which will approximate the full cost of operations, including:

 accrual of employee leave and benefits; depreciation of plant, property, and equipment; and overhead. The AOC may use certain appropriations for the purchase or rental, maintenance, and operation of passenger motor vehicles to provide shuttle service for Members and employees of Congress to and from the House Office Buildings.

Available balances of expired AOC appropriations shall be available to the AOC for reimbursing the Department of Labor for any unemployment compensation payments for former AOC employees, without regard to the fiscal year for which the obligation to make such payments is incurred.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Date: 2016-03-17 00:00:00

Do Your Job or Don't Get Paid Act 

This bill withholds the salaries of Members of the House of Representatives if the House has not passed all of the regular appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year.

The salaries are withheld until the earlier of: (1) the first day by which the House has passed all of the regular appropriations bills for the fiscal year, or (2) the last day of the Congress.

For the purposes of this bill, passage of all of the regular appropriations bills includes passing each bill individually or in combination with any of the other appropriations bills.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-03-17 00:00:00

This bill directs the Joint Committee on the Library to enter into an agreement with the Harriet Tubman Statue Commission of the State of Maryland under which the Commission shall provide, and the Joint Committee shall accept, a statue of Harriet Tubman.

After receiving the statue, the Joint Committee on the Library shall place it in a suitable permanent location in the U.S. Capitol.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2016-04-13 00:00:00

Transparency in National Security Act of 2016

This bill amends the Freedom of Information Act to include the National Security Council (NSC) within the definition of "agency" (thus applying that Act's requirements to the NSC). Such amendment shall apply with respect to any record created by the NSC before, on, or after this bill's enactment.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Law
Date: 2016-05-17 00:00:00

Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 2016

This bill amends the federal judicial code to reauthorize the independent counsel law (currently expired) for a five-year period.

It extends to eight years after leaving office the period during which individuals who have held the following positions are still subject to preliminary investigations by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine whether to apply to a division of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for the appointment of an independent counsel for further investigation and possible prosecution:

 the President or the Vice President; the Attorney General or the Secretaries of State, the Treasury, Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, or Homeland Security; the U.S. Trade Representative, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Commissioner of Social Security, the Director of National Drug Control Policy, the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the Director of National Intelligence; individuals working in the Executive Office of the President compensated at or above level II of the Executive Schedule; Assistant Attorneys General and DOJ employees compensated at or above level III of the Executive Schedule; or the Director of Central Intelligence, the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, or the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2016-05-23 00:00:00

Article V Records Transparency Act of 2016

This bill directs the Archivist of the United States to make and transmit to Congress an organized compilation of all applications and rescissions of applications ever made by states under article V of the Constitution to call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution.

The Archivist: (1) in complying with such requirement, shall use the records contained in the National Archive and Records Administration and attempt to obtain an official copy of any application or rescission that may not be in such records; (2) submit a report on the extent of suspected missing applications or rescissions not included in the compilation; and (3) catalog the applications and rescissions by year of submission and state.

The committees on the judiciary in each chamber shall make the applications and rescissions contained in such compilation available on a publicly accessible website and update the compilation as specified.

In order to simplify and make uniform the process by which state legislatures make such an application or rescission, Congress recommends that after adoption of an application or rescission by a state legislature, the secretary of state or other state official should submit at least two copies of the measure containing the application or rescission to Congress, one copy addressed to the President of the Senate and one copy to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-05-26 00:00:00

Taxpayer-Funded Travel Transparency Act of 2016

This bill requires each Member of the House of Representatives to post on the Member's official public website, and to furnish to the Committee on House Administration:

 a description of each trip taken by the Member for which transportation, lodging, or related expenses were paid by the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of State, or an office of the House; and the amounts paid by DOD, State, or the office for such expenses. These reporting requirements shall not apply with respect to a trip taken by a Member for which expenses were paid by that Member's Representational Allowance.

The Committee on House Administration shall maintain on its official public website a clearinghouse of all of the travel and expenses information furnished to the Committee by all House members.

In the case of a trip taken by a Member of the House for which DOD or the State Department pays transportation, lodging, or related expenses, the respective department shall:

 determine the costs of the transportation, lodging, and related expenses paid; and furnish the Member with a written statement of those expenses within 10 days after completion of the trip. The respective department may waive the written statement of expenses requirement if furnishing the statement may affect national security.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-06-15 00:00:00

Establishing Digital Interactive Transparency Act or the EDIT Act

This bill instructs the Library of Congress, in the operation of the Congress.gov website, to ensure that each version of a bill or resolution which is made available for viewing permits the viewer to follow and track, within the same document, any changes made from the previous versions of that bill or resolution.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Economics and public finance
Date: 2016-06-16 00:00:00

Agency Accountability Act of 2016 

This bill requires any agency that receives a fee, fine, penalty, or proceeds from a settlement to deposit the amount in the general fund of the Treasury. The funds may not be used unless the funding is provided in advance in an appropriations bill.

Any amounts deposited during the fiscal year in which this bill is enacted may not be obligated during the fiscal year and must be used for deficit reduction.

The bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require offsetting receipts and collections to be treated as revenue. (Offsetting receipts and collections are funds collected by agencies from other government accounts or from the public in businesslike or market-oriented transactions. Under current law, the collections are treated as negative budget authority and outlays rather than revenue and may be used to offset spending for budget enforcement purposes.)

The requirements of the bill do not apply to the U.S. Postal Service or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the USPTO must submit annually to Congress a report describing any fee, fine, penalty, or proceeds from a settlement collected by the USPTO during the previous year.
Topic: Government Operations — Branch Relations
Subject: Congress
Date: 2016-07-13 00:00:00

Readable Legislation Act of 2016

This bill requires every bill or joint resolution that amends an existing section of any Act to do so by setting forth the entire section and showing the omissions and insertions proposed by appropriate typographical devices. A measure may not revise or amend any section of an Act by a mere reference to it.