zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Prohibiting Discrimination Against Israel Act - States that it shall be U.S. policy that no funds authorized or appropriated by federal law may be expended for any international project that prohibits participation of Israeli organizations that operate beyond the 1949 armistice line.

Date: 2014-04-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Prohibiting Discrimination Against Israel Act - States that it shall be U.S. policy that no funds authorized or appropriated by federal law may be expended for any international project that prohibits participation of Israeli organizations that operate beyond the 1949 armistice line.

Date: 2014-05-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Prohibits federal funds from being used to enter into agreements with, make grants or awards to, or provide loans or loan guarantees to institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in a boycott of the Israeli government, economy, or academia.

Terminates the application of that prohibition to an IHE that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, determines has ceased participating in such a boycott.

Date: 2014-05-30
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Education
Guantanamo Bay Detainee Transfer Suspension Act of 2014 - Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds to transfer or release any covered detainee at the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Guantanamo) to the custody or control of such individual's country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity until the earlier of 90 days after the submittal to Congress of a report required by this Act or 180 days after this Act's enactment, except pursuant to an order issued by a court or competent tribunal of the United States having lawful jurisdiction.

Makes a U.S. officer or employee liable in his or her individual capacity for a civil penalty of $10,000 for each covered detainee transferred or released in violation of such prohibition. Prohibits the U.S. government from providing representation to, or retaining or reimbursing private counsel for the representation of, such officer or employee.

Authorizes a person to bring a civil action for a violation of such prohibition in the name of the government, subject to specified requirements.

Requires the Secretary to submit a report regarding the risk that the five detainees transferred from Guantanamo to Qatar on May 31, 2014, would reengage in terrorist activity after transfer.

Prohibits the transfer or release of a covered detainee from Guantanamo to a foreign country without the President's express written authorization.

Defines a "covered detainee" as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who: (1) is not a U.S. citizen or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces; (2) is or was held on January 20, 2009, at Guantanamo by the Department of Defense (DOD); and (3) is held as of the date of enactment of this Act at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by DOD.

Date: 2014-06-23
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prohibits U.S. government funds from being used to provide non-security assistance to Mexico unless an Act of Congress securing Mexico's border with the United States is enacted into law.

Date: 2014-07-03
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Ukraine Security Assistance Act of 2014 - Authorizes the the President to provide Ukraine with specified defense articles, services, and training.

Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to conduct or complete an ongoing assessment of the capabilities and needs of Ukraine's armed forces, and provide it to Congress.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should:

 provide Ukraine with appropriate intelligence and other information to determine the location, strength, and capabilities of the military and intelligence forces of the Russian Federation located on Ukraine's eastern border and within its territorial borders, including Crimea; take steps to ensure that such intelligence information is protected from further disclosure; and report to Congress detailing such disclosure. States that during the period in which Ukraine meets specified democratic government and security cooperation criteria it shall be treated as a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally.

 Directs the President to increase: (1) military-to-military interactions of the U.S. Armed Forces with the armed forces of Ukraine, and (2) U.S. and NATO security assistance to Ukraine.

Directs the Secretary of State to seek to enter into negotiations with Ukraine to establish new, or strengthen existing, bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation agreements, including agreements related to cyber defense cooperation.

Date: 2014-07-24
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act - Prohibits the U.S. government from recognizing the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

Prohibits any federal department or agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

Authorizes the President to waive such prohibitions if vital to U.S. national security interests.

Date: 2014-07-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Stop Funding Terrorism Act - Prohibits any direct U.S. assistance, loan guarantee, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority (PA) or any affiliated governing entity or leadership organization.

States that such prohibition shall have no effect for a fiscal year if the President certifies to Congress that the PA has:

 formally recognized Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and publicly recognized the state of Israel, renounced terrorism and purged all individuals with terrorist ties from the security services, terminated funding of anti-American and anti-Israel incitement, publicly pledged to not engage in war with Israel, and honored previous diplomatic agreements.

Date: 2014-09-10
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Foreign Assistance Accountability Act of 2014 - Directs the President to suspend the provision of U.S. foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Authorizes the President to reinstate such assistance if the PA has stopped: (1) providing funds or rewards to terrorist organizations; and (2) working with terrorist organizations, including Hamas.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act - Amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary of State to report to Congress on conditions in Hong Kong that are of U.S. interest by March 31, 2015, and annually thereafter for 10 years or until the Secretary certifies that Hong Kong has held free and fair elections for 2 consecutive Chief Executive and 2 consecutive Legislative Council periods.

States that it is U.S. policy to:

 reaffirm the principles set forth in the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992; support the democratic aspirations of the people of Hong Kong; urge China's government to uphold its commitments to Hong Kong; support the establishment by 2017 of a democratic option to nominate and elect the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and the establishment by 2020 of democratic elections for all members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council; and support freedom of the press. States that Hong Kong is ineligible for treatment different from that accorded to China under U.S. laws or agreements unless the President certifies to Congress that Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to justify different treatment.

Authorizes the President to waive such ineligibility if waiver is in the U.S. national interest and Congress is given a justification of the waiver on or before the date it takes effect.

Date: 2014-11-13
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act - Directs the President to appoint a White House Coordinator for International Cultural Property Protection who shall coordinate and promote federal agency efforts to address international cultural property protection activities.

Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary in this Act), the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Attorney General (DOJ), and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to submit to the Coordinator information on efforts to protect international cultural property.

Authorizes the Department of State, DOD, USAID, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DOJ, the Department of the Interior, the National Archives, the National Science Foundation, and any other appropriate agency to enter into agreements with the Smithsonian Institution to engage temporarily Smithsonian personnel to assist in international cultural property protection activities.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to private individuals or organizations for international cultural property protection activities in areas at risk of destruction due to political instability, armed conflict, or natural or other disasters.

Directs the President to apply specified import restrictions with respect to any archaeological or ethnological material of Syria as if Syria were a State Party to the Convention on prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership of cultural property (adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).

Date: 2014-11-13
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Right of Return Act - Requires the following courses of action:

 the Secretary of State shall call for Israel to increase the standard of living of those living in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza by extending its sovereignty over those territories, and for the Palestinian Arab residents currently residing in those areas to be granted citizenship in the countries that controlled them from 1949 to 1967 and have a right of return to those countries; no funds appropriated by Congress may be obligated or expended to provide any U.S. assistance, loan guarantee, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as long as part of the PA unity government refuses to allow such right of return; the Secretary shall ensure that refugees are allowed to return to their host countries in accordance with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) regulations; and all U.S. assistance, loan guarantee, and debt relief that currently go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) shall instead be used to assist those who exercise their right of return.

Date: 2014-11-18
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace Authorization Act of 2014 - Urges the President to make every effort, in conjunction with the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the international community to establish an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.

Authorizes appropriations for U.S. contributions to the Fund.

Date: 2014-12-04
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the next triennial International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly to be held in September 2013 in Montreal, Canada; and (2) instruct the U.S. Mission to the ICAO to officially request observer status for Taiwan at the Assembly and other related meetings, activities, and mechanisms, and urge ICAO member states to support Taiwan observer status and participation in the ICAO.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress, in unclassified form, describing the U.S. strategy to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial ICAO Assembly and at any subsequent ICAO Assemblies and other related meetings.

Date: 2013-03-14
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Iran Export Embargo Act - Amends the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 to direct the President to prohibit all transactions in property and property interests of a person (as defined in this Act) if such property and property interests are in the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. individual.

Directs the President to prohibit the opening, and prohibit or impose strict conditions on the maintaining, in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that has knowingly conducted or facilitated a significant transaction with respect to the importation, sale, or transfer of goods or services from Iran on behalf of a described person.

Directs the President to impose sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act with respect to an individual that knowingly: (1) imports, purchases, or transfers goods or services from a described person; and (2) provides underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance to a described person.

Describes a "person" as: (1) the state and the government of Iran, or any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of such government, including the Central Bank of Iran; (2) any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, such government; or (3) any other person determined by the President to be described in clauses (1) or (2).

Date: 2013-05-21
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on June 26, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2014 - Expresses the sense of Congress that transparency, accountability, democracy, and good governance are integral factors in any congressional decision regarding U.S. assistance, including assistance to Haiti.

Directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress annually through December 31, 2017, on the status of post-earthquake recovery and development efforts in Haiti. Directs the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, to coordinate and transmit to Congress a three-year Haiti strategy that: (1) identifies constraints to economic growth and to consolidation of democratic government institutions; (2) includes an action plan that outlines policy tools, technical assistance, and resources for addressing the highest-priority constraints; and (3) identifies specific steps and benchmarks to provide direct bilateral assistance to the government of Haiti.

Date: 2013-06-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2013 - Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam in excess of FY2012 amounts unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, media, and religious freedoms, minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, return of confiscated religious estates and property, and actions to end trafficking in persons and to release political prisoners.

Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. Allows the President to waive such authority with respect to: (1) all U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam; or (2) one or more programs, projects, or activities of such assistance.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1)the United States should take measures to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by Vietnam and that the Broadcasting Board of Governors should not cut staffing, funding, or broadcast hours for the Vietnamese language services of the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia; (2) U.S.-Vietnam educational and cultural exchange programs should promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam; (3) the Secretary of State should oppose Vietnam's candidacy for membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC); (4) Vietnam should be designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom; and (5) Vietnam does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.

Date: 2013-11-05
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Burma Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2013 - Prohibits FY2014 Department of Defense (DOD) funds from being made available to the government of Burma unless the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that: (1) Burma has taken steps toward establishing civilian oversight of the armed forces, addressing human rights abuses by the military, and terminating military relations with North Korea; (2) Burma has taken steps to establish a fair and inclusive process to amend the Constitution of Burma, including the full participation of the political opposition and ethnic minority groups; (3) Burma has amended its constitution and laws to ensure civilian control of the military; (4) Burma is promoting peace agreements or political reconciliation and is addressing the resettlement and humanitarian situation of displaced persons; and (5) the Burmese military is improving its human rights record, taking steps to withdraw forces from conflict zones, and implementing a code of conduct.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to report annually to Congress on the status of military-to-military engagement between the U.S. Armed Forces and the Burmese military.

Date: 2013-12-20
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Directs Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Incorporated, and the Voice of America (VOA) service to Ukraine and neighboring regions to: (1) provide accurate and accessible news and information; (2) emphasize investigative and analytical journalism to highlight misinformation provided by Russian or pro-Russian media outlets; (3) prioritize programming to target populations and areas where access to uncensored information is limited, especially populations serviced by Russian supported media outlets; (4) increase the number of reporters and organizational presence in eastern Ukraine, especially in Crimea; (5) promote democratic processes, human rights, freedom of the press, and territorial sovereignty; (6) increase programming and content services that promote democracy to Russia; (7) prioritize programming to eastern Ukraine, including Crimea, and Moldova, and to ethnic and linguistic Russian populations, as well as to Tatar minorities; (8) prioritize news and information that contribute to the target audiences' understanding of political and economic developments in Ukraine and Moldova; (9) partner with private sector broadcasters and affiliates to increase distribution; (10) expand the use and audience of mobile news and multimedia platforms, including through Internet-based social networking platforms; and (11) provide programming content 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to target populations, including specified programming in Ukrainian, Russian, and Tatar languages.

Authorizes FY2014 appropriations for programming in the Ukrainian, Balkan, Russian, and Tatar language services of RFE/RL, Incorporated, and VOA to: (1) bolster programming to the people of Ukraine and neighboring regions, and (2) increase programming capacity and jamming circumvention technology. Requires the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report to Congress on plans to increase broadcasts.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act of 2014 - States that it is U.S. policy to not recognize the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

Prohibits: (1) any federal department or agency from taking any action that recognizes or implies recognition of sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters; (2) the Government Printing Office (GPO) from printing any map, document, or other paper indicating Crimea as part of the territory of the Russian Federation; and (3) any federal department or agency from taking any action to facilitate, finance, or guarantee any investment in Crimea that involves any official or entity of the government of the Russian Federation, or any business, bank, or other financial entity whose headquarters or principal place of business is in the Russian Federation.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to require the U.S. representatives to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, and certain other international financial institutions to oppose any loan, loan guarantee, or transfer of funds to Crimea related to activity involving: (1) any official or entity of the government of the Russian Federation, or (2) any financial institution or other entity whose headquarters or principal place of business is in the Russian Federation.

States that in any matter before a U.S. court the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall affirm the U.S. policy of not recognizing the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

 Prohibits: (1) a foreign vessel arriving from a port in Crimea from entering a U.S. port if it is transporting goods for which export documents are issued or approved by Russian Federation customs authorities; (2) the Secretary of Defense (DOD) from taking any action that implies recognition of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters; and (3) any U.S. flagged vessel or U.S. certified aircraft or air carrier from taking any action that implies recognition of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea or its territorial waters.

Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of any amounts to provide economic support fund assistance, development assistance, or security assistance to the government of any country that has recognized the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

Date: 2014-04-10
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Stand with Israel Act of 2014 - Prohibits any direct U.S. assistance, loan guarantee, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority (PA) or any affiliated governing entity or leadership organization.

States that such prohibition shall have no effect for a fiscal year if the President certifies to Congress that the PA has:

 formally recognized Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and publicly recognized the state of Israel, renounced terrorism and purged all individuals with terrorist ties from the security services, terminated funding of anti-American and anti-Israel incitement, publicly pledged to not engage in war with Israel, and honored previous diplomatic agreements.

Date: 2014-04-29
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Ukrainian Independence from Russian Energy Act - Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to: (1) prioritize direct assistance to Ukraine to improve energy efficiency, increase energy supplies produced in Ukraine, and reduce reliance on energy imports from the Russian Federation; and (2) make loan, lease, and bond guarantees to financial institutions and other eligible borrowers to facilitate their involvement in such efforts.

Directs the Secretary of State to coordinate the activities of U.S. agencies related to the energy sector of Ukraine and prioritize support and technical assistance to increase responsible production in and transparency of Ukraine's natural gas sector.

Requires the Director of the Trade and Development Agency to promote U.S. private sector efforts to improve energy efficiency, develop domestic oil and natural gas reserves, and develop renewable energy sources in Ukraine.

Directs the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to: (1) prioritize support for investments to increase energy efficiency, develop domestic oil and natural gas reserves, and develop renewable energy sources in Ukraine; and (2) implement expedited application review and approval procedures for loans, loan guarantees, and insurance for such investments.

Directs the U.S. Executive Directors of the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to encourage those organizations and other international financial institutions to invest in and promote projects to improve energy efficiency, develop domestic oil and natural gas reserves, and develop renewable energy sources in Ukraine.

Directs the Secretary to brief Congress on: (1) the economic and political viability of transporting natural gas supplies into Ukraine from countries other than the Russian Federation through the reversal of existing pipeline flows or through new or expanded pipelines, and (2) the potential to reduce natural gas consumption in Ukraine through efficiency measures or through the use of alternative energy sources.

Date: 2014-06-05
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Egyptian Military Coup Act of 2014 - Prohibits U.S. government assistance to Egypt pursuant to the coup d'etat restriction under the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act, 2012.

Suspends the provision of specified defense articles and services, and the processing of letters of offer and acceptance for future arms sales, until the President certifies to Congress that democratic national elections have taken place in Egypt followed by a peaceful transfer of power.

Date: 2014-06-17
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Declares that, for purposes of U.S. law and for activities undertaken within the jurisdiction of the United States, no verdict, order, warrant, or writ issued by the government of Egypt or any court, administrative tribunal, or other Egyptian authority relating to the legal charges, trial proceedings, and convictions issued by the Cairo Criminal Court on June 4, 2013, in Public Prosecution Case No. 1110 for the Year 2012 against 43 staff of five international nongovernmental organizations shall be considered a conviction, and no person named in such verdict, order, warrant, or writ shall be considered to have been charged, accused, found guilty, or convicted.

States that it is U.S. policy to recognize any related legal charges, trial proceedings, and convictions as being politically motivated and invalid.

Date: 2014-07-23
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Iranian Sanctions Relief Certification Act of 2014 - Prohibits the President from exercising a waiver specified under this Act in connection with the extension of the terms of the Joint Plan of Action beyond July 20, 2014, unless the President certifies to Congress before the waiver takes effect and every 60 days thereafter that any funds made available to the government of Iran as a result of the waiver will not facilitate Iran's ability to:

 support any individual or entity designated for the imposition of sanctions for international terrorism, any foreign terrorist organization, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria; advance the efforts of Iran or any other country to develop nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles; or commit any violation of the human rights of the people of Iran. (Defines the Joint Plan of Action as the Joint Plan of Action signed on November 24, 2013, by Iran and by France, Germany, the Russian Federation, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.)

Date: 2014-07-24
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act - States that it is U.S. policy to:

 reaffirm the principles set forth in the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992; support the democratic aspirations of the people of Hong Kong; urge China's government to uphold its commitments to Hong Kong; support the establishment by 2017 of a democratic option to nominate and elect the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and the establishment by 2020 of democratic elections for all members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council; and support freedom of the press. Amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Secretary of State to report by March 31, 2015, to Congress on conditions in Hong Kong that are of U.S. interest, and annually thereafter for 10 years or until the Secretary certifies that Hong Kong has held free and fair elections for 2 consecutive Chief Executive and 2 consecutive Legislative Council periods.

 Directs the Secretary to certify annually to Congress whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to justify separate treatment different from that accorded to China in any new laws, agreements, treaties, or arrangements entered into between the United States and Hong Kong.

 Exempts from the certification requirement new laws, agreements, treaties, or arrangements that support human rights, rule of law, or democracy in Hong Kong.

 Authorizes the Secretary to waive the certification requirement if in U.S. national interests, and with congressional notification.

Date: 2014-11-13
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Equal Rights and Access for the Women of South Sudan Act 

Requires that activities carried out by the United States in South Sudan relating to governance, post-conflict reconstruction and development, police and military training, and refugee relief and assistance support the human rights of women and their full political, social, and economic participation.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act

 States that is U.S. policy to not recognize the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

Prohibits any federal department or agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.

Authorizes the President to waive such prohibitions if vital to U.S. national security interests.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act of 2015 

 States that it is U.S. policy: (1) to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, and (2) that the U.S. Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem not later than January 1, 2017.

 Amends the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 to eliminate the President's authority to waive certain funding limitations for Department of State acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.

Requires any official U.S. document which lists countries and their capital cities to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Limits appropriations that may be obligated in FY2015 for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.

States that for each of FY2015-FY2016, of funds authorized to be appropriated for Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad, necessary sums should be made available until expended only for construction and other costs associated with the establishment in Jerusalem of the U.S. Embassy in Israel.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2015

Continues diplomatic, economic, and military sanctions against the government of North Korea as a supporter of international terrorism until the President certifies to Congress that North Korea:

 is no longer engaged in the illegal transfer of missile or nuclear technology, particularly to Iran, Syria, or Burma; is not assisting foreign terrorist organizations, engaged in counterfeiting U.S. currency, or engaged in illicit narcotics traffic; has returned the last remains of Reverend Kim Dong-shik to the United States; has released abducted Japanese nationals and surviving Korean War prisoners of war; has undertaken specified actions regarding family reunification, penal reforms, refugee access, and religious organization communications; and is no longer engaged in cyber-attacks against the United States, its government, infrastructure, entities, or citizens, or those of its allies. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should redesignate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Finds that the United States did not grant diplomatic recognition to North Korea upon its establishment as a client regime of the former Soviet Union in 1948.

Continues diplomatic nonrecognition of North Korea until such benchmarks have been met.

Directs the President, given North Korea's third nuclear weapons test on February 12, 2013, in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, 1874, and 2087 to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to use U.S. influence to secure adoption of a Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's action as a violation of such Resolutions and requiring implementation of comprehensive sanctions and an inspection regime against North Korea.

Date: 2015-01-08
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
United States-Cuba Normalization Act of 2015 Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo on trade with Cuba. Prohibits the exercise by the President with respect to Cuba of certain authorities conferred by the Trading With the Enemy Act and exercised on July 1, 1977, as a result of a specified national emergency. Makes ineffective any prohibition on exports to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1979. Authorizes the President to impose export controls with respect to Cuba and exercise certain authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act only on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security that did not exist before enactment of this Act. Repeals: (1) the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, (2) the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, (3) the prohibition under the Food Security Act of 1985 against allocation of the annual sugar quota to any country unless its officials verify that it does not import for reexport to the United States any sugar produced in Cuba, and (4) the prohibition under the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 on transactions or payments respecting certain U.S. intellectual property. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the denial of the foreign tax credit with respect to Cuba. Authorizes common carriers to install and repair telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. Prohibits regulation or banning of travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents, or of any transactions incident to travel. Directs the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. Urges the President to take all necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the government of Cuba to: (1) settle claims of U.S. nationals against Cuba for the taking of property, and (2) secure protection of internationally recognized human rights. Extends nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations) to the products of Cuba. Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from limiting the amount of remittances to Cuba that may be made by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Rescinds any determination by the Secretary of State that Cuba has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.

Date: 2015-01-12
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015

This bill prohibits any amounts from being obligated or expended to provide assistance, loan guarantees, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority (PA), or any affiliated governing entity, until the PA withdraws its request to join the International Criminal Court.

Date: 2015-01-12
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015

This bill prohibits any amounts from being obligated or expended to provide assistance, loan guarantees, or debt relief to the Palestinian Authority (PA), or any affiliated governing entity, until the PA withdraws its request to join the International Criminal Court.

Date: 2015-01-14
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Free Trade With Cuba Act Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo on trade with Cuba. Prohibits the exercise by the President with respect to Cuba of certain authorities conferred by the Trading With the Enemy Act and exercised on July 1, 1977, as a result of a specified national emergency. Makes ineffective any prohibition on exports to Cuba under the Export Administration Act of 1979. Authorizes the President to impose export controls with respect to Cuba and exercise certain authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act only on account of an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security that did not exist before enactment of this Act. Repeals: (1) the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, (2) the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, (3) the prohibition under the Food Security Act of 1985 against allocation of the annual sugar quota to any country unless its officials verify that it does not import for reexport to the United States any sugar produced in Cuba, and (4) the prohibition under the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 on transactions or payments respecting certain U.S. intellectual property. Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the denial of foreign tax credit with respect to Cuba. Authorizes common carriers to install and repair telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, and otherwise provide telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. Prohibits regulation or banning of travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents, or of any transactions incident to travel. Directs the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. Urges the President to take all necessary steps to conduct negotiations with the Government of Cuba to: (1) settle claims of U.S. nationals against Cuba for the taking of property, and (2) secure protection of internationally recognized human rights.

Date: 2015-01-16
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Stop Wasting Taxpayer Money on Cuba Broadcasting Act

Repeals the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (thus eliminating Voice of America: Radio/Television Marti broadcasts to Cuba).

Date: 2015-01-27
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Export Freedom to Cuba Act of 2015

Prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, if such travel would be lawful in the United States, relating to: (1) accompanied personal baggage; (2) payment of living expenses and the acquisition of personal-use goods or services; (3) travel arrangements; (4) nonscheduled air, sea, or land voyage transactions (such provision does not permit the carriage of articles other than accompanied baggage into Cuba or the United States); and (5) normal banking transactions.

 States that such restrictions on authority shall not apply if: (1) the United States is at war with Cuba, or armed hostilities between the two countries are in progress; or (2) there is imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers.

Date: 2015-02-02
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2015

 Prohibits the President from restricting direct transfers from a Cuban depository institution to a U.S. depository institution in payment for a product authorized for sale under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide information and technical assistance to U.S. agricultural producers, cooperative organizations, or state agencies to promote U.S. agricultural exports products to Cuba.

Authorizes the issuance of temporary entry visas to Cuban nationals to facilitate purchase of U.S. agricultural products.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to repeal the prohibition on enforcement of rights to certain U.S. intellectual properties and such properties' transfer.

Prohibits the regulation or prohibition of travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel if such travel would be lawful in the United States.

Directs the President to rescind all regulations in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act that regulate or prohibit such travel or transactions.

 Includes in such transactions: (1) accompanied personal baggage; (2) payment of living expenses and the acquisition of personal-use goods or services; (3) travel arrangements; (4) nonscheduled air, sea, or land voyage transactions, (such provision does not permit the carriage of articles other than accompanied baggage into Cuba or the United States); and (5) normal banking transactions.

States that such provision shall not apply in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. citizens or legal residents.

Amends the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 to repeal the requirement for onsite verification of certain medical exports to Cuba.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the airport ticket tax for transportation between the United States and Cuba by $1, and (2) establish in the Treasury the Agricultural Export Promotion Trust Fund.

Date: 2015-02-02
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: Foreign trade and international finance
Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2015

This bill states that:

 the President may not prohibit or otherwise regulate travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions incident to such travel, including banking transactions; any regulation in effect on the date of enactment of this Act prohibiting or otherwise regulating such travel or transactions incident to such travel shall cease to have any force or effective; but the prohibitions and requirements of this Act shall not apply if the United States is at war with Cuba, armed hostilities between the two countries are in progress, or there is imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers.

Date: 2015-02-02
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Cuba Reconciliation Act

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the embargo placed upon all trade with Cuba.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to declare the denial of foreign tax credit inapplicable to Cuba.Permits: (1) installation and maintenance of telecommunications equipment and facilities in Cuba, including telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba; and (2) travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents. Requires the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba.

Date: 2015-02-04
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
Baseball Diplomacy Act

 Waives certain foreign assistance and trade and travel prohibitions against Cuba under specified federal law regarding Cuban nationals who: (1) enter the United States on a visa to play organized professional baseball, and (2) return to Cuba with their baseball earnings. States that such visa shall be valid only for the duration of the season and need not be renewed as long as the player remains with the same team.

Prohibits the President from denying visas to such nationals based upon authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict any entry of aliens or class of aliens that would be detrimental to U.S. interests.

Declares that this Act shall not be affected by the economic embargo requirements against Cuba under the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.

Date: 2015-02-04
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs
United States-Israel Trade and Commercial Enhancement Act

This bill states that among the principal U.S. trade negotiating objectives for trade agreements with foreign countries regarding commercial partnerships are to:

 discourage actions by potential trading partners that discourage commercial activity solely between the United States and Israel; discourage politically motivated actions to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel and to seek the elimination of politically motivated non-tariff barriers on Israeli commerce; and seek the elimination of state-sponsored unsanctioned foreign boycotts against Israel or compliance with the Arab League Boycott of Israel. The President is directed to report annually to Congress on politically motivated acts of boycott, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel.

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is amended to require a foreign issuer traded on the U.S. stock market to disclose in its quarterly or annual report:

 whether the issuer has discriminated against doing business with Israel in the last calendar year; whether the issuer has been advised by a foreign government or a non-member state of the United Nations (U.N.) to discriminate against doing business with Israel, entities owned or controlled by Israel, or entities operating in Israel or Israeli-controlled territory; and any instances where the issuer has learned that a person, foreign government, or a non-member state of the U.N. is boycotting the issuer, divesting itself of an ownership interest in the issuer, or placing sanctions on the issuer because of the issuer's relationship with Israel. No U.S. court may recognize or enforce any judgment by a foreign court against a U.S. person carrying out business operations in Israel or in any territory controlled by Israel, and on which is based a determination by the foreign court that the location in Israel, or in any territory controlled by Israel, of the facilities at which the business operations are carried out is sufficient to constitute a violation of law.

Date: 2015-02-10
Topic: International Affairs (Specific Country)
Subject: International affairs