PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 114-26.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Jun 29, 2015
Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the exemption from the 10% penalty tax on early distributions from a government retirement plan for qualified public safety employees who have reached age 50, to expand the exemption to include specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers who similarly have reached age 50.
The bill also eliminates the restriction that only distributions from governmental plans that are defined benefit plans qualify for the exemption, thus allowing an exemption of distributions from defined contribution plans and other types of governmental plans. Additionally, early distributions are not treated as a modification of substantially equal payments for purposes of determining an increase in the penalty tax.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The amendments made by this bill apply to distributions made after December 31, 2015.
(Sec. 3) The budgetary effects of this Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. TITLE I--TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY
Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015
(Sec. 102) Declares the overall trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to any agreement with a foreign country to reduce or eliminate existing tariffs or nontariff barriers of that country or the United States that are unduly burdening and restricting U.S. trade. Includes among such objectives:
more open, equitable, and reciprocal market access;
the reduction or elimination of trade barriers and distortions that are directly related to trade and investment and that decrease market opportunities for U.S. exports or otherwise distort U.S. trade;
stronger international trade and investment disciplines and procedures, including dispute settlement;
enhanced U.S. competitiveness;
protection of the environment;
respect for worker and children rights consistent with International Labor Organization core labor standards;
equal access of small businesses to international markets; and
religious freedom.
Declares the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to:
goods and services;
agriculture;
foreign investment;
intellectual property;
digital goods and services, as well as cross-border data flows;
regulatory practices;
state-owned and state-controlled enterprises;
localization barriers to trade;
labor and the environment;
currency and foreign currency manipulation;
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and multilateral trade agreements;
trade institution transparency;
anti-corruption;
dispute settlement and enforcement;
trade remedy laws;
border taxes;
textile negotiations;
commercial partnerships, especially with Israel; and
good governance, transparency, operation of legal regimes, and the rule of law of U.S. trading partners.
Directs the President, in order to maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global economy, to engage in specified capacity building activities with respect to foreign countries that seek to enter into trade agreements with the United States.
(Sec. 103) Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries for the reduction or elimination of tariff or nontariff barriers before July 1, 2018, or before July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended to implementing bills (congressional approval) with respect to such agreements.
Authorizes the President to proclaim necessary or appropriate modifications or continuation of any existing duty, continuation of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or additional duties to carry out any such agreement.
(Sec. 104) Subjects trade agreements to congressional oversight and approval, consultations, and access to information requirements.
Requires the convening each Congress of the House and the Senate Advisory Groups on Negotiations to consult with and advise the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the formulation of specific objectives, negotiating strategies and positions, the development of the applicable trade agreement, and compliance and enforcement of the negotiated commitments under the trade agreement.
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish within the Office of the USTR the position of Chief Transparency Officer to consult with Congress on transparency policy, coordinate transparency in trade negotiations, engage and assist the public, and advise the USTR on transparency policy.
(Sec. 105) Specifies presidential notifications, consultations, reports, and other actions and their deadlines that must take place for any trade agreement to enter into force.
Specifies requirements for negotiations regarding agriculture, the fishing industry, and textiles.
(Sec. 106) Prescribes procedures for resolutions of disapproval in the House and the Senate before the President enters into any trade agreement.
Declares that trade authorities procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement:
if both chambers of Congress agree by a certain deadline to a procedural disapproval resolution for lack of notice or consultations, and
with a country which does not fully comply and is not making significant efforts to comply with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking ("tier 3" country). (Sec. 107) Prescribes requirements for the treatment of trade agreements entered into under the auspices of the WTO or with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries or the European Union which result from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act.
(Sec. 108) Declares that any provision of a trade agreement that is inconsistent with any U.S. laws shall be null and void.
(Sec. 109) Expresses the sense of Congress that the USTR should facilitate participation of small businesses in the trade negotiation process.
People & committees
Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8] · R–WA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 114-26.
Became Public Law No: 114-26.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment to H.R. 2146 by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 38. Record Vote Number: 219.
Senate roll call 219 · Individual votesResolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment to H.R. 2146 by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 38. Record Vote Number: 219.
Senate roll call 219 · Individual votesMotion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 2060) withdrawn in Senate. (consideration: CR S4559, S4582)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4559, S4579, S4582)
Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 2062 fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment in Senate. (consideration: CR S4529)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4529-4533, S4535-4539)
Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 37. Record Vote Number: 218. (consideration: CR S4528-4529; text: CR S4528-4529)
Senate roll call 218 · Individual votesCloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S4290; text: CR S4290)
Motion by Senator McConnell to refer to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with amendment SA 2062 made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4250)
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SA 2060) made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4290)
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment made in Senate. (consideration: CR S4290)
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4290)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate amendment.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Agreed to by recorded vote: 218 - 208 (Roll no. 374). (text as House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment: CR H4507-4518)
House roll call 374 · Individual votesResolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree with an amendment to the Agreed to by recorded vote: 218 - 208 (Roll no. 374).(text as House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment: CR H4507-4518)
House roll call 374 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H4524)
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 321, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Ryan (WI) motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2146 with the amendment printed in House Report 114-167.
Mr. Ryan (WI) moved that the House agree with an amendment to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H4507-4525; text of Senate amendment as received in House: CR H4507)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3844)
Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 5 (Roll no. 220). (text: CR H2848)
House roll call 220 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 5 (Roll no. 220).(text: CR H2848)
House roll call 220 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2854-2855)
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2146.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2848-2850)
Mr. Reichert moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Mar 4, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.2146 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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