cheaptrix/billsum-US_congress_and_house huggingface dataset:
To authorize the Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with appropriate civilian accreditation entities or appropriate health care evaluation entities to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

To authorize the Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks of the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts with appropriate civilian accreditation entities or appropriate health care evaluation entities to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 1. Authority of Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks to investigate medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general The Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department of Veterans Affairs may contract with an appropriate entity specializing in civilian accreditation or health care evaluation to investigate any medical center within such Network to assess and report deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center. (b) Coordination Before entering into any contract under subsection (a), the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network shall notify the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Comptroller General of the United States for purposes of coordinating any investigation conducted pursuant to such contract with any other investigations or accreditations that may be ongoing. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed— (1) to prevent the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs from conducting any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection regarding a topic for which a review is conducted under subsection (a); or (2) to modify the requirement that employees of the Department assist with any review, audit, evaluation, or inspection conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department.

Summary: This bill authorizes the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with an entity specializing in civilian accreditation or health care evaluation to investigate any medical center within the network to assess deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center.
Promote Startups Act of 2017

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently increase the limitations on the deduction for start-up and organizational expenditures. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promote Startups Act of 2017 2. Permanent increase of limitation on deduction for start-up and organizational expenditures (a) Start-Up expenditures (1) In general Section 195(b)(1)(A)(ii) (A) by striking $5,000 $15,000 (B) by striking $50,000 $150,000 (2) Conforming amendment Section 195(b) of such Code is amended by striking paragraph (3). (b) Organizational expenditures Section 248(a)(1)(B) of such Code is amended— (1) by striking $5,000 $10,000 (2) by striking $50,000 $60,000 (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred with respect to— (1) in the case of the amendments made by subsection (a), trades or businesses beginning in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016, and (2) in the case of the amendments made by subsection (b), corporations the business of which begins in taxable years beginning after such date.

Summary: Promote Startups Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the maximum tax deduction for business start-up expenditures from $5,000 to $15,000 and to increase the deduction for the organizational expenditures of corporations from $5,000 to $10,000. The bill also increases the ceilings for such expenditures over which the amount of the tax deduction is reduced.
PACE Act

To amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit animal fighting in United States territories. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act PACE Act 2. Extending prohibition on animal fighting to the territories Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking Except as provided in paragraph (3), it It (B) by striking paragraph (3); (2) by striking subsection (d); and (3) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively. 3. Conforming amendments related to redesignated subsection (a) Use of Postal Service or Other Interstate Instrumentalities Section 26(c) of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156(c) (e) (d) (b) Criminal penalties Subsection (i) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2156 (e) (d) (c) Enforcement of animal fighting prohibitions Section 49(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking (e) (d)

Summary: Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act or the PACE Act This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the sponsoring or exhibiting of animal fights involving live birds (such as cockfights). Under current law, the fights are unlawful only if they take place in states or U.S. territories or possessions that have banned it.
Combat Online Predators Act

To amend title 18, United States Code, with regard to stalking. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Combat Online Predators Act 2. Enhanced penalty for stalkers of children (a) In general Chapter 110A 2261B. Enhanced penalty for stalkers of children If the victim of an offense under section 2261A is under the age of 18 years, the maximum imprisonment for the offense is 5 years greater than the maximum term of imprisonment otherwise provided for that offense in section 2261. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 110A section 2261A 2261B. Enhanced penalty for stalkers of children. . (c) Conforming amendment Section 2261A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking section 2261(b) of this title section 2261(b) or section 2262B, as the case may be 3. Report on best practices regarding enforcement of anti-stalking laws Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress, which shall— (1) include an evaluation of Federal, tribal, State, and local efforts to enforce laws relating to stalking; and (2) identify and describe those elements of such efforts that constitute the best practices for the enforcement of such laws. April 10, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Combat Online Predators Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to increase the maximum prison term for a stalking offense, if the victim is under 18 years of age.
Small and Seasonal Business Relief Act

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reinstate the returning worker exemption for H–2B visas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small and Seasonal Business Relief Act 2. Returning worker exemption (a) In general Section 214(g)(9)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(9)(A) (9) (A) (i) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), an alien who has already been counted toward the numerical limitation of paragraph (1)(B) during fiscal year 2016 or 2017 shall not again be counted toward such limitation during fiscal year 2018. Such an alien shall be considered a returning worker. (ii) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), an alien who has already been counted toward the numerical limitation of paragraph (1)(B) during fiscal year 2018 or 2019 shall not again be counted toward such limitation during the next fiscal year. Such an alien shall be considered a returning worker. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2017.

Summary: Small and Seasonal Business Relief Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt returning workers from the nonimmigrant H-2B visa (temporary nonagricultural services) annual numerical limitations: (1) through FY2018 for those individuals already counted toward such limitation in FY2016 or FY2017, and (2) during the next fiscal year for those individuals already counted toward such limitation in FY2018 or FY2019. Such amendment shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2017.
To increase the maximum amount of assistance authorized under supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs for livestock indemnity payments, livestock forage disaster assistance, and emergency assistance for livestock, honey bee, and farm-raised fish losses.

To increase the maximum amount of assistance authorized under supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs for livestock indemnity payments, livestock forage disaster assistance, and emergency assistance for livestock, honey bee, and farm-raised fish losses. 1. Payment limitations for supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs Section 1501(f)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9081(f)(2) $125,000 $250,000

Summary: This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to increase the payment limitation for certain Department of Agriculture supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs. The bill increases from $125,000 to $250,000 the total amount of disaster assistance payments that may be received under all of the programs by a person or legal entity (excluding a joint venture or general partnership) for any crop year. (Under current law, the payment limitation applies to the Livestock Forage Program; the Livestock Indemnity Program; and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program.)
To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to provide to producers partial payments under the livestock indemnity program for livestock sold for salvage.

To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to provide to producers partial payments under the livestock indemnity program for livestock sold for salvage. 1. Livestock indemnity payments for livestock sold for salvage Section 1501(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9081(b) (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting sold livestock for a reduced sale price in excess of the normal mortality, or both, mortality, (2) in paragraph (2), by striking on the day before the date of death of the livestock, as determined by the Secretary. , as determined by the Secretary on, as applicable— (A) the day before the date of death of the livestock; or (B) the day before the date of sale of the livestock. ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (4) Payment reductions A payment made under paragraph (1) to an eligible producer on a farm that sold livestock for a reduced sale price in excess of the normal mortality shall be reduced by the amount that the producer received for the sale. .

Summary: This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require the Department of Agriculture to make payments under the Livestock Indemnity Program for livestock that is sold for a reduced sale price in excess of the normal mortality. Any payments made pursuant to this bill must be reduced by the amount that the producer received from the sale. (Under current law, the Livestock Indemnity Program provides payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather, or attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law.)
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase support for conservation practices under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.

To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase support for conservation practices under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes. 1. Payments for emergency conservation program (a) In general The Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 is amended by inserting after section 403 ( 16 U.S.C. 2203 403A. Payments for emergency conservation program The maximum cost-share payment under section 701.127 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), shall be equal to the maximum amount under section 701.226(b) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section). . (b) Administration Until the date on which any regulations necessary to carry out section 403A of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (as added by subsection (a)) are fully implemented, the Secretary shall continue to carry out sections 401, 402, and 403 of that Act ( 16 U.S.C. 2201

Summary: This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase the maximum cost-share payment permitted under the Department of Agriculture Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). (The ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.) The bill requires the maximum cost-share payment permitted under the ECP (currently $200,000 per person or legal entity, per natural disaster) to be equal to the maximum cost-share permitted under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (currently $500,000 per person or legal entity, per disaster).
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to establish a program to provide advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program for the repair or replacement of fencing.

To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to establish a program to provide advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program for the repair or replacement of fencing. 1. Repair or replacement of fencing under emergency conservation program (a) In general Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2201 (1) by striking the section designation and all that follows through The Secretary of Agriculture 401. Payments to producers (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this title as the Secretary ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (b) Repair or replacement of fencing With respect to a payment to an agricultural producer under subsection (a) for the repair or replacement of fencing, the Secretary shall give the agricultural producer the option of receiving the payment, determined based on the applicable percentage of the fair market value of the cost of the repair or replacement, as determined by the Secretary, before the agricultural producer carries out the repair or replacement. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Sections 402, 403, 404, and 405 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2202 Secretary of Agriculture Secretary (2) Section 407(a) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2206(a)

Summary: This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give agricultural producers the option of receiving advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for the repair or replacement of fencing. (The ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.) The advance payments must be provided before the producer carries out the repair or replacement and be based on the fair market value of the cost of the repair or replacement approved by USDA under the program.
American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017

To repeal the Western Area Power Administration borrowing authority, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017 2. Repeal Section 301 of the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 ( 42 U.S.C. 16421a 3. Effective date Subject to section 4, section 2 shall be effective on September 15, 2018. 4. Effect of repeal The repeal under section 2 shall not apply to— (1) projects approved by the Secretary of Energy or the Deputy Secretary of Energy through memorandum before the effective date in section 3; or (2) projects deemed Projects in Execution

Summary: American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 to repeal the Western Area Power Administration's borrowing authority.It does not apply to any projects in execution on or before October 30, 2017, or any projects approved before September 15, 2018.
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure that providers of services receive adequate payments for the acquisition of hematopoietic stem cells under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure that providers of services receive adequate payments for the acquisition of hematopoietic stem cells under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 1. Hematopoetic stem cell acquisition payments Section 1886(d)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5) (M) (i) For cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2018, in the case of a provider of services that furnishes a hematopoetic stem cell transplant during such a period, the Secretary shall provide a separate payment for such provider consistent with the payment methodology for kidney acquisition costs under section 412.100 of title 42 of the Code of the Federal Register in lieu of taking into account such costs in any other payment made under this section. Such costs associated with such acquisition include costs associated with the following: (I) Tissue typing, including in the case that such typing is furnished by an independent laboratory. (II) Donor evaluation. (III) The collection of such cells. (IV) Furnishing the donor items or services relating to such collection. (V) Preservation and perfusion. (VI) Transportation of such cells. (VII) Using the services of the transplantation program described in section 379 of the Public Health Service Act. (VIII) Costs applicable to such collection that would otherwise be considered outpatient costs (including donor and recipient tissue typing and related services furnished prior to admission). (IX) Items or services related to such collection that are furnished by residents and interns not in approved teaching programs. (X) All pre-admission physicians’ services applicable to such collection. (XI) Other costs determined appropriated by the Secretary. (ii) In this subparagraph, the term hematopoetic stem cell transplant .

Summary: This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to pay, to a provider that furnishes a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, an adjusted Medicare payment consistent with the Medicare payment methodology for kidney-acquisition costs outlined in regulation. Under the applicable regulation, kidney-acquisition costs are treated apart from the prospective payment rate for inpatient operating costs, and payment is adjusted to compensate the hospital for certain reasonable expenses. "Hematopoietic stem cell transplant" means the infusion of allogeneic hematopoietic cells (including bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, and cord-blood units, but excluding embryonic stem cells) that are: (1) not more than minimally manipulated; and (2) intended to reestablish hematopoietic function in an individual whose blood marrow or immune system is damaged, defective, or adversely affective by a congenital disorder.
Northern Mariana Islands Enhanced Nutrition Assistance Act of 2017

To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to make available additional funds for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pilot project. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Northern Mariana Islands Enhanced Nutrition Assistance Act of 2017 2. Amendment Section 4031(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–79 48 U.S.C. 1841 and 2018 through 2023

Summary: Northern Mariana Islands Enhanced Nutrition Assistance Act of 2017 This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to reauthorize through FY2023 the pilot program for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to operate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) in the same manner in which the program is operated in the states.
SQUEAL Act

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate the deduction for living expenses incurred by Members of Congress. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Questionable, Unnecessary, and Excessive Allowances for Legislators Act SQUEAL Act 2. Elimination of deduction for living expenses incurred by Members of Congress (a) In general Subsection (a) of section 162 in excess of $3,000 (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Stop Questionable, Unnecessary, and Excessive Allowances for Legislators Act or the SQUEAL Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the deduction for living expenses incurred by Members of Congress. (Under current law, the deduction is limited to $3,000 per year.)
Upholding the Integrity of Public Officials Act of 2017

To amend section 201 of title 18, United States Code, to redefine the term official act 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Upholding the Integrity of Public Officials Act of 2017 2. Strengthening accountability and oversight Section 201(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows: (3) the term official act .

Summary: Upholding the Integrity of Public Officials Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise the definition of "official act" for purposes of an offense involving bribery of public officials. Currently, an official act is any decision or action on a question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding, or controversy, which may at any time be pending, or which may by law be brought before a public official, in their official capacity. This bill specifies that an official act includes any action taken or to be taken under color of official authority by a public official or person who has been selected to be a public official.