hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require the appropriate Federal banking agencies to treat certain municipal obligations as level 2B liquid assets, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-3404
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2016-09-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Department of the Treasury
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve System
Financial services and investments
Securities
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require certain municipal obligations to be treated as level 2B liquid assets if they are investment grade, liquid, and readily marketable. Under current law, corporate debt securities and publicly traded common-equity shares, but not municipal obligations, may be treated as level 2B liquid assets (which are considered to be high-quality assets).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Export Control Reform Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3405
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2016-09-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: 

Export Control Reform Act of 2016

 
This bill requires all of the following items that are on the United States Munitions List and the import or export of which is controlled by the President under the Arms Export Control Act on the date of this bill's enactment to be transferred to the Commerce Control List of dual-use items in the Export Administration Regulations:
 
 
non-automatic and semi-automatic firearms, including all rifles, carbines, pistols, revolvers and shotguns;
 
non-automatic and non-semi-automatic rifles, carbines, revolvers, or pistols of a caliber greater than .50 inches (12.7 mm) up to and including .72 inches (18.0 mm);
 
ammunition for such firearms excluding caseless ammunition;
 
silencers, mufflers, and sound and flash suppressors;
 
rifle scopes;
 
barrels, cylinders, receivers (frames), or complete breech mechanisms; and 
 
related components, parts, accessories, attachments, tooling, and equipment.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6142; text of measure as introduced: CR S6142)
action_date: 2016-09-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Anthony DeJuan Boatwright Act

Bill: 114-s-3406
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Business records
Child care and development
Consumer affairs
Licensing and registrations
Life, casualty, property insurance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Anthony DeJuan Boatwright Act 

 
 This bill amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require the state plans for the use of child care and development block grant funds to include, as part of its regulatory process for issuance and renewal of licenses to providers of child care services, a recommendation to each such provider that it carry liability insurance covering the operation of its child care business.
 
State plans shall certify that there is in effect within the state a requirement that each such provider for which assistance is made available: (1) post publicly and conspicuously in the service area of its premises a notice specifying whether it carries liability insurance covering the operation of its child care business; and (2) give written notice to parents about whether it carries such insurance, obtain the signature of at least one parent per child acknowledging receipt of the notice, and maintain records of the notice while a child receives services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
MISSION ZERO Act

Bill: 114-s-3407
Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Medical research
Military education and training
Military medicine
Military operations and strategy
Military readiness

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Military Injury Surgical Systems Integrated Operationally Nationwide to Achieve ZERO Preventable Deaths Act or the MISSION ZERO Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to award grants to certain trauma centers to enable military trauma care providers and trauma teams to provide trauma care and related acute care at those trauma centers. Funds may be used to train and incorporate military trauma care providers into the trauma center, including expenditures for malpractice insurance, office space, information technology, specialty education and supervision, trauma programs, and state license fees. Grantees must allow the military trauma care providers to be deployed for military operations, training, or response to a mass casualty incident.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
B-CROP Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3408
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act of 2016 or the B-CROP Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loans and loan guarantees for broadband telecommunications services in rural areas. 
 
In making grants, loans, or loan guarantees under the program, USDA must give the highest priority to applicants that offer to provide broadband service to the greatest proportion of unserved rural households or rural households that do not have the minimum acceptable level of residential broadband service. 
 
USDA must then give priority to projects to serve rural communities that: 
 
 
 have a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents, 
 
 are experiencing out-migration, 
 
 have a high percentage of low-income residents, and 
 
 are isolated from other significant population centers. 
 
 
A grant may not exceed 50% of the development cost of the project. USDA may increase the limit to 75% for projects that serve a remote or low-income area that does not have access to broadband service from any provider. 
 
USDA must: (1) provide technical assistance and training to entities that are eligible for the loans, loan guarantees, or grants; and (2) use a specified portion of the appropriations provided for the program for this purpose. 
 
The bill sets forth reporting requirements for recipients of the grants, loans, or loan guarantees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Improved Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3409
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Income tax credits
Wages and earnings
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Improved Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of qualified foster care transition youth.
 
(The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group [e.g., qualified veterans, ex-felons, SSI recipients] to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.) 
 
A &quot;qualified foster care transition youth&quot; is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as: (1) not having attained age 27 as of the hiring date, and (2) as having been in foster care after attaining the younger of age 16 or the age specified in provisions of the Social Security Act related to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3411
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Department of Homeland Security
Disaster relief and insurance
Evidence and witnesses
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Government information and archives
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to prohibit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from taking administrative action to recover any payment made to a state or local government for disaster or emergency assistance initiated in any forum (with exceptions for fraud) after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for project completion, as certified by the grantee (currently, after three years following the transmission of the final expenditure report for the disaster or emergency). 
 
The bill makes the same change with respect to the deadline: (1) for any dispute arising under such Act for which there shall be a presumption that accounting records were maintained that adequately identify the source and application of funds provided for financially assisted activities, and (2) by which the inability of the government to produce source documentation supporting expenditure reports shall not constitute evidence to rebut such presumption.
 
With respect to a payment for disaster or emergency assistance provided to a state or local government on or after January 1, 2004, FEMA may not take administrative action to recover such payment after the date of enactment of this bill if the action is prohibited under such Act as amended by this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3412
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2016

 
This bill bans food containers composed, in whole or in part, of bisphenol A (BPA). 
 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may grant waivers to a facility for a particular product if the facility: (1) demonstrates that it is not technologically feasible to replace BPA in the container or to use a BPA-free container, and (2) submits to the FDA a plan and time line for removing BPA from the container. Products granted a waiver must include a warning on the label.
 
The FDA must promote and facilitate the use of BPA replacements. BPA may not be replaced with substances that: (1) are known or likely human carcinogens; (2) have been found by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic; (3) cause reproductive or developmental toxicity; or (4) are endocrine disrupting chemicals.
 
The FDA must review substances that may be found in food, including food additives and food contact substances, and take remedial action if it does not determine that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure, taking into consideration potential adverse effects from low-dose exposure and the effects on vulnerable populations and populations with high exposure. 
 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the manufacturer or supplier of a food contact substance to notify the FDA of the identity and intended use of the substance prior to its introduction into interstate commerce and that: (1) no adverse health effects result from low-dose exposures to the substance, and (2) the substance has not been shown to cause reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans or animals.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Kazakhstan.

Bill: 114-s-3413
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
Kazakhstan
Normal trade relations, most-favored-nation treatment

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 
This bill authorizes the President to extend nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Kazakhstan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Taylor Force Act

Bill: 114-s-3414
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Gaza Strip
Israel
Middle East
Military personnel and dependents
Palestinians
Terrorism
West Bank

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Taylor Force Act

 
This bill prohibits certain assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 from being made available for the West Bank and Gaza unless the Department of State certifies that the Palestinian Authority: 
 
 
is taking steps to end acts of violence against U.S. and Israeli citizens perpetrated by individuals under its jurisdictional control, such as the March 2016 attack that killed former Army officer Taylor Force; 
 
is publicly condemning such acts of violence and is investigating, or cooperating in investigations of, such acts; and 
 
has terminated payments for acts of terrorism against U.S. and Israeli citizens to any individual who has been convicted and imprisoned for such acts, to any individual who died committing such acts, and to family members of such an individual.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
SELECT Act

Bill: 114-s-3415
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement officers
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Support Experienced Law Enforcement Countering Terrorism Act of 2016 or the SELECT Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to require a federal agency, upon request, to issue a photo identification that allows a current or retired law enforcement officer employee to carry a concealed firearm across state lines. 
 
It expresses the sense of Congress that state and local agencies should issue photo identification to allow qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in accordance with this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing American Manufacturing Bonds Act

Bill: 114-s-3416
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Modernizing American Manufacturing Bonds Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to qualified small issue bonds for manufacturing purposes, to: (1) expand the definition of &quot;manufacturing facility&quot; to include a facility which is used in the creation or production of intangible property and which is functionally related and subordinate to a facility located on the same site and financed with not more than 25% of bond proceeds, and (2) increase from $10 million to $30 million the maximum bond limitation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Receiving Electronic Statements To Improve Retiree Earnings Act

Bill: 114-s-3417
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Labor and Employment
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Receiving Electronic Statements To Improve Retiree Earnings Act 

 
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the electronic delivery of pension plan documents required to be furnished to a plan participant, beneficiary, or other individual.
 
The system for furnishing such a document must: (1) be designed to result in effective access to the document, (2) permit the recipient to select the electronic means through which the document is received or request paper documents, and (3) protect the confidentiality of personal information. 
 
An annual paper notice must be provided describing the selection of electronic means for furnishing documents and any election that has been made to receive paper documents. 
 
An electronically furnished document must be prepared and furnished in a manner that is consistent with the style, format, and content requirements for the document. It must also include a notice that apprises the individual of the significance of the document when it is not otherwise reasonably evident as transmitted. 
 
The bill specifies that: (1) documents may continue to be furnished electronically under laws, regulations, or guidance prescribed by the Department of Labor or the Department of the Treasury prior to enactment of this bill; and (2) the departments may prescribe additional methods for furnishing documents. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3418
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employee benefits and pensions
Europe
Germany
Insurance industry and regulation
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Life, casualty, property insurance
Switzerland
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2016

 
This bill allows a beneficiary of a Holocaust-era life, dowry, education, annuity, property, or other insurance policy to bring a civil action in a U.S. district court against the insurer for the covered policy to recover proceeds due or, otherwise, to enforce any rights under the policy. 
 
 The bill covers any policy that was: (1) in effect at any time from January 31, 1933, to December 31, 1945; and (2) issued to a policy holder domiciled in any area that was occupied or controlled by Nazi Germany, an ally or friendly government, or the territorial jurisdiction of Switzerland.
 
 The bill requires the award: (1) to a prevailing beneficiary of the amount of the proceeds due under the policy, plus prejudgment interest at 6% per year, compounded annually, calculated from the date the amount was originally due; and (2) of treble damages against any insurer that acted in bad faith. 
 
 A civil action under this bill must be filed within 10 years after enactment of this bill.
 
 A prior judgment or release entered for any claim arising under a covered policy in any civil action in a federal or state court shall not impair a claim brought under this bill.
 
Any executive agreement between the United States and a foreign government or any executive foreign policy of the U.S. government shall not supercede or preempt any state law or compromise, settle, extinguish, waive, preclude, bar, or foreclose any claim brought under this bill.
 
 A claim brought under state law within 10 years after enactment of this bill shall not be deemed untimely on the basis of any state or federal statute of limitations or on the basis of any other legal or equitable rule or doctrine governing timeliness. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Gold Star Families Voices Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3419
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Gold Star Families Voices Act
 
of 2016

 
This bill amends the Veterans' Oral History Project Act to require the veterans oral history program to include the collection of video and audio recordings of biographical histories by immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces who became missing in action or who died as a result of their wartime service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Urban Agriculture Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3420
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2016-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: 

Urban Agriculture Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends several agricultural laws to establish an Office of Urban Agriculture within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and make urban agricultural activities eligible to receive funding from various USDA programs.
 
The Office of Urban Agriculture must:
 
 
 manage programs, coordinate agencies, and advise USDA on urban agriculture and urban food systems;
 
continue a community garden program; and
 
establish a rooftop agriculture and outdoor vertical production program.
 
 
The bill includes urban agricultural activities in several existing and new grant, loan, risk management, and research programs. It also authorizes and provides funding for several of the programs. 
 
USDA must conduct various studies and collect specified data related to urban agriculture. USDA must also establish a voluntary farmer-to-farmer assistance and mentorship program. 
 
USDA must take several actions related to soil assessment and remediation, including: 
 
 
establishing a coordinated soil testing protocol, 
 
 coordinating and conducting research to inform the protocol and soil remediation practices with respect to soil contaminated with high levels of heavy metals or other contaminants, and 
 
establishing a national soil testing and remediation program to provide related technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers.
 
 
The bill establishes pilot programs for USDA to: (1) increase municipal compost and food waste reduction activities; and (2) make grants for projects that strengthen marketplace links between healthy food consumption, good environmental practices, and direct public health outcomes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate