hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Use It or Choose It Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6467
Sponsor: Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

Use It or Choose It Act of 2016

 
This bill allows an individual, when moving from one position (i.e., any form of compensated employment, including part-time employment and independent contracting) within the workforce to another, to elect to retain any benefits (i.e., health care-related benefits, workers compensation, life insurance, family and medical leave, and annual, sick, paternity, or maternity leave) earned when occupying such position.
 
The bill requires contractual providers of such benefits to extend them on the same terms and conditions as those provided to employees in the former position, or those similarly situated. Employers accruing funds or reserves corresponding to leave or other benefits shall transfer such funds or reserves to new employers upon request.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
Yurok Lands Act

Bill: 114-hr-6469
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: California
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Federal-Indian relations
Forests, forestry, trees
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

Yurok Lands Act

 
This bill gives the Yurok Tribe the option to expand its role in the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) with respect to major federal actions within: (1) the Revised Yurok Reservation, and (2) specified areas within the Klamath and Redwood Creek Watersheds.
 
The Department of the Interior must enter into a cooperative agreement with the tribe for protecting the natural resources of Redwood National Park.
 
The bill confirms the 2006 &quot;Cooperative Agreement between the Department of the Interior and the Yurok Tribe for the Cooperative Management of Tribal and Federal Lands and Resources in the Klamath River Basin of California.&quot; Interior may take actions to effectuate the agreement.
 
The Forest Service must transfer approximately 1,229 acres in the Yurok Experimental Forest to Interior. That land must be held in trust for the benefit of the tribe and be managed by the tribe for conservation and research purposes. The trust land may not be: (1) used for gaming activity, and (2) subject to old growth logging. 
 
Interior must revise the boundary of the reservation as depicted on the map entitled, &quot;Revised Yurok Reservation Boundary&quot; and dated December 7, 2016. National Forest System land and National Park System land within the revised reservation must be administered by the Forest Service and the National Park Service, respectively.
 
The bill designates the Bald Hills Road, which runs from U.S. Highway 101 to the Klamath River, as the &quot;Yurok Scenic Byway.&quot;
 
The bill ratifies and confirms the tribe's governing documents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
Graduate Student Savings Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6470
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Higher education
Income tax deductions
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

Graduate Student Savings Act of 2016 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow funds paid to an individual to aid in the pursuit of graduate or postdoctoral study or research to be saved in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The bill permits the funds to be considered compensation for purposes of current law provisions that limit annual deductible IRA contributions to the lesser of: (1) the deductible amount permitted under current law, or (2) the compensation includible in the individual's gross income for the year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
Army Combat Action Badge Eligibility Act

Bill: 114-hr-6471
Sponsor: Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

Army Combat Action Badge Eligibility Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of the Army to award the Army Combat Action Badge to a person who: (1) participated as a member of the Army between December 7, 1941, and September 18, 2001, in combat during which the person was personally engaged with the enemy; and (2) has not been recognized previously for such participation.
 
The Army may make arrangements with suppliers of the badge so that eligible persons may procure it directly from suppliers, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating administrative costs for carrying out this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
Teachers and Parents at the Table Act

Bill: 114-hr-6472
Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

Teachers and Parents at the Table Act

 
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish: (1) a Volunteer Teacher Advisory Committee to monitor the effects of the ESEA in classrooms, and (2) a Volunteer Parents and Families Advisory Committee to monitor the effects of the ESEA on children and families and to review and analyze the implementation of various family engagement activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
To express the sense of Congress that information security is critical to the economic security of the United States and to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a report on the costs of information security.

Bill: 114-hr-6473
Sponsor: Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that information security is critical to U.S. economic security and should be protected to promote economic growth. 
 
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration must report on the costs to the U.S. economy of protecting information and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction to provide information integrity, confidentiality, timely and reliable access, and authentication through digital credentials.
 
The report must estimate the cost of: (1) security for computers, networks, software, storage systems, data transmission, equipment, and support services; (2) measures to mitigate and hedge against compromises of information systems; and (3) economic loss or harm caused by such compromises. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
To eliminate the daily newspaper cross-ownership rule of the Federal Communications Commission.

Bill: 114-hr-6474
Sponsor: Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 
This bill eliminates the Federal Communications Commission's broadcast/newspaper cross-ownership ban, which prohibits a single entity, or parties under common control, from owning a daily newspaper and a full-power commercial broadcast station (AM, FM, or television) in the same market.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
To remove reversionary clauses on property owned by the municipality of Anchorage, Alaska.

Bill: 114-hr-6475
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2016-12-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Economic development
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey, without consideration, to the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, the reversionary interests of the United States in and to specified nonfederal land in Anchorage for the purpose of unencumbering its title and enabling its economic development.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Introduced in House
DRAIN the SWAMP Act

Bill: 114-hr-6476
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Licensing and registrations
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Deter Revolving-door Appointments in our Nation; Stop Washington Appointees from becoming Manipulative Petitioners Act or the DRAIN the SWAMP Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise post-employment lobbying restrictions on senior executive branch officials and employees.
 
Specifically, it imposes a five-year ban on communications by a former political appointee with the intent to influence officers or employees at their former executive branch agency or department. 
 
The term political appointee includes certain senior political officials compensated on the Executive Schedule; limited term, limited emergency, and noncareer appointees in the Senior Executive Service; and employees in confidential or policy-determining positions in the excepted service.
 
Additionally, the bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to impose a lifetime ban on lobbying by a former political appointee on behalf of a foreign government or foreign political party.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7401-7402)
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Interstate Doxxing Prevention Act

Bill: 114-hr-6478
Sponsor: Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Pornography
Postal service
Right of privacy
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Interstate Doxxing Prevention Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to use the mail or any facility or means of interstate commerce to knowingly publish (or attempt or conspire to publish) personally identifiable information of another person with the intent to threaten, intimidate, harass, or stalk, and as a result, place that person in reasonable fear of death or seriously bodily injury to that person, or to that person's family member or intimate partner.
 
A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both&#8212;and civil liability. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act

Bill: 114-hr-6479
Sponsor: Rep. Thornberry, Mac [R-TX-13]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Lakes and rivers
Oklahoma
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act

 
This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to commission a survey to identify the South Bank boundary line with respect to land along a specified 116-mile stretch of the Red River in Oklahoma and Texas (the affected area). 
 
The survey shall:
 
 
adhere to the gradient boundary survey method;
 
span the length of the affected area;
 
be conducted by surveyors who are licensed and qualified to conduct official gradient boundary surveys, and selected by and operating under the direction of the Texas General Land Office and the Oklahoma Commissioners of the Land Office (the offices); and
 
be completed within two years of enactment of this bill. 
 
 
The BLM shall submit the survey to the offices for approval and, within 60 days of receiving it, they shall determine whether to approve it. 
 
Surveys of individual parcels in the affected area shall be conducted according to the requirements for the survey of the South Bank boundary line. A survey of such a parcel shall be approved or disapproved by the offices within 60 days of receipt.
 
The survey for identifying the South Bank boundary line and any survey of an individual parcel shall not be submitted to the BLM for approval. 
 
After a survey for an individual parcel has been approved, the offices shall submit to the BLM:
 
 
 a notice of the approval of such survey, and 
 
a copy of such survey and any field notes related to the parcel. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6481
Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Agricultural education
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Executive agency funding and structure
Farmland
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Land use and conservation
Materials
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Pest management
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local government operations
Technology assessment
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an urban agriculture outreach program to award grants to support outreach activities for: (1) infrastructure, (2) land acquisition and conversion, (3) education and training, (4) technical and financial assistance to farmers or ranchers in urban areas, and (5) other activities that support urban agriculture. USDA must give preference to grants for activities in historically underserved communities. 
 
The bill amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to expand the purpose and duties of USDA's Office of Advocacy and Outreach to include activities on behalf of urban farmers or ranchers. 
 
USDA must award grants, on a competitive basis, for scientific and community-based participatory research related to urban agriculture. The bill provides specified funds for the grants and requires USDA to give priority to outreach activities to be carried out in historically underserved communities. 
 
The bill amends the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to: (1) establish a program to provide loans and loan guarantees for projects or activities to establish, expand, and promote direct producer-to-consumer marketing and assist in the development of local food business enterprises; and (2) extend and provide additional funding for the Farmers' Market Promotion Program. 
 
The bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program and provide additional funding. 
 
The bill amends the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 to require additional USDA reporting on farmers' markets and agricultural production in urban areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Commission to Study Family Reconstruction Proposals for African-Americans Unjustly Impacted by the "War on Drugs" Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6484
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Government liability
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Commission to Study Family Reconstruction Proposals for African-Americans Unjustly Impacted by the &quot;War on Drugs&quot; Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes a commission to examine and report on: the disparate incarceration and the institution of forced prison labor within the African-American community, government and private sector support for and profit from mass incarceration, discriminatory laws and other forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors, and the lingering negative effects of mass incarceration.
 
The commission must make recommendations for education and remedies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6485
Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2016 

 
 This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Administration on Aging to carry out a program awarding grants to eligible entities to carry out six separate demonstration projects that focus on care coordination and service delivery for older individuals with chronic illness or at risk of institutional placement by: (1) designing and testing new models of care coordination and service delivery that thoughtfully and effectively deploy advanced aides to improve efficiency and quality of care for frail older individuals; and (2) giving direct-care workers opportunities for career advancement through additional training, an expanded role, and increased compensation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Laquan McDonald Camera Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6486
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Photography and imaging

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Laquan McDonald Camera Act of 2016

 
This bill requires state and local law enforcement agencies to require and enforce the use of body-worn and dashboard cameras, as an eligibility condition for a state to receive funds under Department of Justice (DOJ) grant programs that provide amounts for law enforcement purposes.
 
DOJ must reduce by 10% the allocation of grant funds for a state that fails to certify the full compliance of its state and local law enforcement agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House