hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6414
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2016-11-30 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: 

Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act of 2016

 
This bill authorizes executive agencies to: (1) use crowdsourcing and citizen science approaches to conduct activities designed to advance their missions, (2) accept volunteer services performed as part of a crowdsourcing or citizen science project, and (3) enter into an agreement to share administrative duties for such activities with private sector entities or state, tribal, local, or foreign government agencies.
 
&quot;Citizen science&quot; means a form of open collaboration in which individuals or organizations participate in the scientific process. &quot;Crowdsourcing&quot; means a method to obtain needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting voluntary contributions from a group of individuals or organizations, especially from an online community. 
 
Agencies shall: (1) make public and promote such projects to encourage broad participation of consenting participants, and (2) endeavor to make data collected through such projects open and available, in machine readable formats, to the public. 
 
The General Services Administration shall identify and develop relevant products, training, and services to facilitate the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Introduced in House
Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6417
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Economic theory
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government studies and investigations
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016

 
This bill prohibits courts from awarding damages to plaintiffs in civil actions using a calculation for projected future earning potential that takes into account a plaintiff's race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation.
 
The Department of Labor must develop guidance for economists to develop future earnings tables that do not rely on such factors. Labor and the Department of Justice must develop guidance for states on how to calculate future earnings in state tort proceedings in a manner that is free of such biases.
 
The Judicial Conference of the United States must report on damages awarded under federal law for personal injury, employment discrimination, tort damages, and cases involving protected classes of individuals sharing a common characteristic or identity who are legally protected against discrimination. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts must submit recommendations to ensure that future earnings calculations that take into account age and disability do not conflict with federal equal protection laws.
 
The Federal Judicial Center must train federal judges on how to implement this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
Drinking Water Affordability Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6418
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
State and local finance
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Drinking Water Affordability Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to revise requirements concerning national primary drinking water regulations, including by:
 
 
removing a requirement that the Environmental Protection Agency maintain, or provide greater, protection of human health when revising those regulations;
 
extending the repayment schedule for loans from the drinking water state revolving funds (SRF);
 
removing certain SRF matching fund requirement for states; 
 
authorizing states to protect public drinking water source areas; and 
 
removing federal reporting requirements if state or local requirements are at least equally stringent as federal requirements.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
Law Enforcement Inclusion Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6419
Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Employee hiring
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Law Enforcement Inclusion Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the allowable use of grant funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program to include: (1) recruiting, hiring, and training career law enforcement officers who are residents of the communities they serve; and (2) developing and publishing strategies and timelines to recruit, hire, and train a diverse and inclusive law enforcement workforce. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
Screening With Dignity Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6420
Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Screening With Dignity Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to:
 
 
 develop procedures to appropriately screen self-identified transgender air passengers, and
 
 conduct in-person training of all Transportation Security Administration Officers on such procedures.
 
 
The FAA shall separately study and report on:
 
 
 the cost and feasibility of retrofitting advanced image technology screening equipment to distinguish between foreign objects and human body parts; and
 
the disparate impact that such technology has on self-identified transgender passengers as opposed to the general public, including an examination of instances since 2010 in which such passengers were required to undergo a secondary screening after alarming the advanced imaging technology.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6421
Sponsor: Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Human rights
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED), when reviewing whether there has been a violation of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance) based on an individual's actual or perceived shared Jewish ancestry or Jewish ethnic characteristics, to consider the definition of &quot;anti-Semitism&quot; as part of its assessment of whether the alleged practice was motivated by anti-Semitic intent.
 
For purposes of this bill, the definition of &quot;anti-Semitism&quot; is the definition set forth by the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism of the Department of State in the Fact Sheet issued on June 8, 2010, as adapted from the Working Definition of Anti-Semitism of the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (now known as the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
Commuter Access Reform Act

Bill: 114-hr-6422
Sponsor: Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Commuter Access Reform Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat transportation provided by an employer's qualified alternative commuter program as a qualified transportation fringe benefit that is excluded from an employee's gross income. 
 
A &quot;qualified alternative commuter program&quot; reimburses an employee for the cost of certain ride-share commuting transportation between the employee's residence, place of employment, or a mass transit facility. 
 
The benefit applies to ride-sharing commuting transportation in a commuter vehicle provided by a transportation network company if: (1) it is designed to provide service to multiple passengers with fully or partially overlapping journeys, and (2) the fare for each passenger is determined at the beginning of the trip and is based on the transportation having multiple riders. 
 
The benefit is subject to a limit on the aggregate amount of transportation fringe benefits for parking and an alternative commuter program that may be excluded from gross income. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6423
Sponsor: Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-30]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to prohibit predispute arbitration agreements with consumers (i.e., agreements to arbitrate any future disputes between parties instead of pursuing the claims in court) from being valid or enforceable in disputes related to credit card accounts or personal bank accounts that are not subject to a final judgment by a court if the credit card or bank account was not issued in response to a request or application for that account. 
 
The bill excludes from this prohibition accounts held by a financial institution pursuant to a bona fide trust agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in House
NIST Plumbing Research Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6424
Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Research administration and funding
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 

NIST Plumbing Research Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to:
 
 
establish or designate a laboratory to conduct research on premise plumbing in relation to water safety, security, efficiency, sustainability, and resilience;
 
conduct an organizational review of all research and other activities related to premise plumbing conducted by federal entities; and 
 
appoint one or more officers or employees of the NIST to liaise with non-federal entities that are conducting research or other activities related to premise plumbing. 
 
 
The bill defines &quot;premise plumbing&quot; as the water distribution system within the property lines of a property, including all buildings and permanent structures on such property. This term also includes building supply and distribution pipes, fixtures, fittings, water heaters, water-treating and water-using equipment, and all respective joints, connections, devices, and appurtenances. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
Safeguard Aquaculture Farmers Act

Bill: 114-hr-6425
Sponsor: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aquaculture
Birds
Department of the Interior
Hunting and fishing

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 

Safeguard Aquaculture Farmers Act

 
This bill provides the force and effect of law for certain regulations that allow for the taking of double-crested cormorants (birds) that eat fish at aquaculture facilities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for a 2 year prohibition on employment in a career civil service position for any former political appointee, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-6426
Sponsor: Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 
This bill prohibits an individual occupying a political position in the civil service from being appointed to a career position in the civil service for two years after the individual separates from such political position.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit Medicare part B premium increases for 2017.

Bill: 114-hr-6428
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to limit increases to monthly premiums under Medicare for 2017. Specifically, an individual's monthly premium shall increase by no more than $4 over the individual's monthly premium for 2016.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to include certain areas in the Central Texas Corridor.

Bill: 114-hr-6429
Sponsor: Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Roads and highways
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 
This bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to include the following named areas as part of the high priority Central Texas Corridor of the National Highway System in Texas:
 
 
certain routes in the Corridor and the I-14 system in Texas, beginning in the vicinity of State Highway 338 in Odessa, Texas, running eastward concurrent with Interstate 20, connecting to State Highway 158 in the vicinity of Midland, Texas, then following State Highway 158 eastward to US 87 and then following US 87 southeastward, passing in the vicinity of San Angelo, and connecting to US 190 in the vicinity of Brady, Texas;
 
US 83 southward from the vicinity of Eden, Texas, to a logical connection to Interstate 10 at Junction, Texas;
 
US 96 from I-10 at Beaumont, Texas, north to US 84 in the vicinity of Tenaha, Texas; and 
 
US 69 from I-10 at Beaumont north to US 59 in the vicinity of Lufkin, Texas.
 
 
The Corridor shall not include the section of US 190 from I-10 in Pecos County to Brady in McCullough County, Texas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act

Bill: 114-hr-6430
Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act

 
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to assess and report on the cultural and historic resources in the waters of the Great Lakes.
 
NOAA must recommend in its report whether: (1) underwater geographic areas in the Great Lakes should be designated as national marine sanctuaries to protect resources of historical and archeological significance; and (2) the designation of a network of underwater Great Lakes areas that protect those resources could bring significant educational opportunities, economic development, jobs, and tourism to the Great Lakes region.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1576)
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6431
Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 

Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow the United States to prosecute certain U.S. employees who engage in conduct in Canada that would constitute a federal criminal offense if the conduct had occurred in the United States. This bill applies to a Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice employee, contractor, or employee of a contractor who is stationed in Canada pursuant to a border security initiative. 

action_date: 2016-12-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow the United States to prosecute certain U.S. employees who engage in conduct in Canada that would constitute a federal criminal offense if the conduct had occurred in the United States. This bill applies to a Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice employee, contractor, or employee of a contractor who is stationed in Canada pursuant to a border security initiative. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Became Public Law No: 114-316.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Became Public Law No: 114-316.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-15
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7128-7131)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S7128-7131)
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7340-7341)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7340-7341)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6431.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7340-7343)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Mr. Goodlatte moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 114-316
Trade Deficit Reduction Act

Bill: 114-hr-6432
Sponsor: Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 

Trade Deficit Reduction Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to annually identify each country for which the following apply:
 
 
the value of goods and services imported into the United States exceeds twice the value of goods and services exported from the United States to that country, or $100 billion; or
 
the value of goods and services imported into and exported from the United States exceeds $1 billion.
 
 
Labor shall convene a meeting of the Trade Policy Review Group to develop trade deficit reduction plans with such countries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
Protect the Flag Act

Bill: 114-hr-6433
Sponsor: Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]
Introduced: 2016-12-02 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Higher education
National symbols
School administration

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: 
 
Protect the Flag Act

 
This bill makes an institution of higher education ineligible for federal funds if it has an official policy that prohibits or limits the display of the U.S. flag.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Introduced in House