hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3483
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2016-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Legislative rules and procedure
Presidential administrations
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: 

Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Congressional Review Act to allow Congress to consider a joint resolution to disapprove multiple regulations that federal agencies have submitted for congressional review within the last 60 legislative days of a session of Congress during the final year of a President's term. Congress may disapprove a group of such regulations together (i.e., "en bloc") instead of the current procedure of considering only one regulation at a time.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Online Information Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3484
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2016-11-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Civil actions and liability
Freedom of information
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Legal fees and court costs
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: 

Public Online Information Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes a Public Online Information Advisory Committee to: (1) coordinate the government's efforts to make information from all three branches of government available on the Internet, and (2) issue nonbinding guidelines on how the government should make public information available.
 
The government must make public records available on the Internet at no charge, except as imposed by federal law before this bill's enactment. The bill requires: (1) public records to be permanently available on the Internet; (2) current information technology to be applied to the formats and means through which records are made available; and (3) each agency to publish on the Internet a searchable, machine-processable list of all records it makes publicly available.
 
The bill delineates the roles of the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Electronic Government, and the chief information officers of independent regulatory agencies. It allows exceptions to the Internet publication requirement, including a process for an agency's request for an exception to be granted if: (1) there is a clear and convincing reason for the record to not be made available on the Internet, and (2) the harm caused by disclosure significantly outweighs the public's interest in having the record available on the Internet. 
 
Inspectors general must periodically review agency compliance. Private individuals or organizations may file a complaint in federal court if an agency denies a request to place public records on the Internet.
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) judicial and legislative agencies adopt or adapt the advisory committee's recommendations, and (2) the Government Publishing Office make all of its publications permanently available on the Internet in a multiplicity of formats.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Stalling Mass Damaging Hacking Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3485
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2016-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Digital media
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: 

Stalling Mass Damaging Hacking Act of 2016 

 
This bill delays the effective date of an amendment to rule 41 (Search and Seizure) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure adopted by the U.S. Supreme Court and transmitted to Congress for review on April 28, 2016. (The amendment allows a federal magistrate judge to issue a warrant to use remote access to search computers and seize electronically stored information located inside or outside that judge's district in specific circumstances.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Innovation Fellows Program Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3486
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2016-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
General Services Administration
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: 

Presidential Innovation Fellows Program Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes in the General Services Administration (GSA) the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program to enable exceptional individuals with proven track records to serve time-limited appointments in executive agencies as Presidential Innovation Fellows to address some of the most significant challenges facing the United States and improve federal efforts that would particularly benefit from expertise using innovative techniques and technology. The functions of the Presidential Innovation Fellows Program established pursuant to Executive Order 13704, as in existence on the day before enactment of this bill, shall be functions of the program established by this bill.
 
The program shall be administered by a Director, who shall be appointed by the GSA. The director shall appoint such fellows and facilitate their placement in projects that have the potential for significant positive effects and are consistent with the President's goals. 
 
Each agency shall: (1) work with the director and the program advisory board to attempt to maximize program benefits to the agency and the government, including by identifying initiatives that will have a meaningful effect on the people served and that will benefit from involvement by a fellow; and (2) ensure that each fellow placed at the agency works closely with a responsible senior official.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3487
Sponsor: Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug therapy
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: 

Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2016

 
This bill amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to indefinitely extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients. Under current law, such coverage is limited to 36 months following a transplant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
SuperPAC Elimination Act of 2017

Bill: 114-s-3488
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-11-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: 

SuperPAC Elimination Act of 2017 

 
 This bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) eliminate the limitations on direct contributions from individuals and political committees to candidates in federal elections; and (2) require 24-hour notification to the Secretary of the Senate or the Federal Election Commission, and the Secretary of State, as appropriate, for all direct contributions to candidates in excess of $200.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6621)
action_date: 2016-11-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3489
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the Senate
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: 2016-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act

Bill: 114-s-3490
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Strengthening the Department of Homeland Security Secure Mail Initiative Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to provide an option under the Secure Mail Initiative under which, for payment of a fee recouping costs, a person to whom a document is sent under such initiative may require the U.S. Postal Service to obtain a signature from that person in order to deliver the document. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3491
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the Senate
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: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to revise the boundaries of certain John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System units in New Jersey.

Bill: 114-s-3493
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-12-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
New Jersey
Seashores and lakeshores

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 
This bill modifies certain boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Units located in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Introduced in Senate
CBP HiRe Act

Bill: 114-s-3494
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 

CBP Hiring and Retention Act of 2016 or the CBP HiRe Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pay a retention bonus to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees performing activities that are critical to border security upon determining that such an employee would otherwise likely leave federal service or leave for a different position.
 
A retention bonus service agreement shall include the length of required service and the amount and method of payment of the bonus.
 
DHS may pay a special rate of pay (up to 125% of basic pay) to such CBP employees whose permanent duty stations are located in remote locations or other geographic areas for which finding employees is difficult. Such special pay authority terminates after two years but may be extended for another two years.
 
If an applicant for a CBP position does not successfully complete a required polygraph examination, the CBP may not disclose the polygraph results to any other federal agency or DHS component and such other agency or component may not use the results in determining whether to appoint such individual. Such limitations terminate after one year but may be extended for another year.
 
DHS shall provide each CBP applicant who will be required to successfully complete a polygraph examination before his or her appointment a list of disqualifying actions or conduct of, or events relating to, the applicant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
100 Years of Women in Congress Act

Bill: 114-s-3495
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 

100 Years of Women in Congress Act 

 
This bill amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to designate certain Department of Agriculture research and extension grants to increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as &quot;Jeannette Rankin Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Grants.&quot; 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act

Bill: 114-s-3496
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 

Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow members of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces to make the maximum allowable contribution ($18,000 in 2016) to their Thrift Savings Plans without limiting the amount such members may contribute to a retirement plan based upon other employment. The bill also doubles the maximum allowable contribution amount to the Thrift Savings Plans of federal employees in the Ready Reserve. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced in the Senate: CR S6709)
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Safeguard Aquaculture Farmers Act

Bill: 114-s-3497
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aquaculture
Birds
Department of the Interior
Hunting and fishing

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
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: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to ensure that the Secretary of the Army obtains consent from certain entities before granting certain permits, casements, or rights-of-way.

Bill: 114-s-3498
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain consent from relevant nonfederal agencies and Indian tribes before granting a permit, easement, or other right-of-way for a pipeline transporting oil, natural gas, synthetic liquid or gaseous fuels, or any refined product produced from those materials on land associated with a civil works project of the Corps of Engineers or an associated flowage easement, if the construction or operation of the pipeline has the potential to impair the beneficial uses of the surface water or groundwater used by the nonfederal agency or the Indian tribe.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3499
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 

Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2016

 
This bill establishes the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program for the appointment of individuals who are graduates of accredited law schools to serve as congressional clerks in the Senate or House of Representatives.
 
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration must each select at least six individuals for a one-year term to serve for a clerkship with an office in their respective chambers. The committees shall ensure that congressional clerks selected under this bill are apportioned equally between majority and minority party offices.
 
The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the amount of financial assistance provided to a congressional clerk should, if practicable, be comparable to the compensation and benefits provided for similar clerkships offered through the federal judiciary and executive branches; and (2) any financial assistance provided to a clerk should not result in a net increase in the amounts appropriated for the legislative branch for any fiscal year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the appropriate Federal banking agencies to treat certain non-significant investments in the capital of unconsolidated financial institutions as qualifying capital instruments, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-s-3500
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 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

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Federal Reserve Board to provide that a bank's or a savings association's investments in Trust Preferred Securities (pooled and individual instruments) shall not be subject to deduction from such institution's regulatory capital (provided such instruments were held as investments prior to July 21, 2010) for purposes of the final rules entitled &quot;Regulatory Capital Rules: Regulatory Capital, Implementation of Basel III, Capital Adequacy, Transition Provisions, Prompt Corrective Action, Standardized Approach for Risk-Weighted Assets, Market Discipline and Disclosure Requirements, Advanced Approaches Risk-Based Capital Rule, and Market Risk Capital Rule&quot; (Basel III Capital Regulations), published on October 11, 2013.
 
The OCC, the FDIC, and the Federal Reserve Board must amend such Basel III Capital Regulations to implement this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3501
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2016-12-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: 

Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to submit to Congress a report on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans, in particular low-income veterans and veterans residing in rural areas. 
 
 In preparing the report, the FCC shall provide the public with notice and an opportunity to comment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-12-05
text: Introduced in Senate