hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Trafficking In Persons Report Integrity Act

Bill: 114-s-3520
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign loans and debt
Human rights
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Labor standards
Multilateral development programs

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Trafficking In Persons Report Integrity Act

 
This bill amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to revise provisions regarding the Department of State's determination of whether countries are meeting the minimum standards for elimination of human trafficking, including provisions regarding: (1) the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, (2) additional requirements for meeting minimum standards, (3) actions against governments failing to meet minimum standards, (4) the tier ranking process for meeting such standards, and (5) congressional oversight of such process.
 
The President shall instruct the U.S. executive director of each international financial institution to: (1) support the U.S. policy goal of ending slavery and human trafficking and encourage other nations to adopt similar policies, (2) oppose loans or other programs to Tier 3 and Tier 2 Watch List countries and channel funds from such countries to countries in better compliance with such standards, and (3) propose that other institutions develop anti-human trafficking provisions in their project safeguards and procurement policies. 
 
A Tier 3 country is a country the government of which does not fully meet the minimum standards and is not making significant efforts to do so. 
 
A Tier 2 Watch List country is a country the government of which does not fully meet the minimum standards but is making significant compliance efforts and in which: (1) the number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing, (2) there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year, or (3) the compliance determination was based on the country's commitments to take additional steps over the next year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3521
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Higher education
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2016 or the RISE Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to set forth requirements about data collection related to students with disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires institutions of higher learning to outline which documents disabled students need to submit in order to ensure they are eligible for student disability support services. 
 
Institutions must submit key data related to their undergraduate students with disabilities for inclusion in federal postsecondary institution data collection efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Graduate Medical Education Equity Act

Bill: 114-s-3522
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Graduate Medical Education Equity Act

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow a qualified hospital to have its payment amount for direct graduation medical education costs calculated on the basis of its Medicaid inpatient utilization rate rather than on the basis of its Medicare patient load.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act

Bill: 114-s-3523
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Domestic violence and child abuse
Human trafficking
Indian social and development programs
Jurisdiction and venue
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act

 This bill amends the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 to revise provisions regarding tribal jurisdiction over crimes of domestic violence, including to expand tribal criminal jurisdiction to include sex trafficking, sexual violence, stalking, and related conduct.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to prohibit cross-examination by the accused of minor victims of sexual assault.

Bill: 114-s-3524
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to establish a procedure to prohibit pro se criminal defendants (defendants representing themselves without a lawyer) accused of sexual assault of a minor under age 18 from cross-examining the minor.
 
Upon application by the prosecutor, the minor, or the minor's representative, the defendant is prohibited from conducting such a cross-examination unless the court finds that it is necessitated by exceptional circumstances to protect the defendant's constitutional rights. The cross-examination of the minor shall instead be conducted by an attorney for the defendant under the court's supervision.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening American Transportation Security Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3525
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Strengthening American Transportation Security Act of 2016

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the personnel system used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides insufficient workplace protections for its workforce and such personnel should be entitled to protections under the civil service system applicable to all federal employees.
 
The bill repeals personnel authorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation governing the conditions of employment for TSA employees, thus making TSA employees subject to the personnel management system applicable to all other federal employees. 
 
Within 60 days after the enactment of this bill or an earlier date set by DHS: (1) all TSA personnel management policies, directives, letters, and guidelines and any DHS human resources management system shall cease to be effective with respect to TSA employees; and (2) TSA employees shall become subject to labor provisions applicable to other federal transportation employees. 
 
The bill sets forth transition rules that protect the pay rates and other rights of TSA employees. DHS shall consult with the labor organization certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to carry out the conversion of TSA employees and positions to the civil service system. 
 
The provisions of this bill do not affect the prohibitions against disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6924-6925; text of measure as introduced in Senate: CR S6925-6926)
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
FAST Voting Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3526
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Louis L. Redding Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely Voting Act of 2016 or the FAST Voting Act of 2016 

 
 This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants, on a competitive basis, to enable states to: (1) invest in practices and technology designed to expedite voting at the polls, and (2) simplify voter registration. 
 
 The grant application shall include a comprehensive and coherent plan for using funds to improve the applicant's performance on specified measures with respect to: (1) flexible registration opportunities, (2) early and absentee voting, (3) assistance to non-English speaking and disabled voters, and (4) other related matters. 
 Each grantee shall establish performance measures and targets, approved by DOJ , that track its progress in implementing its plan and expediting voting at the polls or simplifying voter registration, as applicable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
No Windfalls for Government Service Act

Bill: 114-s-3527
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

No Windfalls for Government Service Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a $1 million lifetime limitation on the nonrecognition of a taxpayer's gains from the sale of property pursuant to a certificate of divesture to comply with conflict-of-interest requirements for certain federal government positions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3528
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Federal Supervisor Training Act of 2016

 
This bill requires federal agencies to establish supervisor training programs that: (1) require supervisors and management officials to have individual development plans for training on actions, options, and strategies to use for supervisory functions regarding the performance and productivity of agency employees; (2) train supervisors on prohibited personnel practices and employee rights; and (3) provide experienced supervisor mentors to advise new or underperforming supervisors. 
 
The bill expands manager training program requirements for employee performance appraisals, mentoring, and management of unacceptable employee performance into mandatory supervisor and manager training programs that also include supervisor training on: 
 
 
fostering equal opportunities and fairness in the workplace;
 
using probationary periods to examine whether employees are performing at an acceptable level to continue their employment;
 
addressing reports of hostile work environment, retaliation, or harassment;
 
meeting supervisor competencies established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or the employing agency; and
 
collaborating with human resources to recruit, select, appraise, and reward employees based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs.
 
 
After initial training on each program component, supervisors must complete subsequent training every three years. 
 
Agencies must develop a career track for mission critical technical expert employees that affords such employees the opportunity for career advancement without being required to be appointed to a management or supervisory position.
 
The OPM must issue guidance to agencies on competencies supervisors are expected to meet in order to effectively manage the performance of employees. Each agency must assess the performance of supervisors and the overall capacity of its supervisors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Progressive Consumption Tax Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3529
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Progressive Consumption Tax Act of 201

6

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a consumption tax of 10% of the taxable amount of domestic goods and services. It exempts from such tax certain goods and services exported or used outside the United States.
 
It also lowers individual and corporate income tax rates. The bill repeals specified income tax credits and deductions, except for the deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions, state and local income taxes, gambling losses, alimony payments, and investment interest.
 
 The bill: (1) provides for a family allowance of up to $100,000 for married individuals filing a joint tax return, (2) allows a rebate for U.S. taxpayers consisting of an earned income amount and a child benefit amount, and (3) provides for a refund of excess consumption tax revenue (net consumption tax revenues that exceed 10% of gross domestic product in a calendar year) to individual taxpayers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6926-6927)
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3530
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and update policies that enable certain health care clearinghouses, plans, and providers to: (1) provide patients with access to information related to their care; and (2) develop patient-engagement tools, reports, analyses, and presentations that may demonstrate benefit to the taxpayer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3531
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016

 
This bill designates approximately 13,961 acres of National Forest System land in Idaho, to be known as the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, as wilderness and a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
 
The wilderness area is withdrawn from specified public land, mining, mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. 
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) may carry out management activities to maintain or restore fish and wildlife populations and habitats within the wilderness area if they would:
 
 
 promote healthy, viable, and more naturally distributed populations that would enhance wilderness values; and
 
accomplish the purpose of the management activity with the minimum impact necessary. 
 
 
USDA may take measures within the wilderness area necessary for the control of fire, insects, and disease.
 
Nothing in this bill creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone around the wilderness area.
 
USDA shall ensure that Indian tribes have access to the wilderness area for:
 
 
 traditional and cultural purposes, and 
 
the exercise of any right reserved by treaty. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
RECLAIM Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3532
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Coal
Economic development
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing and community development funding
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Mining
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act of 2016 or the RECLAIM Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to make specified funds available to the Department of the Interior for each of FY2017-FY2021 for distribution to states and Indian tribes to promote economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977.
 
The bill prescribes general requirements for projects to reclaim abandoned mine lands and waters that are likely to create favorable conditions for the economic development of the project site or promote the general welfare through economic and community development of the area in which the project is conducted. Any such project shall be located in a community affected by a recent decline in mining.

A state or Indian tribe that receives funds under this bill may retain a portion of them as necessary to supplement its acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund for future operation and maintenance costs for the treatment of acid mine drainage associated with individual projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act

Bill: 114-s-3533
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Public participation and lobbying
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act

 
This bill amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to prohibit any additional consultation from being required with respect to: (1) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of a critical habitat, if a land management plan has been adopted by the Department of Agriculture as of the designation date; or (2) any provision of such an adopted plan. 
 
The bill amends the Federal land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to prohibit any additional consultation from being required with respect to: (1) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat, if a land use plan has been adopted by the Department of the Interior as of the designation date; or (2) any provision of such an adopted plan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to permit the Secretary of the Treasury to locate and recover certain assets of the United States Government.

Bill: 114-s-3534
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Debt collection
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to: (1) locate and recover assets of the U.S. government on behalf of any executive, judicial, or legislative agency; and (2) retain a portion of the amounts recovered to cover the administrative and operational costs of Treasury for locating and recovering the assets. Any savings from carrying out this bill must be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury for deficit reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Up the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2016

Bill: 114-s-3535
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Clean Up the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2016

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from employing any individual who has been convicted of any of the following state or federal criminal offenses for which the minimum term of imprisonment is more than one year:
 
 
a sex offense,
 
an offense involving the sale or distribution of a controlled substance,
 
fraud,
 
theft,
 
assault, 
 
battery, 
 
a crime of violence, 
 
an offense involving the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon, 
 
bank robbery, or 
 
kidnapping.
 
 
The VA may not employ any individual in a health care position who has had a license or credential relating to such position revoked or suspended. 
 
The VA shall: (1) conduct background checks before hiring, and (2) terminate any individual employed by the VA in violation of this bill in a manner consistent with merit system principles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in Senate