hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Municipal Securities Disclosure Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6488
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Municipal Securities Disclosure Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the Securities Act of 1933 to require registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of certain industrial development bonds that finance private projects through municipal securities. (Currently, the Securities Act exempts these private activity municipal bonds from SEC registration.) 
 
The bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require state and local government issuers of municipal securities, or obligated persons or borrowers with respect to these securities, to prepare annual periodic reports and disseminate financial disclosures that the SEC determines appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of investors. (Currently, SEC antifraud rules do not regulate municipal securities issuers directly but the rules prohibit securities dealers from underwriting the buying or selling of municipal securities unless they obtain the state or local government issuer's agreement to provide ongoing disclosures to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. The bill makes state or local government issuers directly responsible for providing the municipal securities disclosures by placing them under the SEC's jurisdiction.)
 
The SEC may prescribe the accounting methods to be followed in the preparation of the financial statements or require the use of accounting methods established by a standard-setting body.
 
An issuer or borrower of outstanding municipal securities exceeding $10 million must adopt internal controls that identify the officials responsible for preparing the required disclosures and provide checks and balances for adequate supervision. The SEC may allow these requirements to be satisfied through a statewide system of disclosure controls and disclosure education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Social Security Reform Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6489
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Families

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Social Security Reform Act of 2016

 
This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to: 
 
 
phase in (from 2023 to 2032) a new benefit formula for retired and disabled worker beneficiaries becoming eligible in 2023 and later; 
 
repeal the windfall elimination provision; 
 
 raise the full retirement age; 
 
 extend the maximum age for entitlement to delayed retirement credit; 
 
limit eligibility for the cost-of-living adjustment and tie increases in benefits to the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers; 
 
cap the nonworking spouse benefit and the child's benefit; 
 
lower the age requirement in or after 2019 for school attendance by child beneficiaries; 
 
provide a new minimum benefit for workers with more than 10 years of covered earnings;
 
repeal the retirement earnings test; 
 
provide an option to split the delayed retirement credit to offer a lump sum benefit at initial entitlement for workers attaining age 62 in 2023 and later;
 
 increase after 2022 the monthly benefit of beneficiaries who have been eligible for at least 20 years; 
 
 eliminate the seven year limitation on widow's and widower's benefits for disabled surviving spouses and the requirement that such spouses attain age 50 to be eligible for benefits; and
 
waive the two-year duration of the divorce requirement for benefit eligibility in cases of remarriage to someone other than the claimant before the two-year period has elapsed. 
 
 
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to phaseout and eliminate after 2053 the tax that is credited to the Old Age, Survivors, Insurance (OASI) and Disability Income (DI) Trust Funds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land to La Paz County, Arizona, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-6491
Sponsor: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey to La Paz County, Arizona, all right, title, and interest in and to approximately 8,000 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
 
The county may sell any portion of the federal land conveyed to it for nonresidential development. 
 
Also, the bill permits the county to elect to retain a portion of the conveyed federal land for public recreation and public purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
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
Tax Benefit for Homeownership Clarification Act

Bill: 114-hr-6492
Sponsor: Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax deductions
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Tax Benefit for Homeownership Clarification Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the limitation on the mortgage interest deduction for the acquisition indebtedness of certain taxpayers. (Acquisition indebtedness is indebtedness that: (1) is incurred in acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving any qualified residence of the taxpayer; and (2) is secured by such residence. It also includes refinancing of the debt in certain situations.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Service Members Financial Planning Assistance Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6493
Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Service Members Financial Planning Assistance Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, effective as of January 1, 2018, to require the department concerned (Department of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security, or Commerce) to ensure that certain members of the uniformed services who will be eligible to make an election of lump sum payment of certain military retired pay have access to retirement planning assistance with a certified financial planner, at no cost, by December 30, 2017, to help weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of making such election and of selecting a particular payment percentage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Postage Free Ballot Act

Bill: 114-hr-6494
Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Postage Free Ballot Act

 
Any absentee ballot for any election shall be carried through the mail expeditiously and free of charge.
 
This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct a state to use a requirements payment to reimburse the U.S. Postal Service for revenue it would have obtained from the mailing of absentee ballots but for the requirement that such ballots be mailed for free.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Ensure Access to DACA Act

Bill: 114-hr-6495
Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Ensure Access to DACA Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to provide an alien who received a grant of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and who filed a DACA renewal request within a specified time frame with a short-term, interim grant of deferred action and employment authorization if there is a service disruption that causes a delay in reaching a final decision that lasts for at last one week.
 
Such interim renewal shall be effective until a final decision is made. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
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
Fairness for American Small Creators Act

Bill: 114-hr-6496
Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Fairness for American Small Creators Act

 
This bill establishes in the U.S. Copyright Office a copyright claims board to serve as an alternative forum for parties to choose to resolve certain copyright claims if the total damages sought by a party do not exceed $30,000.
 
The board must certify its determinations on copyright claims, counterclaims, and defenses for confirmation by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
 
The board is authorized to: (1) conduct hearings and conferences; (2) facilitate settlements; (3) render independent determinations based on copyright laws and regulations without consultation from the Register of Copyrights regarding the facts of a case; (4) award damages; and (5) require cessation or mitigation of infringing activity, including the takedown or destruction of infringing materials, where the parties agree.
 
The bill preserves the right of parties to instead pursue a claim or defense in court.
 
The board may conduct proceedings through Internet-based teleconference applications.
 
Discovery shall be limited to the production of relevant information and documents, written interrogatories, and written requests for admission. But the board may request specific information or approve a party's request for additional limited discovery.
 
A party may request: (1) the claims board to reconsider its determinations, and (2) the Register of Copyrights to review whether the claims board abused its discretion in denying any requested reconsideration.
 
The Register of Copyrights may issue regulations to dispose of any claim with total damages of $5,000 or less through a process that provides for: (1) one copyright claims officer to consider the claim and issue a determination, and (2) a copyright claims attorney to determine whether the case shall be heard by one officer or the board.
 
A party may not assert before a court or tribunal any claim resolved by the board's final determination, but parties may petition the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate, modify, or correct a determination that: (1) was issued as a result of fraud, corruption, misconduct, or undue means; (2) exceeds the board's authority or was executed so imperfectly that the determination was neither final nor definite; or (3) was based on a default determination or failure to prosecute that was due to excusable neglect.
 
If a party fails to pay damages or comply with relief awarded in a final board determination, the aggrieved party may apply for a court order confirming the final award.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
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
TSA Screening Transparency and Accountability Act

Bill: 114-hr-6497
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

TSA Screening Transparency and Accountability Act

 
This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), consistent with the General Accountability Office's November 2015 report on the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), to update its cost estimating methodology for federal cost estimates and cost comparisons to conform to certain minimum leading cost estimating best practices, including by:
 
 
incorporating a cost estimate that reflects the total cost to the federal government, including costs incurred by federal agencies other than TSA;
 
ensuring all TSA cost estimates are adjusted for inflation over the duration of the contract;
 
updating all cost estimates when circumstances at a SPP airport result in a significant change to a contract's value;
 
including an analysis that identifies which variables have the greatest effect on cost estimates; and 
 
reflecting the inherent uncertainty associated with the cost estimate and identifying the elements of the estimate that present the most risk.
 
 
 TSA shall make the update available to the public.
 
 TSA shall develop a streamlined method and standard protocol for documenting, tracking, and resolving customer complaints for both federal and SPP airport checkpoints.
 
TSA shall make available to airport directors, managers, and other individuals in similar positions cleared to handle sensitive security information an assessment of each airport's security screening performance compared to the mean average performance for all equivalent airports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Presidential Tax Disclosure Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6498
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Presidential Tax Disclosure Act of 2016 

 
This bill requires any individual holding the office of President to submit federal tax returns to the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). The individual must submit: (1) each return filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for any year ending while the individual is President, and (2) each return filed with the IRS for the three years before the individual assumed office. 
 
After receiving the returns, the OGE must: (1) make the returns publicly available on the Internet, and (2) submit the returns to specified congressional committees. 
 
No information may be redacted from the disclosed returns except for: (1) Social Security, tax identification, and account identification numbers; and (2) the names of any dependent of the taxpayer. 
 
The bill establishes civil and criminal penalties to enforce the disclosure requirements. It also amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the IRS to disclose to the OGE any federal tax return that is required to be disclosed by this bill, but has not been submitted to the OGE within a specified deadline. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6499
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2016

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a process to expunge an individual's records related to a nonviolent criminal offense. A nonviolent criminal offense is a federal misdemeanor or felony offense that: (1) does not include, as an element, the use of a weapon or violence; and (2) does not involve violence in its commission.
 
To be eligible for expungement, an individual must: be a first-time offender; avoid drug or alcohol dependency or abuse; obtain a high school diploma; complete one year of community service; and fulfill the requirements of a court-ordered sentence, such as complete a prison term, meet the conditions of supervised release, and pay fines. 


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
Moving Housing Forward Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6500
Sponsor: Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Financial services and investments
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Housing finance and home ownership
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Real estate business
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Moving Housing Forward Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to require the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) to establish a pilot program that shares with the private sector the credit risk on a pool of single-family residential mortgage loans that back securities on which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest.
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that credit risk transfer transactions should be encouraged that: (1) reduce taxpayer exposure to credit risk assumed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and (2) do not expose Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to excessive counterparty risk that persons contractually obligated to them will fail to perform their obligations.
 
After the pilot program is executed for three years, the FHFA must examine the economics of developing it into a continuous risk sharing program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
Seat Belts Save Lives Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-6502
Sponsor: Rep. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL-8]
Introduced: 2016-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: 

Seat Belts Save Lives Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prescribe a rule or amend a federal motor vehicle safety standard to require a schoolbus to be equipped with a three-point safety belt at each seat.
 
The bill defines &quot;three-point safety belt&quot; to mean an occupant restraint system consisting of an integrated:
 
 
lap belt or similar device intended to restrain movement of the pelvis, and
 
shoulder belt or similar device intended to restrain movement of the chest and shoulder regions.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Introduced in House