hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Ban Conflicted Trading Act

Bill: 115-s-3718
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Commodities markets
Congressional officers and employees
Corporate finance and management
Financial services and investments
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Members of Congress
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Ban Conflicted Trading Act

 
This bill prohibits a Member of Congress or certain congressional officers or employees from (1) purchasing or selling specified investments, (2) entering into a transaction that creates a net short position in a security, and (3) serving as an officer or member of any board of any for-profit entity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3719
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Emergency communications systems
Evidence and witnesses
Federal-Indian relations
Genetics
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Missing persons
Right of privacy
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2018

 
This bill revises the authority for state grants to improve the reporting of unidentified and missing persons. 
 
Among other things, the bill does the following: 
 
 
authorizes grants to be used for additional activities (e.g., transportation of missing persons and unidentified remains), including with respect to migrants;
 
expands eligible entities; and
 
gives priority to eligible entities in states along the southern border.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7358-7359)
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Health and Clean Transit Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3720
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Buy American requirements
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Community Health and Clean Transit Act of 2018

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to make direct loans to eligible entities (i.e., grant recipients for buses and bus facilities or state and local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service) for the costs of acquiring electric buses (zero emission vehicles) and for technical assistance in connection with such acquisition and related infrastructure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, with respect to the definition of the term "family farmer".

Bill: 115-s-3721
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Bankruptcy
Commerce
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 
This bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to increase the aggregate debt limit for a family farmer who files for relief under chapter 12 (family farmer or fisherman reorganization). The debt limit is the maximum amount of debt that can be reorganized in bankruptcy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevention of Private Information Dissemination Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3722
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Prevention of Private Information Dissemination Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to establish criminal monetary penalties with respect to: (1) an officer or employee of a federal financial regulatory agency who willfully makes an unauthorized disclosure of certain individually identifiable information, and (2) a person who willfully requests or obtains such information under false pretenses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Main Street Growth Act

Bill: 115-s-3723
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Business investment and capital
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Main Street Growth Act 

 
This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to allow for the registration of venture securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The bill includes conditions for eligibility and provides for exemptions from certain regulations for venture securities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing the Trusted Workforce for the 21st Century Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3724
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Performance measurement
Personnel records
Public contracts and procurement
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Modernizing the Trusted Workforce for the 21st Century Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Security, Suitability, and Credentialing Performance Accountability Council to prepare various reports and strategies related to improving the framework for vetting individuals for security clearances. The council shall also revise the security clearance process to improve promptness, specifically so that 90% of determinations on clearances at the secret level are issued within 30 days and clearances at the top secret are issued within 90 days. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3725
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Sales and excise taxes
Small business
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 2018

 
This bill prohibits states from imposing a sales tax collection duty on certain remote sellers. A "remote seller" is a person without a physical presence in a state who makes a sale in the state.
 
With respect to remote sellers, a state: (1) may not impose a sales tax collection duty for any sale that occurred before June 21, 2018, and (2) may only impose a sales tax collection duty for a sale that occurs after January 1, 2020. 
 
In the case of a small business remote seller (no more than $10 million in gross annual receipts in the United States), a state may not impose a sales tax collection duty on any person other than the purchaser if the sale is made: (1) on or after June 21, 2018; and (2) before the date that is 30 days after the states develop and Congress approves an interstate compact, applicable to the state and sale, governing the imposition of tax collection duties on remote sellers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3726
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Protect Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the National Housing Act to repeal waiting period requirements for guarantees provided by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Specifically, Ginnie Mae may guarantee a security backed by a refinanced Department of Veterans Affairs housing loan without a waiting period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Good Samaritan Remediation of Orphan Hardrock Mines Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3727
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Indian lands and resources rights
Licensing and registrations
Metals
Mining
Pollution liability
Soil pollution
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Good Samaritan Remediation of Orphan Hardrock Mines Act of 2018

 
This bill: (1) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot program under which the EPA grants permits for Good Samaritans to remediate historic mine residue at orphan hardrock mine sites, and (2) establishes a Good Samaritan Mine Remediation Fund for land management agencies that authorize Good Samaritans to conduct remediation projects on federal land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Exercise and Fitness for All Act

Bill: 115-s-3728
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access Board
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business expenses
Department of Justice
Disability and paralysis
Income tax credits
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Small business
Sports and recreation facilities

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Exercise and Fitness for All Act

 
This bill requires the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to develop guidelines for exercise or fitness service providers regarding the provision of accessible exercise or fitness equipment, and extends the disabled access tax credit to providers that implement such guidelines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3729
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Conflicts and wars
Health personnel
Military personnel and dependents
Nursing
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2018

 
This bill recognizes service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II as active military service. Individuals who served in the corps are eligible for specified honors but shall not be entitled by reason of such service to veterans' benefits generally.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
RISE Act

Bill: 115-s-3730
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Rightfully Investing in Supporting Educators Act or the RISE Act 

 
This bill allows a refundable tax credit for certain elementary school teachers, secondary school teachers, and early childhood educators who teach low-income students. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
BUILD Act

Bill: 115-s-3731
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2018-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: 

Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams Act or the BUILD Act 

 
This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to allow nonprofit organizations offering mortgage loans for charitable purposes to use certain alternative forms to satisfy disclosure requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Protection of Source Code Act

Bill: 115-s-3732
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2018-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: 

Protection of Source Code Act

 
This bill amends the Commodity Exchange Act to specify that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission may not compel a person to produce a source code or similar intellectual property that forms the basis for design of the source code without first issuing a subpoena.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Protection of Source Code Act

Bill: 115-s-3733
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2018-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: 

Protection of Source Code Act

 
This bill amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to specify that the Securities and Exchange Commission may not compel a person to produce a source code or similar intellectual property that forms the basis for design of the source code without first issuing a subpoena.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Unsolicited Loan Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3734
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2018-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: 

Unsolicited Loan Act of 2018

 
This bill prohibits a lender from providing an unsolicited loan check to a consumer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
SuperPAC Elimination Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3735
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: 

SuperPAC Elimination Act of 2018 

 
 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 notification to be sent within 24 hours to the Senate or the Federal Election Commission, and the Department of State, as appropriate, if a contributor's aggregate contributions to a candidate exceed $200 in a calendar year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2018-12-10
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: 115-s-3736
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2018-12-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: 
This bill generally prohibits the cross-examination of a minor (i.e., an individual under the age of 18) by a pro se criminal defendant accused of sexual assault of the minor. A pro se criminal defendant is a defendant in a criminal case who represents himself or herself without a lawyer.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-12-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act

Bill: 115-s-3737
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health facilities and institutions
Health technology, devices, supplies
Public contracts and procurement
Surgery and anesthesia
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: 

Veterans Affairs Medical-Surgical Purchasing Stabilization Act

 
This bill makes changes to the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) procures certain medical, surgical, dental or laboratory supplies for its medical centers. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to (1) award contracts to multiple regional prime vendors instead of a single nationwide prime vendor, and (2) prohibit a prime vendor from solely designing the formulary (list of medicines covered) for such supplies.
 
The VA shall ensure that VA employees who conduct formulary analyses or makes decisions about including items on the formulary have relevant medical expertise. Additionally, the VA shall provide Congress with periodic lists of such individuals and their medical expertise listed by categories of formulary items.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Hatch-Waxman Integrity Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3738
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Intellectual property
Licensing and registrations
Prescription drugs
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: 

Hatch-Waxman Integrity Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prevent a generic drug or biosimilar manufacturer from using a specific review process for challenging pharmaceutical drug or biologic patents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Arctic Policy Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3739
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2018-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Arctic and polar regions
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: 

Arctic Policy Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 to (1) modify the membership requirements of the Arctic Research Commission, (2)establish the Arctic Executive Steering Committee, (3)establish the Arctic Advisory Committee, and (4)establish tribal advisory groups to provide input and recommendations on particular issues of the Arctic.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7432-7434)
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
SEAL Act

Bill: 115-s-3740
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2018-12-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alaska
Arctic and polar regions
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Geography and mapping
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Infrastructure development
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation safety and security
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: 

Shipping and Environmental Arctic Leadership Act or the SEAL Act

 
This bill creates the U.S. Arctic Seaway Infrastructure Development Corporation to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state of Alaska, and regional port authorities, to construct deep water port facilities within the Alaskan region necessary to manage and facilitate increased marine traffic. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7434-7435)
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Disability Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-3741
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2018-12-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: 

Social Security Disability Protection Act

 
This bill prohibits the Social Security Administration from reinstating reconsideration of an initial disability determination in any of the 10 prototype states. (Those states skip the reconsideration level of the disability-benefits determination process and instead go straight to the hearing level.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Introduced in Senate