hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Hearing Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-59
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Federal preemption
Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Hearing Protection Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) eliminate the $200 transfer tax on firearm silencers, and (2) treat any person who acquires or possesses a firearm silencer as meeting any registration or licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer. Any person who pays a transfer tax on a silencer after January 9, 2017, may receive a refund of such tax. 
 
The bill amends the federal criminal code to preempt state or local laws that tax or regulate firearm silencers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 719 Church Street in Nashville, Tennessee, as the "Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and United States Courthouse".

Bill: 115-s-60
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Members of Congress
Senate
Tennessee

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 
This bill designates the federal building and U.S. courthouse located at 719 Church Street in Nashville, Tennessee, as the "Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and United States Courthouse.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to remove the sunset provision of section 203 of Public Law 105-384 and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-61
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oregon
State and local government operations
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 
This bill makes permanent the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to adopt and enforce state laws governing fishing and processing in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to their state in any Dungeness crab fishery for which there is no fishery management plan in effect under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

action_date: 2017-06-05
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec.1)This bill makes permanent the authority of Washington, Oregon, and California to adopt and enforce state laws governing fishing and processing in the exclusive economic zone adjacent to their state in any Dungeness crab fishery for which there is no fishery management plan in effect under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 111.
action_date: 2017-06-05
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune without amendment. With written report No. 115-88.
action_date: 2017-06-05
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune without amendment. With written report No. 115-88.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
January 8th National Memorial Act

Bill: 115-s-62
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Congressional officers and employees
House of Representatives
Judges
Members of Congress
Monuments and memorials
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

January 8th National Memorial Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish the January 8th National Memorial in Tucson, Arizona, as an affiliated area of the National Park System in commemoration of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others in Tucson on January 8, 2011. 
 
The memorial shall not be established until Interior certifies that Tucson's January 8th Memorial Foundation, which shall be the management entity for the memorial, has established a trust fund to receive donations and provide for the construction, operation, maintenance, and management of the memorial. 
 
Interior shall develop a general management plan for the memorial. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-63
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Indian lands and resources rights
Labor-management relations
Minority employment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to exclude Native American tribes and tribal enterprises and institutions on tribal land from requirements for employers under the NLRA. (Currently under the NLRA, employers may not engage in unfair labor practices and must allow employees to form unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action.)

action_date: 2017-02-17
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to exclude Native American tribes and tribal enterprises and institutions on tribal land from requirements for employers under the NLRA. (Currently under the NLRA, employers may not engage in unfair labor practices and must allow employees to form unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 9.
action_date: 2017-02-17
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-3.
action_date: 2017-02-17
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-3.
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-64
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Canada
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives
Prescription drugs
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations within 180 days permitting individuals to import a prescription drug purchased from an approved Canadian pharmacy that:
 
 
 is dispensed by a pharmacist licensed in Canada;
 
 is purchased for personal use in quantities not greater than a 90-day supply;
 
is filled using a valid prescription issued by a physician licensed to practice in the United States; and
 
has the same active ingredients, route of administration, dosage form, and strength as a prescription drug approved under the FFDCA.
 
 
 Certain medications may not be imported, including controlled substances and biological products.
 
 The bill establishes a certification process for approving Canadian pharmacies. HHS must publish a list of approved Canadian pharmacies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Retired Pay Restoration Act

Bill: 115-s-66
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Retired Pay Restoration Act 

 
 This bill allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability (under current law, such a disability must be rated as not less than 50% disabling).
 
 The bill makes eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay those individuals who were retired or separated from military service due to a service-connected disability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
IRGC Terrorist Designation Act

Bill: 115-s-67
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Iran
Middle East
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

IRGC Terrorist Designation Act

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization and should be so designated by the Department of State. 
 
State shall report to Congress on whether the IRGC meets such criteria and, if not, on which criteria have not been met.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-68
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Egypt
Middle East
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 
 
Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of State to report to specified congressional committees within 60 days indicating: (1) whether the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization; and (2) if not, which criteria have not been met.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-69
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Judicial review and appeals
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act of
 
2017

 
 This bill sets forth general requirements for the federal regulatory system, including the protection of public health, welfare, safety, and the environment, the promotion of predictability in the regulatory process, and the consideration of benefits and costs of regulations. 
 
The bill requires federal agencies to: (1) propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination that the benefits of such regulations justify their costs; (2) tailor regulations to impose the least burden on society and to maximize economic and other benefits; (3) involve the public and parties affected by regulations in the regulatory process; (4) develop regulatory actions that promote innovation, flexibility, and objectivity; and (5) consider methods to promote retrospective analysis of rules that may be outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and develop plans for reviewing on a periodic basis significant regulation actions (i.e., those having an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or otherwise adversely affecting the economy). 
 
The bill provides for judicial review of any agency action required under this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the mountain at the Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, as Devils Tower, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-70
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land use and conservation
Monuments and memorials
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 
This bill declares that the mountain at the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming shall be known and designated as &quot;Devils Tower.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act

Bill: 115-s-71
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Forests, forestry, trees
Fruit and vegetables
Horticulture and plants
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Emergency Citrus Disease Response Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a full deduction in the current taxable year of the cost of replanting lost or damaged citrus plants. The taxpayer must own an equity interest of at least 50% in such replanted plants and may deduct costs paid or incurred through the date that is ten years after the enactment of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-72
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Retail and wholesale trades
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Counterterror Alert Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include in the national instant criminal background check system (i.e., the NICS database) information about an individual who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation.
 
A federal department or agency must submit to DOJ information about such individual. 
 
Additionally, if a licensed gun dealer requests a background check on a prospective gun buyer who is or has been under a federal terrorism investigation, then the NICS database must notify the appropriate division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the request and the pending firearm transfer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-73
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Housing and community development funding
Housing industry and standards
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Housing Accountability Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide statutory authority for the requirement for an entity receiving low-income housing assistance payments for existing public housing units to maintain decent, safe, and sanitary conditions for any structure covered under a payment contract.
 
 The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall develop a process by which a Performance-Based Contract Administrator shall, on a semiannual basis, conduct a survey of the tenants of each such structure to identify consistent or persistent problems with the structure's physical condition or its manager's performance. 
 
 A structure shall be referred to HUD for remediation if the administrator identifies such a problem based on the survey or any other observation made by the administrator during the normal course of business.
 
HUD may impose a penalty on the structure's owner if the structure does not satisfactorily meet this bill's requirements or is repeatedly referred to HUD for remediation by an administrator through the process. Collected amounts shall be used solely for supporting safe and sanitary conditions at applicable structures or for HUD designated tenant relocation, with priority given to tenants of the penalized structure.
 
This bill shall not apply to voucher program property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act

Bill: 115-s-74
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accidents
Advisory bodies
Alabama
Aquaculture
Aquatic ecology
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Florida
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Gulf of Mexico
Hunting and fishing
Intergovernmental relations
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Mississippi
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Oil and gas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pollution liability
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Seafood
State and local government operations
Technology assessment
Texas
Transportation safety and security
Travel and tourism
Water quality
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act

 
This bill address issues related to preventing and responding to oil spills.
 
This bill amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain areas in the Gulf of Mexico until June 30, 2027.
 
This bill sets forth provisions concerning Coast Guard responsibilities, including designating areas that are at heightened risk of oil spills and implementing measures to ameliorate that risk. 
 
 This bill amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to establish a Gulf Coast Regional Citizens' Advisory Council to advise on facilities and tank vessels. 
 
 This bill makes an owner of oil responsible for oil spill cleanup. Currently, owners of oil are only responsible if the oil is being transported in a single-hull vessel.
 
This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permit the Coast Guard or the Department of Commerce to request a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of any accident occurring in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). 
 
Commerce must establish an inspection fee for OCS facilities for the cost of inspections of facilities and other duties.
 
This bill requires a comprehensive review of the capacity of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to respond to oil spills. NOAA must develop and maintain oil spill trajectory modeling capability.
 
 The Coast Guard must evaluate and validate oil pollution containment and removal methods and technologies.
 
NOAA must carry out long-term marine environment monitoring and research program for the Gulf of Mexico.
 
The bill requires the Coast Guard to publish within 12 hours an Incident Action Plan in response to an oil spill.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Arla Harrell Act

Bill: 115-s-75
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Military facilities and property
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Arla Harrell Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reconsider and make a new determination regarding each claim for disability compensation in connection with exposure to mustard gas or lewisite during active military, naval, or air service during World War II that was denied before this bill's enactment. The VA or the Department of Defense (DOD): (1) shall presume that a veteran experienced full-body exposure to mustard gas or lewisite unless proven otherwise; and (2) may not use information contained in the DOD and VA Chemical Biological Warfare Database or any list of known testing sites for mustard gas or lewisite maintained by the VA or DOD as the sole reason for determining that the veteran did not experience such exposure.
 
The VA shall report to Congress every 90 days on reconsidered claims that were denied.
 
The VA and DOD shall jointly establish a policy for processing future claims in connection with such exposure. 
 
The bill requires DOD, for purposes of determining whether a site should be added to the list of DOD sites where mustard gas or lewisite testing occurred, to: (1) investigate and assess sites where the Army Corps of Engineers has uncovered evidence of mustard gas or lewisite testing or where more than two veterans submitted claims in connection with exposure that were denied; and (2) report on experiments conducted by DOD during World War II to assess the effects of mustard gas and lewisite.
 
The VA shall: (1) investigate and assess VA actions to reach out to individuals who had been exposed in such experiments, the disability compensation claims that were filed, and the percentage of such claims that were denied; and (2) submit a comprehensive list of each location where such an experiment was conducted. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-215.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate