hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-853
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Foreign aid and international relief
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Public contracts and procurement
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the the Department of State to annually publish on a publicly accessible website a three-tiered ranking based upon the extent of compliance by a foreign country's government with the minimum anti-corruption standards prescribed in this bill.
 
The bill states that a government is complying with such standards if it: 
 
 
has enacted and judicially enforces laws, and has established structures and practices, that prohibit corruption; 
 
prescribes punishment for grand corruption that is commensurate with the punishment for serious crimes; 
 
prescribes punishment for petty corruption that provides a sufficient deterrent and reflects the nature of the offense; and 
 
is making sustained anti-corruption efforts.
 
 
The State Department shall, prior to the obligation of any foreign assistance (except humanitarian, disaster, and anti-corruption assistance) to a tier 3 country: 
 
 
conduct a corruption risk assessment and create a corruption mitigation strategy for all foreign assistance programs to that country, 
 
require the inclusion of anti-corruption clauses for all foreign assistance contracts and grants, 
 
 require the inclusion of clawback clauses for all foreign assistance contracts and grants to recover U.S. taxpayer funds that have been misappropriated through corruption, 
 
require disclosure of the beneficial ownership of all entities receiving foreign assistance funding, and 
 
establish a mechanism for investigating allegations of misappropriated foreign assistance funds or equipment. 
 
 
The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall: (1) consolidate existing reports with anti-corruption components into one online, public platform; and (2) incorporate anti-corruption components into existing Foreign Service and Civil Service training courses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-854
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Air quality
Business records
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Coal
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Labor
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Evidence and witnesses
Family services
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Labor standards
Lawyers and legal services
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mining
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017

 
 This bill amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to revise requirements governing: (1) investigations of mine accidents, (2) miners' rights and protections (e.g., whistle-blower rights and protections), (3) mine health and safety standards, (4) underground coal mines, and (5) health and safety training for miners.
 
The Department of Labor, when investigating coal or other mines, must: (1) determine why an accident occurred and whether there were violations of law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other requirements; (2) refer to the Department of Justice cases involving violations of federal criminal law; and (3) make recommendations to avoid a recurrence of an accident.
 
 The bill expands Labor's enforcement authority, including by requiring Labor to: (1) revoke the approval of mine operators' plans or programs based on certain criteria, and (2) order mine operators to withdraw all persons from a mine until Labor approves a new plan. The bill revises civil and criminal penalties, including by subjecting a mine operator who knowingly violates health or safety standards to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1 million fine.
 
Underground coal mines operators must implement a communication program to brief miners of current mine conditions and install atmospheric monitoring systems. 
 
The bill amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) to expand its coverage to government employees and increase civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act. The bill also expands whistle-blower rights and protections against retaliation under the OSH Act, establishes employee rights with respect to work-related bodily injuries or death, and establishes procedures for correcting serious, willful or repeated violations of occupational safety and health standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-855
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Coal
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Disability assistance
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Legal fees and court costs
Medical ethics
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mining
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
User charges and fees
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to revise requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits.
 
The Department of Labor must pay the attorneys' fees of prevailing parties on a qualifying benefit claim. 
 
This bill revises: (1) the standards of medical evidence that establish a presumption that a miner is totally disabled by black lung, and (2) payments to such miners, including their dependents.
 
Black lung clinics may use federal funds to help individuals file claims.
 
A person may not: (1) knowingly and willfully make a false statement or misrepresentation in increasing or reducing black lung benefits, or (2) threaten or mislead a participant in a proceeding regarding the benefits.
 
Labor, upon request, must give a claimant the opportunity to substantiate a claim for benefits through a pulmonary evaluation of the miner. Labor must also authorize a CT (computerized tomography) scan in diagnosing complicated pneumoconiosis.
 
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health must establish a pilot program to ensure accurate classifications of chest radiographs in black lung cases where the diagnosis is at issue.
 
Labor must educate certain individuals who work on black lung benefits about medical evidence relevant to claims.
 
A previously denied claimant may file a new claim for black lung benefits within one year.
 
This bill amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to direct Labor to use data from continuous personal dust monitors to determine whether to make changes to respirable dust concentration standards, controls, and measurements.
 
This bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Campus Accountability and Safety Act

Bill: 115-s-856
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Education
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Evidence and witnesses
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement administration and funding
School administration
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Student records
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Campus Accountability and Safety Act

 
This bill addresses sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other violence and harassment on the campuses of colleges and universities.
 
The bill amends provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to expand reporting requirements included in the annual campus security report provided to current and prospective students and employees. Specifically, the report must include information about: (1) the institutions coordination with local law enforcement about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking occurring against its students or against other individuals on its campus; (2) statistics about certain criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police, including rape, fondling, incest, and statutory rape; and (3) information about how the institution is addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Department of Education (ED) must administer and publish the campus-level results of a biannual survey of students regarding their experiences with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
 
Each institution must establish a campus security policy that meets certain requirements with respect to: (1) assisting survivors; (2) training individuals who are involved in implementing the student grievance procedures or who are responsible for interviewing survivors; and (3) establishing a uniform process for student disciplinary proceedings relating to any claims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking or a sexual misconduct policy violation against a student.
 
ED and the Department of Justice may impose civil penalties for failure to meet certain requirements under this bill.
 
The bill also authorizes grants to address these issues.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
African American Civil Rights Network Act

Bill: 115-s-857
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Protest and dissent
Racial and ethnic relations
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

African American Civil Rights Network Act

 
 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish within the National Park Service (NPS) an African American Civil Rights Network that encompasses: (1) all NPS units and programs that relate to the African American civil rights movement during the period from 1939 through 1968; (2) other federal, state, local, and privately owned properties that relate to the African American civil rights movement and that are included in, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places; and (3) other governmental and nongovernmental facilities and programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature that are directly related to such movement. 
 
In carrying out the network, Interior must: (1) review civil rights movement studies and reports that may already be underway or completed, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study; (2) produce and disseminate educational materials, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or electronic information; (3) provide technical assistance; and (4) adopt an official, uniform symbol or device for the network and issue regulations for the symbol's use.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-858
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Housing discrimination
Housing finance and home ownership
Real estate business
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act of 2017

 
 This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination against or regarding survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault in:
 
 
the sale or rental of housing and related activities, 
 
residential real estate-related transactions, and 
 
the provision of real estate brokerage services.
 
 
This bill declares that nothing in the Act shall prohibit federal, state, or local government or other assistance or a preference program designed to assist or benefit domestic violence or sexual assault survivors in seeking, securing, or maintaining dwellings, shelters or any other form of housing.
 
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is amended to prohibit intimidation in fair housing tranactions regarding survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-859
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Canada
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fishes
Government studies and investigations
Great Lakes
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct critical monitoring, scientific assessments, and research in support of fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin between the United States and Canada. 
 
In support of the fisheries within the Great Lakes Basin, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center shall: (1) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, freshwater fisheries science program; (2) work cooperatively with regional, state, tribal, and local governments; and (3) consult with interested groups, including academia and Canadian agencies.
 
 To protect and improve the Great Lakes, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center may provide:
 
 
deep-water ecosystem research,
 
fish behavior and habitat reports,
 
fish population assessments,
 
invasive species research,
 
use of biological equipment and laboratory capabilities necessary to support fishery management decisions, and
 
studies that assess impacts on Great Lakes Fishery resources.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-861
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-04-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Employee leave
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: 

Federal Employee Fair Treatment Act of 201

7

 
This bill requires federal employees furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after April 28, 2017, to be compensated for the period of the lapse on the earliest date possible after the lapse ends. Employees required to work during the lapse in appropriations may use leave. The bill addresses a lapse in appropriations scheduled to occur if FY2017 appropriations legislation is not enacted prior to the expiration of the continuing resolution that currently funds most federal agencies through April 28, 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-07
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 35.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text as introduced in Senate: CR S2368)
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Introduced in Senate
American Apprenticeship Act

Bill: 115-s-862
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: 

American Apprenticeship Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Labor to make grants to assist states to pay for the cost of carrying out projects that defray the cost of instruction associated with pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, as those terms are defined by this bill.
 
A state must use grant funds to defray the costs of tuition and fees, textbooks, equipment, curriculum development, and other required educational materials.
 
Labor shall: (1) identify in-demand occupations that lack the use of apprenticeships, (2) analyze the use of the apprenticeship model in those occupations, and (3) report on such analysis to states and Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Offshoring Prevention Act

Bill: 115-s-863
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Foreign and international corporations
Income tax credits
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: 

Offshoring Prevention Act
 
 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include imported property income in foreign base company income, for purposes of determining the income of controlled foreign corporations. 
 
The bill defines "imported property income" as, with certain exceptions, income derived in connection with:
 
 
manufacturing, producing, growing, or extracting imported property;
 
 the sale, exchange, or other disposition of imported property; or
 
the lease, rental, or licensing of imported property.
 
 
The bill also provides for a separate application of limitations on the foreign tax credit for imported property income.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Balkan Economic Partnership Act

Bill: 115-s-864
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-04-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Economic development
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
Public-private cooperation
Small business
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: 

Balkan Economic Partnership Act

 
This bill authorizes the President to designate a private, nonprofit organization to be known as the Bosnia and Herzegovina-American Enterprise Fund to promote private sector development through:
 
 
the initiation and expansion of employment and profitability of private enterprises; 
 
the modeling, promotion, and dissemination of sound corporate governance and law-abiding Western business practices;
 
the promotion of policy reforms to improve the business enabling environment and facilitate foreign and domestic investment; and
 
the demonstration that private sector investment can be undertaken profitably.
 
 
The Board of Directors of the fund should adopt the best practices and procedures used by investment funds authorized for the U.S. Agency for International Development through enactment of the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 and the FREEDOM Support Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-04-06
text: Introduced in Senate