hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act

Bill: 115-s-1687
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Buy American requirements
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Industrial facilities
Labor standards
Manufacturing
Metals
Oil and gas
Public-private cooperation
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program that provides grants for energy efficiency improvement projects in the manufacturing sector. 
 
The following types of entities are eligible for grants: (1) state energy offices, (2) nonprofit organizations focused on providing energy efficiency or renewable energy services, (3) electric cooperative groups, or (4) entities with a public-private partnership under the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The entities that receive grants must then distribute subgrants to nongovernmental, small- or medium-sized manufacturers (employing no more than 750 employees) located in the state in which the entity is located to carry out projects that: (1) improve the energy efficiency of the manufacturer, and (2) develop technologies that reduce electricity or natural gas use by the manufacturers. 
 
The bill establishes labor requirements for projects that receive grant funding under this bill. In addition, the bill establishes a requirement that grant projects only use iron and steel products that are produced in the United States, unless DOE grants a waiver of the requirement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1688
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to: (1) negotiate drug prices under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and (2) institute a price structure for the reimbursement of drugs covered under the benefit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Marijuana Justice Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1689
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Employment and training programs
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Housing and community development funding
Law enforcement administration and funding
State and local government operations
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Marijuana Justice Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act:
 
 
 to remove marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from schedule I; and 
 
to eliminate criminal penalties for an individual who imports, exports, manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute marijuana. 
 
 
It prohibits and reduces certain federal funds for a state without a statute legalizing marijuana, if the Bureau of Justice Assistance determines that such a state has a disproportionate arrest rate or disproportionate incarceration rate for marijuana offenses. 
 
The bill directs federal courts to expunge convictions for marijuana use or possession.
 
Finally, it establishes in the Treasury the Community Reinvestment Fund. Amounts in the fund may be used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a grant program to reinvest in communities most affected by the war on drugs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4669-4670)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act

Bill: 115-s-1690
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Child Care Access Means Parents in School Reauthorization Act or the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act

 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise and permanently reauthorize the Child Care Access Means Parents in School grant program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1691
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017
 
 
This bill requires Internet-connected devices purchased by federal agencies to meet specified security requirements, including requirements that the devices (1) do not contain known security vulnerabilities or defects; (2) rely on software or firmware components capable of accepting properly authenticated and trusted updates from the vendor; (3) rely only on non-deprecated industry-standard protocols and technologies for certain functions; and (4) do not include fixed or hard-coded credentials.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Educator Preparation Reform Act

Bill: 115-s-1694
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Disability and paralysis
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Employee performance
Higher education
Minority employment
Performance measurement
Preschool education
School administration
Special education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Educator Preparation Reform Act

 
This bill modifies federal grant programs and requirements for educator preparation programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4671-4672)
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1695
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Higher education
Hydrology and hydrography
Infrastructure development
Licensing and registrations
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2017
 
 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, which is any green stormwater management technique that: (1) uses natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or capture stormwater; and (2) preserves, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology to protect or restore water quality. One of the centers must be the national electronic clearinghouse center and operate a website and a public database on the infrastructure.
 
In addition, the EPA must provide grants to state, tribal, or local governments or entities that manage stormwater, drinking water resources, or wastewater resources for innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects.
 
The EPA must ensure that: (1) EPA's Office of Water, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Office of Research and Development, and Office of Policy promote the use of the infrastructure in, and coordinate the integration of, permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance; and (2) the Office of Water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of the infrastructure. The EPA must: (1) direct each EPA regional office to promote and integrate the use of the infrastructure within the region, and (2) promote sharing information about the infrastructure approaches. 
 
The EPA must establish the innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard of voluntary, measurable goals to increase the percentage of annual water managed by entities that use the infrastructure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1696
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Alternative and renewable resources
Computers and information technology
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Public utilities and utility rates
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish and carry out a smart energy and water efficiency management pilot program to award grants to utilities, municipalities, water districts, Indian tribes or Alaska Native villages, and other water authorities for demonstrating advanced and innovative technology-based solutions that will:
 
 
 increase the energy efficiency of water, wastewater, and water reuse systems; 
 
improve those systems to help communities make significant progress in conserving water, saving energy, and reducing costs; 
 
support the implementation of innovative processes and the installation of advanced automated systems that provide real-time data on energy and water; and
 
improve energy and water conservation, water quality, and predictive maintenance of energy and water systems, through the use of Internet-connected technologies.
 
 
DOE must annually evaluate each grant project and make best practices identified in the evaluations available to the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Settlement Trust Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1698
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Indian claims

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Settlement Trust Improvement Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of Alaska Native Settlement Trusts, to: (1) allow an Alaska Native Corporation to assign certain payments referenced in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to a trust without including the payments in the gross income of the corporation, (2) allow the corporation to elect annually to deduct contributions made to a trust, (3) allow a trust to elect to defer the recognition of gains related to contributions of property other than cash until the sale or exchange of the property, and (4) establish information reporting requirements for deductible contributions to a trust. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1699
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agricultural trade
Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Cuba
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Government liability
Human rights
Income tax credits
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Latin America
Normal trade relations, most-favored-nation treatment
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Taxation of foreign income
Trade restrictions
Travel and tourism
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2017
 
This bill repeals the embargo on trade with Cuba. 
The bill: (1) makes ineffective certain prohibitions on exports to Cuba; (2) extends nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations) to Cuban products; (3) prohibits regulation or banning of travel to and from Cuba by U.S. citizens or residents or of any transactions incident to travel; and (4) repeals the President's authority to continue direct restrictions on trade with Cuba. 
The President shall: (1) conduct negotiations with Cuba on settling claims of U.S. nationals for the taking of property by the Cuban government, and (2) engage in bilateral dialogue with Cuba on securing the protection of internationally recognized human rights. 
The President may establish specified export controls and trade restrictions with respect to Cuba. 
 The President may impose export controls and exercise certain emergency economic authorities with respect to Cuba only if there is an unusual threat to U.S. national security. 
 The bill repeals: (1) the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992; (2) the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996; (3) the prohibition against allocation of the annual sugar quota to a country unless such country verifies that it does not import Cuban sugar for reexport to the United States; (4) the prohibition on transactions or payments respecting certain U.S. intellectual property; and (5) restrictions on assistance to any independent state of the former Soviet Union that engages in trade with, or provides other support to, Cuba. 
 Cuba is removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions. 
 Common carriers may provide telecommunications services, including installations and repairs, between the United States and Cuba. 
 The Department of the Treasury may not limit the amount of remittances to Cuba that may be made by any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction. 
 The Internal Revenue Code is amended to require the President to report to Congress on a country's status prior to the denial of foreign tax credits for certain foreign countries. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1700
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Solid waste and recycling
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to codify the WaterSense Program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that allows water-efficient products, buildings, landscapes, facilities, processes, and services to bear a "WaterSense" label. 
 
The EPA must establish certification criteria for the WaterSense label, enhance public awareness regarding the label, preserve the label's integrity, and review, and if appropriate, revise the WaterSense label requirements.
 
To the maximum extent practicable and no less than annually, the EPA must estimate and publish the aggregate production, aggregate market penetration, and savings of water, energy, and capital costs of water, wastewater, and stormwater attributable to the use of WaterSense-labeled products, buildings and building landscapes, facilities, processes, and services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1701
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intellectual property
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act of 2017

 
This bill requires each federal agency with annual extramural research expenditures of over $100 million to develop a federal research public access policy that (1) is consistent with, and that advances, the purposes of the agency; and (2) follows common procedures for the collection and depositing of research papers. 
 
Each federal research public access policy is applicable to (1) researchers employed by the federal agency whose works remain in the public domain, and (2) researchers funded by the agency. The bill specifies exclusions.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress regarding (1) an analysis of the period between the date on which each paper becomes publicly available in a journal and the date on which the paper is in the online repository of the applicable federal agency, and (2) the effectiveness of the policy in providing the public with free online access to papers on research funded by each agency required to develop a policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act

Bill: 115-s-1702
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Endangered and threatened species
Fishes
Idaho
Indian lands and resources rights
Lakes and rivers
Licensing and registrations
Mammals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Washington State
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act

 
 This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to issue one-year permits allowing Washington, Oregon, Idaho, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to kill sea lions in a portion of the Columbia River or certain tributaries in order to protect fish from sea lion predation. Permits may be issued to kill sea lions only if the sea lions are part of a population that is not depleted. 
 
The permits may authorize the lethal taking of 100 sea lions or fewer. The cumulative annual taking of sea lions each year under all such permits is limited to 10% of the annual potential biological removal level. 
 
Permit holders must be trained in natural resource management. 
These permits are exempted from environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for five years.
 
NOAA may suspend the issuance of the permits if, within five years, lethal removal authority is no longer necessary to protect fish from sea lion predation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
HOPE Act

Bill: 115-s-1703
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Immigration status and procedures
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Healthcare Opportunities for Patriots in Exile Act or the HOPE Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security to parole into the United States an alien veteran who: (1) is seeking temporary admission to receive health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and (2) is outside the United States after having been ordered removed or voluntarily departed from the United States.
 
Such parole shall not be available for an alien who is inadmissible due to a criminal conviction for a crime of violence, excluding a purely political offense, or a crime that endangers U.S. national security, for which the alien has served at least five years in prison.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1704
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Citizenship and naturalization
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2017

 
 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) establish a program to permit an eligible deported noncitizen veteran to enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident alien and permit an eligible noncitizen veteran in the United States to adjust to lawful permanent resident status, and (2) cancel an eligible noncitizen veteran's removal and allow the individual to adjust to lawful permanent resident status.
 
A veteran is eligible if the veteran has not been convicted of a crime of violence or a crime that endangers national security for which the veteran has served at least five years in prison. DHS may waive eligibility requirements for humanitarian, family unity, public interest, or exceptional military service reasons.
 
A noncitizen veteran or service member may not be removed from the United States unless such individual has been convicted of a crime of violence.

 An individual who has obtained lawful permanent resident status pursuant to this bill shall be eligible for: (1) military and veterans benefits, and (2) naturalization through U.S. military service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate