hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2351
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2018-01-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: 

Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the qualifying service requirement of the teacher loan forgiveness program for certain military spouses who are borrowers under the Federal Family Education Loan program or the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program.
 
Under current law, an otherwise qualified full-time teacher must complete five consecutive years of service to be eligible for the teacher loan forgiveness program. This bill permits a teacher who completes five full-time years of non-consecutive service to be eligible for loan forgiveness if the teacher was a qualified military spouse during a break in teaching service. A qualified military spouse is an individual who: (1) is a highly-qualified teacher at a high-need school, (2) is the spouse of a servicemember, (3) experienced a break in teaching service to relocate with servicemember spouse pursuant to military orders, and (4) resumed teaching the following year.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S550-551; text of measure as introduced: CR S551)
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2352
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2018-01-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Licensing and registrations
Mining
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Public contracts and procurement
Tariffs
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: 

Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Department of the Treasury to establish a carbon trading program that caps the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from crude oil, coal, and natural gas. Beginning in 2019, crude oil refineries, petroleum importers, coal mines, coal importers, and natural gas suppliers or processors must purchase carbon permits equivalent to the amount of CO2 that would be emitted by covered fuels. Treasury will auction these permits to those entities.
 
This bill establishes a declining cap on the quantity of permits issued to reduce CO2 emissions until 2050 when the permits issued represent an amount 80% below 2005 CO2 emission levels.
 
Treasury must issue permits for carbon capture and sequestration of CO2 from covered fuels. 
 
This bill provides for the trading or sale of permits between entities, the banking by entities of permits for future years, and the borrowing by Treasury of permits from future years to stabilize permit prices.
 
Auction proceeds and penalties are returned to U.S. citizens lawfully present in the United States using the Healthy Climate Trust Fund established by this bill. 
 
Treasury must impose fees on the import and pay fees for the export of carbon-intensive goods when the export country does not have equivalent measures to regulate greenhouse gases. Carbon-intensive goods are goods with an increased cost due to the regulation of greenhouse gases.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency must regulate within 10 years all sources of greenhouse gases that are anthropogenically emitted. This excludes gases attributable to the production of animals for food.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S551-552)
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act

Bill: 115-s-2353
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2018-01-29 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Human rights
Iran
Middle East
Nuclear weapons
Sanctions

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: 

Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury, in furtherance of efforts to prevent the financing of terrorism, money laundering, or related illicit finance and to make financial institutions' required compliance with sanctions more easily understood, to submit within 270 days and annually thereafter for the next two years a report regarding: 
 
 
the funds or other assets held in U.S. and foreign financial institutions that are directly or indirectly controlled by specified Iranian officials; 
 
any equity interest such official has in an entity on Treasury's list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons or in any other sanctioned entity; 
 
how such funds, assets, or equity interests were acquired and used; 
 
new methods used to evade anti-money laundering and related laws, including recommendations to improve techniques to combat illicit uses of the U.S. financial system by such officials. 
 
 recommendations for revising U.S. economic sanctions against Iran to prevent Iranian officials from using funds or assets to develop and procure ballistic missile technology and commit human rights abuses; 
 
 the effectiveness of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran and how Treasury assesses such effectiveness; and
 
 recommendations for improving Treasury's ability to develop and enforce additional economic sanctions against Iran if so ordered by the President. 
 
 
The unclassified portion of the report shall be made available to the public and posted on Treasury's website in downloadable English, Farsi, Arabic, and Azeri versions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Introduced in Senate
ANTIQUITIES Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2354
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Atlantic Ocean
California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Hawaii
Historical and cultural resources
Illinois
Land use and conservation
Maine
Military history
Montana
Monuments and memorials
Nevada
New Mexico
New York City
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Parks, recreation areas, trails
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington State
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

America's Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States Act of 2018 or the ANTIQUITIES Act of 2018.

 
This bill directs the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to administer each specified national monument under their joint or exclusive jurisdiction, including the Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Gold Butte, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monuments and the Rose Atoll and Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monuments in accordance with: (1) the one or more presidential proclamations that apply to the applicable covered monument; (2) any Act of Congress enacted before December 4, 2017, that provides for an adjustment to the boundary or administration of such monument; and (3) this bill. 
 
The bill establishes the National Monument Enhancement Fund to furnish funding: (1) to such federal agencies to develop management plans for their national monuments that were designated under current federal law, (2) for federal acquisition and development of certain land and other areas, and (3) to develop and enhance recreational infrastructure on such designated lands. 
 
The bill designates: (1) specified BLM lands within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments in New Mexico and in the Gold Butte National Conservation Area in Nevada as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and (2) approximately 100 acres of BLM land in New Mexico as a potential wilderness area and, when specified conditions have been met, for incorporation into the Robledo Mountains Wilderness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 25 New Chardon Street Lobby in Boston, Massachusetts, as the "John Fitzgerald Kennedy Post Office".

Bill: 115-s-2355
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Massachusetts
Postal service
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 25 New Chardon Street Lobby in Boston, Massachusetts, as the "John Fitzgerald Kennedy Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Stronger Medical Workforce for Veterans Act

Bill: 115-s-2356
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Stronger Medical Workforce for Veterans Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop criteria to designate VA medical centers, ambulatory care facilities, and community based outpatient clinics as underserved facilities. 

 
The VA must commence a pilot program to assess the feasibility of providing individuals with tuition and loan repayment incentives to work at underserved facilities. The VA must also ensure that clinical staff working at Vet Centers (community-based counseling centers that provide veterans with post-deployment social and psychological services) are eligible to participate in the VA education debt reduction program.
 
 
 
The bill directs the VA and the Surgeon General to enter into a memorandum of understanding to assign at least 500 Public Health Service commissioned officers to the VA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act

Bill: 115-s-2357
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Accountability in Department of Veterans Affairs Scheduling and Consult Management Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to evaluate and monitor its processes of making health care appointments and scheduling at both VA facilities and non-VA facilities. 

 
The Government Accountability Office shall review such VA compliance and data veracity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2358
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct an interagency study regarding research on lung cancer in women, access to lung cancer preventive services, and public awareness and education campaigns on lung cancer.
The study must include a comprehensive report on research and knowledge gaps related to lung cancer in women in the federal government and recommendations for: (1) a research program that would encourage innovative approaches to eliminate knowledge gaps, (2) the development of a national lung cancer screening strategy with sufficient resources to expand access to screening, and (3) the development of a national public education and awareness campaign on lung cancer in women and the importance of early detection of lung cancer.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
DHS Joint Requirements Council Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2359
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

DHS Joint Requirements Council Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish leadership councils to ensure coordination and improve programs and activities of the department.
 
DHS must establish a Joint Requirements Council within the department to: 
 
 
 identify, assess, and validate joint requirements to meet mission needs; 
 
 ensure that appropriate efficiencies are made among life-cycle cost, schedule, performance, and procurement quantity objectives in the establishment and approval of joint requirements; and 
 
 make prioritized capability recommendations for the joint requirements. 
 
 
A &quot;joint requirement&quot; is a condition or capability of multiple operating components of DHS that is required to be met or possessed by a system, product, service, result, or component to satisfy a contract, standard, specification, or other formally imposed document.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Freight Act

Bill: 115-s-2360
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Railroads
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Safe Freight Act

 
This bill prohibits the operation of a freight train or light locomotive engine used in the movement of freight unless it has a crew of at least two individuals, one of whom is certified by the Federal Railroad Administration as a locomotive operator and the other as a train conductor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Opportunity Mortgage Expansion Act

Bill: 115-s-2361
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Housing Opportunity Mortgage Expansion Act 

 
This bill amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to allow the continuation or restoration of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) membership for captive insurance companies that became members prior to finalization of a specified Federal Housing Finance Agency rule ending their FHLB membership. (A captive insurance company underwrites insurance for its parent company and does not provide insurance to the public.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Control Your Personal Credit Information Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2362
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Consumer credit
Credit and credit markets
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Control Your Personal Credit Information Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to require a consumer's affirmative written consent before a consumer reporting agency may share that consumer's report with third parties for specified purposes. A consumer must provide proper identification when giving this consent. (Currently, this sharing is generally allowed unless a consumer opts out.) 
 
If the consumer provides consent, a consumer reporting agency may share information with a third party for: 
 
 
an extension of credit, or 
 
the underwriting of insurance. 
 
 
A consumer reporting agency may provide a consumer report in connection with transactions not initiated by the consumer only if: 
 
 
the consumer provides affirmative consent, and 
 
the transaction consists of a firm offer of credit or insurance. 
 
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on how best to protect information collected in consumer files. 
 
Consumer reporting agencies may not charge consumers fees in connection with furnishing consumer reports. 
 
The bill requires consumer reporting agencies to use reasonable efforts to prevent data breaches of consumer reports. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-07-12
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S582-583)
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Creating American Investment, Redevelopment, and Opportunity Task Force Act

Bill: 115-s-2363
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Creating American Investment, Redevelopment, and Opportunity Task Force Act

 
This bill establishes the Creating American Investment, Redevelopment, and Opportunity Task Force. The goals of the task force shall include expanding affordable housing, improving infrastructure, and spurring investment in Alexander County, Illinois.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
SRF WIN Act

Bill: 115-s-2364
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
State and local finance
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now Act or the SRF WIN Act

 
This bill amends the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA) to allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide additional financial assistance (e.g., low-interest loans) through FY2023 to state infrastructure financing authorities for drinking water state revolving funds (SRFs) and clean water SRFs to carry out certain water and wastewater infrastructure projects. 
 
For projects funded under this bill, the EPA: (1) must expedite their application and review process, (2) may provide up to 100% of the project costs, and (3) must provide financial assistance based on need and give equal consideration to drinking water projects and wastewater projects. Total financial assistance provided under this bill may not exceed $7 billion per state.
 
The bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA to provide financial assistance under WIFIA to carry out projects for flood damage reduction, storm damage reduction, environmental restoration, or navigation improvement to certain waterways. Under current law, such financial assistance may be provided to only pilot projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S583-584)
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

Bill: 115-s-2365
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2018-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Human rights
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Iran
Middle East
News media and reporting
Protest and dissent
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: 

Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act

 
This bill directs the President to identify and impose sanctions against senior members of the government of Iran and other persons who are responsible for or complicit in committing serious human rights violations, or engaging in censorship, the diversion of goods intended for the people of Iran, or public corruption. 
 
The President shall identify and impose U.S. entry and financial sanctions against persons who are responsible for or complicit in the politically-motivated intimidation, detention, or trial in Iran of U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.
 
The Department of State shall submit to Congress a strategy to prevent elements of the Iranian regime from engaging in hostage-taking or the prolonged arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. 
 
The bill authorizes the consolidation of certain Iran-related reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2366
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-02-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: 

Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require specified adjustments to discretionary spending limits to accommodate appropriations for the decennial census to be conducted during 2020.
 
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Introduced in Senate