hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Caddo Lake National Heritage Area Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2947
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Historic sites and heritage areas
Lakes and rivers
Land use and conservation
Louisiana
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Caddo Lake National Heritage Area Act of 2018

 
This bill establishes the Caddo Lake National Heritage Area in Louisiana and Texas. 
 
The bill designates the Caddo Lake Heritage Area Commission as the management entity for the area. 
 
The commission shall submit a management plan for the area. Such plan must contain an inventory of the cultural, natural, historical, educational, scenic, and recreational resources in the area, including a list of the property that is related to the area's themes and that should be conserved, enhanced, managed, or developed. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Payment Integrity Information Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2948
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Public contracts and procurement
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Payment Integrity Information Act of 2018

 
This bill modifies and establishes various requirements for federal agencies related to identifying and reducing improper payments. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 736.
action_date: 2018-12-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-445.
action_date: 2018-12-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-445.
action_date: 2018-06-13
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Readiness Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2949
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Readiness Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop and implement a capability to conduct joint campaign modeling for joint electromagnetic spectrum operations. The term &quot;joint electromagnetic spectrum operations&quot; means those activities consisting of electronic warfare and joint electromagnetic spectrum management operations used to exploit, attack, protect, and manage the electromagnetic operational environment to achieve a military commander's objectives.
 
DOD shall: (1) conduct an assessment of required joint electromagnetic spectrum operations capabilities and capacity based on a review of all level 3 and level 4 contingency plans, and (2) submit to the congressional defense committees a report on its readiness with respect to joint electromagnetic spectrum operations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Veteran Entrepreneurs Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2950
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Retail and wholesale trades
Small business
User charges and fees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Veteran Entrepreneurs Act of 201

8

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit of up to $100,000 for 25% of the franchise fees paid or incurred by a veteran for the purchase of a franchise. The bill reduces the amount of such credit if the veteran does not own 100% of the stock or of the capital or profits interest of the franchisee.
 
The veteran may elect to transfer the credit to a franchisor in exchange for a discount in the franchise fee commensurate with the value of the credit. 
 
 The Small Business Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide information about the tax credit allowed by this bill to veterans service organizations and veteran advocacy groups.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
ESCAPE Act

Bill: 115-s-2951
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Enhancing the Strength and Capacity of America's Primary Evacuation Routes Act or the ESCAPE Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a competitive grant program to provide grants for resilience projects that strengthen and protect evacuation routes that are essential for providing and supporting mass evacuations caused by emergency events. The bill defines &quot;resilience project&quot; to mean a project: (1) with the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions; and (2) designed and built to address current and future vulnerabilities to an evacuation route.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act

Bill: 115-s-2953
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Rural conditions and development
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act

 
This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation within the Securities and Exchange Commission to report on issues encountered by rural-area small businesses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Guardians of America's Freedom Medal Act

Bill: 115-s-2954
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 
This bill requires each military department to carry out a program to award medals or other commendations to military working dogs and their handlers to recognize valor or meritorious achievement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
MAP Broadband Act

Bill: 115-s-2955
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Mobile Accuracy and Precision Broadband Act of 2018 or the MAP Broadband Act

 
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend the period of the process under which a person may challenge the initial determination that an area is ineligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support (i.e., the challenge process) until November 27, 2018. The Mobility Fund is a program within the FCC's Universal Service Fund that provides monetary support for the deployment of mobile broadband service. Phase II of the fund provides monetary support over a 10-year period for mobile voice and broadband coverage in mostly rural areas.
 
The FCC must: (1) publicly disclose handsets (i.e., phones) approved for use in the challenge process to assist consumers in exploring potential challenges, (2) publish online monthly updates on the number of entities that it has approved to participate in the challenge process and the percentage of the total area initially determined to be ineligible for Mobility Fund Phase II support that has been challenged, and (3) publish annual updates on whether the deployment of mobile wireless service is being expanded in rural areas due to Mobility Fund Phase II support.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Patients First Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2956
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Patients First Act of 
 
2018

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, testing, and human clinical use of stem cells that may result in improved understanding of, or treatments for, diseases and other adverse health conditions, provided that the techniques will not involve: (1) the creation of a human embryo for research purposes; (2) the destruction or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a living human embryo; or (3) the use of any stem cell the derivation or provision of which would be inconsistent with this bill.
 
HHS must issue guidelines to ensure that any research (including any clinical trial) supported under this bill: (1) is clearly consistent with the standards established in this bill, if conducted using human cells; and (2) is prioritized in terms of potential for near-term clinical benefit in human patients.
 
HHS must report on peer reviewed stem cell research proposals that were not funded.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
PAST Act

Bill: 115-s-2957
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Department of Agriculture
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations
Mammals
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 
 
Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2018 or the PAST Act 

 
This bill amends the Horse Protection Act to establish a new system for inspecting horses for soring, revise penalties for violations of the Act, and modify enforcement procedures. The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse's limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness.
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish requirements to license, train, assign, and oversee persons hired by the management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, or auctions to detect and diagnose sore horses. A license may not be issued to a person with conflicts of interest, and USDA must give preference to veterinarians. USDA may revoke a license for unsatisfactory performance. USDA must assign licensed inspectors after receiving notice that management intends to hire the inspectors. An inspector must issue a citation for violations and notify USDA of violations. USDA must publish information on violations of this bill and disqualify a horse that is sore. 
 
The bill prohibits a person in any horse show, exhibition, sale, or auction from causing or directing a horse to become sore for the purpose of showing, exhibiting, selling, or auctioning the horse.
 
The bill prohibits the use of specified devices on a Tennessee Walking, a Racking, or a Spotted Saddle horse at a show, exhibition, sale, or auction. 
 
The bill increases the maximum criminal and civil liability penalties for certain violations. USDA may disqualify violators from specified activities related to horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to make the provision of Wi-Fi access on school buses eligible for E-rate support.

Bill: 115-s-2958
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Elementary and secondary education
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Preschool education
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to make the provision of Wi-Fi access on school buses eligible for support under the E-rate program, which provides discounted telecommunications services to certain schools and libraries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2934-2935)
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Office of Rural Broadband Act

Bill: 115-s-2959
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development
Telecommunication rates and fees
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Office of Rural Broadband Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish the Office of Rural Broadband, whose duties shall include:
 
 
coordinating with the Rural Utilities Service and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to ensure the success of initiatives and programs, 
 
coordinating with the Universal Service Administrative Company to maintain information regarding programs that deploy rural broadband, 
 
coordinating with agencies to remove barriers to broadband deployment, and 
 
tracking broadband Internet subscription rates in rural areas. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act

Bill: 115-s-2960
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Marriage and family status
Military medicine
Sex and reproductive health
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require private health insurance plans that cover obstetrical services to also cover infertility treatments (e.g., in vitro fertilization). The bill also extends coverage to federal employees, members of the U.S. military, and veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Taiwan International Participation Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2962
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
International organizations and cooperation
Taiwan
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Taiwan International Participation Act of 2018

 
This bill states that U.S. policy should be: (1) to advocate for Taiwan's membership or observer status in international organizations; and (2) for the President to advocate for such status as part of any U.S.-China bilateral engagements, including leader summits and the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act

Bill: 115-s-2963
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cyprus
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Licensing and registrations
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

End the Cyprus Arms Embargo Act

 
This bill repeals specified statutory and regulatory prohibitions on the export and transfer of arms to Cyprus.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Seeds for the Future Act

Bill: 115-s-2964
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
General Native American affairs matters
Government information and archives
Higher education
Horticulture and plants
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Seeds for the Future Act 

 
This bill amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that at least $50 million of USDA grant funding is used each year for competitive research grants that support the development of public cultivars. 
 
A "cultivar" is a variety of plant that has been intentionally selected for use in cultivation because of its improved characteristics. A "public cultivar" is the commercially available uniform end product of a publicly funded breeding program that has been sufficiently tested to demonstrate improved characteristics and stable performance. 
 
The bill also amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish a public cultivar research activities coordinator within USDA to coordinate research activities relating to the breeding of public cultivars. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Slate for Kids Online Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2965
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Clean Slate for Kids Online Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to require the operator of any website or online service directed to children:
 
 
to provide notice on the website about how an individual over age 13, or the guardian of an individual over 13, can request the deletion of all personal information in the operator's possession collected when the individual was a child; 
 
to promptly delete, upon request, all personal information in the operator's possession that was collected from or about the individual when the individual was a child; and 
 
to provide written confirmation of deletion.

 
"Delete" means to remove personal information such that the information is not maintained in retrievable form and cannot be retrieved in the normal course of business.
 
The bill allows a limited exception to the deletion requirement if the personal information collected from or about a child is necessary to respond to judicial process or to provide information to law enforcement agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2935)
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Secret Foreign Interference in Elections Act

Bill: 115-s-2966
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Stop Secret Foreign Interference in Elections Act

 
This bill requires certain corporations, nonprofit organizations, political organizations, and other organizations to disclose to the Federal Election Commission specified information, such as information regarding (1) recipients of campaign-related disbursements of a certain size, and (2) funds received from foreign nationals.
 
The bill also requires (1) a principal officer of a such an entity to certify that, to the officer's knowledge, certain types of expenditures and disbursements were not made with funds provided by a foreign national; and (2) certain tax-exempt organizations to report the receipt of disqualified foreign contributions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Journalist Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-2967
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
News media and reporting
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Journalist Protection Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish new criminal offenses for intentional acts (or attempts to commit acts) that cause bodily injury to a journalist.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Whistleblower Protection Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2968
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Department of Energy
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Whistleblower Protection Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to establish whistle-blower rights and protections for employees of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-29
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-534.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate