hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Integrity in Border and Immigration Enforcement Act

Bill: 115-s-1560
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Employee hiring
Employee performance
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

Integrity in Border and Immigration Enforcement Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to administer a polygraph examination to all applicants for law enforcement positions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). DHS may not hire those who do not pass the polygraph test.
 
As part of background reinvestigations, DHS shall administer a polygraph examination to ICE and CBP agents who are at risk of corruption or misconduct. Additionally, DHS must randomly administer a polygraph examination each year to at least 5% of CBP and ICE agents who are undergoing background reinvestigations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4000; text of measure as introduced: CR S4000)
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Open America's Waters Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1561
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Coast guard
Department of Homeland Security
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

Open America's Waters Act of 2017

 
This bill eliminates restrictions on coastwise trade under the Jones Act, which governs domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to issue regulations that require all vessels permitted to engage in coastwise trade to meet all appropriate safety and security requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4000-4001)
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
North Korean Enablers Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1562
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Asia
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Human rights
Human trafficking
Labor standards
North Korea
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

North Korean Enablers Accountability Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the President to: (1) impose property-blocking sanctions against the North Korean government, business entities that trade with North Korea, including specified Chinese entities, and affiliated persons or entities; (2) prohibit the opening, and strictly control the maintaining in the United States, of correspondent or payable-through accounts by a foreign financial institution that assisted in the importation, sale, or transfer of North Korean goods or services; and (3) impose specified sanctions against a person that imports, purchases, or transfers goods or services from the North Korean government or from such entities or affiliates.
 
The President may waive the application of these sanctions for humanitarian or national security purposes.
 
The bill prohibits the U.S. entry of goods mined, produced, or manufactured by North Korean labor, and directs the President to apply property-blocking sanctions against a person or entity that mines, produces, or manufactures such prohibited goods. Such prohibition shall not apply if U.S. Customs and Border Protection finds that the goods were not produced with trafficked, convict, forced, or indentured labor. 
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission shall require issuers of stock and other securities to disclose annually any investments in North Korea and activities potentially sanctionable under this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Rare Earth Element Advanced Coal Technologies Act

Bill: 115-s-1563
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Coal
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Metals
Strategic materials and reserves
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

Rare Earth Element Advanced Coal Technologies Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy to create a program for the development of advanced separation technology to extract and recover rare earth elements and minerals from coal and coal byproducts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 423.
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-255.
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-255.
action_date: 2018-03-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-12-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-493.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Refund Equality Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1564
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Marriage and family status
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

Refund Equality Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain same-sex couples who were legally married under state law from the three-year time limitation for filing: (1) a claim for a credit or refund of an overpayment of any tax, or (2) an election to file jointly after having filed separate returns. 
 
Certain legally married same-sex couples who were first treated as married for federal tax purposes by the application of the holdings of Revenue Ruling 2013-17 may file amended returns for previous years until the due date for the return for the year in which this bill is enacted. The bill applies only to amended returns and claims for a credit or refund that relate to a change in the marital status of the spouses.
 
(In Revenue Ruling 2013-17, the Internal Revenue Service adopted a general rule recognizing, for federal tax purposes, the validity of a same-sex marriage that was valid in the state where it was entered into, regardless of the married couple's place of domicile.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Future Educators Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1565
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Government information and archives
Higher education
Rural conditions and development
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

Supporting Future Educators Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to establish the Strengthen-Our-Schools Grant Program, which shall award competitive, renewable five-year grants to local education agencies to fund:
 
 
teaching residency programs, including distance-learning facilities or infrastructure, mentor teacher incentives, resident salaries, and resident tuition; 
 
additional credit requirements for a teacher to become licensed in a second subject area or earn an additional qualification that meets a specific need of the school; 
 
additional credit requirements needed to qualify teachers to teach dual or concurrent enrollment programs; and 
 
housing supplements or special housing programs to support prospective teachers in high-need districts.

 
Not less than 10% of available grant funds shall be directed to programs that address teacher shortages in rural school districts.
 
ED must create a national database of qualified mentor teachers who can provide student-teacher supervision to participants in teacher preparation programs. 
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
CARE for Reservists Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1566
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Mental health
Military medicine
Military operations and strategy
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

Care And Readiness Enhancement for Reservists Act of 2017 or the CARE for Reservists Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide counseling without referral, which may include a comprehensive individual assessment, to any member of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who has a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma. Outpatient services shall also be available to such reservists. 
 
The VA shall evaluate current and future workloads to determine whether more Vet Centers, including mobile Vet Centers, are needed to handle an expansion of services resulting from such increased eligibility. If a Vet Center's workload treating members of the Armed Forces exceeds its workload treating veterans, the VA shall enter into discussions with the Department of Defense (DOD) to determine whether a reimbursable memorandum of understanding between the VA and DOD for the center's services is warranted.
 
The VA may furnish mental health services to such reservists. 
 
Such reservists are included in the VA programs of: (1) comprehensive suicide prevention, and (2) mental health treatment for veterans who served in classified missions. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
VA Prescription Data Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1567
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-07-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Health information and medical records
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: 

VA Prescription Data Accountability Act 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to disclose information about an individual who is dispensed medication prescribed by a VA employee or by a non-VA provider authorized to prescribe such medication by the VA (currently, about a veteran or the dependent of a veteran) to a state controlled substance monitoring program to the extent necessary to prevent misuse and diversion of prescription medicines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-13
text: Introduced in Senate
President John F. Kennedy Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 115-s-1568
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Currency
Libraries and archives
Massachusetts
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: 

President John F. Kennedy Commemorative Coin Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 500,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of President John F. Kennedy. 
 
The bill requires all sales of such coins to include a surcharge of $10 per coin, which shall be paid by Treasury to the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation to support the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to eliminate the non-application of certain State waiver provisions to Members of Congress and congressional staff.

Bill: 115-s-1569
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, in the event that the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 is enacted, to make plans made available by the federal government to Members of Congress and congressional staff subject to state waivers of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requirement for health insurance to cover the essential health benefits and PPACA restrictions on premium variation by age and health status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
LGBT Data Inclusion Act

Bill: 115-s-1570
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Government information and archives
Right of privacy
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: 

LGBT Data Inclusion Act

 
This bill requires federal agencies that collect information through a survey that includes demographic data (where subjects self-report information or a proxy provides information about the subject or responds for all persons in a household) to establish data standards that require: 
 
 
a determination of which existing data sets exclude information about sexual orientation and gender identity; 
 
an identification, and a use, of appropriate methods to include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in surveys that facilitate categorization and voluntary participation and that preserve privacy and confidentiality; and 
 
a routine assessment of needed changes in survey methods related to asking such questions. 

 
When appropriate, agencies that publish reports relying on survey demographic data must include information on sexual orientation and gender identity.
 
Individuals shall not be: (1) required by this bill to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to an agency; or (2) subjected to fines or penalties for refusing to answer, or providing a false answer to, any survey question regarding gender identity or sexual orientation.
 
Nothing in this bill shall be construed to permit the use of such collected information in a manner that would adversely affect an individual. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1571
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2017-07-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: 

National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to reauthorize through FY2023 and revise the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 
 
A community that participates in NFIP and has been repeatedly flooded must: (1) assess the continuing risks to community areas repeatedly damaged by floods; and (2) develop and implement a publicly available, community-specific plan for mitigating continuing flood risks to such areas. A community that does not comply with these requirements shall be subject to sanctions.
 
The amount of coverage available under the Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) program is increased. This bill makes available ICC coverage in communities outside special flood hazard areas that have adopted specified land use and control measures. 
 
After FY2021, as a condition of qualifying for NFIP, local or state governments are required to impose upon a seller or lessor a duty to disclose specified flood information.
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must incorporate the replacement value of structures in setting flood premium rates.
 
This bill amends the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 to reauthorize through FY2023 and revise the mapping program. 
 
 In addition to reinsurance, alternatives may be used by FEMA in its risk transfer activities.
 
This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide procedures for the declaration of a major disaster for wildfire on federal land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Helium Extraction Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1572
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-07-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Land use and conservation
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: 

Helium Extraction Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to require that land leased by the Department of the Interior for the extraction of helium shall fall under the same lease terms as a federal oil and gas lease.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-08-22
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-528.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Introduced in Senate
American Discovery Trail Act

Bill: 115-s-1573
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2017-07-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Colorado
Delaware
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Travel and tourism
Utah
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: 

American Discovery Trail Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to place on federal land at points along the American Discovery Trail (from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Point Reyes National Seashore, California) acceptable signage donated to the United States for that purpose.
 
No federal funding may be used to acquire the signage authorized for placement by this bill. 

action_date: 2018-07-16
text: 

American Discovery Trail Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to place on federal land at points along the American Discovery Trail (from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Point Reyes National Seashore, California) acceptable signage donated to the United States for that purpose.
 
No federal funding may be used to acquire the signage authorized for placement by this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-07-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 515.
action_date: 2018-07-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment. With written report No. 115-301.
action_date: 2018-07-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment. With written report No. 115-301.
action_date: 2018-05-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2018-02-14
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-504.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1574
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-07-18 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Foreign property
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Protest and dissent
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Trade restrictions
Vietnam
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: 

Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the President to: (1) impose financial and immigration/entry sanctions on listed nationals of Vietnam who are complicit in human rights abuses committed against nationals of Vietnam or their family members, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Vietnam; and (2) submit to Congress a publicly available list of individuals determined to be complicit in such human rights abuses.
 
The President may waive sanctions to comply with international agreements or if in the U.S. national interest.
 
Sanctions shall be terminated if the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has: (1) released all political prisoners; (2) ceased its practices of violence, detention, and abuse of citizens of Vietnam engaging in peaceful political activity; and (3) conducted a transparent investigation into the killings, arrest, and abuse of such political activists and prosecuted those responsible.
 
It is the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S.-Vietnam relationship cannot progress while the government of Vietnam's human rights record continues to deteriorate, and (2) the Secretary of State should designate Vietnam as a country of particular concern with respect to religious freedom.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4057-4059)
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Introduced in Senate