hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2046
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2017-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Business records
Census and government statistics
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Performance measurement
Policy sciences
Right of privacy
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: 

Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2017 

 
This bill requires departments and agencies identified in the Chief Financial Officers Act to submit annually to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress a plan for identifying and addressing policy questions relevant to the programs, policies, and regulations of such departments and agencies.The plan must include: (1) a list of policy-relevant questions for developing evidence to support policymaking, and (2) a list of data for facilitating the use of evidence in policymaking.
 
The OMB shall consolidate such plans into a unified evidence building plan.
 
The bill provides statutory authority for the Interagency Council on Evaluation Policy. The council assists the OMB in supporting government-wide evaluation activities and policies. The bill defines "evaluation" to mean an assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, and organizations intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.
 
Each department or agency shall designate a Chief Evaluation Officer to coordinate evidence-building activities and an official with statistical expertise to advise on statistical policy, techniques, and procedures.
 
The OMB shall establish an Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building to advise on expanding access to and use of federal data for evidence building.
 

Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act or the OPEN Government Data Act

 
This bill requires open government data assets to be published as machine-readable data. 
 
Each agency shall: (1) develop and maintain a comprehensive data inventory for all data assets created by or collected by the agency, and (2) designate a Chief Data Officer who shall be responsible for lifecycle data management and other specified functions.
 
The bill establishes in the OMB a Chief Data Officer Council for establishing government-wide best practices for the use, protection, dissemination, and generation of data and for promoting data sharing agreements among agencies. 

Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2017

 
This bill codifies provisions relating to confidential information protection and statistical efficiency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Preemptive War in North Korea Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2047
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Military operations and strategy
North Korea
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: 

Preventing Preemptive War in North Korea Act of 2017

 
This bill prohibits funds from being used without express congressional authorization for kinetic military operations in North Korea absent an imminent threat to the United States.
 
The prohibition shall not apply to the introduction of the Armed Forces to: (1) repel an attack on the United States, its territories or possessions, the Armed Forces, or U.S. allies; or (2) rescue or remove U.S. personnel. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in American Workers Act

Bill: 115-s-2048
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Employment taxes
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax rates
Licensing and registrations
Small business
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: 

Investing in American Workers Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for employers who increase worker training expenditures.
 
The credit is equal to 20% of the excess of: (1) the qualified training expenditures for the year, over (2) the average of the adjusted qualified training expenditures for the three previous years. If the employer had no qualified training expenditures in any one of the three previous years, the credit is equal to 10% of the adjusted qualified training expenditures for the year. 
 
The credit applies to expenditures for the training of non-highly compensated employees (annual compensation does not exceed $82,000). The training must result in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential and be provided through: 
 
 
an apprenticeship program; 
 
 a program of training services that is included on a list of eligible training providers that states are required to maintain under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; 
 
 a program which is conducted by an area career and technical education school, a community college, or a labor organization; or 
 
 a program which is sponsored and administered by an employer, industry trade association, industry or sector partnership, or labor organization. 
 
 
Certain small businesses and tax-exempt organizations may apply the credit against payroll taxes, subject to specified limits and requirements. Eligible small businesses may also apply the credit against the alternative minimum tax. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase support for conservation practices under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-2049
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Farmland
Natural disasters
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase the maximum cost-share payment permitted under the Department of Agriculture Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). 
 
(The ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.) 
 
The bill requires the maximum cost-share payment permitted under the ECP (currently $200,000 per person or legal entity, per natural disaster) to be equal to the maximum cost-share permitted under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (currently $500,000 per person or legal entity, per disaster). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to provide to producers partial payments under the livestock indemnity program for livestock sold for salvage.

Bill: 115-s-2050
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require the Department of Agriculture to make payments under the Livestock Indemnity Program for livestock that is sold for a reduced sale price in excess of the normal mortality. Any payments made pursuant to this bill must be reduced by the amount that the producer received from the sale. 
 
(Under current law, the Livestock Indemnity Program provides payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather, or attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2051
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business ethics
Health care quality
Health personnel
Medical ethics
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill exempts certain alternative payment models under Medicare from the general prohibition on physician self-referrals (also known as the Stark law).



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care Market Certainty and Mandate Relief Act

Bill: 115-s-2052
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Appropriations
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Health Care Market Certainty and Mandate Relief Act 

 
This bill appropriates such sums as necessary to pay through health care plan year 2019 the cost-sharing reductions authorized in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (A cost-sharing reduction is a discount that lowers the amount an individual pays for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance; the federal government pays the difference directly to insurers.) The bill excludes payments to insurers that cover abortions other than abortions necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman or abortions of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
 
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend for 2017-2021 the individual mandate to maintain minimum health care coverage.
 
The bill suspends the employer health care mandate for 2015-2017, thereby exempting employers from penalties for failing to provide mandated coverage during that time period.
 
The bill increases the monthly contribution limit for health savings accounts through 2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to increase the maximum amount of assistance authorized under supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs.

Bill: 115-s-2053
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Aquaculture
Disaster relief and insurance
Insects
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to increase the payment limitation for certain Department of Agriculture supplemental agricultural disaster assistance programs. The bill increases from $125,000 to $250,000 the total amount of disaster assistance payments that may be received under all of the programs by a person or legal entity (excluding a joint venture or general partnership) for any crop year. (Under current law, the payment limitation applies to the Livestock Forage Program; the Livestock Indemnity Program; and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to establish a program to provide advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program for the repair or replacement of fencing.

Bill: 115-s-2054
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Farmland
Natural disasters
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give agricultural producers the option of receiving advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for the repair or replacement of fencing. 
 
(The ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.)
 
The advance payments must be provided before the producer carries out the repair or replacement and be based on the fair market value of the cost of the repair or replacement approved by USDA under the program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
YOUTH Act

Bill: 115-s-2055
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act of 2017 or the YOUTH Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the grant program for substance abuse treatment services for children and adolescents to cover young adults.
 
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) must award grants for demonstration programs to: (1) expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders among adolescents and young adults, or (2) create and distribute resources on medication-assisted treatment training and implementation for health care providers of children, adolescents, and young adults.
 
AHRQ must report on the demonstration programs and the availability of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults. The report must include recommendations for ensuring such treatment is accessible.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
STOP Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2056
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Motor vehicles
Pedestrians and bicycling
Terrorism
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Stopping Threats on Pedestrians Act of 2017 or the STOP Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish and carry out a competitive grant program to provide assistance for traffic barrier installation projects designed to prevent pedestrian injuries and acts of terrorism in areas used by large numbers of pedestrians.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Pharmaceutical Regulation Conflict of Interest Act

Bill: 115-s-2057
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Pharmaceutical Regulation Conflict of Interest Act

 
This bill amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to prohibit a pharmaceutical regulator from using his or her position as regulator to influence any matter that provides a direct or substantial pecuniary benefit to a former employer or client. The position of pharmaceutical regulator refers to any officer or employee occupying a supervisory position within the Drug Enforcement Administration or the Food and Drug Administration.
 
The bill also prohibits such a pharmaceutical regulator from participating in matters involving an individual or entity with whom the pharmaceutical regulator is negotiating future employment.
 
The bill expands restrictions on lobbying by such pharmaceutical regulators following separation from employment with a pharmaceutical regulatory agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the thresholds by which medical facility projects and medical facility leases of the Department of Veterans Affairs are considered major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases, respectively, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-2058
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill increases the thresholds by which Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility projects and medical facility leases are considered major projects or major leases. 
 
 Project thresholds are increased from $10 million to $20 million and lease thresholds are increased from an average annual rental rate exceeding $1 million to an average annual rental rate exceeding $1.5 million.
 
(Major project or lease designation requires additional funding, administrative, and approval criteria.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in Senate
EHR Regulatory Relief Act

Bill: 115-s-2059
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

EHR Regulatory Relief Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a 90-day performance period with respect to determining whether an eligible professional or hospital is a meaningful electronic health record (EHR) user. 
 
Additionally, the bill: (1) requires the CMS to consider specified findings and recommendations of the Government Accountability Office with respect to assessing whether an eligible professional is a meaningful EHR user, (2) allows the CMS to determine that an eligible hospital is a meaningful EHR user if the hospital meets a specified percentage of the applicable measures established by the CMS, and (3) extends the applicability of the hardship exception with respect to meaningful EHR use.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2060
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Bangladesh
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Burma
Child safety and welfare
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Economic development
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Evidence and witnesses
Farmland
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Government liability
Historical and cultural resources
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Land use and conservation
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Mining
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
North Korea
Political movements and philosophies
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations
Violent crime
Visas and passports
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2017

 
 This bill authorizes assistance to victims of the military's ethnic cleansing campaign targeting the Rohingya people in Rakhine State, Burma (Myanmar), as well as technical assistance to investigate and prosecute crimes related to ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State.
 
The bill imposes restrictions on international financial institution assistance, security cooperation, and trade. It calls on the President to determine whether specified individuals should be included in the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. 
 
The Departments of State and the Treasury and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall submit to Congress an assistance strategy to promote broad-based economic development in Burma.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-12
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 307.
action_date: 2018-02-12
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-02-12
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-02-07
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in Senate