hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

Bill: 115-s-414
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Birds
Cemeteries and funerals
Ecology
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Historical and cultural resources
Hunting and fishing
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Nevada
Outdoor recreation
Water use and supply
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct sales or exchanges of eligible lands in Pershing County, Nevada, identified as the &quot;Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area.&quot;
 
Interior and the county shall jointly select which parcels of eligible land to offer for sale or acre-for-acre exchange. 
 
For purposes of acre-for-acre exchanges, Interior shall identify management priority areas within the Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area, including those considered to be:
 
 
 greater sage-grouse habitat;
 
 part of an identified wildlife corridor or designated critical habitat;
 
of value for outdoor recreation or public access for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes;
 
of significant cultural, historic, ecological, or scenic value; or
 
of value for improving federal land management. 
 
 
The bill prescribes requirements for the disposition of proceeds from the sales of lands. 
 
Interior shall offer for sale and convey to specified qualified entities, for fair market value, the remaining U.S. right, title, and interest in certain lands and interests in the county. 
 
Interior shall convey to the county, without consideration, Unionville Cemetery. 
 
The bill designates specified federal land in Nevada as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
The bill releases specified wilderness study areas from further review for designation as wilderness. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 708.
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-409.
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-409.
action_date: 2018-10-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2018-02-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-502.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to nullify the effect of the recent Executive order that makes the vast majority of unauthorized individuals priorities for removal and aims to withhold critical Federal funding to sanctuary cities.

Bill: 115-s-415
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Organized crime
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 
This bill rescinds Executive Order 13768, entitled &quot;Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States.&quot; Among other things, that order raises questions regarding whether, and to what extent, federal agencies will withhold federal grant funds that would have otherwise been awarded to jurisdictions that willfully refuse to comply with a federal statute that bars states and localities from restricting sending or receiving information to or from federal immigration authorities (sanctuary jurisdictions).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act

Bill: 115-s-416
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Government studies and investigations
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act

 
This bill amends the Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980 with respect to the annual government-business forum of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review the current status of problems and programs relating to small business capital formation.
 
The SEC shall review each of the forum's findings and recommendations and issue a public statement promptly assessing it and disclosing the action, if any, the SEC intends to take with respect to it.

action_date: 2017-09-11
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980 with respect to the annual government-business forum of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review the current status of problems and programs relating to small business capital formation.
 
The SEC shall review each of the forum's findings and recommendations and issue a public statement promptly assessing it and disclosing the action, if any, the SEC intends to take with respect to it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-09-11
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S 5166)
action_date: 2017-09-11
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S 5166)
action_date: 2017-09-11
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5166)
action_date: 2017-09-11
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5166)
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-417
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Art, artists, authorship
Asia
Books and print media
China
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of the Treasury
Detention of persons
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Europe
Foreign labor
Foreign property
Higher education
Hong Kong
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
News media and reporting
Political movements and philosophies
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Protest and dissent
Religion
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
United Kingdom
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
 
of 2017

 
This bill amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to direct the Department of State to report to Congress (within 90 days and annually thereafter through 2023) on conditions in Hong Kong that are of U.S. interest. 
 
Such report shall include matters in which Hong Kong is given separate treatment under U.S. laws from that accorded to China. 
 
 The State Department shall certify to Congress annually whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous to justify separate treatment different from that accorded to China in any new laws, agreements, treaties, or arrangements entered into between the United States and Hong Kong. 
 
 The President shall identify persons responsible for: (1) the surveillance, abduction, detention, or forced confessions of certain booksellers and journalists in Hong Kong; and (2) other actions suppressing basic freedoms.
 
The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny U.S. entry to identified individuals and revoke visas or other entry documentation.
 
 Entry, work, or study visa applicants who resided in Hong Kong in 2014 shall not be denied visas on the basis of the applicant's arrest or detention or other adverse government action taken as a result of participation in the nonviolent protest activities related to Hong Kong's electoral process. 
 
 The President shall freeze the U.S.-based assets of identified individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of State and United States Agency for International Development Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-418
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of State
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Department of State and United States Agency for International Development Accountability Act of 2017

 
This bill requires: (1) the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to submit: (1) a report listing all outstanding recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that relate to the State Department or USAID that have not been fully implemented, and (2) a report on the implementation status of such recommendations.
 
The GAO shall report on any discrepancies between State Department-USAID list of outstanding recommendations and GAO's list.
 
The implementation status report shall include:
 
 
for any recommendation the State Department or USAID has decided not to fully implement or to implement in a different manner than what was recommended, a detailed justification for the decision; 
 
for any recommendation the State Department or USAID has decided to adopt but which has not been fully implemented, a timeline for full implementation; and 
 
an explanation for any discrepancies included in the GAO report. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Iran Terror-Free Skies Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-420
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Iran
Lebanon
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Iran Terror-Free Skies Act
 
of 2017

 
This bill requires the President to report to specified congressional committees every 180 days on the Iranian government's use of commercial aircraft and related services for illicit military or other activities during: (1) the preceding five years, for the first report; and (2) the preceding 180 days, for any subsequent report. Such reports shall describe the extent to which:
 
 
Iran's government has used commercial aircraft, including Iran Air, or related services to transport illicit cargo to or from Iran, including military goods, weapons, personnel, electronic parts and mechanical equipment, or rocket or missile components; 
 
the commercial aviation sector of Iran has provided support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, the Bashar al Assad Regime in Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, Kata'ib Hezbollah, any other organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act, or any person on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control; and 
 
foreign governments and persons have facilitated such activities. 

 
If the President determines in such a report that any Iranian commercial air carrier has used commercial aircraft for illicit military purposes on or after January 16, 2016, the President shall include the air carrier on such list.
 
This bill shall cease to be effective 30 days after the President certifies that the Iranian government has ceased providing support for acts of international terrorism. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
PSC Oversight Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-421
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
State and local government operations
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Preserving State Commission Oversight Act of 2017 or the PSC Oversight Act of 2017

 
This bill nullifies a Federal Communications Commission regulation that prohibits a state commission from designating Lifeline broadband providers that are eligible to accept government subsidies in exchange for providing discounted Internet service to qualifying low-income consumers under the universal service program.
 
The bill also amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit anything in such Act or the Telecommunications Act of 1996 from being construed as modifying or limiting the jurisdiction of any state commission to designate a telecommunications carrier eligible to receive universal service support. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-422
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Disability and paralysis
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017

 
 This bill includes as part of the Republic of Vietnam its territorial seas for purposes of the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with exposure by veterans to certain herbicide agents while in Vietnam.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-423
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2017

 
This bill provides that a child shall be eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of the child's marital status.
 
Before January 1, 2018, this bill shall not apply to a child who is eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health care plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act

Bill: 115-s-424
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of the Treasury
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Law enforcement officers
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act

 
This bill expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include: (1) federal employees not otherwise covered whose duties include the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted criminals and who are authorized to carry a firearm; (2) Internal Revenue Service employees whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns; (3) U.S. Postal Inspection Service employees; (4) Department of Veterans Affairs police officers; and (5) certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are seized-property specialists with duties relating to custody, management, and disposition of seized and forfeited property. 
 
The bill deems service performed by an incumbent law enforcement officer on or after the enactment date of this bill to be service performed as a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. The past service of such incumbents shall be treated as service performed by a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes only if a written election is submitted to the Office of Personnel Management within five years after the enactment of this bill or before separation from government service, whichever is earlier. An incumbent who makes an election before the enactment of this bill may pay a deposit into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to cover prior service.
 
A law enforcement officer shall not be subject to mandatory separation under CSRS or FERS during the three-year period beginning on the enactment of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1306-1307)
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-425
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Historic sites and heritage areas
Income tax credits
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for the rehabilitation of buildings and historic structures, to: (1) allow an increased 30% credit, up to $750,000, for projects with rehabilitation expenditures not exceeding $3.75 million, for which no credit was allowed in either of the two immediately preceding taxable years (small projects); (2) allow the transfer of tax credit amounts for small projects; (3) treat a building as substantially rehabilitated if rehabilitation expenditures exceed the greater of 50% of the adjusted basis of the building or $5,000 (currently, the greater of the adjusted basis of the building or $5,000); (4) reduce the required basis adjustment from 100% of the credit to 50% of the amount of the credit; and (5) limit the application of disqualified lease rules to tax-exempt use property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-426
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year Grow Our Own Directive (or G.O.O.D.) pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces for education and training as VA physician assistants in exchange for recipients agreeing to be employed as physician assistants for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for a specified period at a VA medical facility located in a community designated as a medically underserved population in a state with a per capita population of veterans of more than 9%.
 
The VA shall: (1) provide at least 35 new scholarships under the pilot program each year, and (2) ensure that at least 25 new scholarships are awarded each year under its health professional and employee incentive scholarship programs for the education and training of physician assistants.
 
The VA must: (1) establish specified standards to improve its use of educational assistance programs to educate and hire physician assistants, and (2) increase for each of the next five years the scholarship amounts provided under such programs.
 
The bill establishes pay grades and competitive pay requirements for physician assistants. The VA must implement a national strategic plan for the retention and recruitment of VA physician assistants that includes competitive pay in comparison to the pay of physician assistants in the private sector.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-11
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-320.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate