hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Flexibility for Working Families Act

Bill: 115-s-997
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2017-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Judicial review and appeals
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Library of Congress
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: 

Flexibility for Working Families Act

 
This bill allows an employee to request from an employer a temporary or permanent change in the terms or conditions of the employee's employment if the request relates to: (1) the number of hours the employee is required to work, (2) the times when the employee is required to work or be on call for work, (3) where the employee is required to work, or (4) the amount of notification the employee receives of work schedule assignments. The bill sets forth certain employer duties with respect to such requests.
 
The bill prohibits an employer from interfering with any rights provided to an employee under this bill. An employee may file a complaint with the Department of Labor for any violations of such rights. Labor shall investigate and attempt to resolve such complaints and may issue orders making determinations and assessing civil fines or awarding relief for alleged violations. The bill provides for judicial review of such orders, including in federal courts of appeal.
 
 Labor and certain federal agencies and offices shall provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding compliance with this bill. 
 
 The Wage and Hour Division of Labor must issue guidance on compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act that provides for a flexible work environment through changes in employee terms and conditions of employment as provided in this bill. 
 
The requirements of this bill are applicable to certain classes of employees, including employees of the Government Accountability Office and the Library of Congress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-998
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2017-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Business records
Customs enforcement
Government information and archives
Marine and inland water transportation
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: 

Moving Americans Privacy Protection Act

 
This bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise requirements regarding the public disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the manifest of vessels or aircraft entering any U.S. port or place to direct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure that any such information, including social security numbers, passport numbers, and residential addresses, are removed from any manifest signed and transmitted to the CBP before it is disclosed to the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2651-2652)
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
COAST Anti-Drilling Act

Bill: 115-s-999
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean
Florida
Gulf of Mexico
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: 

Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act or the COAST Anti-Drilling Act

 
This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease or other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, or the Straits of Florida planning areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting America's Workers Act

Bill: 115-s-1000
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Inflation and prices
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Labor-management relations
Legal fees and court costs
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: 

Protecting America's Workers Act

 
This bill amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) to increase the scope of the Act by applying its coverage to federal, state, and local government employees. However, the bill makes OSHA inapplicable to working conditions covered by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
 
The bill revises requirements governing worker protection, including by:
 
 
increasing protections for whistle-blowers as well as employees participating in or aiding inspections;
 
directing employers to furnish a hazard-free place of employment to all individuals, not just employees;
 
requiring the posting of employee rights concerning protection from retaliation;
 
requiring site logs of employees' work-related injuries and illnesses, including those of employees of other employers and contractors;
 
directing employers to report work-related deaths or hospitalizations;
 
 prohibiting employers from discouraging accurate record keeping and reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses;
 
requiring the Department of Labor to investigate an incident in the workplace that results in the death of an employee or one that results in the hospitalization of two or more employees; 
 
establishing rights for victims, or representatives of victims, with respect to inspections or investigations of work-related bodily injuries or deaths; 
 
setting the permitted period for employers to correct serious, willful, or repeated violations while citations for the violations are being contested;
 
increasing civil and criminal penalties for certain violations;
 
expanding enforcement requirements relating to state occupational safety and health plans, including by allowing Labor concurrent enforcement authority in states where the state plans fail to meet minimum requirements; and 
 
expanding requirements for workplace health hazard evaluations by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1001
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Department of Health and Human Services
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) require the payment system for ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services to feature certain positive annual adjustments equivalent to those made with respect to hospital outpatient department (OPD) services; (2) revise quality reporting requirements to permit publicly available, side-by-side comparisons of quality measures for ASCs and OPDs in the same geographic area; and (3) require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), when excluding requested procedures from the list of those approved to be performed in ASCs, to cite specified reasons for doing so.
 
With respect to excluding procedures from the approved list for ASCs, HHS may not cite as a basis for exclusion that a procedure can only be reported using an unlisted surgical procedure code. (Physicians sometimes use unlisted codes when performing new procedures or services if no existing code is adequately descriptive.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
CLEAR Relief Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1002
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Credit and credit markets
Housing finance and home ownership

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Community Lending Enhancement and Regulatory Relief Act of 2017 or the CLEAR Relief Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to exempt from specified reporting and attestation requirements a community bank with assets of $1 billion or less.
 
The bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to exempt from certain escrow requirements and residential mortgage loan standards a residential mortgage loan held by a depository institution with assets of $10 billion or less. The bill further amends that Act, as well as the Consumer Protection Act of 2010, to exempt certain creditors from specified disclosure requirements.
 
In addition, the bill amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to exempt from the Volcker Rule a depository institution with assets of $10 billion or less. (The Volcker Rule prohibits banking agencies from engaging in proprietary trading or entering into certain relationships with hedge funds and private-equity funds.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-106.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-81.
action_date: 2017-05-18
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-57.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to add standards for drug compendia for physician use for purposes of Medicaid payment for certain drugs, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-1003
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health information and medical records
Licensing and registrations
Medicaid
Medical ethics
Medicare
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 
This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to add standards for drug compendia used by physicians with respect to payment for certain drugs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. 
 
Specifically, such compendia shall include compendia that, as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: (1) are used by health care providers and utilized nationwide by the health insurance industry, (2) have a publicly available policy on disclosures of conflicts of interest, and (3) are accepted by at least one state board of pharmacy or equivalent licensing body.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence

Bill: 115-s-1004
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence

 
This bill amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to replace the existing Tech Prep program with a new competitive grant program to support career and technical education. Under the program, local educational agencies and their partners may apply for grant funding to support:
 
 
career and technical education programs that are aligned with postsecondary education programs,
 
dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college programs,
 
certain evidence-based strategies and delivery models related to career and technical education,
 
teacher and leader experiential and informational-gathering site visits,
 
professional development of educators and business partners,
 
structured interdisciplinary collaboration and common planning time,
 
teacher and leader externship programs,
 
cross-credentialing for teachers,
 
paid student internships or other paid work-based learning experiences, and
 
guidance counseling.

 
Unless granted a waiver, a grant recipient must provide specified matching funds in the fourth and fifth years of the five-year grant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2681)
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernization of Derivatives Tax Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1005
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Commodities markets
Corporate finance and management
Income tax rates
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Modernization of Derivatives Tax Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of derivatives. A &quot;derivative&quot; is any contract (including any option, forward contract, futures contract, short position, swap, or similar contract) the value of which, or any payment or other transfer with respect to which, is (directly or indirectly) determined by reference to another specified item. 
 
The bill modifies the tax treatment of derivatives to: (1) require mark to market treatment (treating the contracts as if they had been terminated or transferred at fair market value at the end of the year) for derivatives not terminated or transferred during the year, (2) require gains and losses to be taxed at ordinary tax rates and sourced to the taxpayer's country of residence, and (3) revise the reporting requirements and tax rules that apply to taxpayers that use derivatives to hedge capital assets. 
 
The bill includes several exceptions for:
 
 
certain real property; 
 
hedging transactions; 
 
securities lending, sale-repurchase, and similar financing transactions; 
 
options received in connection with the performance of services;
 
insurance contracts, annuities, and endowments;
 
derivatives with respect to stock of members of the same worldwide affiliated group; and
 
commodities used in the normal course or trade of business. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Relocation Act

Bill: 115-s-1007
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Congressional oversight
Department of the Interior
District of Columbia
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Idaho
Land use and conservation
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington State
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Relocation Act 

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to submit a strategy, including a proposed time line, for relocating the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from Washington, DC, to Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming in a manner that will save the maximum amount of taxpayer money practicable. 
 
The bill authorizes such relocation.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1008
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA): 
 
to add definitions for the terms &quot;cannabidiol,&quot; &quot;cannabidiol-rich plants,&quot; and &quot;tetrahydrocannabinol concentration&quot;; 
 
to exclude cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants from the definition of marijuana; and
 
to remove cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich plants from coverage under the CSA.
 
 
It also specifies that no provision of this bill prohibits or restricts the use, production, or distribution of marijuana in a state in which such activities are legal under state law.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Natural Gas Consumer Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-1009
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Department of Energy
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Manufacturing
Oil and gas
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Natural Gas Consumer Protection Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider the effect that any natural gas export proposal has on (1) U.S. natural gas prices and employment, (2) U.S. natural gas supply and demand, (3) U.S. industrial competitiveness, and (4)U.S. energy security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1010
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional agencies
Congressional oversight
Federal officials
Intellectual property
Library of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act of 2017

 
This bill amends federal copyright law to require the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a Register of Copyrights from a list of at least three individuals recommended by a panel composed of:
 
 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
 
 the President pro tempore of the Senate;
 
the majority and minority leaders of the House and the Senate; and 
 
the Librarian of Congress.
 
 
(Currently, the Register of Copyrights is appointed by the Librarian of Congress.)
 
To be eligible for appointment, the individual must be a U.S. citizen with a professional background and experience in copyright law and must be capable of identifying and supervising a chief information officer responsible for managing modern information technology systems.
 
The bill limits the term of office for the Register of Copyrights to 10 years, but the individual may be reappointed subject to the same requirements established in this bill.
 
The President may remove the Register of Copyrights from office and must notify both chambers of Congress of any such removal. 
 
Nothing in this bill may be construed to impact the mandatory deposit requirements under which owners of a copyright or of an exclusive right of publication must deposit in the U.S. Copyright Office two copies or phonorecords of works published in the United States for the use or disposition of the Library of Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-09-26
text: Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Mahan Air and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1011
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Iran
Middle East
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: 

Mahan Air and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to submit an annual report to Congress through 2020 that includes: (1) a list of all airports at which aircraft owned or controlled by Mahan Air (a Tehran-based commercial airline under U.S. sanctions) have landed during the preceding two years; and (2) for each such airport, an assessment of whether such aircraft continue operations at that airport, an assessment of whether any of the landings were emergency landings, a determination of whether additional security measures should be imposed on flights to the United States that originate from that airport, and an explanation of the rationale for such determination. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate