hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Coastal Coordination Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2472
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2018-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Aquatic ecology
Congressional oversight
District of Columbia
Floods and storm protection
Hydrology and hydrography
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Performance measurement
Seashores and lakeshores
Water quality
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: 

Coastal Coordination Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to provide funding to coastal communities for research that willbe designed to improve regional coordination andemphasize coastal resilience in coastal communities.
 
In addition, NOAA is required to evaluate the National Estuarine Research Reserve System periodically to determine if any of the protected areas in the estuarine reserves should be expanded.
 
The bill revises agency responsibility regarding consultations for the impoundment, diversion, or modification of a body of water.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
VICTOR Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2473
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: 

Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery Act of 2018 or the VICTOR Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish organ transplant (including bone marrow transplant) care at eligible non-VA facilities to electing veterans who are enrolled in the VA medical care system and who received VA hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care within the 24-month period preceding such transplant care. 
 
The VA shall enter into provider payment agreements with non-VA facilities for such care in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (regional VA health care administrative areas). 
 
The VA shall not pay a veteran's travel and lodging costs outside the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network region in which the veteran resides unless the VA authorizes such outside care. (The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is a public-private partnership that links all professionals and donors involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2474
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Department of the Treasury
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Income tax deferral
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Public contracts and procurement
Social Security Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: 

Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act of 201

8

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to create an online Retirement Savings Lost and Found (RSLF) to assist individuals in locating certain employer-sponsored retirement accounts. The RSLF must provide plan participants or beneficiaries only with the ability to view contact information for the administrator of a plan that is sufficient to locate the plan. 
 
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to set forth additional reporting and notification requirements for retirement plans. 
 
Treasury and the SSA must take precautions to: (1) safeguard the privacy and security of participants' plan information, and (2) permit plan participants to opt out of inclusion in the RSLF.
 
The bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the IRC to revise provisions that permit mandatory distributions of the balances of small retirement accounts using a rollover into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The bill modifies the investment options available for the distributions and increases the maximum account balance that may be subject to such a distribution. 
 
A plan must transfer unclaimed mandatory distributions that are $1,000 or less to the RSLF or to an IRA established by Treasury. The RSLF must invest funds received in Treasury securities and distribute the balance upon receiving an application from a plan participant or beneficiary. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
BUMP Act

Bill: 115-s-2475
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2018-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Manufacturing
Retail and wholesale trades
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: 

Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts Act of 2018 or the BUMP Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to generally prohibit the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of
 
 
a device that is primarily designed, or redesigned, to increase the rate of fire when attached to a semiautomatic firearm; 
 
a device, part, or combination of parts that is designed and functions to increase the rate of fire of a firearm; or 
 
a semiautomatic firearm that has been modified to increase the rate of fire.
 
 
Additionally, the bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to add semiautomatic firearms to the list of firearms subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding Access to Low Cost Generic Drugs Act

Bill: 115-s-2476
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2018-02-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives
Intellectual property
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: 

Expanding Access to Low Cost Generic Drugs Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to disqualify from receiving market exclusivity a generic drug manufacturer who enters into an agreement with the patent holder for a brand name drug to delay getting the generic drug approved or to delay marketing it. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-02-28
text: Introduced in Senate
SNAP Work Opportunities and Veteran Protection Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2477
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Food assistance and relief
Poverty and welfare assistance
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

SNAP Work Opportunities and Veteran Protection Act of 201

8

 
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exempt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) beneficiaries from work requirements if they are not offered a position in a state job training or workfare program. 
 
The bill also exempts from work requirements veterans who are participating in certain programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a state to further employment or rehabilitation goals. The bill permits the Department of Agriculture to allocate specified funds to states for the employment programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
End Taxpayer Subsidies for Drug Ads Act

Bill: 115-s-2478
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Income tax deductions
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

End Taxpayer Subsidies for Drug Ads Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit tax deductions for expenses relating to direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. 
 
&quot;Direct-to-consumer advertising&quot; is any dissemination, by or on behalf of a sponsor of a prescription drug product, of an advertisement that is: (1) in regard to the drug product, and (2) primarily targeted to the general public. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
AG RESEARCH Act

Bill: 115-s-2479
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural equipment and machinery
Agricultural research
Educational facilities and institutions
Infrastructure development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-Edge and Helpful Act or the AG RESEARCH Act 

 
This bill amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to provide funding for maintenance at agricultural research facilities.
 
The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to: (1) establish a grant program within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to provide agricultural research facilities with a federal share of the cost for the alteration, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of the research facilities or the equipment necessary for agricultural research; and (2) use specified Commodity Credit Corporation funds to provide direct payments to research facilities of the Agricultural Research Service for addressing deferred maintenance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
End Employer Collusion Act

Bill: 115-s-2480
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Contracts and agency
Employee hiring
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

End Employer Collusion Act

 
This bill makes it unlawful for any entity to enter into a restrictive employment agreement, or to enforce or threaten to enforce a restrictive employment agreement. A &quot;restrictive employment agreement&quot; is any agreement between two or more employers that prohibits or restricts one employer from soliciting or hiring another employer's employees or former employees.
 
The bill allows aggrieved individuals to bring a civil action for actual and punitive damages, plus attorney's fees, against an entity that enters into, or threatens to enforce, a restrictive employment agreement.
 
The bill grants the Federal Trade Commission the power to enforce the requirements of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Trafficking in Fentanyl Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2481
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Stop Trafficking in Fentanyl Act of 2018

 
 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to modify the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl. 
 
Specifically, the bill reduces from 400 to 20 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 100 to 5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a 10-year or 20-year mandatory minimum prison term for high-level first-time or repeat offenders. It also reduces from 40 to 2 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 10 to 0.5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a 5-year or 10-year mandatory minimum prison term for low-level first-time or repeat offenders. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign Agents Registration Amendments Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2482
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Foreign Agents Registration Amendments Act of 2018

 
This bill establishes, in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice, a new section to enforce laws against suspected operatives or unregistered agents of foreign governments. Additionally, it removes the exemption from lobbyist registration requirements for certain foreign agents. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
America's College Promise Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2483
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Minority education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

America's College Promise Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to states and Indian tribes to waive tuition and fees at community colleges. To receive a grant, states and Indian tribes must agree to waive tuition and fees at all their community colleges and for all eligible students. 
 
The bill appropriates $1.5 billion in FY2019, an increasing annual amount through FY2027, and $15.7 billion for FY2028 and each succeeding fiscal year for grants under this community college program. 
 
This bill also requires ED to award grants to four-year historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to waive or reduce tuition and fees for up to 60 credits for low-income students. 
 
HBCUs and MSIs that participate must: (1) enroll a student body that contains at least 35% low-income students; (2) maintain or adopt reforms and practices to improve completion rates and student outcomes; (3) set performance goals; and (4) execute an articulation agreement with community colleges, if accepting transfer students. 
 
It appropriates $61 million for FY2019, an increasing annual amount through FY2027, and $1.6 billion for FY2028 and each succeeding fiscal year for grants under this HBCU/MSI program.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
SSN Act

Bill: 115-s-2484
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Stronger Safety Net Act 

or the SSN Act

 
This bill expands and otherwise revises benefits under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits program. The bill also establishes an additional payroll surtax.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2485
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Medal of Honor Surviving Spouses Recognition Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the payment of a Medal of Honor special pension to the surviving spouse of a deceased Medal of Honor recipient if that person was married to the recipient for: (1) at least one year prior to the veteran's death; or (2) any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.
 
The special pension for a living Medal of Honor recipient is increased to $1329.58 per month. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-08-01
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-616.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Students Act

Bill: 115-s-2486
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Firearms and explosives

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Safe Students Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to repeal provisions that prohibit the possession or discharge of a firearm in a school zone.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Agriculture Data Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2487
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
Farmland
Government information and archives
Higher education
Research administration and funding
Soil pollution

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Agriculture Data Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collect, review, analyze, and disseminate certain data on the impact of conservation practices on farm and ranch profitability, including the effect on crop yields, soil health, and other risk-reducing factors. 
 
The bill also requires USDA to establish a conservation and farm productivity data warehouse to make the results of the data collection and analysis available to academic institutions and researchers. 
 
USDA must also provide technical assistance, including through internet-based tools, based on the analysis conducted and other relevant data, to assist producers in improving sustainable production practices that increase yields and enhance environmental outcomes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Hunger Prevention Act

Bill: 115-s-2488
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Military Hunger Prevention Act 

 
This bill excludes the value of a housing allowance for a member of a uniformed service from any income, assets, or resources calculation for determining eligibility for any federal program issuing benefits for nutrition assistance (including the family subsistence supplemental allowance program).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Food and Housing Security Act

Bill: 115-s-2489
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2018-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Credit and credit markets
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Indian social and development programs
Low- and moderate-income housing
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: 

Tribal Food and Housing Security Act

 
This bill provides support to Indian tribes for rural development, including by: (1) allowing the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend financial assistance through the Farmers Home Administration for tribal housing and buildings, and (2) establishing a technical assistance program to help tribal entities access USDA rural development programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2018-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
TRID Improvement Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2490
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2018-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-05
text: 

TRID Improvement Act of
 
2018

 
This bill amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures of 1974 to modify disclosure requirements applicable to mortgage loan transactions. Specifically, the disclosed charges for any title insurance premium shall be equal to the amount charged for each individual title insurance policy, subject to any discounts as required by either state regulation or the title company rate filings. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2491
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2018-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Contracts and agency

Summary:
action_date: 2018-03-05
text: 

Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2018

 
This bill establishes that certain laws related to antitrust and unfair competition shall not prohibit or otherwise apply to any voluntary economic coordination, cooperation, or agreement between any individual or group of individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate