hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act

Bill: 115-s-716
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2017-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: 

Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to issue a debt limit warning to Congress if Treasury determines that the United States will reach the statutory debt limit within 60 days. The warning must include a determination of when extraordinary measures may be necessary to prolong the funding of the U.S. government in the absence of a debt limit increase. 
 
Any formal Presidential request to increase the debt limit must include: (1) the amount of the proposed increase, and (2) proposed legislation to reduce spending over the sum of the current and following 10 years by at least the amount of the requested increase. 
 
The bill amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to create a point of order in the House and Senate against legislation increasing the debt limit, unless the legislation reduces spending over the sum of the current and following 10 years by at least the amount of the increase. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Making Education Affordable Act

Bill: 115-s-718
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Rural conditions and development
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: 

Making Education Affordable Act 

 
This bill amends title VII (Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize through FY2018 the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program. 
 
The bill also authorizes new grants under the FIPSE program. Specifically, the Department of Education may award grants to institutions of higher education for dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that allow high school students to earn college credits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-719
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Computer security and identity theft
International organizations and cooperation
Israel
Middle East
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Scientific communication
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: 

United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2017 

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a grant program to support cybersecurity research and development, and the demonstration and commercialization of cybersecurity technology, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Homeland Security Matters, done at Jerusalem, dated May 29, 2008, or a successor agreement. 
 
Grants may be awarded for social science research and technology intended to identify, protect against, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.
 
To be eligible for a grant, a project must be a joint venture between: (1) for-profit, nonprofit, or academic entities (including U.S. national laboratories) in the United States and Israel; or (2) the governments of the United States and Israel. 
 
Grants shall be awarded only for projects considered unclassified by both the United States and Israel.
 
DHS must require cost sharing of at least 50% from nonfederal sources for grant activities, but it may reduce the nonfederal percentage if necessary on a case-by-case basis. 
 
DHS must establish an advisory board to monitor the impartial scientific and technical merit method by which grants are awarded and provide periodic reviews of the actions taken to carry out the program.
 
The grant program terminates seven years after this bill's enactment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Israel Anti-Boycott Act

Bill: 115-s-720
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Corporate finance and management
Europe
European Union
Government lending and loan guarantees
International organizations and cooperation
Israel
Middle East
Sanctions
Scientific communication
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: 

Israel Anti-Boycott Act

 
This bill declares that Congress: (1) opposes the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution of March 24, 2016, which urges countries to pressure companies to divest from, or break contracts with, Israel; and (2) encourages full implementation of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 through enhanced, governmentwide, coordinated U.S.-Israel scientific and technological cooperation in civilian areas. 
 
The bill amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to declare that it shall be U.S. policy to oppose: 
 
 
requests by foreign countries to impose restrictive practices or boycotts against other countries friendly to the United States or against U.S. persons; and 
 
restrictive trade practices or boycotts fostered or imposed by an international governmental organization, or requests to impose such practices or boycotts, against Israel. 
 
 
The bill prohibits any U.S. person engaged interstate or foreign commerce from supporting: 
 
 
 any request by a foreign country to impose any boycott against a country that is friendly to the United States and that is not itself the object of any form of boycott pursuant to United States law or regulation, or 
 
 any boycott fostered or imposed by any international governmental organization against Israel or any request by any international governmental organization to impose such a boycott.
 
 
The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to include as a reason for the Export-Import Bank to deny credit applications for the export of goods and services between the United States and foreign countries, opposition to policies and actions that are politically motivated and are intended to penalize or otherwise limit commercial relations specifically with citizens or residents of Israel, entities organized under the laws of Israel, or the government of Israel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (consideration: CR S7453; text: CR S7436)
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
MAR-A-LAGO Act

Bill: 115-s-721
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: 

Making Access Records Available to Lead American Government Openness Act or the MAR-A-LAGO Act

 
This bill directs the President to establish and update, every 90 days, a publicly available database that contains records of:
 
 
the name of each visitor at the White House, residence of the Vice-President, or any other location at which the President or Vice President regularly conducts official business (covered location);
 
the name of each individual with whom the visitor met at the covered location; and 
 
the purpose of the visit. 
 
 
The President shall not include in the database any such record: (1) the posting of which would implicate personal privacy or law enforcement concerns or threaten national security, or (2) relating to a purely personal guest at a covered location. 
 
For a particularly sensitive meeting, the President shall: (1) include in the database the number of visitors at the covered location, and (2) post the applicable records in the database when their release is no longer sensitive. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project.

Bill: 115-s-723
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Licensing and registrations
North Carolina

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 
This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request, to extend by six years the time period during which construction must commence on the W. Kerr Scott Hydropower Project located on the Yadkin River in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
 
Additionally, FERC may reinstate the construction license if it is expired.

action_date: 2017-05-24
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec.1)This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), upon request, to extend by six years the time period during which construction must commence on the W. Kerr Scott Hydropower Project located on the Yadkin River in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
 
Additionally, FERC may reinstate the construction license if it is expired.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 99.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with amendments. With written report No. 115-80.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with amendments. With written report No. 115-80.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Power Act to modernize authorizations for necessary hydropower approvals.

Bill: 115-s-724
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three.
 
FERC may extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and may issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit.
 
Additionally, FERC may extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years.Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.

action_date: 2017-05-24
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec.1)This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a preliminary permit to a hydropower construction license applicant for up to four years, instead of three.
 
FERC may extend a preliminary permit once for no more than four years and may issue a new permit after the end of an extension if it determines there are extraordinary circumstances that warrant the issuance of an additional permit.
 
Additionally, FERC may extend the time a licensee has to commence construction on a project for up to eight years.Under current law, FERC may extend the license for no more than two years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-07-03
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2018-07-03
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-06-29
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-06-28
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4808-4809; text: CR S4809)
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 100.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-81.
action_date: 2017-05-24
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-81.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

Bill: 115-s-725
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit: (1) transmitting to another person the location, movement, or activities of law enforcement agents while intending to further a federal crime relating to U.S. immigration; (2) destroying, altering, or damaging any physical or electronic device used by the federal government to control the border or any port of entry; or (3) carrying or using a firearm in an alien smuggling crime. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Gary Deloney and John Olsen Toxic Exposure Declassification Act

Bill: 115-s-726
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 

Gary Deloney and John Olsen Toxic Exposure Declassification Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to declassify documents related to any known incident in which at least 100 members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance that resulted in at least one case of a disability that a member of the medical profession has determined is associated with that substance.
 
Such declassification shall be limited to information necessary for a potentially exposed individual to determine:
 
 
whether that individual was exposed,
 
the potential severity of the exposure, and 
 
any potential health conditions that may have resulted.
 
 
DOD is not required to declassify documents if it determines that declassification would materially and immediately threaten U.S. security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Invest in Our Communities Act

Bill: 115-s-727
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Economic performance and conditions
Employee hiring
Foreign labor
Government studies and investigations
Immigration status and procedures
Infrastructure development
Rural conditions and development
U.S. and foreign investments
Unemployment
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 

Invest in Our Communities Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) exempt spouses and children of EB-5 investor immigrants from worldwide employment-based immigration limits, and (2) revise the fiscal year worldwide level of employment-based immigrant admissions.
 
EB-5 visas are excluded from per country caps.
 
EB-5 visas shall be made available to qualified immigrants who participate in a regional center program in the United States designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the promotion of economic growth, including: (1) increased exports, (2) improved regional productivity, (3) job creation, and (4) increased domestic capital investment. 
 
A regional center shall: (1) have jurisdiction over a specific geographic area, which shall be consistent with the purpose of concentrating pooled investment in defined economic zones; and (2) certify compliance with U.S. securities laws, and supervise all offers, purchases, and sales of securities made by associated parties to ensure securities compliance. 
 
DHS shall establish a procedure for pre-approval of new commercial enterprises. 
 
Any person subject to the suspension or termination of EB-5 rights made under the discretion of DHS may appeal such decision and be entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge. 
 
No person may be involved with a regional center as its principal, administrator, owner, officer, board member, manager, executive, general partner, fiduciary, or other similar position of significant authority for the operations or management of the center if he or she: (1) is not a U.S. national or lawful permanent resident; or (2) has been found liable for certain financial or securities crimes, or terrorist, espionage, or human trafficking activities.
 
The bill sets forth DHS suspension or termination authority for a noncomplying regional center. 
 
The child of an alien investor whose conditional permanent resident status is terminated shall continue to be considered a child for purposes of a subsequent immigrant petition by the alien investor if the child remains unmarried and the subsequent petition is filed within one year after termination of status. An alien shall not be considered a child with respect to more than one petition filed after he or she reaches 21 years old.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
RECLAIM Act of2017

Bill: 115-s-728
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Appalachian Regional Commission
Coal
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Indian social and development programs
Land use and conservation
Mining
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 

Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act of 2017 or the RECLAIM Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA)to make specified funds available to the Department of the Interior through FY2021 for distribution to states and Indian tribes to promote economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977.

The bill prescribes general requirements for projects to reclaim abandoned mine lands and waters that are likely to create favorable conditions for the economic development of the project site or promote the general welfare through economic and community development of the area in which the project is conducted. Any such project shall be located in a community affected by a recent decline in mining.

A state or Indian tribe that receives funds under this bill may retain a portion of them as necessary to supplement its acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund for future operation and maintenance costs for the treatment of acid mine drainage associated with individual projects.
 
The bill increases the minimum amount of funds that Interior must provide annually to states and Indian tribes for reclamation and restoration projects.
 
The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study on the use of funds authorized by this bill.
 
The Appalachian Regional Commission may provide grants to individuals or entities in the Appalachian region for projects that have been or that are eligible to be reclaimed or restored under SMCRA.The commission must relocate its headquarters from Washington, DC to the Appalachian region.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1997-1999)
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act

Bill: 115-s-729
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: 

John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act 

 
 The Department of the Interior may acquire by donation approximately 44 acres of land to include in the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California. 
 
 The acquired land shall be administered as part of such site. 

action_date: 2017-05-09
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act 

 
 (Sec. 3) The Department of the Interior may acquire by donation approximately 44 acres of land to include in the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California. 
 
 The acquired land shall be administered as part of such site. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 60.
action_date: 2017-05-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-47.
action_date: 2017-05-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-47.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate