hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Department of Education Accountability Act

Bill: 115-s-1138
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Education
Education programs funding
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: 

Department of Education Accountability Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to consider all FY2017 grant submissions in the Upward Bound program without regard to whether formatting requirements were met. Effective seven days after enactment and every seven days thereafter, $500,000 of the unobligated balances from the Office of the Secretary of Education is rescinded until the Secretary of Education certifies compliance with this requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Main Street Regulatory Fairness Act

Bill: 115-s-1139
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: 

Main Street Regulatory Fairness Act

 
This bill amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to increase, from $10 billion to $50 billion, the consolidated-assets threshold at which stress-testing requirements apply to certain financial companies. The bill also specifies that stress tests must be conducted periodically (rather than semiannually or annually, depending on the type of financial company, as required under current law).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
SCRAP Act

Bill: 115-s-1140
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-05-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: 

Sunset the CRA and Restore American Protections Act of 2017 or the SCRAP Act

 
This bill repeals the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA allows Congress to vote on a joint resolution of disapproval to overturn a recently issued agency rule and prohibit the agency from reissuing a rule that is substantially the same unless specifically authorized by Congress. 
 
The bill allows agencies to reinstate rules overturned by the CRA by: (1) publishing the rule in the Federal Register within one year after enactment of this bill, or (2) using notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act after the one-year period after enactment of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1143
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Disability and health-based discrimination
Marriage and family status
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) to expand the categories of prohibited discrimination when extending credit to include discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Currently, such discrimination in credit is prohibited only on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age.)
 
The bill defines: (1) "gender identity" as the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth; and (2) "sexual orientation" as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
 
The bill specifies that for purposes of the ECOA's protections against sex discrimination, the term &quot;sex&quot; includes: (1) a sex stereotype; (2) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (3) sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
The bill also extends ECOA's protections against discrimination to include: (1) an association with another person who is a member of a class protected against discrimination; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that the individual is a member of such a protected class.
 
Under a current provision of the ECOA, a request for the signature of both parties to a marriage for the purpose of creating a valid lien, passing clear title, waiving inchoate rights to property, or assigning earnings does not constitute discrimination. The bill prohibits this provision from being construed to permit a creditor to take sexual orientation or gender identity into account in connection with the evaluation of creditworthiness of an applicant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
INVEST Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1144
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Agricultural equipment and machinery
Building construction
Business investment and capital
Computers and information technology
Contracts and agency
Corporate finance and management
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
Motor vehicles
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Investment in New Ventures and Economic Success Today Act of 2017 or the INVEST Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify various tax deductions, accounting methods, expensing rules, and cost recovery rules that apply to businesses. 
 
The bill replaces several existing provisions relating to deductions for start-up and organizational business expenses with a consolidated deduction. The new provision applies to all business types, increases the dollar limitations for expenses that may be deducted, and reduces the amortization period for costs that exceed the expensing limit.
 
With respect to accounting methods, the bill modifies the requirements for using the cash accounting method, inventory accounting rules for small businesses, and accounting rules that apply to certain construction contracts.
 
The bill modifies the expensing and cost recovery rules to: 
 
 
increase the dollar limitation for the expensing of certain depreciable business assets, 
 
modify the rules that apply to the expensing of costs related to real property, 
 
 make permanent the rule that allows businesses to elect to expense 50% of the cost of certain property and recover the remaining cost under the current depreciation rules, 
 
modify the depreciation rules for farm machinery and equipment, 
 
require the Department of the Treasury to update the schedule of class lives for depreciable property, 
 
 modify the depreciation rules for luxury automobiles,
 
modify the depreciation rules for computer or peripheral equipment used for personal purposes, and
 
 reduce the amortization period for intangible property acquired by a business. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3011-3012)
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Truth in Settlements Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1145
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Income tax deductions
Legal fees and court costs
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Truth in Settlements Act of 2017

 
 This bill sets forth new requirements for the public disclosure of any covered settlement agreement entered into by a federal executive agency. The bill defines "covered settlement agreement" as a settlement agreement (including a consent decree) that: (1) is entered into by an executive agency, (2) relates to an alleged violation of federal civil or criminal law, and (3) requires the payment of at least $1 million by one or more non-federal persons (entities not within the federal government).
 
Each executive agency must make publicly available on the agency website a list of each covered settlement agreement entered into by the agency, which shall include: (1) the names of the parties to the settlement agreement and the date of such agreement; (2) a description of the claims that were settled under the agreement; (3) the amount each party to the agreement is obligated to pay under the terms of the agreement and the total amounts required to be paid; and (4) for each settling party, the amount the settling party is obligated to pay that has been expressly specified as a civil penalty or fine and as not deductible for tax purposes. The bill requires: (1) such information to remain publicly available for not less than 5 years, beginning on the date of the agreement; and (2) a copy of a covered settlement agreement to remain publicly available for a period of not less than 1 year, beginning on the date of the agreement, or for at least 5 years for an agreement under which a non-federal person is required to pay not less than $50 million.
 
The bill limits the disclosure of provisions of a covered settlement agreement that are subject to a confidentiality agreement. 
 
The issuer of securities subject to reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 must describe in required reports any claim of a tax deduction relating to a payment under a covered settlement agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Regulatory Relief Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1146
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business education
Public contracts and procurement
Small Business Administration
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Small Business Regulatory Relief Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to revise the duties of the Office of the National Ombudsman (ONO) to include working with federal agencies that have regulatory authority over small businesses or that provide support to small businesses to develop best practices for helping small businesses comply with agency rules through training, webinars, and compliance guides.
 
The ONO must collaborate with each federal agency to establish a procedure relating to how the agency will provide information to: (1) small businesses regarding the ONO; and (2) the ONO regarding the nature, scope, and resolution of requests to the agency from small businesses about proposed, final, or existing rules.
 
The ONO must:
 
 
 conduct a robust outreach initiative to increase its visibility and promote awareness of its available services; and
 
appoint additional individuals to provide education, training, and compliance assistance to small businesses.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Collaborative Academic Research Efforts for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1147
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Collaborative Academic Research Efforts for Tourette Syndrome Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate NIH research on Tourette syndrome.
 
The NIH must: (1) develop a system to collect data on Tourette syndrome, including epidemiological information and data on the availability of medical and social services for individuals with Tourette syndrome and their families; (2) support Collaborative Research Centers for Tourette Syndrome to conduct basic and clinical research; (3) award grants for research on Tourette syndrome symptoms and treatment options for particular patient subpopulations; (4) designate funding to carry out Tourette syndrome programs and activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
CRIB Act

Bill: 115-s-1148
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health facilities and institutions
Home and outpatient care
Medicaid
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies Act or the CRIB Act

 
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state Medicaid program to cover inpatient or outpatient services at a residential pediatric recovery center for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (a postnatal drug withdrawal syndrome) and their families.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to repeal a provision limiting the export of timber harvested from land conveyed to the Kake Tribal Corporation under that Act.

Bill: 115-s-1149
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 
This bill amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to revise provisions regarding timber from land transferred to the Kake Tribal Corporation, an Alaska Native village corporation. The bill repeals prohibitions on: (1) exporting from Alaska unprocessed logs from the land, and (2) the corporation conveying timber from the land to a person for export from Alaska.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 679.
action_date: 2018-11-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-393.
action_date: 2018-11-28
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-393.
action_date: 2018-10-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-482.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicaid Reform and Personal Responsibility Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1150
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Medicaid
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Medicaid Reform and Personal Responsibility Act of 2017

 
This bill requires state Medicaid programs to impose a work requirement upon enrollees who are able-bodied adults without dependents. Specifically, such enrollees must spend at least 20 hours per week working in a job, receiving on-the-job training, obtaining job skills, or doing community service. Such enrollees must also annually register with the state as employed or as unemployed and actively looking for employment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3012-3013)
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit for Caring Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1151
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Income tax credits
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Credit for Caring Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an eligible caregiver a new tax credit for 30% of the cost of long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000, up to $3,000 in a taxable year. The bill defines &quot;eligible caregiver&quot; as an individual who has earned income for the taxable year in excess of $7,500 and pays or incurs expenses for providing care to a spouse or other dependent relative with long-term care needs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Banking Act

Bill: 115-s-1152
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Civil actions and liability
Credit and credit markets
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act or the SAFE Banking Act

 
This bill prohibits a federal banking regulator from: (1) terminating or limiting the deposit insurance or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a legitimate marijuana-related business; (2) prohibiting or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering financial services to such a business; (3) recommending, incentivizing, or encouraging a depository institution not to offer financial services to an account holder solely because the account holder is affiliated with such a business; or (4) taking any adverse or corrective supervisory action on a loan made to a person solely because the person either owns such a business or owns real estate or equipment leased or sold to such a business.
 
As specified by the bill, a depository institution shall not, under federal law, be liable or subject to forfeiture for providing a loan or other financial services to a legitimate marijuana-related business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-81.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Family Stability Act

Bill: 115-s-1154
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Government studies and investigations
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Military Family Stability Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to prescribe regulations that permit an eligible member of the Armed Forces who is undergoing a permanent change of station within the United States to request specified housing treatment during the period from 180 days before to 180 days after such change.
 
An &quot;eligible member&quot; is a member who:
 
 
 has a spouse who is gainfully employed or enrolled in a degree, certificate, or license granting program at the beginning of such period; 
 
 has one or more dependents attending an elementary or secondary school at the beginning of such period; 
 
 has one or more dependents enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program; or 
 
 is caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness at the beginning of such period. 
 
 
If a spouse or other dependent of a member whose request for such housing treatment is approved: (1) resides in government-owned or government-leased housing at the beginning of such period, he or she may continue to reside there during such period; and (2) relocates at a time different from the member, the member may be assigned to housing intended for members without a spouse or dependent until the member's detachment date or the spouse or other dependent's arrival date, if such housing is available without displacing a member without a spouse or dependent. (The bill specifies alternatives for the basic housing allowance to be provided in such case.)
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on potential DOD actions to enhance the well-being of military families undergoing a permanent change of station.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Working Students Act

Bill: 115-s-1155
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

Working Students Act

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the income protection allowance levels used to calculate a student's expected family contribution and need for financial assistance. (An income protection allowance is an amount for basic living expenses that is protected from being considered income available for postsecondary educational expenses.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
School Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1156
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Historic sites and heritage areas
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: 

School Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rehabilitation expenditures for any building which is a qualified public educational facility to qualify for the rehabilitation tax credit. A &quot;qualified public educational facility&quot; is a school facility which is part of a public elementary or secondary school and is owned by a private, for-profit corporation pursuant to a public-private partnership agreement with a state or local educational agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3013-3014)
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate