hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1748
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Adult education and literacy
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Financial literacy
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Minority employment
Student aid and college costs
Unemployment
Vocational and technical education
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to provide funding to states for the development or expansion of summer and year-round youth employment programs that: (1) match youth participants with appropriate employers for high-quality employment opportunities; and (2) provide work-readiness training and educational programs, coaching and mentoring, career and college planning services, financial literacy education, and supportive services.
 
In addition, Labor must award grants to assist community partnerships in improving high school graduation and youth employment rates. 
 
The bill establishes labor standards, performance accountability measures, and reporting requirements with respect to each of these new programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
VET CARE Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1749
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Dental care
Department of Veterans Affairs
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health personnel
Home and outpatient care
Medical education
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations Act of 2017 or the VET CARE Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) carry out a four-year pilot program in five Veterans Health Administration facilities to provide outpatient dental services and treatment, and related dental appliances, to eligible veterans at no cost; and (2) determine whether there is a correlation between veterans receiving such services and their suffering fewer complications of chronic ailments, thereby yielding a lower cost of care.
 
&quot;Eligible veterans&quot; means veterans who are:
 
 
 enrolled in, but not eligible for dental care under, the VA's health care program; 
 
 between 40 and 70 years of age; and
 
 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 
 
 
 Applicants shall receive an initial periodontal evaluation. Those diagnosed with periodontal disease that requires surgery shall be disqualified.
 
The VA shall enroll at least 1,500 eligible veterans, one-third of whom shall have been diagnosed with no or mild periodontitis and two-thirds of whom shall have been diagnosed with moderate to severe periodontitis.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Facilitating Farmers' Access to Resources and Machinery Act

Bill: 115-hr-1750
Sponsor: Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural equipment and machinery
Farmland
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Facilitating Farmers' Access to Resources and Machinery Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to private activity bond financing for first-time farmers, to: (1) increase from $450,000 to $524,200 (adjusted annually for inflation) the amount of bond proceeds that may be used by a first-time farmer to acquire land for farming purposes, (2) repeal the separate dollar limitation on the use of bond proceeds for used farm equipment, and (3) modify the definition of &quot;substantial farmland&quot; to determine farm size by reference to the average (instead of median) size of a farm in the county in which the farm is located. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Voluntary Checkoff Program Participation Act

Bill: 115-hr-1752
Sponsor: Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural research

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Voluntary Checkoff Program Participation Act 

 
This bill prohibits mandatory or compulsory checkoff programs and requires producer participation in the programs to be voluntary at the point of sale. (A checkoff program is a program to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. The Department of Agriculture oversees the programs, which are requested and funded by industry.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1753
Sponsor: Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural research
Business records
Competition and antitrust
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2017

 
This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for checkoff programs, which are programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. 
 
The bill prohibits boards established to carry out a checkoff program or a USDA order issued under a checkoff program from entering into a contract or agreement to carry out program activities with a party that engages in activities to influence any government policy or action that relates to agriculture.
 
 A board or its employees or agents acting in their official capacity may not engage in any: 
 
 
 act that may involve a conflict of interest; 
 
anticompetitive activity;
 
unfair or deceptive act or practice; or
 
act that may be disparaging to, or in any way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity or product. 
 
 
Upon approval of USDA, a board may enter directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, or other activities authorized by law if the agreement or contract requires records accounting for the funds received to be submitted to the board. 
 
The board must meet specified requirements regarding the publication of budgets and disbursements of funds. 
 
The USDA Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must conduct specified audits regarding checkoff programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to clarify the scope of the exception for common carriers.

Bill: 115-hr-1754
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Competition and antitrust
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 
This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to authorize the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to regulate activities of common carriers insofar as the activities are not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 or by the Surface Transportation Board or the Department of Transportation under interstate transportation laws.
 
Under current law, these common carriers are exempt from the FTC's authority based merely on their status as common carriers. The bill continues to prohibit the FTC from regulating common carriers insofar as they are subject to communications and transportation laws, but allows the FTC to regulate other activities of common carriers under its authority to investigate and prevent unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
action_date: 2017-03-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Tar Sands Tax Loophole Elimination Act

Bill: 115-hr-1755
Sponsor: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of the Treasury
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Tar Sands Tax Loophole Elimination Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the definition of "crude oil" for purposes of the excise tax on petroleum and petroleum products to include any bitumen or bituminous mixture, any oil derived from a bitumen or bituminous mixture (tar sands), and any oil derived from kerogen-bearing sources (oil shale).
 
The bill also authorizes the Department of the Treasury to classify as crude oil or as a petroleum product subject to such tax any fuel feedstock or finished fuel product transported by pipeline, vessel, railcar, or tanker truck if such classification is consistent with the definition of oil under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and such fuel feedstock or finished fuel product is produced in sufficient commercial quantities as to pose a significant risk of hazard in the event of a discharge. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E402)
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Virginia Jobs and Energy Act

Bill: 115-hr-1756
Sponsor: Rep. Comstock, Barbara [R-VA-10]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alternative and renewable resources
Atmospheric science and weather
Department of the Interior
Energy revenues and royalties
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Military operations and strategy
Oil and gas
State and local finance
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 
 
Virginia Jobs and Energy Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct an oil and gas lease sale off the coast of Virginia within one year, and conduct at least two lease sales in the area during the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. During each of Interior's five-year leasing programs, two lease sales must be conducted off the coast of Virginia.
 
The bill prohibits oil or natural gas exploration, development, or production off the Virginia coast that would conflict with a military operation. 
 
The bill allocates 37.5% of new leasing revenues received each fiscal year by the federal government for payment to states affected with respect to the leases that generate these revenues.Additionally, the bill sets forth the minimum and maximum revenues that an affected state may receive.
 
Interior must require any applicant seeking to conduct an offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project to obtain a permit and right-of-way.(An offshore meteorological site testing and monitoring project is carried out on or in the waters of the outer Continental Shelf to test or monitor weather using towers, buoys, or other temporary ocean infrastructure).These projects shall be exempt from environmental impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act

Bill: 115-hr-1759
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act

 
This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to establish a prohibition on the use of exotic or wild animals in performances (e.g., circus, ride, carnival, or parade) of a traveling animal act. The prohibition does not apply to the use of animals in: (1) zoos; (2) aquariums; (3) research facilities; (4) film, television, or advertising, if the performance is not before a public studio audience; or (5) rodeos. The prohibition also does not apply to domestic animals or farm animals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to grant a waiver from the work requirements for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program on account of an area's high unemployment rate or limited employment availability for individuals who reside in the area.

Bill: 115-hr-1760
Sponsor: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Food assistance and relief
Poverty and welfare assistance
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to eliminate the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to waive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) work requirements for individuals who reside in areas with an unemployment rate above 10% or an insufficient number of jobs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
POWER Act

Bill: 115-hr-1762
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Domestic violence and child abuse
Lawyers and legal services
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2017 or the POWER Act 

 
This bill requires each U.S. Attorney for each judicial district to lead at least one public event that promotes pro bono legal services as a critical way to: (1) empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (2) engage citizens in assisting those survivors.
 
A similar requirement applies to districts containing Indian tribes and tribal organizations.
 
Each U.S. Attorney shall: (1) have discretion on the design, organization, and implementation of such public events; and (2) seek to maximize an event's local impact and the access of such survivors to high-quality pro bono legal services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Keeping Communities Safe through Treatment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1763
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Keeping Communities Safe through Treatment Act of 

2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a pilot program to provide grants to law enforcement agencies in designated high intensity drug trafficking areas for pre-booking diversion programs to divert low-level drug offenders to drug treatment programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Fair Treatment of Scholarships and Pell Grants Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1764
Sponsor: Rep. Messer, Luke [R-IN-6]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices
Research administration and funding
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Fair Treatment of Scholarships and Pell Grants Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the provision which excludes from the gross income of a student any amount that is received as a qualified scholarship used for qualified tuition and related expenses. 
 
The bill expands the exclusion to: (1) permit the scholarship to be used for room and board costs for which there is an allowance under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (2) to specify that &quot;qualified tuition and related expenses&quot; include fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for research at the educational organization. 
 
The amount included in qualified tuition and related expenses for research not required for a course of instruction may not exceed $300 per year, adjusted for inflation after 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
District of Columbia Home Rule Clemency Act

Bill: 115-hr-1765
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
District of Columbia
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

District of Columbia Home Rule Clemency Act

 
This bill declares that the authority to grant clemency for offenses against the District of Columbia shall be exercised by such person or persons, and under such terms and conditions, as may be provided under a DC law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E402)
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
Medical Practice Freedom Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1766
Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Medicaid
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

Medical Practice Freedom Act of 2017

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services or any state from requiring a health care provider, as a condition of the provider's licensure, to participate in a health plan or comply with requirements for meaningful use of electronic health records.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to discontinue certain administrative cost allowances, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-1767
Sponsor: Rep. Russell, Steve [R-OK-5]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate payments to institutions of higher education to defray the costs of administering the Federal Pell Grant program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
End NHA Earmarking Act

Bill: 115-hr-1768
Sponsor: Rep. Russell, Steve [R-OK-5]
Introduced: 2017-03-28 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Historic sites and heritage areas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: 

End NHA Earmarking Act

 
This bill prohibits federal funding from being made available for the National Heritage Partnership Program or for any National Heritage Areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Introduced in House