hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Income Verification Act

Bill: 115-s-3629
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Food assistance and relief
Health
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Income Verification Act

 
This bill directs states to use federal tax return information to verify an individual's income eligibility for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Medicaid, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program). 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Great Lakes Water Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-3630
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Government trust funds
Great Lakes
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Great Lakes Water Protection Act

 
This bill addresses sewage in the Great Lakes System by: (1) restricting publicly owned treatment works from discharging sewage into the system, (2) requiring the public to be immediately notified when sewage is discharged, and (3) establishing the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
RAPID Act

Bill: 115-s-3631
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development Act or the RAPID Act

 
This bill revises the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program to: (1) require program applicants to obtain investment grade ratings from at least two credit rating agencies, unless the federal credit instrument is less than $150 million (currently, less than $75 million), in which case one rating will suffice; (2) require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement an expedited decision timeline for public agency borrowers seeking secured loans; and (3) require DOT to publish status reports on program applications on the TIFIA website.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7053)
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act

Bill: 115-s-3632
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act

 
This bill applies the special service obligations of licensees of very high frequency commercial television broadcast stations to licensees who change to ultra high frequency commercial television broadcast stations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Credit Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-3633
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Business records
Computer security and identity theft
Consumer credit
Credit and credit markets
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Small Business Credit Protection Act 

 
This bill: (1) requires a consumer reporting agency to provide notice to a small business in the event of a data breach, and (2) prohibits a consumer reporting agency from charging for a credit report following such a breach. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Black Mountain Range and Bullhead City Land Exchange Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3634
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Black Mountain Range and Bullhead City Land Exchange Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior, upon request by Bullhead City, Arizona, to convey to the city 345.2 acres of specified federal land in exchange for 1,100 acres of city-owned land in the Black Mountain Range. 
 
The lands acquired by Interior shall be, upon acquisition, automatically and permanently withdrawn from appropriation and disposal under the public land laws and specified laws regarding geothermal resources. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Encouraging Americans to Save Act

Bill: 115-s-3636
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Income tax deferral
Inflation and prices
Securities
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Encouraging Americans to Save Act

 
 This bill replaces the existing saver's tax credit for certain individuals who contribute to retirement accounts with federal matching payments. For individuals with incomes that do not exceed specified levels, the bill requires the federal government to provide matching contributions equal to 50% of up to $1,000 in annual contributions to retirement accounts. 
 
The bill also requires the Department of the Treasury to reestablish the MyRA program, which is a program that establishes and maintains Roth Individual Retirement Accounts for individuals. The investments in the accounts are limited to retirement savings bonds issued by Treasury. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7053-7054)
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3637
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Fruit and vegetables
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to make permanent, and expand to at least 15 states, the program to provide more flexibility for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to purchase domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables. The bill also provides additional mandatory funding for the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7054)
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Estate Tax Rate Reduction Act

Bill: 115-s-3638
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Estate Tax Rate Reduction Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the rate for the tax on estates, gifts, and generation-skipping transfers to 20%. (Under current law, the highest rate is 40%.) 
 
The bill also exempts the budgetary effects of the tax reduction from the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules established by the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 and the FY2018 congressional budget resolution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the circumvention of control measures used by Internet retailers to ensure equitable consumer access to products, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-3639
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 
This bill prohibits the circumvention (e.g., via bot technology) of a website's security measure or technological control for enforcing posted purchasing limits or for managing inventory. A person may not sell a product if the person knows that the product was acquired using such circumvention.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Welfare for Any Large Monopoly Amassing Revenue from Taxpayers Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3640
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Stop Welfare for Any Large Monopoly Amassing Revenue from Taxpayers Act of 2018

 
This bill prohibits a large employer from purchasing its own stock if it (1) pays its employees less than $15 an hour, (2) does not provide its employees with specified paid sick leave, or (3) does not comply with a specified compensation ratio with respect to its executive officers and employees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
FAIR FISH Act

Bill: 115-s-3641
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Food industry and services
Human trafficking
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Seafood

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Facilitate Addressing Issues with Regulating Forced Labor in International Seafood Harvesting Act or FAIR FISH Act

 
This bill makes the Secretary of Commerce a member of the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, and directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Food and Drug Administration to report to Congress on the existence of human trafficking in seafood product supply chains.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Senate vitiated previous discharge from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Senate vitiated previous passage.
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-18
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Lowell Observatory Conveyance Act

Bill: 115-s-3642
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Astronomy
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Lowell Observatory Conveyance Act

 
This bill directs the Forest Service, if the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, requests the conveyance of a certain parcel of land in Coconino National Forest that was originally conveyed by the United States to Percival Lowell and his heirs for observatory purposes, to convey all interest of the United States in such land to the observatory. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act

Bill: 115-s-3643
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Illinois
Indiana
Land transfers
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act

 
This bill directs the White County Bridge Commission to convey, without consideration, to the New Harmony Bridge Bi-State Commission, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the bridge and the approaches thereto across the Wabash River at or near New Harmony, Indiana, under the jurisdiction of the commission.
 
The Act of April 12, 1941 (creating the commission) is repealed effective on the date that the commission completes such conveyance.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act

Bill: 115-s-3644
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Animal and plant health
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Livestock
Mammals
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act

 
This bill requires the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to contract the National Academy of Sciences to study the predominant pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed populations of deer, elk, reindeer, and moose populations in the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Bill: 115-s-3645
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Property tax
Public contracts and procurement
State and local finance
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 
This bill extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 through FY2019, including provisions concerning secure payments to eligible states, territories, and counties containing federal land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to accept certain properties in the State of Missouri.

Bill: 115-s-3646
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Missouri
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 
This bill allows the Department of the Interior to acquire lands or interests in any property within the Ste. Genevieve Historic District National Historic Landmark in Missouri and to acquire from Independence, Missouri, approximately 1.08 acres of land for inclusion in the Harry S Truman National Historic Site. The bill also renames the original enactment as the "Harry S Truman National Historic Site Establishment Act." 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
TIFIA for Airports Act

Bill: 115-s-3647
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

TIFIA for Airports Act

 
This bill qualifies certain airport-related projects (e.g., airport development and planning, terminal development, airport noise planning) for financing under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA). The TIFIA program provides credit assistance, direct loans, and loan guarantees to national or regional transportation projects.
 
The Department of Transportation may enter into an agreement to provide financing under TIFIA for an airport-related project until September 30, 2020, and may extend such deadline to March 30, 2021.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Hurricanes Florence and Michael and California Wildfire Tax Relief Act

Bill: 115-s-3648
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Hurricanes Florence and Michael and California Wildfire Tax Relief Act 

 
This bill allows various tax credits, tax deductions, and modifications to existing tax rules for individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, and wildfires in California.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
ACCESS Rural America Act

Bill: 115-s-3650
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Licensing and registrations
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports Rural America Act or the ACCESS Rural America Act 

 
This bill increases the shareholder registration threshold for issuers receiving support through federal universal service support mechanisms, which provide communication services to underserved areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Retail Justice Review Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3651
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Retail Justice Review Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Department of Justice to study the effectiveness of retail theft rehabilitation programs. A retail theft rehabilitation program is an education program that a retailer offers to a shoplifter instead of reporting a theft to law enforcement. 
 
Additionally, the bill states that a retailer may offer a retail theft rehabilitation program in accordance with state, local, and tribal law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3652
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Aviation and airports
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Electric power generation and transmission
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign property
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Human rights
Infrastructure development
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Licensing and registrations
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Navigation, waterways, harbors
News media and reporting
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Religion
Russia
Sanctions
Saudi Arabia
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
United Arab Emirates
United Nations
Violent crime
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
Water use and supply
Women's rights
Yemen

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2018

 
This bill suspends certain weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia. It also imposes sanctions on individuals for various activities related to the civil war in Yemen and for involvement in the death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
 
The United States may not authorize transfers to Saudi Arabia of missiles, ammunition, ground vehicles, aircraft, or other weapons that fall within Categories III, IV, VII, or VIII of the U.S. Munitions List. The prohibitions do not apply to ground-based missile defense systems and shall expire September 30, 2020.
 
The United States may not provide in-flight refueling for Saudi coalition aircraft involved in the civil war. (A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting against Ansar Allah, a group in armed conflict with the government of Yemen.)
 
The United States shall impose sanctions on individuals who are blocking the flow of humanitarian goods and services into Yemen or working to undermine the country's stability. This includes sanctions on supporters of Ansar Allah if the United States determines the group has not made meaningful efforts towards peace.
 
This bill amends the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to impose sanctions on foreign individuals, including any members of the Saudi royal family, who are responsible for or who aided in Khashoggi's death. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Reinvigorating American Energy Infrastructure Act

Bill: 115-s-3653
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2018-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Coal
Electric power generation and transmission
Government lending and loan guarantees
Licensing and registrations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: 

Reinvigorating American Energy Infrastructure Act

 
This bill expands eligibility for the Department of Energy's loan guarantee program for advanced fossil energy technology projects to include certain high efficiency, low emissions coal-fired power plants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate