hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Strong Families Act

Bill: 115-s-344
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee leave
Executive agency funding and structure
Government Operations and Politics
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Motor vehicles
Nuclear power
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: 

Strong Families Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain employers a business-related tax credit for up to 25% of the amount of wages paid to their employees during any period (not exceeding 12 weeks) in which such employees are on family and medical leave, (2) limit the allowable amount of such credit to $3,000 per employee for any taxable year, and (3) terminate such credit two years after the enactment of this bill. 
 
The Government Accountability Office shall complete a study on the effectiveness of the tax credit for paid family and medical leave. 
 
The Office of Management and Budget shall determine: (1) the dollar amount obligated by each executive agency to purchase and to lease civilian vehicles in FY2010, and (2) the total number of civilian vehicles purchased and leased by each executive agency in FY2010. Executive agencies may not obligate more than 90% of the amount they obligated in FY2010 to purchase or lease civilian vehicles in each of FY2017-FY2021. 
 
The bill permanently rescinds all unobligated amounts in the U.S. Enrichment Corporation Fund, except for amounts designated as an emergency requirement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Workplace Advancement Act

Bill: 115-s-345
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: 

Workplace Advancement Act

 
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discharging or retaliating against any employee because such employee has inquired about, discussed, or disclosed comparative compensation information for the purpose of determining whether the employer is compensating an employee in a manner that provides equal pay for equal work.
 
The prohibition does not apply to instances in which an employee who has access to the wage information of other employees as a part of the employee's job functions discloses such wages to an individual who has no access to them, except in response to a charge or complaint or in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action with respect to prohibited sex discrimination, including an investigation conducted by the employer.
 
It is the sense of Congress that: (1) gender-based discrimination in wages or compensation violates existing law, and (2) Congress recommits itself to the principles of equal pay for equal work.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in America's Small Manufacturers Act

Bill: 115-s-347
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2017-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Business education
Executive agency funding and structure
Government lending and loan guarantees
Manufacturing
Securities
Small Business Administration
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: 

Investing in America's Small Manufacturers Act

 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee 90% of a loan to a small business manufacturing concern. 
 
The SBA may not collect a guarantee fee on these loans of more than $350,000. For loans exceeding this amount, the fee shall be 50% of the guarantee fee that the SBA would otherwise collect for the loan. 
 
The SBA must provide training to small manufacturers in obtaining SBA assistance, including on the application process and partnering with participating lenders. 
 
This bill authorizes the SBA and its partners to establish partnerships to facilitate outreach to small manufacturers with respect to the application process for SBA loan guarantees.
 
A state or local development company's debenture issued to a small manufacturer for an SBA loan guarantee may not exceed 50% of the project's cost, subject to certain exceptions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-348
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Congressional oversight
Drug therapy
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Medical research
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: 

Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries for covered prescription drugs that the CMS deems appropriate for negotiation based on: (1) program and per-beneficiary spending, (2) unit price increases over the preceding years, (3) initial launch price, (4) availability of similarly effective alternative treatments, (5) status of the drug as a follow-on to previously approved drugs, and (6) any other criteria determined by the CMS.
 
If, after a one year period, negotiations with respect to a covered prescription drug prove unsuccessful, the CMS shall establish a price for the drug that is equal to the lesser of the price paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the price paid by the four largest federal pharmaceutical-drug purchasers.
 
The CMS may (but is not required to) negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare and MA beneficiaries for other covered prescription drugs.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the CMS' negotiations.
 
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation must test several specified models for negotiating drug and biological prices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to clarify the rights of all persons who are held or detained at a port of entry or at any detention facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bill: 115-s-349
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide an individual in any removal, exclusion, or deportation proceeding or inspection (excluding primary inspections as defined by Department of Homeland Security policies) with a right to representation (at no expense to the government) by counsel of such individual's choosing, including remote counseling if counsel cannot personally meet with the individual. 
 
A person held or detained at a port of entry may not submit a valid Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status or Withdrawal of Application for Admission if such person has been denied access to counsel.
 
The bill extends the right to be accompanied, represented, and advised by counsel or other qualified representative before a government agency to any person subject to a proceeding, examination, holding, or detention.
 
The holding or detention of individuals at a port of entry or at any holding or detention facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall: (1) be limited to the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions practicable, (2) be consistent with the rationale for such holding or detention; and (3) shall include access to food, water, and rest room facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
End Congressional Stock Market Abuse Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-350
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Members of Congress
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: 

End Congressional Stock Market Abuse Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit Members of Congress, in securities transactions, from receiving a discounted purchase price or a premium sales price.
 
This prohibition shall not apply if the Member of Congress reasonably believes that the discount or premium was obtained in a manner generally available to the public.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Comprehensive Student Achievement Information Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-351
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Consumer affairs
Government information and archives
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Comprehensive Student Achievement Information Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title I (General Provisions) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify consumer information disclosure requirements related to completion or graduation rates. 
 
Currently, an institution that participates in federal student aid programs must disclose the completion or graduation rate of first-time, full-time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. This bill expands disclosure requirements to also include the completion or graduation rates of non-first time and half-time certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. The bill also sets forth new time periods for calculating the completion or graduation rates for programs of study that are less than four years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 115-s-352
Sponsor: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Roddie Edmonds in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during World War II.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-353
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Preserve Access to Medicare Rural Home Health Services Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend through 2022 the rural add-on, which is a payment increase for Medicare home health services furnished to patients in rural areas.
 
The bill also amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to lower, for FY2018-FY2022, the annual ceiling on the home health outlier adjustment, which is a payment increase for home health services furnished to the costliest Medicare beneficiaries, from 2.5% to 2.25% of the total Medicare payments projected to be made under the prospective payment system for home health services. (Under the Medicare prospective payment system, payment is made according to a predetermined, fixed amount.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
RAISE Act

Bill: 115-s-354
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Family relationships
Immigration status and procedures
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act or the RAISE Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant visa category.
 
The fiscal year limit for refugee admissions is set at 50,000. 
 
The President shall annually enumerate the previous year's number of asylees. 
 
The bill defines: (1) &quot;immediate relative&quot; as the under-21 year old child or spouse of a U.S. citizen, and (2) &quot;family-sponsored immigrant&quot; as the under-21 year old child or spouse of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
 
The worldwide fiscal year level for family-sponsored immigrants is reduced.
 
The bill establishes a nonimmigrant alien W-visa for the parent of an adult (at least 21 years old) U.S. citizen. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Wounded Veterans Recreation Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-355
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Parks, recreation areas, trails
User charges and fees
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Wounded Veterans Recreation Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to instruct the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available, without charge and for the lifetime of the passholder, to any veteran with a service-connected disability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-417.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Hallways to Health Act

Bill: 115-s-356
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Hallways to Health Act

 
This bill amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) of the Social Security Act to:
 
 
establish a grant program for school-based health centers to, with respect to children who are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, facilitate access to services and encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors; 
 
establish a demonstration program for the provision or expansion of telehealth services in school-based health centers; and 
 
require state Medicaid and CHIP programs to cover services furnished by school-based health centers.

 
In addition, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize through FY2022 and revise school-based health center programs. 
 
The bill also amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to specify that school-based health centers are essential community providers for purposes of inclusion in a qualified health plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act

Bill: 115-s-357
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior: (1) to quitclaim to the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District in California approximately 327 acres of identified federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management; and (2) in exchange for such land, to accept from the Conservation District a conveyance of approximately 310 acres of its land.


Legislative actions:
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: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1130-1131)
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Fishing Equipment Tax Relief Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-359
Sponsor: Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Hunting and fishing
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Fishing Equipment Tax Relief Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 10% to 3% the excise tax rate that applies to the sale of portable, electronically-aerated bait containers by the manufacturer, producer, or importer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Same Day Registration Act

Bill: 115-s-360
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Same Day Registration Act

 
 This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require states with a voter registration requirement to make same-day voter registration available at the polling place on any day voting is permitted.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Expatriate Terrorist Act

Bill: 115-s-361
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Citizenship and naturalization
Due process and equal protection
Terrorism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Expatriate Terrorist Act 

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include among the grounds for loss of U.S. nationality by a native-born or naturalized citizen: 
 
 
taking an oath or making a declaration of allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization after attaining the age of 18; 
 
entering, or serving in, a foreign terrorist organization; 
 
 accepting, serving in, or performing the duties of any office, post, or employment under the government of a foreign state, a political subdivision, or a foreign terrorist organization after attaining the age of 18 if the person knowingly has or acquires the nationality of that foreign state, or if an oath, affirmation, or declaration of allegiance to the foreign state, political subdivision, or designated foreign terrorist organization is required for the office, post, or employment; and
 
 knowingly providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization if the person knows that such organization is engaged in hostilities against the United States.
 
 
 The Passport Act of 1926 is amended to: 
 
 
prohibit the Department of State from issuing a passport or passport card to an individual who is serving in, or attempting to serve in, a foreign terrorist organization and is a threat to U.S. national security; and 
 
direct the State Department to revoke a passport or passport card previously issued to any such individual. 
 
 
 A person who is denied issuance of a passport or passport card or whose passport or passport card is revoked or otherwise restricted may request a due process hearing not later than 60 days after receiving notice of the nonissuance, revocation, or restriction.
 
 The State Department may issue a passport or passport card to, or refuse to revoke a passport or passport card from, an individual if such issuance or refusal to revoke is in U.S. national security interests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-362
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2017-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adoption and foster care
Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional oversight
Employee leave
Family relationships
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Library of Congress
National Guard and reserves
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: 

Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2017

 
This bill allows executive branch employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay for either: (1) the birth of a child, or (2) the placement of a child for adoption or foster care. It makes available for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) six administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved, and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave. 
 
 The bill authorizes the Office of Personnel Management to promulgate regulations to increase the amount of paid parental leave to a total of 12 administrative workweeks. Such regulations must consider certain factors, including benefit and cost to the federal government.
 
The personnel management system for employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shall include family and medical leave (including paid parental leave) for any leave without pay. 
 The bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow the same substitution for covered congressional employees, Government Accountability Office (GAO) employees, and Library of Congress employees. Service in the National Guard or the Reserves by executive branch employees, TSA employees, congressional employees, and GAO or Library of Congress employees shall count as service for purposes of determining eligibility to take or substitute leave as allowed under this bill.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate