hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
RIP MSP Act

Bill: 115-s-2221
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2017-12-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Appropriations
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: 

Repeal Insurance Plans of the Multi-State Program Act of 2017 or the RIP MSP Act

 
This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that allows the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to enter into contracts with health insurance issuers to offer multi-state plan options.
 
OPM must report about specified efforts in its process to wind down the multi-state program.
 
The bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to OPM for staffing and administering the multi-state program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 468.
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-277. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-277. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2018-02-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow for distributions from 529 accounts for expenses associated with registered apprenticeship programs.

Bill: 115-s-2222
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2017-12-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employment and training programs
Financial services and investments
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for certain expenses associated with registered apprenticeship programs. 
 
The bill expands the definition of &quot;qualified higher education expenses&quot; for which tax-free distributions are allowed to include books, supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment or attendance of a designated beneficiary in an apprenticeship program registered and certified with the Department of Labor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7976)
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Good Neighbor Authority Improvement Act

Bill: 115-s-2223
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: 

Good Neighbor Authority Improvement Act

 
This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to permit the Department of Agriculture to carry out as forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services under a good neighbor agreement the reconstruction, repair, or restoration of a National Forest System road that is necessary to carry out the authorized restoration services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Empowering Student Borrowers Act

Bill: 115-s-2224
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Financial literacy
Government information and archives
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: 

Empowering Student Borrowers Act

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to establish best practices for institutions of higher education (IHEs) regarding methods to: (1) teach financial literacy skills, and (2) provide information to assist students when making financial decisions related to student borrowing.
 
In addition, the bill requires an IHE that participates in federal student aid programs to provide an annual estimate of borrowing costs to each enrolled student who receives an education loan. The cost estimate must include the student's cumulative education loan balance, projected monthly payment amount, and interest rate on each loan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2225
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2017-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Land use and conservation
North Carolina
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: 

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2017

 
This bill extends the authority of the Department of the Interior to furnish assistance for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina for four more years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-14
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-504.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

Bill: 115-s-2226
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2017-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: 

Disaster Assistance Simplification Act

 
This bill prohibits a recipient of a disaster-recovery grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development from denying an applicant for assistance, or reducing the amount of assistance offered to the applicant, on the basis that the applicant declined disaster-recovery relief assistance from the Small Business Administration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
EMPOWER Care Act

Bill: 115-s-2227
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2017-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: 

Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act or the EMPOWER Care Act

 
This bill amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend funding through FY2022 for the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and to otherwise revise the program. (Under this program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must award grants to state Medicaid programs to assist in rebalancing states' long-term care systems.)
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2228
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-12-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Licensing and registrations
Right of privacy
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Student records
Unemployment
User charges and fees
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: 

Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make postsecondary education courses and programs, such as apprenticeship programs, that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree eligible for federal student aid funding if the programs and courses are accredited by a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Department of Education. 
 
The bill consolidates federal student loans into one student loan program and revises loan forgiveness for borrowers.
 
An institution that receives federal student aid funding must pay a default rate fine that is based on the default rate of loans made to its students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2229
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Air quality
Aquatic ecology
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Economic performance and conditions
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2017

 
 This bill amends the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct and update at least once every seven years an ocean acidification coastal community vulnerability assessment with a corresponding public report. The assessment must identify: (1) U.S. coastal communities that are most dependent on coastal and ocean resources that may be impacted by ocean acidification; (2) the nature of those communities' social and economic vulnerabilities; (3) impacts from changes in ocean and coastal marine resources that are not managed by the federal government; and (4) key knowledge gaps where research could be devoted to better understand the possible ocean acidification impacts, risks, threats, and possible adaptation strategies for the communities.
 
In carrying out the ocean acidification coastal community vulnerability assessment, NOAA must collaborate with state, local, and tribal government entities that are conducting or have completed vulnerability assessments, strategic research planning, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification and its impacts on coastal communities.
 
NOAA's ocean acidification program is expanded to include an ongoing mechanism that allows affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, non-federal resource managers, regional environmental monitoring programs, indigenous knowledge groups, and outside scientific experts not employed by the federal government to provide input on research, data, and monitoring necessary to support on-the-ground management, decision making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its impacts.
 
The strategic plan for ocean acidification research and monitoring developed by the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council must make recommendations for research to address the key knowledge gaps identified in the community vulnerability assessment report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
HEALS Act

Bill: 115-s-2230
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Government studies and investigations
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing and community development funding
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Help End Abusive Living Situations Act or the HEALS Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to take specified measures to improve services provided to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including by authorizing any defunded transitional housing projects to reapply for funding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8047)
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Protection and Success Act

Bill: 115-s-2231
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Student Protection and Success Act 

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make an institution of higher education (IHE) ineligible for federal student financial aid programs for two fiscal years if a certain percentage of its students are not able to start repaying the principal of their loans by specified deadlines.
 
The Department of Education must award grants to IHEs that have a strong record of supporting low- and moderate-income students. The bill funds the grants by requiring IHEs with certain nonrepayment loan balances to make risk-sharing payments. Grants may be used to increase college access and success for the students using investments and practices such as: awarding additional need-based financial aid, enhancing academic and student support services, and accelerated learning opportunities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Next Generation GRID Act

Bill: 115-s-2232
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy prices
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Public utilities and utility rates
Research and development
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Next Generation Grid Resources and Infrastructure Development Act or the
 
Next Generation GRID Act 

 
This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to (1)establish a right of interconnection for distributed energy resources, (2)require each electric utility to develop an electricity distribution resource plan, (3)require each state to consider non-wire alternatives for allowing an electric utility to recover costs associated with an electricity transmission and distribution project, (4)require the Department of Energy to establish a pilot program for a distribution system operator, and (5)require each state to consider the use of performance-based incentive mechanisms to achieve its public interest goals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-2233
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Federal-Indian relations
Government information and archives
Indian social and development programs
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement officers
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act

 
This bill extends tribal jurisdiction over certain crimes. Specifically, the bill extends tribal jurisdiction over: 
 
 
 violence committed against a child by a caregiver;
 
 violence against law enforcement officers involved in preventing, investigating, arresting, or prosecuting a person for domestic violence, dating violence, or child violence; 
 
attempted dating violence or domestic violence; or 
 
threatened dating violence or domestic violence. 
 
 
In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2022 grants to tribal governments to support exercising jurisdiction and conducting proceedings related to crimes of domestic violence, including the crimes added to tribal jurisdiction by this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
IOT Consumer TIPS Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2234
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Consumer affairs
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Science and engineering education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Internet of Things Consumer Tips to Improve Personal Security Act of 2017 or the IOT Consumer TIPS Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in coordination with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and relevant private sector stakeholders and experts to develop voluntary educational cybersecurity resources for consumers relating to the protection and use of the Internet of Things (devices, applications, and physical objects that are Internet-enabled, networked, or connected).
 
The resources must be technology-neutral and include guidance, best practices, and advice for consumers to protect against, mitigate, and recover from cybersecurity threats or security vulnerabilities.
 
The resources do not bind the FTC to any particular guidance, best practice, or advice. The FTC may not base an enforcement action on any failure to promote or use such guidance, best practice, or advice unless such practice violates another provision of law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2235
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
National Guard and reserves
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2017 

 
This bill establishes tiered hiring preferences for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. The bill grants: (1) a 2-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed at least 6 years of service in a reserve component and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service, and (2) a 3-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed a least 10 years of service and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service. 
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on federal employment opportunities for members of a reserve component and the impact of this bill on the hiring of reservists and veterans by the federal government. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Congressional Harassment Reform Act

Bill: 115-s-2236
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-12-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Age discrimination
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional agencies
Congressional committees
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Disability and paralysis
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Genetics
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
House Committee on House Administration
Judicial review and appeals
Legislative rules and procedure
Library of Congress
Members of Congress
Racial and ethnic relations
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: 

Congressional Harassment Reform Act

 
This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to: (1) require certain discrimination and harassment awareness and prevention training for Members of Congress, officers, employees, interns, fellows, and detailees; (2) extend CAA nondiscrimination requirements and remedies to legislative interns, fellows, and detailees; (3) revise CAA procedures for certain harassment and discrimination complaints; (4) require a Member of Congress to reimburse the Treasury if an employee receives an award or settlement for the Member's alleged act of discrimination or harassment, unless the Member's request for a nonreimbursement determination is approved; and (5) rename the Office of Compliance the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Introduced in Senate