hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To prohibit any hiring freeze from affecting any Department of Defense position at, or in support of, a public shipyard.

Bill: 115-hr-742
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Defense spending
Department of Defense
Employee hiring
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military facilities and property
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 
This bill declares that the memorandum titled &quot;Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze&quot; published on January 23, 2017, or any other action by the President to prevent a department or agency from filling vacant civilian employee positions or creating new such positions, shall have no force or effect with respect to any Department of Defense (DOD) civilian position under which an employee performs a DOD function at a public shipyard or a DOD function that directly supports a public shipyard.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
Davis-Bacon Repeal Act

Bill: 115-hr-743
Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Building construction
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Labor standards
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Davis-Bacon Repeal Act

 
 This bill repeals the Davis-Bacon Act (which requires that the locally prevailing wage rate be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works).
 
The bill states that references in any law to a wage requirement of the Davis-Bacon Act after enactment of this bill shall be null and void. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
Truth in Employment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-744
Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Truth in Employment Act of 2017 

 
 This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that nothing in specified prohibitions against unfair labor practices by employers shall be construed as requiring an employer to employ any person who seeks or has sought employment with the employer in furtherance of other employment or agency status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
Campus Fire Safety Education Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-746
Sponsor: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Emergency planning and evacuation
Fires
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Campus Fire Safety Education Act of 2017

 
 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or consortiums of such institutions, in a collaborative partnership with a nonprofit organization or a public safety department (eligible entity), for: (1) initiating, expanding, or improving fire safety education programs; and (2) increasing fire safety awareness among enrolled students. 
 
ED shall give priority to institutions that plan to use funds to initiate, expand, or improve fire safety education programs that include educational material specifically prepared for students with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. The bill sets forth provisions regarding grant periods and matching and other requirements. An eligible entity may not be awarded more than $250,000 per fiscal year under this bill.
 
An eligible entity shall use grant funds to initiate, expand, or improve a fire safety education program that: 
 
 
reaches all enrolled students (for an institution of higher education); 
 
ensures maximum exposure to, increases awareness of, and effectuates change in behavior regarding, fire safety by students through conducting outreach to students a minimum of twice per academic year and through measures that provide fire safety information to any student upon request; 
 
includes minimum instruction regarding fire behavior, fire injury and death, ignition scenarios, fire safety systems and equipment, the importance of means of egress, fire prevention techniques, and actions to be taken if a fire occurs to minimize the potential for death, injury, and property damage; and 
 
includes a mechanism for carrying out evaluations of program effectiveness. 
 
 
ED shall publish a report of best practices for initiating, expanding, or improving fire safety education programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-747
Sponsor: Rep. Paulsen, Erik [R-MN-3]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alcoholic beverages
Business investment and capital
Business records
Competition and antitrust
Corporate finance and management
Department of the Treasury
Executive agency funding and structure
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Income tax deductions
Licensing and registrations
Sales and excise taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of certain alcoholic beverages, to: 
 
 
 exclude the aging period from the production period for beer, wine, or distilled spirits for purposes of determining whether a taxpayer can expense, rather than capitalize, interest costs paid or incurred during the production period; 
 
 reduce excise tax rates on beer and distilled spirits; 
 
 modify the small wine producer tax credit to increase the amount of the credit, expand the producers that are covered, and specify an adjustment for hard cider;
 
modify the alcohol content limitations that apply to certain wines for tax purposes;
 
 specify definitions for &quot;mead&quot; and &quot;low alcohol by volume wine;&quot;
 
 modify requirements for records, statements, and returns for certain breweries; and 
 
 permit the transfer of beer between bonded facilities without payment of tax. 
 
 
The Department of the Treasury must amend applicable regulations with respect to the use of wholesome products suitable for human consumption in the production of fermented beverages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-748
Sponsor: Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Safeguarding Sanctuary Cities Act of 2017

 
This bill prohibits reducing or withholding federal financial assistance that a state or local government would otherwise receive because such state or local government has in place any policy that limits or restricts compliance with a detainer.
 
A &quot;detainer&quot; is defined as any order or request by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a state or local official to:
 
 
 temporarily hold a person until such person may be taken into federal custody, 
 
 transport such a person for transfer to federal custody, or
 
 notify DHS prior to releasing such person.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
Lower Drug Costs through Competition Act

Bill: 115-hr-749
Sponsor: Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Licensing and registrations
Prescription drugs
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Lower Drug Costs through Competition Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise provisions regarding review and approval of generic drug applications or supplements to generic drug applications for drugs: (1) for which there is a shortage, or (2) that have not been recently introduced to the market by more than one manufacturer and for which tentative approval has not been granted to more than two applications.
 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must prioritize the review of such submissions and act on them within 180 days. The FDA may expedite the inspection of a facility proposed to manufacture such a drug.
 
Beginning FY2019, the FDA must award a transferrable generic drug priority review voucher to the sponsor of such an application once the drug has a sustained market presence. A voucher may be used to have the FDA review and take action upon a generic drug application within 180 days of submission. The FDA must establish an additional user fee for applications subject to a voucher. This voucher program is terminated at the start of FY2024.
 
The FDA must periodically report on generic drug applications filed before FY2018 that are still pending.
 
For a new drug application to be eligible for a priority review voucher as a tropical disease product application, the application must include new, essential clinical investigations.
 The Government Accountability Office must study the FDA's program for drug risk evaluation and mitigation strategies.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas, formerly of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and currently of Colleyville, Texas, for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

Bill: 115-hr-751
Sponsor: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez.

Bill: 115-hr-752
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the House
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Provides for the relief of Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in House
REAL ID Privacy Protection Act

Bill: 115-hr-755
Sponsor: Rep. Sanford, Mark [R-SC-1]
Introduced: 2017-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: 

REAL ID Privacy Protection Act

 
This bill amends the REAL ID Act of 2005 to repeal the requirements that each state, in the issuance of drivers' licenses and identification cards: (1) retain paper copies of source documents for 7 years or images of source documents for 10 years, and (2) provide to all other states electronic access to information contained in the state's motor vehicle database.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall extend through October 10, 2017, the deadline for compliance with the minimum document requirements and issuance standards for federal recognition of state drivers' licenses or identification cards for a state not in compliance that has received a limited extension of the deadline for compliance or that is under review for compliance as of the enactment of this bill.
 
The Department of of Homeland Security shall report on each state's compliance with the requirements of the material compliance checklist for such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H806-807)
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
FAIR Act

Bill: 115-hr-757
Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2017-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: 

Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act or the FAIR Act

 
This bill increases the rates of basic pay for federal employees under the statutory pay systems (relating to the General Schedule, the U.S. Foreign Service, and the Veterans Health Administration) and for prevailing rate employees by 2% for calendar year 2018 and FY2018, respectively.
 
The percentage adjustment for locality-based comparability payments for calendar year 2018 shall be an increase of 1.2%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
GI Internship Program Act

Bill: 115-hr-758
Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Introduced: 2017-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: 

GI Internship Program Act

 
This bill directs theDepartment of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a career transition internship program to match individuals who are eligible for veterans' educational assistance with employers to: (1) provide such individuals with work experience in the civilian sector, (2) address the growing skills gap in the U.S. economy, (3) increase the marketable skills of such individuals, and (4) assist such individuals in obtaining long-term employment.
 
The VA shall establish criteria employers must meet to participate in the program. Program employers shall not include: (1) government agencies; (2) employers who cannot provide the VA with certain assurances, including their intention to retain interns after their internship ends; and (3) employers that have previously participated in the program and failed to abide by its requirements.
 
The VA shall pay individuals who are full-time participants in such an internship the amount of educational assistance they are due.
 
Each internship shall last for at least 180 days but for no more than one year.
 
Each intern shall be considered to be an employee of the VA for purposes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
 
Each intern and employer shall provide the VA with a monthly certification that the intern worked at least 35 hours each week performing functions that provided the individual with valuable experience.
 
The VA and the Department of Labor shall create and publicize a website to serve as a portal for the program. Individuals may apply within 180 days of their expected discharge or release from the Armed Forces.
 
The VA shall minimize the administrative burdens incurred by employers due to their participation in the program and ensure that employer participation is at no cost to the employer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2017-02-03
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H950)
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Ability to Repay Verification Enabling Act

Bill: 115-hr-759
Sponsor: Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2017-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Department of Labor
Government information and archives
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: 

Ability to Repay Verification Enabling Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Labor from enforcing any requirement that a third-party consumer-reporting agency that serves only as a secure conduit for data from a state unemployment compensation agency must obtain and maintain informed consent from an individual before obtaining confidential unemployment compensation information about the individual.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-02-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-760
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2017-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Securities
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: 

Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to: (1) invest a specified percentage of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, using one or more qualified professional asset managers, in index funds modeled after those established for Thrift Savings Fund investments; and (2) ensure that the investment replicates the performance of the longest-term target date asset allocation investment fund established by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
 
The bill establishes the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund Investment Committee, which Treasury shall consult regarding such investments.
 
The &quot;specified percentage&quot; to be invested is defined as 25% of the currently available portions of the fund as are not immediately required for payments from the fund, except that the committee may specify a higher percentage, not to exceed 30%, not earlier than five years after this bill's enactment and as appropriate thereafter. 
 
Treasury shall annually engage an independent qualified public accountant to audit the financial statements of such investments and shall submit an annual management report that includes:
 
 
 statements of financial position, operations, and cash flows;
 
 a statement on internal accounting and administrative control systems;
 
 the report resulting from the audit; and
 
 any other comments and information necessary to inform Congress about the operations and financial condition of the investments.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-761
Sponsor: Rep. Renacci, James B. [R-OH-16]
Introduced: 2017-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Legislative rules and procedure
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: 

Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2017

 
This bill prohibits provisions that increase or extend an increase of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premiums from being counted as an offset to determine budget points of order for legislation in the House or the Senate. 
 
(The PBGC is a federal agency that insures the benefits of private sector, defined benefit pension plans. The PBGC is financed by insurance premiums paid by sponsors of the plans, investment income, assets from pension plans taken over by the PBGC, and recoveries from the companies formerly responsible for the plans. This bill prevents increases in PBGC premiums from being used to pay for provisions that increase the deficit in determining whether a budget point of order applies to legislation.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Introduced in House