hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Bill: 115-s-1101
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child care and development
Civil actions and liability
Employee hiring
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government liability
Sex and reproductive health
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local government operations
Women's employment
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

 
This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to: (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they choose not to accept, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations.
 
The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and the rights and protections extended to presidential offices.
 
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected job applicants or employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship.
 
The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Offshore WIND Act

Bill: 115-s-1102
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Electric power generation and transmission
Great Lakes
Income tax credits
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act or the Offshore WIND Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax credit for investment in energy property to include a qualified offshore wind property with construction that begins before January 1, 2026. 
 
A &quot;qualified offshore wind property&quot; is a facility that: (1) uses wind to produce electricity; and (2) is located in the inland navigable waters of the United States including the Great Lakes, or in the coastal waters of the United States, including the territorial seas of the United States, the exclusive economic zone of the United States, and the outer Continental Shelf of the United States. The term excludes certain small wind energy property that uses a small wind turbine to generate electricity. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Wireless Access Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1104
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Rural Wireless Access Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a consistent methodology for its collection of coverage data about the available speed tiers and performance characteristics of commercial mobile and data service for the Universal Service program or any similar programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Miners Pension Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-1105
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Asia
Coal
Customs enforcement
Employee benefits and pensions
Free trade and trade barriers
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Mining
South Korea
Trade agreements and negotiations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Miners Pension Protection Act 

 
This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to provide pension benefits to retired coal miners and their families. 
 
The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the amounts available for transfer under SMCRA's $490 million annual limit exceed the amounts required to be transferred for other purposes (including to the UMWA Health Plans). 
 
The bill also: (1) prohibits the pension plan from making certain changes to benefits during any year in which a transfer is received, and (2) establishes additional reporting requirements for the plan.
 
As an offset, the bill amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend the authority of Treasury to collect certain customs user fees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
National Nurse Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1106
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health promotion and preventive care
Nursing
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

National Nurse Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to designate the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as the National Nurse for Public Health.
 
The duties of this position include: (1) providing leadership and coordination of Public Health Service nursing professional affairs for the Office of the Surgeon General and other agencies of the Public Health Service, (2) conducting outreach and education, and (3) providing guidance and leadership for activities that will increase public safety and emergency preparedness. 
 
The National Nurse for Public Health must: (1) participate in identification of national health priorities, (2) encourage volunteerism of nurses and strengthen the relationship between government agencies and health-related national organizations, and (3) promote the dissemination of evidence-based practice in educating the public on health promotion and disease prevention activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Honoring Hometown Heroes Act

Bill: 115-s-1108
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
First responders and emergency personnel
Law enforcement officers
National symbols

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Honoring Hometown Heroes Act

 
This bill authorizes the governor of a state, territory, or possession of the United States or the Mayor of the District of Columbia to proclaim that the U.S. flag shall be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a first responder (public safety officer) working in such jurisdiction who dies while serving in the line of duty.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1109
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Education programs funding
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Nursing
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend through FY2022 support for nursing workforce programs and grants.
 
Eligibility for advanced nursing education grants is expanded to include education programs for clinical nurse leaders and all combined registered nurse and graduate degree programs. (Clinical nurse leaders are advanced generalist clinicians who apply research and coordinate care in order to improve outcomes for patients.) To be eligible for these grants, clinical nurse specialist programs must provide registered nurses with full-time clinical nurse specialist education that qualifies the nurses to provide a full range of care.
 
Programs for loan repayment and scholarships for nurses, loans for nursing faculty, and geriatric care education are extended through FY2022. Grants for increasing nursing workforce diversity are also extended through FY2022.
 
Nurse education, practice, and quality grants are extended through FY2022 and eligibility is expanded to include nurse-managed health clinics.
 
Grants for nursing career ladder programs are expanded to: (1) promote career advancement for individuals to become registered nurses or advanced education nurses; and (2) support internships and residency programs to encourage mentoring and the development of specialties.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Friendly Airports for Mothers Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1110
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Child health
Disability and paralysis
Right of privacy
Transportation programs funding
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Friendly Airports for Mothers Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to approve a grant application for an airport development project only if the DOT receives written assurances that the owner or operator of a large or medium hub airport will maintain a lactation area at each passenger terminal building of the airport behind the airport security screening area.
 
The bill defines &quot;lactation area&quot; to mean a room or other location in a commercial service airport for members of the public to express breast milk that: 
 
 
 is shielded from view and free from intrusion from the public; 
 
 has a door that can be locked; 
 
 includes a place to sit, a table or other flat surface, and an electrical outlet; 
 
 is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and 
 
 is not located in a restroom.
 
 
DOT may approve a terminal development project for the construction or installation of a lactation area at a commercial service airport.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Violence Against Women Veterans Act

Bill: 115-s-1111
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Sex offenses
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Violence Against Women Veterans Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program to assist veterans that have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault in accessing benefits from the VA, including by coordinating access to medical treatment centers, housing assistance, and other benefits. The VA shall carry out the program in partnership with specified health care or other service providers that serve domestic violence or sexual assault victims.
 
The VA may: (1) conduct training for community-based domestic violence or sexual assault service providers on identifying veterans who have been victims, coordinating with local VA service providers, and connecting veterans with appropriate VA housing, mental health, medical, and other financial assistance or benefits; and (2) provide assistance to service providers to ensure veterans access to domestic violence and sexual assault emergency services.
 
The VA may establish local coordinators to provide outreach under such program and ensure that each coordinator is knowledgeable about:
 
 
 the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, including safety concerns, legal protections, and the need for confidential services; 
 
 veteran eligibility for VA services and benefits relevant to recovery from domestic violence and sexual assault; and 
 
 local community resources addressing domestic violence and sexual assault. 
 
 
 Each coordinator shall assist domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers in providing services to veterans. 
 
The VA shall: (1) establish a national task force to develop a comprehensive national program to address domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans, and (2) conduct a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans and spouses of veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Personal Care Products Safety Act

Bill: 115-s-1113
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Business records
Coal
Consumer affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Employee hiring
Federal preemption
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government information and archives
Inflation and prices
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Product safety and quality
Small business
State and local government operations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Personal Care Products Safety Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require cosmetics companies to register their facilities with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to submit to the FDA cosmetic ingredient statements that include the amounts of a cosmetic's ingredients. Companies must pay a facility registration fee based on their annual gross sales of cosmetics. The collected fees can only be used for cosmetic safety activities.
 
If the FDA determines that a cosmetic has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences, it may prohibit the cosmetic's distribution by suspending the cosmetic ingredient statement. If other cosmetics from the same facility may be affected, the FDA may prohibit distribution from the facility by suspending the facility's registration.
 
The FDA must review the safety of at least five cosmetic ingredients each year, and it may establish conditions for safe use of an ingredient, including a limit on the amount of the ingredient or a requirement for a warning label. A cosmetic cannot be sold if it contains an ingredient that is not safe, not safe under the recommended conditions of use, or not safe in the amount present in the cosmetic. 
 
Cosmetics companies are required to report to the FDA any serious adverse health event associated with their cosmetics.
 
The FDA must:
 
 
develop and implement cosmetic manufacturing standards that are consistent with existing national and international standards,
 
be allowed to inspect a company's cosmetic safety records,
 
recall a cosmetic that is likely to cause serious adverse health consequences, and
 
encourage cosmetic safety testing practices that minimize the use of animals. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2918-2919)
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to nullify the effect of the recent Executive order laying a foundation for discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, women, religious minorities, and others under the pretext of religious freedom.

Bill: 115-s-1114
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Labor
Department of the Treasury
Family planning and birth control
First Amendment rights
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 
This bill nullifies Executive Order 13798, titled &quot;Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.&quot; The executive order: (1) requires the executive branch to enforce federal law protections for religious freedom and to protect persons and organizations that engage in religious and political speech; (2) prohibits the Department of the Treasury from taking adverse action against individuals, houses of worship, or religious organizations based on their speech about moral or political issues from a religious perspective, where speech of similar character has not ordinarily been treated as participation or intervention in a political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office; and (3) requires Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services to consider issuing amended regulations to address conscience-based objections to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's preventive-care mandate, which requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide coverage, and not impose cost sharing requirements, for contraception and other additional preventive care and screenings for women.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2919-2920)
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Making Pharmaceutical Markets More Competitive Act

Bill: 115-s-1115
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Making Pharmaceutical Markets More Competitive Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize the review of generic drug applications and supplements with respect to drugs that are in a shortage or for which there are not more than three approved drugs.
 
The holder of an approved drug application must notify the FDA within 180 days of withdrawing or transferring the application or withdrawing the drug from sale.
 
The FDA must maintain a list of generic drugs with three or fewer holders of approved applications. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Consumer Financial Choice and Capital Markets Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1117
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2017-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Consumer affairs
Financial crises and stabilization
Financial services and investments
Government lending and loan guarantees
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: 

Consumer Financial Choice and Capital Markets Protection Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to allow a money market fund, under specified conditions, to elect to operate using a different method of valuation than is otherwise required. A money market fund that elects to do so shall not be subject to specified requirements related to the imposition of liquidity fees.
 
Certain federal assistance may not be provided directly to any money market fund. This limitation on federal assistance must be disclosed in a money market's advertising and sales literature.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-26
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-354.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1119
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-05-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Maritime Commission
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Public participation and lobbying
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-15
text: 

Federal Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 2017

 
This bill reauthorizes appropriations through FY2019 for the Federal Maritime Commission. It also authorizes the commission to enter into a cooperative agreement with private entities to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of an internet-based national seaport information portal to increase overall supply chain visibility, reliability, and resilience with respect to international ocean shipping.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-05-15
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Valent Kolami.

Bill: 115-s-1120
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-05-15 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-15
text: Provides for the relief of Valent Kolami.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-15
text: Introduced in Senate