hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Care Corps Demonstration Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3608
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2018-10-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adult day care
Aging
Allied health services
Criminal justice information and records
Disability assistance
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: 

Care Corps Demonstration Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants for local care corps programs. Such programs must provide support services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities, particularly services that promote independent living.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act

Bill: 115-s-3609
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2018-10-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: 

Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act

 
This bill amends the National Trails System Act to designate a trail of approximately 2,400 miles extending from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, as the Route 66 National Historic Trail. 
 
The trail shall be administered by the National Park Service in a manner that respects and maintains its idiosyncratic nature. 
 
The Department of the Interior may not use eminent domain or condemnation in carrying out this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3610
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2018-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: 

Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 

2018

 
This bill allows any Medicare beneficiary to enter into a contract with an eligible professional, regardless of whether the professional is a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner, for any item or service covered by Medicare. Such beneficiaries may submit a claim for Medicare payment in the amount that would otherwise apply, except that, where the professional is considered to be non-participating, payment shall be paid as if the professional were participating. An eligible professional is a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, physical or occupational therapist, qualified speech-language pathologist, or qualified audiologist.
 
A Medicare beneficiary must agree in writing in such a contract to: (1) pay the eligible professional for a Medicare-covered item or service; and (2) submit, in lieu of the eligible professional, a claim for Medicare payment. However, a beneficiary may negotiate, as a term of the contract, for the eligible professional to file such claims on the beneficiary's behalf.
 
The bill preempts state laws from limiting the amount of charges for physician and practitioner services for which Medicare payment is made.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Faster Access to Federal Student Aid Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3611
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2018-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Student records
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: 

Faster Access to Federal Student Aid Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to disclose certain tax return information to the Department of Education (ED) for the purpose of administering financial aid and loan programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. (Under current law, students must obtain their own tax return information from the IRS and submit it to ED.) 
 
Upon receiving a request from ED, the IRS must disclose specified tax return information to ED for the purposes of 
 
 
 establishing, renewing, administering, and conducting analyses and forecasts for estimating costs related to income-contingent or income-based repayment programs; 
 
 the discharge of loans based on a total and permanent disability; 
 
 determining the eligibility for, and the amount of, federal student financial aid; and 
 
 conducting analyses and forecasts for estimating costs related to federal student financial aid programs. 
 
 
ED may only use the disclosed information for the purposes above and for mitigating risks related to the programs. Mitigating risks includes activities related to analyzing or estimating costs, conducting oversight, developing statistics, and reducing improper payments. It does not include conducting criminal investigations or prosecutions. 
 
With the consent of the taxpayer, ED may disclose the return information to certain institutions of higher education, state higher education agencies, and scholarship organizations solely for the use in financial aid programs. 
 
The bill also specifies notification and reporting requirements related to the disclosures and the implementation of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-12-20
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3612
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: 

Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2018

 
This bill prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of source of income or veteran status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Mancos Water Conservancy District Conveyance Act

Bill: 115-s-3613
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2018-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Colorado
Congressional oversight
Dams and canals
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government studies and investigations
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
State and local government operations
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: 

Mancos Water Conservancy District Conveyance Act

 
This bill provides for the conveyance of the Mancos Project features (e.g., canals, facilities, and water rights) from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Mancos Water Conservancy District in Colorado.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Corporate Governance Fairness Act

Bill: 115-s-3614
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2018-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: 

Corporate Governance Fairness Act 

 
This bill requires proxy advisory firms to register as investment advisers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6927-6928)
action_date: 2018-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Justice for Workers Act

Bill: 115-s-3615
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Restoring Justice for Workers Act

 
This bill prohibits predispute arbitration agreements that require arbitration of an employment dispute. It allows a postdispute arbitration agreement if the employee enters into it voluntarily without coercion and is informed in writing of rights and protections under such agreement. An employer may not retaliate against an employee for refusing to enter into an agreement for arbitrating an employment dispute. 
 
The bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice to interfere with the right of an employee to collectively litigate employment disputes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Pregnant Women in Custody Act

Bill: 115-s-3616
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal justice information and records
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act or the Pregnant Women in Custody Act

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery.
 
Additionally, it requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to include, in the National Prison Statistics Program and Annual Survey of Jails, statistics on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women.
 
A Bureau of Prisons facility must provide appropriate services and programs to address the health and safety needs of women inmates related to pregnancy and childbirth.
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the services and protections for pregnant incarcerated women in state and local correctional settings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Government Spectrum Valuation Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3617
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Government Spectrum Valuation Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to determine the monetary value of electromagnetic spectrum assigned or allocated to federal entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

Bill: 115-s-3618
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

 
This bill amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize the Department of Energy (DOE)to lease underutilized Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage facilities to private entities. Currently, DOE may only lease these storage facilities to foreign governments. 
 
DOE must conduct a pilot program to lease underutilized storage facilities. The program must make available capacity for storage of up to 200 million barrels of petroleum products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-29
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-534.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation Sustainability and Accountability (NEATSA) Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3619
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Medicare
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation Sustainability and Accountability (NEATSA) Act of 2018

 
This bill decreases the percentage by which Medicare payments must be reduced in 2019 for nonemergency ambulance transports of end-stage renal disease patients. Beginning in 2020, the bill increases the percentage reduction for certain providers that mostly furnish such services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act

Bill: 115-s-3620
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative treatments
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to provide chiropractic health care services and benefits through the TRICARE program to uniformed service members who are not on active duty and to uniformed service retirees. (Active duty members of the uniformed services are currently eligible for chiropractic services and benefits through the Chiropractic Health Care Program.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a permanent extension of the lower threshold for the medical expense deduction.

Bill: 115-s-3621
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the reduction in the adjusted gross income threshold that must be exceeded before a taxpayer is allowed to claim an itemized deduction for medical expenses. (In 2017, the threshold was temporarily reduced from 10% to 7.5% for 2017 and 2018. This bill makes the 7.5% threshold permanent.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6966)
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3622
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Asia
Business ethics
China
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of State
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
News media and reporting
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Sanctions
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
United Nations
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2018

 
This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group. 
 
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province.
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.
 
The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang and assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies.
 
The Department of State shall report on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the use of funds appropriated for the Department of Defense for aerial refueling of aircraft of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Bill: 115-s-3623
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Aviation and airports
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Saudi Arabia

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 
This bill prohibits funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense from being obligated or expended for aerial refueling of aircraft owned or operated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Families, Not Facilities Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3624
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Justice
Detention of persons
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mental health
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Families, Not Facilities Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 regarding the treatment of minor aliens that enter the United States unaccompanied by a guardian.
 
When placing an unaccompanied alien child with a proposed custodian, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall not consider the proposed guardian's immigration status. 
 
This bill also limits the use of information obtained for placing an unaccompanied alien child with a custodian, if such information was obtained from the child or the Department of Health and Human Services. DHS shall not use such information to apprehend, detain, or deport:
 
 
the child, 
 
a proposed or current custodian or sponsor, or 
 
a person living with the proposed or current custodian or sponsor.
 
 
The Office of Refugee Settlement shall provide case management services for unaccompanied alien children after they have been released and facilitate efforts to connect the children with legal representation for immigration proceedings. 

 
This bill also establishes the Office of Refugee Resettlement Advisory Committee on Shelters for Accompanied Alien Children. The advisory committee may conduct unannounced inspections of Office of Refugee Settlement shelters that hold unaccompanied alien children. The advisory committee shall issue a report on its investigations and recommendations regarding the shelters.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
United States-Israel Cooperation Expansion Act

Bill: 115-s-3625
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Europe
Hungary
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Israel
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Middle East
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

U.S.-Israel Cooperation Expansion Act

 
This bill states that it is U.S. policy to: 
 
 
support bilateral training between U.S. and Israeli law enforcement personnel to share best practices relating to anti-terrorism, community policing, and mass casualty management; and 
 
continue to counter threats to U.S. and Israeli security and embassy protection posed by illicit cross-border tunneling and unmanned aerial systems. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Keeping All Students Safe Act

Bill: 115-s-3626
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Keeping All Students Safe Act

 
This bill prohibits the use of seclusion and limits the use of physical restraint in federally funded elementary and secondary schools and Head Start agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
VET Extension Act

Bill: 115-s-3627
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: 

Veterans Education and Transfer Extension Act or the VET Extension Act

 
This bill makes changes to Post-9/11 educational assistance for veterans or active duty military service members. Specifically, the bill increases the number of months of educational assistance available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill by (1) 15 months, or (2) the amount of months needed to complete remedial and deficiency courses that may be needed prior to beginning a program of education.
 
Under the bill, individuals who do not currently have a dependent, but wish to elect to transfer educational assistance to a dependent, may do so at such a time when they do have a dependent. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not prescribe any additional limitation on the time period in which a member of the Armed Forces may make an election. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate