hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act

Bill: 115-s-495
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health care costs and insurance
Immunology and vaccination
Insurance industry and regulation
Intellectual property
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research administration and funding
Research and development
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Medical Innovation Prize Fund Act

 
This bill denies any person the exclusive right to manufacture, distribute, sell, or use a drug, a biological product, or a medication manufacturing process. The bill establishes the Fund for Medical Innovation Prizes to provide for prize payments in lieu of market exclusivity.
 
The Board of Trustees of the fund must award prize payments to: (1) the first person to receive approval for a medication; (2) the holder of the patent for a manufacturing process; and (3) persons or communities that contributed to the development of a rewarded medication or process through the open, nondiscriminatory, and royalty-free sharing of knowledge, data, materials, and technology.
 
The board must establish: (1) criteria for selecting recipients and determining the amount of prizes, and (2) independent expert advisory committees to assist it in carrying out this bill.
 
The board must establish, and may periodically modify, minimum levels of funding for priority research and development, including research and development regarding global neglected diseases, orphan diseases, global infectious diseases, and other global public health priorities.
 
The board may authorize nonprofit intermediaries to reward projects for interim research and development of products or for open source dividend prizes.
 
The Government Accountability Office must determine the board's effectiveness in bringing to market new medications and manufacturing processes in a cost-effective manner and in addressing society's medical needs.
 
The bill establishes an annual fee on health insurers to fund this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Lymphedema Treatment Act

Bill: 115-s-497
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Lymphedema Treatment Act

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover certain lymphedema compression treatment items as durable medical equipment under Medicare. (Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling that is caused when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
BEST Practices Act

Bill: 115-s-498
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Medical education
Medical research
Military education and training
Military medicine

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training Practices Act or the BEST Practices Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD), no later than: (1) October 1, 2020, to develop, test, and validate human-based training methods for training members of the Armed Forces in the treatment of combat trauma injuries, with the goal of replacing live animal-based training methods; and (2) October 1, 2022, to use only use human-based training methods for such purposes. 
 
The bill prohibits the use of animals in such training after the latter date, but permits DOD to exempt a particular command or training method from human-based training method requirements for up to one year if the human-based methods will not provide an educationally equivalent or superior substitute for live animal-based training methods. Allows exemption periods to be renewed.
 
DOD shall submit an annual report to Congress regarding the development and implementation of the human-based training methods, including the justifications for any exemptions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
SHIPP Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-499
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural insurance
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Farmland
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Water use and supply
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Soil Health and Income Protection Program Act of 2017 or the SHIPP Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a voluntary soil health and income protection program. 
 
Landowners and operators may enroll eligible land in the program by agreeing to adopt certain practices to conserve and improve the soil, water, and wildlife resources of the land for a period of three to five years in exchange for rental payments and additional crop insurance premium discounts. 
 
During the period of the agreement:
 
 
 the lowest practicable cost perennial conserving use cover crop must be planted on the enrolled land at the expense of the enrollee; 
 
 the land may be harvested for seed, hayed, or grazed outside the nesting and brood-rearing period, but may not be insured and is subject to a 25% reduction in rental payments if the land is harvested for seed; 
 
 the land may be eligible for a walk-in access program of the applicable state; and 
 
a nonprofit wildlife organization may provide to the owner or operator of the eligible land a payment in exchange for an agreement by the owner or operator not to harvest the conserving use cover. 
 
 
Beginning, small, socially disadvantaged, young, or veteran farmers and ranchers are only required to pay 50% of the cost of planting the conserving using cover crop and are eligible for increased payments and crop insurance premium discounts under the program.
 
A maximum of 15% of the eligible land on a farm may be enrolled in the program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Bill: 115-s-501
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Montana
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

 
 This bill amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified river segments of the East Rosebud Creek in Montana as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Nothing in this bill creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone outside of the designated boundary of the designated river segments. 

action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified river segments of the East Rosebud Creek in Montana as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Nothing in this bill creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone outside of the designated boundary of the designated river segments. 

action_date: 2017-12-20
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)
 

East Rosebud Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified river segments of the East Rosebud Creek in Montana as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
Nothing in this bill creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone outside of the designated boundary of the designated river segments. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2017-12-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-12-21
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-12-21
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-12-20
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8185; text: CR S8185)
action_date: 2017-12-20
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8185; text: CR S8185)
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: An errata sheet on written report No. 115-42 was printed.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 56.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-42.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-42.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the boundary of Voyageurs National Park in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-502
Sponsor: Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Minnesota
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 
This bill modifies the boundaries of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. 
 
 The bill transfers to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over: 
 
 
any land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the boundaries of the park, and 
 
any additional public land identified by the BLM as appropriate for transfer within the boundaries of the park. 
 
 
Any land located within or adjacent to the boundaries of the park that is owned by Minnesota (or a political subdivision) may be acquired by Interior through donation or exchange only. 

action_date: 2017-05-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec. 1) This bill modifies the boundaries of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. 
 
 The bill transfers to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior administrative jurisdiction over: 
 
 
any land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the boundaries of the park, and 
 
any additional public land identified by the BLM as appropriate for transfer within the boundaries of the park. 
 
 
Any land located within or adjacent to the boundaries of the park that is owned by Minnesota (or a political subdivision) may be acquired by Interior through donation or exchange only. 
 
Upon completion of any such acquisition from Minnesota, Interior shall revise the park's boundaries to reflect the acquisition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 82.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-64.
action_date: 2017-05-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-64.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act

Bill: 115-s-503
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Business investment and capital
Civil actions and liability
Department of Agriculture
Government information and archives
Income tax deductions
Judicial review and appeals
Licensing and registrations
Mammals

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain and publicly disclose records relating to the administration of the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, including specified details regarding inspections, enforcement actions, regulations, registrations, and licenses under the two laws. Within 90 days of the enactment of this bill, USDA must make the records available to the public in an online searchable database in a machine-readable format on its website. 
 
The bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a taxpayer who has been convicted or assessed civil penalties for violating certain provisions of the Animal Welfare Act or the Horse Protection Act to use the alternative depreciation system that increases the number of years over which property is depreciated. The taxpayer must use the system for any property placed in service during the five-year period beginning with the year in which the period for seeking judicial review of a civil penalty has lapsed or in which there has been a final judgment entered with respect to the violation, whichever is earlier. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1580; text of measure as introduced: CR S1580-1581)
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-505
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government trust funds
Marine and inland water transportation
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for an energy equivalent for a gallon of diesel, in the case of liquefied natural gas (LNG), for the purposes of the 29 cents per gallon Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate. (The rate is used for the excise tax on fuel used in commercial transportation on inland waterways.) The bill specifies that the energy equivalent of a gallon of diesel is 6.06 pounds of LNG.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-506
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Freedom from Government Competition Act of 2017

 
 This bill requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, except if: (1) such goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed by such agency; or (2) the agency determines and certifies that federal production, manufacture, or provision of a good or service is necessary for the national defense or homeland security, that a good or service is so critical to the agency's mission or so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by government employees, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service.
 
This bill requires such private sector provision of goods and services to be performed through: (1) the divestiture of federal involvement, (2) the award of a contract using competitive procedures, or (3) conducting a public-private competitive sourcing analysis in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures and determining that using the private sector is in the best interest of the United States and provides the best value to the taxpayer.
 
The bill authorizes an agency to utilize federal employees to provide goods or services previously provided by a private sector entity upon completion of a public-private competitive sourcing analysis and after determining that provision by federal employees provides the best value.
 
The OMB must carry out a study to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-507
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Montana
Motor vehicles
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Watersheds
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to complete a landscape assessment of the Seeley Lake Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest in Montana to: (1) assess the ecological condition of its forests and watersheds; and (2) identify actions needed to facilitate ecosystem sustainability, resilience, and health by assisting in the recovery of its forest ecosystems.
 
A collaboratively developed restoration project within the district may be carried out according to certain provisions applicable to authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.
 
The bill designates specified federal land in the forest as: (1) the Otatsy Recreation Management Area, and (2) the Spread Mountain Recreation Area. 
 
USDA shall, if, a local collaborative group submits a proposal to improve motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail opportunities within the district, analyze the proposal in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It may also provide for the construction of any of the routes included in such proposal.
 
The bill designates specified wilderness additions in the forest as wilderness areas and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-502.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Land Invasive Species Control, Prevention, and Management Act

Bill: 115-s-509
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Aquatic ecology
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
General public lands matters
Intergovernmental relations
Pest management
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Federal Land Invasive Species Control, Prevention, and Management Act

 
This bill directs each agency concerned (the Department of the Interior for federal land administered through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Department of Agriculture [USDA] for federal land administered through the U.S. Forest Service; and any other federal agency the duties of which require planning related to, and the treatment of, invasive species on federal land) to plan and carry out activities on land directly managed by the agency concerned to control and manage invasive species in order to inhibit or reduce their populations and to effectuate restoration or reclamation efforts. 
 
 The agency concerned shall develop a strategic plan for the implementation of an invasive species program that endeavors to achieve a substantive annual net reduction of invasive species populations or infested acreage on land managed by that agency. 
 
 Each strategic plan shall be developed: (1) in coordination with eligible states, their political subdivisions, and federally recognized Indian tribes; and (2) according to the priorities established by at least one governor of an eligible state in which an ecosystem affected by an invasive species is located. 
 
 The agency concerned shall prioritize the use of the least costly option necessary to perform effectively, based on sound scientific data and other commonly used cost-effective benchmarks in an area. 
 
 Projects and activities carried out under this bill must be coordinated with affected local governments according to certain criteria regarding the development and revision of land use plans under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate