hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Building a Health Care Workforce for the Future Act

Bill: 115-s-3095
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 

Building a Health Care Workforce for the Future Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award matching grants to enable states to implement scholarship programs to ensure an adequate supply of health professionals. Scholarships must cover tuition and educational expenses and provide a cost-of-living stipend. Scholarship recipients must agree to serve as providers in shortage areas in the state for one year for each year they receive the scholarship.
 
HHS may award grants to assist medical schools in developing and strengthening primary care mentorship programs and cultivating leaders in primary care among its students.
 
In order to foster curricular innovations to improve the education and training of health care providers, HHS must award grants to medical and other health professions schools to promote priority competencies that are selected annually by the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry.
 
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly known as the Institute of Medicine) must study the documentation requirements for cognitive services under Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers, including whether the requirements are overly burdensome.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4283)
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to allow the Coast Guard to issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-3096
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 
This bill authorizes the Coast Guard to issue a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement for the vessel 
Oliver Hazard Perry
 (United States official number 1257224).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to report on tax compliance with respect to non-employer business income, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-3097
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to study and report to Congress regarding tax compliance with respect to non-employer business income. The report must include an evaluation of: (1) whether there is significant over-reporting of non-employer business income due to underutilization of allowable deductions and other tax benefits; (2) the current tax withholding, reporting, and filing systems; and (3) changes over time in the earning of wage income and non-employer business income.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify the sources of the authority to issue regulations regarding certifications and other criteria applicable to legislative branch employees under the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act.

Bill: 115-s-3098
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 
This bill modifies the self-certification requirements for federal employees who use disabled veteran leave.
 
Currently, a federal employee who uses disabled veteran leave must certify that the leave was used to undergo medical treatment for a service-connected disability. The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to prescribe the form and manner of such certification.
 
This bill adds a new provision to specify, in the case of a legislative branch employee, which office is authorized to prescribe the form and manner of the certification.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Antibiotic Oversight Act

Bill: 115-s-3099
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 

Strengthening Antibiotic Oversight Act

 
This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to review the duration of use of medically-important antibiotics in animals. This applies to antibiotics approved for use in animals for a duration that exceeds 21 days. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 115-s-3100
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Federal-Indian relations
Forests, forestry, trees
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 

Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area Act

 This bill establishes the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area in the state of Washington. 
 The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is designated as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area, which shall prepare and submit a management plan for it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 478.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Free Career and Technical Education for High School Students Act

Bill: 115-s-3101
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: 

Free Career and Technical Education for High School Students Act

 
This bill requires a state to conduct state leadership activities that reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for special populations (i.e., groups of people with needs that require special consideration and attention in an educational setting) participating in career and technical education, and that support the costs for such populations associated with fees, transportation, child care, or mobility challenges relating to such participation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Empowerment Act

Bill: 115-s-3102
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Special education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Student Empowerment Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school. 
 
(Under current law, distributions in connection with an elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school.) The bill allows the distributions to be used for additional educational expenses, including:
 
 
curriculum and curricular materials, 
 
books or other instructional materials, 
 
online educational materials, 
 
tutoring or educational classes outside the home, 
 
testing fees, 
 
fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and 
 
educational therapies for students with disabilities.
 
 
Distributions may also be used for the purposes above in connection with a homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Growing American Food Exports Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3103
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural trade
Free trade and trade barriers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Growing American Food Exports Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to reauthorize through FY2023 and modify the Department of Agriculture Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program. 
 
The purpose of the program is to remove, resolve, or mitigate significant regulatory nontariff barriers to the export of U.S. agricultural commodities into foreign markets through policy advocacy and certain targeted projects. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanded SUTA Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3104
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Expanded SUTA Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to expand the Department Agriculture (USDA) Substantially Underserved Trust Area (SUTA) authority to: (1) include all programs administered by the USDA rural development mission area, and (2) specify that USDA may use the authority for certain communities within former Indian reservations. 
 
(Under current law, the SUTA authority is limited to certain programs administered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service. The authority permits USDA to modify or waive certain requirements and procedures for loans and grants in order to improve the availability of programs in communities on trust land [e.g., land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans] that have a high need for the benefits of an eligible program.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Pharmaceutical Origin Transparency Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3105
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Pharmaceutical Origin Transparency Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require a drug manufacturer to publish information about each country in which its drugs are manufactured. (A drug is manufactured in a country if the active pharmaceutical ingredient is manufactured in such country.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Higher Education Mental Health Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3106
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Educational guidance
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Higher education
Mental health
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Higher Education Mental Health Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish an Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Permanent General Provisions Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3111
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Alliances
Appropriations
Aviation and airports
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Disaster relief and insurance
Egypt
Europe
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign loans and debt
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
International monetary system and foreign exchange
International organizations and cooperation
Israel
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Mining
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Multilateral development programs
Natural disasters
Peace Corps
Property tax
Public contracts and procurement
Rule of law and government transparency
Small business
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U.S. and foreign investments
Violent crime
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Permanent General Provisions Act of 2018

 
This bill makes permanent beginning in FY2020 specified provisions limiting funds for the Department of State. Among other limitations, the bill places limits on the use of consulting services, limits on support for governments who are in default or after a military coup d'etat, limits on entertainment expenses, and limits on assistance for governments who support international terrorism.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3112
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Disability and paralysis
Evidence and witnesses
Freedom of information
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Immigration status and procedures
Mental health
Public contracts and procurement
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish detention standards for each facility at which aliens in DHS custody are detained. Such standards shall provide for at least the level of detainee protections described in the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards.
 
A detained individual who is injured as a result of a violation of such standards may file a claim in U.S. district court.
 
The bill: (1) provides for facility oversight and transparency, (2) phases out the use of private detention facilities and jails for such aliens, and (3) revises procedures for detaining aliens.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3113
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural practices and innovations
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Higher education
Public-private cooperation
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2018 

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to establish at least three regionally located product and business innovation initiatives to provide grants and technical assistance to dairy businesses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Combat Valley Fever Act

Bill: 115-s-3114
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Combat Valley Fever Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a registry and award grants for the purpose of tracking cases of coccidioidomycosis (also known as Valley fever)&#8212;a lung infection caused by a certain fungus found in soil. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural HOMES Act

Bill: 115-s-3115
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Rural Housing Opportunity Maximization for Energy Savings Act or the Rural HOMES Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 and revises the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, including by expanding the rural energy savings program to include loans for replacing a manufactured home with another manufactured home if the replacement would be cost-effective in increasing energy efficiency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
PRIDE Voting Act

Bill: 115-s-3116
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 
 
Protecting the Right to Independent and Democratic Elections Act or the PRIDE Voting Act

 
This bill establishes an election security grant program under which the Department of Homeland Security awards grants to states to carry out one or more of the following activities: (1) implementing or improving the use of auditable paper ballots, (2) conducting post-election risk limiting audits, and (3) implementing cybersecurity standards and best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Access for Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3117
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural research
Census and government statistics
Farmland
Government lending and loan guarantees
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Licensing and registrations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Property rights
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Fair Access for Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2018 

 
This bill makes certain farmers operating on land that is heirs' property (e.g., property received from an owner who died without a will) eligible to receive a farm number and participate in Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. The bill also requires USDA to collect and report on data related to farmland ownership, tenure, transition, and entry of beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-3118
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-06-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: 

Mens Rea Reform Act of 2018

 
This bill establishes the National Criminal Justice Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system; make recommendations for criminal justice reform; and disseminate findings and guidance to the federal government and to state, local, and tribal governments.
 
Additionally, the bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a default 
mens rea
 (i.e., guilty mind) requirement for federal criminal statutory and regulatory offenses that lack a state of mind requirement.
 
For a new criminal statutory or regulatory offense, the government must prove that a defendant acted willfully with respect to each element of the offense that lacks a specific state of mind requirement.
 
For an existing criminal statutory or regulatory offense, the bill establishes requirements for the Department of Justice, executive agencies, and the National Criminal Justice Commission with respect to determining the applicable state of mind requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-06-21
text: Introduced in Senate