hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-9
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2018-11-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Business education
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Small business
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: 

Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act to require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide as an option under the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program participation in an I-Corps Teams course by grantees of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and other entities.
 
The cost of participation by such a grantee in a course may be furnished: 
 
 
through I-Corps Teams grants,
 
through funds awarded to grantees under the SBIR Program or the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program,
 
by the grantor federal agency using funds set aside for the SBIR and STTR Programs, or 
 
by the participating teams.
 
 
The NSF shall develop an I-Corps course, to be offered by I-Corps regional nodes, to support commercialization-ready participants. The course shall support participants that have completed an I-Corps Teams course and participants that have made the decision to market an innovation.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report on the I-Corps Program, including by assessing the effects of the I-Corps on the commercialization of federally funded research and development, the higher education system, regional economies, and the national economy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain Federally-subsidized loan repayments for dental school faculty.

Bill: 115-s-10
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2018-11-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Dental care
Education programs funding
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax exclusion
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income payments received under the federally funded student loan repayment program for full-time faculty members of dental schools with programs in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the participation of dental providers and faculty in areas and schools receiving funding under the program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-11-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act

Bill: 115-s-11
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Appropriations
Arab-Israeli relations
Building construction
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Israel
Middle East
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act 

 
 This bill states that it should be U.S. policy to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. 
 
 The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected as they have been by Israel, (2) every Israeli citizen should have the right to reside anywhere in Jerusalem, (3) the President and the Department of State should affirm as a matter of U.S. policy that Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital of Israel, (4) the President should implement the provisions of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and begin the process of relocating the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, (5) U.S. officials should refrain from actions that contradict U.S. law on this subject, and (6) any official U.S. government document that lists countries and their capital cities should identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
 
The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is amended to eliminate the President's authority to waive certain funding limitations for State Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.
 
 The bill: (1) prohibits more than 50% of the amounts appropriated to the State Department for FY2017 for embassy security, construction, and maintenance from being obligated until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened; and (2) restricts the availability and expenditure of amounts authorized for such purpose for FY 2018 and FY2019 to construction and other costs associated with the establishment of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
No Windfalls for Government Service Act

Bill: 115-s-13
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

No Windfalls for Government Service Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a $1 million lifetime limitation on the nonrecognition of a taxpayer's gains from the sale of property pursuant to a certificate of divesture to comply with conflict-of-interest requirements for certain federal government positions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
No Budget, No Pay Act

Bill: 115-s-14
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

No Budget, No Pay Act

 
This bill prohibits the payment of any pay to any Member of Congress (excluding the Vice President): (1) if both houses of Congress have not approved a concurrent resolution on the budget for a fiscal year before October 1 of that fiscal year and have not passed all the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by such date, or (2) until both houses of Congress approve such a budget resolution and pass all such appropriations bills. Retroactive pay is prohibited for such a period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-16
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Federal Reserve System
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2017 

 
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete, within 12 months, an audit of the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve banks.
 
In addition, the bill allows the GAO to audit the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve banks with respect to: (1) international financial transactions; (2) deliberations, decisions, or actions on monetary policy matters; (3) transactions made under the direction of the Federal Open Market Committee; and (4) discussions or communications among Federal Reserve officers, board members, and employees regarding any of these matters. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
GAO Access and Oversight Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-17
Sponsor: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional agencies
Congressional oversight
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

GAO Access and Oversight Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to obtain federal agency records required to discharge the GAO's duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties), including through bringing civil actions to require an agency to produce a record.
 
No provision of the Social Security Act shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the GAO's authority to: (1) obtain information or inspect records about an agency's duties, powers, activities, organization, or financial transactions; or (2) obtain other agency records that the GAO requires to discharge its duties.
 
Agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to GAO recommendations must be submitted to: (1) the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the pertinent agency program or activity, and (2) the GAO.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Tax Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-18
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Department of the Treasury
Employment taxes
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign and international corporations
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Gambling
Games and hobbies
General taxation matters
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Intergovernmental relations
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Medicare
Poverty and welfare assistance
Sales and excise taxes
Small business
Social security and elderly assistance
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax reform and tax simplification
Taxation of foreign income
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

Fair Tax Act of 
 
2017

 
This bill is a tax reform proposal that imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services in lieu of the current income and corporate income tax, employment and self-employment taxes, and estate and gift taxes. The rate of the sales tax will be 23% in 2019, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. There are exemptions from the tax for used and intangible property, for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions. 
 
Under the bill, family members who are lawful U.S. residents receive a monthly sales tax rebate (Family Consumption Allowance) based upon criteria related to family size and poverty guidelines.
 
The states have the responsibility for administering, collecting, and remitting the sales tax to the Treasury.
 
Tax revenues are to be allocated among: (1) the general revenue, (2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund, (3) the disability insurance trust fund, (4) the hospital insurance trust fund, and (5) the federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund. 
 
No funding is authorized for the operations of the Internal Revenue Service after FY2021. 
 
Finally, the bill terminates the national sales tax if the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution (authorizing an income tax) is not repealed within seven years after the enactment of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
CEO-Employee Paycheck Fairness Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-20
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-01-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Economic performance and conditions
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: 

CEO-Employee Paycheck Fairness Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny a publicly held corporation a tax deduction for the payment of performance-based remuneration in excess of $1 million to any of its current or former officers or directors if such corporation does not meet the pay fairness requirement established by this bill. The pay fairness requirement is satisfied if: (1) the average compensation paid by the employer for all applicable U.S. employees for the taxable year exceeds the inflation and productivity growth adjusted average of such compensation for the preceding taxable year; and (2) the aggregate compensation paid by the employer to or for all applicable employees for the taxable year is not less than the aggregate of such compensation for the preceding taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Nevada Land Sovereignty Act

Bill: 115-s-22
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Land use and conservation
Monuments and memorials
Nevada
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: 

Nevada Land Sovereignty Act

 
This bill prohibits any extension or establishment of national monuments in Nevada except by express authorization of Congress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-23
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Business records
Cell biology and embryology
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Licensing and registrations
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Product safety and quality
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: 

Biological Implant Tracking and Veteran Safety Act of 2017

 
 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: 
 
 
adopt the unique device identification system developed for medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or implement a comparable standard identification system, for identifying biological implants intended for use in VA medical facilities; 
 
permit a vendor to use any of the accredited entities identified by the FDA as an issuing agency; 
 
implement (within 180 days after enactment of this bill) a compatible system for tracking implants from human donor or animal source to implantation; and 
 
implement compatible inventory controls so that patients who have received a biological implant in a VA medical facility subject to FDA recall can be appropriately notified. 
 
 
 The bill prescribes requirements for vendors from which the VA may procure biological implants of human and non-human origin. 
 
 The VA shall: (1) procure such implants under General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules unless they are not available under such Schedules, (2) accommodate reasonable vendor requests to undertake specified outreach efforts to educate VA medical professionals about the use and efficacy of implants, and (3) procure biological implants that are unavailable under such Schedules using competitive procedures in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
 
 Certain biological implants may be temporarily procured by the VA without relabeling under the standard identification system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to expand eligibility for hospital care and medical services under section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to include veterans who are age 75 or older, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-24
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aging
Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: 
This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to extend hospital and medical services under the Veterans Choice Program to veterans who are age 75 years or older.
 
 The final program report shall include the number of such veterans who are receiving care or services under the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-25
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child care and development
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: 

Right Start Child Care and Education Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the rates and maximum allowable amount of the tax credit for employer-provided child care facilities; (2) increase the eligibility threshold amount and rate of the household and dependent care tax credit and make such credit refundable; (3) allow a new $2,000 annual tax credit for three years for child care providers who hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child care, or a related degree and who provide at least 1,200 hours of child care services in a taxable year; and (4) increase the tax exclusion for employer-provided dependent care assistance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Tax Transparency Act

Bill: 115-s-26
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: 

Presidential Tax Transparency Act 

 
This bill amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require the President and certain candidates for President to disclose federal income tax returns for the three most recent taxable years in reports filed with either the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) or the Federal Election Commission (FEC), in the case of a candidate. 
 
The OGE or the FEC must make the disclosed tax returns publicly available after making appropriate redactions. If the income tax returns are not disclosed as required by this bill, the OGE or the FEC must request the returns from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 
 
The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the IRS, upon receiving a written request from the FEC or the OGE, to provide any income tax return that is required to be disclosed under this bill. 
 
The bill also establishes civil and criminal penalties for failing to file or falsifying income tax returns that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish an independent commission to examine and report on the facts regarding the extent of Russian official and unofficial cyber operations and other attempts to interfere in the 2016 United States national election, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-27
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-01-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Russia
Subversive activities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: 
This bill establishes the Commission to End Russian Interference in United States Elections as an independent commission to examine Russian cyber operations and attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. national election. The commission must examine attempts by the Russian government, governments or other entities associated with or collaborating with Russia, or persons or entities in Russia to: 
 
 
access, alter, or tamper with voting systems, voter roll information, the Donald J. Trump and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign organizations, and the Democratic and the Republican national committees, congressional campaign committees, and governors associations; 
 
promote propaganda relevant to any election for public office held in the United States during 2016; and
 
 use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in such elections.
 
 
The commission must: (1) report on evidence developed by federal agencies; (2) build upon investigations of executive branch, congressional, or independent entities; and (3) make a full accounting of interference attempts and the U.S. response, and government preparedness, to defend against such interference.
 
The commission may receive classified information and issue subpoenas. 
 
The commission must report to the President and Congress with conclusions and recommendations on preventing a reoccurrence of such interference. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-01-04
text: Introduced in Senate