hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Florida Federal Judicial Relief Act

Bill: 115-s-1249
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Federal district courts
Florida
Judges

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Florida Federal Judicial Relief Act

 
This bill requires the President, with the Senate's advice and consent, to appoint:
 
 
six additional district judges for the middle district of Florida;
 
one additional district judge for the northern district of Florida; and
 
three additional district judges for the southern district of Florida.
 
 
The bill also converts a temporary judge for the southern district of Florida into a permanent judge.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1250
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Employee hiring
Employee performance
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal officials
Federal-Indian relations
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Historical and cultural resources
Housing supply and affordability
Indian social and development programs
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Minority health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a pay system for health care professionals employed by Indian Health Service (IHS) that is competitive with the salary of health care professionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration. HHS may establish incentives related to IHS employee recruitment and retention by providing relocation costs and rental assistance to employees under certain circumstances.
 
In addition, IHS must: 
 
centralize its credentialing system for licensed health professionals seeking to provide health care services at its facilities,
 
establish standards to measure the timeliness of health care services in its facilities,
 
 implement an annual mandatory program that provides cultural training for certain IHS employees and contractors, and 
 
 establish a demonstration project to provide additional staffing resources to understaffed IHS facilities.
 
 
Liability protections are given to certain health care professionals who volunteer at IHS facilities.
 
The bill expands the IHS student loan repayment program to include loan repayments for degrees related to health administration. 
HHS may: (1) directly hire candidates to positions within IHS; and (2) remove, transfer, or demote certain IHS employees based on performance or misconduct. 
HHS must establish a tribal consultation policy for IHS. 
The bill establishes: (1) whistle blower protections for IHS employees, and (2) requirements concerning IHS fiscal accountability and transparency. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-06-13
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-89.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Portable Benefits for Independent Workers Pilot Program Act

Bill: 115-s-1251
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Portable Benefits for Independent Workers Pilot Program Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to award grants for FY2018, on a competitive basis, to states, local governments, or nonprofit organizations to support broad innovation and experimentation with respect to portable benefits. 
 
Portable benefits are work-related benefits that are provided to eligible workers for eligible work in a manner that allows the worker to maintain the benefits upon changing jobs. 
 
The grants must be used for: (1) the evaluation, or improvement to the design or implementation, of existing models or approaches for providing portable benefits; or (2) the design, implementation, and evaluation of new models or approaches for providing such benefits. The grants may not be used for a model or approach that provides only retirement-related benefits. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate and report to Congress on the outcome of the grants awarded pursuant to this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
RESET Act

Bill: 115-s-1252
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Budget deficits and national debt
Crime victims
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Health programs administration and funding
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mental health
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Reclassification to Ensure Smarter and Equal Treatment Act of 2017 or the RESET Act

 
This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to reduce the potential sentence for possession of a controlled substance by a person with one or more prior convictions.
 
The bill repeals the provision providing for up to three years' imprisonment for the possession of a date rape drug and revises the penalties for possession of such drugs after a prior drug-related conviction.
 
 The maximum term of imprisonment for the sale or use of the mails to transport, or for importation or exportation of, drug paraphernalia is reduced to one year.
 
The bill eliminates increased penalties for cocaine offenses where the cocaine involved is cocaine base.
 
 In determining the weight of a controlled substance or mixture of controlled substances that is in a compound with a food product, the weight of the food product shall not be included.
 
Amendments made by this bill are applicable to both defendants who committed the offense and/or were convicted before the bill's enactment.
 
 The U.S. Sentencing Commission shall review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to any person convicted of an offense affected by this bill.
 
There is established within the Department of Justice the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund, for expenditures to:
 
 
improve outcomes for public school pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 through 12 by reducing truancy and supporting students who are at risk of dropping out or are victims of crime;
 
provide services to crime victims;
 
 support mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and diversion programs for people in the criminal justice system; and
 
pay down the national debt.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Geospatial Data Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1253
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International scientific cooperation
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Scientific communication

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Geospatial Data Act of 2017

 This bill establishes: (1) in the Office of Management and Budget the Federal Geographic Data Committee (the committee), which shall be the lead entity in the executive branch for the development, implementation, and review of policies, practices, and standards relating to geospatial data; and (2) in the executive branch the National Geospatial Advisory Committee to provide advice and recommendations to the committee. 
 The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (as defined in this bill) shall ensure that geospatial data from multiple sources is available and easily integrated to enhance the understanding of the physical and cultural world. The committee shall prepare a strategic plan for the implementation of the infrastructure consistent with national security, national defense, and emergency preparedness program policies regarding data accessibility.
 
 The committee shall operate GeoPlatform, an electronic service that provides access to geospatial data and metadata for geospatial data. 
 
 Agencies whose functions involve geospatial data shall implement a strategy for advancing geographic information and related geospatial data activities appropriate to that agency's mission in support of the strategic plan for the infrastructure. Such agencies shall disclose each contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other transaction that deals with geospatial data. 
 
 Four years after enactment of this bill, federal funding shall not be made available for the collection, production, acquisition, maintenance, or dissemination of geospatial data that does not comply with applicable standards established by the committee. 
 
The committee and agencies using geospatial data shall rely upon and use private individuals and entities for the acquisition of commercially available surveying and mapping and the provision of geospatial data and services, to the maximum extent practical. 
 
The bill requires the Federal Acquisition Regulation to be revised to specify that the definition for &quot;architectural and engineering services&quot; includes surveying and mapping services and the acquisition of geospatial data. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care for Small Business Act

Bill: 115-s-1254
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Health Care for Small Business Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for the employee health insurance expenses of small employers, to: (1) repeal the two-year limit on the credit period to permit certain small employers to be eligible for the credit in any year, (2) replace the formula for the phaseout of the credit based on the number of employees and average annual wages with a new phaseout formula based only on average annual wages, (3) permit certain employers that have no more than 50 employees (25 under current law) to be eligible for the credit, (4) modify the limit on the average annual wages of an eligible small employer, and (5) provide for a cost-of-living adjustment after 2017. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1255
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adult day care
Aging
Child care and development
Disability and paralysis
Family relationships
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Social security and elderly assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act, for purposes of determining OASDI benefits, to credit individuals who serve as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service. Specifically, an individual shall be deemed to have been paid a wage (according to a specified formula) during each month in which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation. However, this requirement shall not apply if a larger benefit or payment would otherwise be payable. 
 
The bill also authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to support state programs that provide medical training to individuals who provide care to dependent relatives without monetary compensation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 115-s-1256
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military history
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops and the 3133d Signal Services Company in recognition of their service during World War II. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act

Bill: 115-s-1257
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Family services
Government information and archives
Indian social and development programs
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act

 
This bill amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require the procedures a state must have in effect for the orderly and timely interstate placement of children to include an electronic interstate case-processing system. Indian tribes are exempted from such requirement.
 
Funding is authorized for development of an electronic interstate case-processing system to expedite the interstate placement of children in foster care, guardianship, or adoptive homes.
 
Discretionary funding shall be continued through FY2018 to promote safe and stable families.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services shall reserve $5 million of the amount made available for such grants for FY2018, which reserved amount shall remain available through FY2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
PRIDE Act

Bill: 115-s-1258
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Police Reporting Information, Data, and Evidence Act of 2017 or the PRIDE Act

 
This bill requires a state or Indian tribe that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to report on use-of-force incidents involving a law enforcement officer and a civilian. 
 
The Department of Justice (DOJ) may reduce by up to 10% the JAG allocation of a state or Indian tribe that fails to comply.
 
The bill authorizes DOJ to make grants to law enforcement agencies to comply with reporting requirements, establish reporting systems, promote public awareness, and train law enforcement personnel with respect to use-of-force incidents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Commodity Program Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1259
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural trade
Grain
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Commodity Program Improvement Act of 2017 

 
This bill reauthorizes and modifies several Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodity programs that were included in the 2014 farm bill (the Agricultural Act of 2014). The programs provide price and income support to farmers for covered commodities. 
 
The bill modifies the Agricultural Risk Coverage-County program, which provides revenue loss coverage at the county level by issuing payments when the actual county crop revenue of a covered commodity is below a specified amount. USDA currently calculates payments for farms located in more than one county using one of the counties (known as an administrative county). The bill requires the payments to be calculated using the payment rate for the county in which the land is physically located. 
 
The bill also requires USDA to update the crop acreage base used to determine payments under commodity programs for the 2019 crop year. USDA must determine the updated base acres on a farm using covered commodities planted on the farm during the 2014-2017 crop years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Gulf Islands National Seashore Land Exchange Act

Bill: 115-s-1260
Sponsor: Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Gulf of Mexico
Land transfers
Mississippi
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Seashores and lakeshores

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Gulf Islands National Seashore Land Exchange Act

 This bill authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to convey to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5699 approximately 1.542 acres of federal real property located within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Jackson County, Mississippi, in exchange for a non-federal parcel of 2.161 acres. The Post shall pay the costs incurred by the NPS to carry out such exchange. 
Land and interests acquired by the United States under this bill shall be administered as part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 374.
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-226.
action_date: 2018-04-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-226.
action_date: 2018-03-08
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2018-02-14
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-504.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1261
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability and paralysis
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Veterans Emergency Room Relief Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts under which the VA pays health care providers the reasonable costs of urgent care provided to eligible veterans at non-VA facilities. An &quot;eligible veteran&quot; is one who: (1) is enrolled in the VA health care system, and (2) has received health care through the VA during the two years preceding the date on which the veteran receives urgent care.
 
The VA shall establish a cost-sharing amount that a veteran shall pay to the VA to receive such urgent care. Such amount shall not apply to a veteran who: (1) is admitted to a hospital for treatment or observation after receiving urgent care, or (2) is receiving urgent care for the treatment of a service-connected disability or condition.
 
 The VA shall: (1) be considered the primary payer for the urgent care provided, and (2) ensure that all types of urgent care providers have an opportunity to enter into such a contract.
 
 The VA also shall establish a cost-sharing amount that veterans shall pay to receive care at a VA emergency room. Such amount shall not apply to a veteran who: (1) is receiving care for a service-connected disability or condition, (2) meets a hardship exception, or (3) is admitted to a hospital for treatment or observation after receiving care at a VA emergency room. 
 
The VA may not require a veteran to pay multiple cost-sharing amounts if the veteran seeks urgent care under this bill and care at a VA emergency room for the same condition during a period determined by the VA.
 
 The VA shall report every two years on the use by veterans of urgent care facilities and of VA emergency room facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-11
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-320.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1262
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2017

 
This bill amends federal bankruptcy law to make privately issued student loans dischargeable in bankruptcy. Under current law, student loans (whether issued privately or by a governmental unit) are dischargeable only if excepting the loans from dischargeability would impose undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3217-3218; text of measure as introduced: CR S3217)
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in Senate