hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Rural Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2969
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Department of Agriculture
Executive agency funding and structure
Government lending and loan guarantees
Rural conditions and development
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Rural Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reauthorize through FY2023 and modify the Department of Agriculture Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. (The program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in rural areas.) 
 
The bill modifies the program to: 
 
 
 increase from $100,000 to $200,000 the maximum amount of financing from a revolving loan fund that may be made available to an entity for water and wastewater projects, 
 
 authorize loans for local utilities with experience delivering water or wastewater programs to provide service to unserved and underserved rural communities, 
 
 increase the population ceiling that applies to certain loans, and 
 
 provide mandatory funding for applications that are pending when this bill is enacted. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
RURAL Broadband Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2970
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Reprioritizing Unserved Rural Areas and Locations for Broadband Act of 2018 or the RURAL Broadband Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to allow financial assistance provided by the Rural Utilities Service for the deployment of broadband-capable infrastructure by a service provider to be used to provide retail fixed broadband service in an area where there is no qualifying broadband-capable infrastructure owned or operated by another service provider. 

The term "qualifying broadband-capable infrastructure" means fixed broadband-capable infrastructure: (1) used by a service provider to provide fixed broadband service for which the provider receives universal service support funds, and (2) was financed with funds from the Department of Agriculture. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
PACE Act

Bill: 115-s-2971
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Birds
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act or the PACE Act

 
This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the sponsoring or exhibiting of animal fights involving live birds (such as cockfights). Under current law, the fights are unlawful only if they take place in states or U.S. territories or possessions that have banned it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Prioritizing Help to Businesses Act

Bill: 115-s-2972
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Prioritizing Help to Businesses Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide states which have low unemployment rates of 3.5% or lower with up to 1,500 additional H-2B visas (temporary nonagricultural workers) per fiscal year. Such visas shall be exempt from the overall H-2B annual visa limit of 66,000. 
 
The bill sets forth a formula to distribute such visas throughout the fiscal year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Kelsey Smith Act

Bill: 115-s-2973
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Criminal justice information and records
Emergency communications systems
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Kelsey Smith Act

 
This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a mobile or Internet voice service provider to disclose, at the request of an investigative or law enforcement officer (or public safety employee or agent on behalf of such officer), the location information of a device if the officer asserts: (1) that the device was used to place a 911 call, or (2) reasonable suspicion that the device is in the possession of an individual who is in an emergency situation.
 
The bill prohibits a civil action or administrative proceeding against a telecommunications carrier who discloses call location information in good faith in accordance with this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act

Bill: 115-s-2974
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Crime Gun Tracing Modernization Act

 
This bill requires the National Tracing Center within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to establish and maintain an electronic, searchable database of records related to firearms transactions. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2935-2936)
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Aeronautics Innovation Act

Bill: 115-s-2977
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Aviation and airports
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Manufacturing
Materials
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Space flight and exploration
Spacecraft and satellites
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Aeronautics Innovation Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
 
The bill expresses the sense of Congress that developing high-risk, precompetitive aerospace technologies for which there is not yet a profit rationale is a fundamental NASA role and states that it is U.S. policy to maintain world leadership in military and civilian aeronautical science and technology, global air power projection, and industrial leadership. 
 
NASA shall: 
 
 
ensure continuing support for the Aeronautics Strategic Implementation Plan to support the future needs of aviation communities, 
 
establish a national policy for aeronautics research to maintain U.S. superiority in air capabilities and aviation industrial leadership,
 
establish a low-boom supersonic aircraft program to demonstrate supersonic aircraft designs and technologies to reduce sonic boom noise levels, 
 
establish a new series of experimental planes (X-planes) to demonstrate aircraft vehicle and propulsion concepts and technologies, 
 
continue support of unmanned aircraft (drone) system development, and 
 
establish the 21st Century Aeronautics Capabilities Initiative to ensure that it possesses the infrastructure capabilities and tools necessary to conduct flight demonstration projects across the range of NASA aeronautics interests.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2978
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Congressional oversight
Environmental Protection
Farmland
Federal-Indian relations
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Public-private cooperation
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2018 

 
This bill modifies and provides statutory authority for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). 
 
CREP is a subprogram of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), under which USDA partners with states to target high-priority conservation concerns, and the states contribute funding to allow for higher CRP payments and continuous sign-ups to address the concerns. 
 
The bill directs USDA, to the maximum extent practicable, to enroll at least 3 million acres of land in CREP by September 30, 2023. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Integrated Missile Defense Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2980
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alaska
Alliances
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear weapons
Spacecraft and satellites

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Integrated Missile Defense Act of 2018

 
This bill addresses U.S. missile defense capabilities in response to nuclear threats from North Korea under the regime of Kim Jong-un. It urges or directs the Missile Defense Agency to
 
 
accelerate the fielding of 20 additional ground-based interceptors with Redesigned Kill Vehicles (RKVs) at Missile Field 4 at Fort Greely, Alaska, and mate the RKVs with the newest booster technology; 
 
ensure the development and deployment of persistent space-based sensor architecture; 
 
plan a fully interoperable and integrated air and missile defense architecture; 
 
accelerate its hypersonic missile defense program and deploy such program in conjunction with a persistent space-based missile defense sensor program;
 
seek to establish missile defense capabilities with allies and trusted partners of the United States; and 
 
pursue an increasingly rigorous testing regime and prioritize discrimination capabilities to improve missile defense effectiveness against current and future threats from countries hostile to the United States. 
 
 
. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Opioid Overdose Reduction Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2981
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Drug therapy
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Federal preemption
Health personnel
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Opioid Overdose Reduction Act of 2018

 
This bill limits an individual's civil liability for harm caused by the emergency administration of an opioid overdose reversal drug (e.g., naloxone) if the individual is one of the following: 
 
 
a licensed health care professional who prescribes or provides the drug to an individual who was educated on its administration; 
 
an employee or volunteer at an opioid overdose program who provides the drug, as part of such program, to an authorized recipient who administers it; or 
 
 an individual who administers the drug after obtaining it from a health care professional or as part of an opioid overdose program, or administers it pursuant to a prescription, and was educated on its administration. 
 
 
This bill preempts an inconsistent state law that provides less protection from civil liability related to the administration of opioid overdose reversal drugs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
TAA for Automation Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2982
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Executive agency funding and structure
Industrial facilities
Intergovernmental relations
Manufacturing
State and local government operations
Trade adjustment assistance
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

TAA for Automation Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974 to modify eligibility requirements for trade adjustment assistance for workers whose jobs are affected by automation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Defending Essential Flights and Ensuring National Security Efforts (DEFENSE) Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2983
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Defending Essential Flights and Ensuring National Security Efforts (DEFENSE) Act of 2018

 
This bill allows an exemption from certain eligibility requirements under the essential air service program for certain locations for which not less than 10% of airport operations in 2017 were by aircraft of the Armed Forces. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening American Communities Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2984
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2018-05-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health personnel
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Law enforcement officers
Military personnel and dependents
Minority education
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: 

Strengthening American Communities Act of 2018

 

America's College Promise Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to establish programs that assist students in paying for the costs of higher education.
 
Specifically, ED must establish grants to assist students in paying for the costs of attending community colleges, historically black colleges and universities, minority serving institutions of higher education (IHEs), or nonprofit IHEs. This bill appropriates funds for such grants.

 
In addition, ED must establish grant programs to pay the costs of an undergraduate education for students who commit to working for at least three years in public service jobs upon graduation.
 
Finally, ED must cancel a certain percentage of the amount a borrower owes, based on the number of years of public service employment, on federal student loans made after this bill's enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2936-2937)
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a report on imprisonment of political prisoners in China.

Bill: 115-s-2985
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Human rights
Protest and dissent
Sanctions

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-04
text: 
This bill requires the Department of State to submit a report to Congress that: (1) identifies Chinese officials responsible for the imprisonment of political prisoners; and (2) determines whether such officials are designated under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and, if not, a justification for why not. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Correctly Recognizing Educational Achievements To Empower Graduates Act

Bill: 115-s-2986
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2018-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Educational guidance
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Right of privacy
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-04
text: 

Correctly Recognizing Educational Achievements To Empower Graduates Act or the CREATE Graduates Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to provide grants to states to support institutions of higher education in awarding associate degrees to students who have accumulated enough credits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate
EMPOWER Act - Part 2

Bill: 115-s-2988
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2018-06-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Legal fees and court costs
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: 

Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act 
- 
Part 2 or the EMPOWER Act 
- 
Part 2 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of expenses and payments related to workplace harassment and employment discrimination. 
 
The bill prohibits a tax deduction for amounts paid or incurred by the taxpayer:
 
 
 pursuant to any judgment or award in litigation related to workplace harassment, including sexual harassment;
 
for expenses and attorney's fees in connection with the litigation resulting in the judgment or award (other than expenses or fees paid by the workplace harassment plaintiff or claimant); or 
 
for insurance covering the defense or liability of the underlying claims in the litigation. 
 
 
The bill also: (1) excludes from gross income amounts received in connection with a judgment, award, or settlement related to workplace harassment, including sexual harassment or other unlawful discrimination; and (2) limits the taxation of and the application of the alternative minimum tax to compensation received under a settlement or judgment for employment discrimination.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: Introduced in Senate
COVER Act

Bill: 115-s-2989
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2018-06-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Farmland
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Higher education
Livestock
Soil pollution

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: 

Conservation for Very Erodible Row Cropland Act of 2018 or the COVER Act 

 
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to modify Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs to authorize additional assistance for farm practices related to soil health and carbon storage. 
 
The bill modifies the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to require USDA to provide payments under the program for practices that: 
 
 
 improve soil health, 
 
 enhance the ability of a farmer to absorb and recover from shocks and stresses to production, 
 
 increase the storage of carbon on agricultural land, and 
 
 achieve other conservation outcomes determined by USDA. 
 
 
The bill modifies the Conservation Innovation Grants program to establish a pilot program to provide payments to encourage: (1) the measurement of outcomes relating to the planting of a regionally appropriate cover crop, and (2) opportunities to increase farm income. In carrying out the program, USDA must prioritize certain projects with third-party partners such as academic entities, carbon offset protocol developers, livestock producers, and food manufacturers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Big Cat Public Safety Act

Bill: 115-s-2990
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2018-06-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Trade restrictions
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: 

Big Cat Public Safety Act

 
This bill amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit any person from breeding or possessing prohibited wildlife species (i.e., any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species). Breeding means facilitating propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or failing to prevent propagation or reproduction. 
 
The bill revises the list of entities that are exempt from Lacey Act prohibitions regarding those wildlife species to include: (1) certain entities that hold Class C licenses in good standing under the Animal Welfare Act, and (2) current owners of animals that were born before this bill's enactment if the animals are registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Those entities and owners may not allow direct contact between the public and the prohibited wildlife species.
 
A person who knowingly violates the prohibition must be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. The bill extends forfeiture provisions to fish, wildlife, or plants that are bred or possessed. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2018-06-05
text: Introduced in Senate