hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

Bill: 115-s-1350
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to require a waiting period of at least 14 days after a petition is filed by an employer or employee relating to collective bargaining rights before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may begin an investigative hearing into questions of representation affecting commerce. A hearing must be non-adversarial and the hearing officer must identify any relevant and material pre-election issues and create a full record.
 
The bill requires the NLRB, in cases where it finds that a question of representation affecting commerce exists, to: (1) direct an election by secret ballot as soon as practicable but not before 35 calendar days after the filing of an election petition, and (2) certify election results after it has ruled on each pre-election issue not resolved before the election and any additional issue pertaining to the conduct or results of that election.
 
The bill also requires the NLRB, not earlier than seven days after a final determination of the appropriate bargaining unit, to acquire from the employer a list of all employees eligible to vote in the election, which shall: (1) be made available to all parties; and (2) include the employees' names and one additional form of personal contact information (e.g., telephone number, email address, or mailing address) chosen by the employee in writing.
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1351
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study access by underserved populations to general surgeons, including: (1) whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps program accurately assesses adequacy of access and whether another measure would be more accurate, and (2) potential methodologies for designating general surgery shortage areas.
 
HHS must publish data comparing the availability and need of general surgery services in urban, suburban, and rural areas. 
 
HHS may establish a methodology for designating general surgery shortage areas and make such designations. HHS must publish a list of general surgery shortage areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1352
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Military education and training
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2017

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business-related tax credit for up to $5,000 for the training of a qualified individual in a qualified apprenticeship program or multi-employer apprenticeship program. 
 
 A "qualified individual" is an individual who: (1) is an apprentice participating in a qualified apprenticeship program or multi-employer apprenticeship program, (2) has been employed in either program for a period of at least seven months that ends within the taxable year, and (3) is not a highly compensated employee or a seasonal worker.
 
 A "qualified apprenticeship program" is a program that: (1) provides qualified individuals with on-the-job training and instruction for a qualified occupation (i.e., a skilled trade occupation in a high-demand mechanical, technical, health care, or technology field); (2) is registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the office; and (3) maintains records relating to the qualified individual. 
 
A "qualified multi-employer apprenticeship program" is a program in which multiple employers are required to contribute and that is maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements.
 
The bill also allows certain distributions, without penalty, from retirement and pension plans to an employee who is serving as a mentor. A "mentor" is a working individual who: (1) has attained age 55; (2) works reduced hours and engages in mentoring activities for at least 20% of such hours; and (3) is responsible for the training and education of employees or students in an area of expertise for which such individual has a professional credential, certificate, or degree. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3489-3490)
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1353
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Licensing and registrations
Motor vehicles
Right of privacy
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the chief election official of each state to establish and operate an automatic voter registration system for federal elections. The system shall obtain information about eligible voters from contributing state agencies, including all agencies required by federal law to provide voter registration services. The Election Assistance Commission shall make grants to assist states in implementing the bill. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3490-3491)
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Individual Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act

Bill: 115-s-1354
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax credits
Medicaid
Medicare
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Individual Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act

 
This bill establishes and provides funds for an individual market stabilization reinsurance program to be administered in each state by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Under the program, HHS shall make reinsurance payments to health insurance issuers with respect to high-cost individuals enrolled in certain qualified health plans offered by the issuers.
 
HHS shall award grants to states or nonprofit community-based organizations to raise awareness of, and encourage enrollment in, qualified health plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating the Heroin Epidemic Through Forensic Drug Testing Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1355
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Law enforcement administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Combating the Heroin Epidemic Through Forensic Drug Testing Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance to award grants to states to address the distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs. 
 
 Grants may be used to:
 
 
reimburse forensic science laboratories for efforts to address and prevent testing backlogs;
 
reimburse law enforcement agencies for equipment to identify or detect heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs;
 
investigate, arrest, and prosecute distributors or sellers; and
 
support health department services for users.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1356
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill permits veterans to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 educational assistance for an accredited independent study program offered by an educational institution that is not an institution of higher learning, such as an area career and technical education school or a postsecondary vocational institution providing postsecondary level education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Family-Based Care Services Act

Bill: 115-s-1357
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child care and development
Child health
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Family services
Government studies and investigations
Medicaid
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Family-Based Care Services Act 

 
This bill establishes a definition, under Medicaid, for "qualified therapeutic family care services." Specifically, such services are those provided for children younger than age 21 who need institution-level care but can instead be cared for in a community placement through a licensed and accredited program that: (1) provides children with certain structured daily activities, and (2) provides parents and caregivers with specialized training and consultation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1358
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit an individual to pay primary care service arrangement costs from a health savings account; and (2) allow an eligible taxpayer enrolled in a high-deductible health plan to take a tax deduction for cash paid into a health savings account, even if the taxpayer is simultaneously enrolled in a primary care service arrangement.
 
Under a &quot;primary care service arrangement,&quot; an individual is provided coverage restricted to primary care services in exchange for a fixed periodic fee or payment for such services. 
 
For the purposes of certain tax-deductible expenses for medical care, the bill expands the definition of &quot;medical care&quot; to include periodic provider fees paid for a defined set of medical services provided on an as-needed basis. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
International Insurance Capital Standards Accountability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1360
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-06-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Reserve System
Insurance industry and regulation
International organizations and cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: 

International Insurance Capital Standards Accountability Act of 
 
2017

 
This bill directs the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) to establish the Insurance Policy Advisory Committee on International Capital Standards and Other Insurance Issues.
 
The bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury and the FRB from agreeing to an international capital insurance standard unless: (1) it meets specified notice and comment requirements, (2) it is consistent with current state-based capital requirements, and (3) it is consistent with any FRB capital requirements for an FRB-supervised company. 
 
Treasury and the FRB must: 
 
 
report annually on their efforts with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners regarding global insurance regulatory or supervisory forums, 
study an international insurance capital standard's impact on U.S. markets and consumers before agreeing to its adoption, and 
report on their efforts to increase transparency at meetings of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Access to Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1361
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2017-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Health personnel
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: 

Improving Access to Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists to supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Guard and Reservists Education Improvement Act

Bill: 115-s-1362
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: National Guard and reserves
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: 

Guard and Reservists Education Improvement Act

 
This bill revises eligibility for, and the amounts of, Department of Veterans Affairs post-9/11 educational assistance based on a service member's active duty service, excluding training. Full benefits are available for service members who serve 36 months on active duty, and tiered lesser amounts are available for service members who serve for shorter periods.
 
The bill consolidates certain of these tiers and increases the amount of assistance for individuals who serve on active duty for: (1) at least 6 months but less than 18 months, and (2) at least 90 days but less than 6 months.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Broadband Deployment Streamlining Act

Bill: 115-s-1363
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2017-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Geography and mapping
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: 

Rural Broadband Deployment Streamlining Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior, for public lands, and the Department of Agriculture, for National Forest System lands, to issue regulations to: (1) streamline the process for the consideration of applications to locate or modify broadband facilities on such lands; and (2) require that such applications be considered and granted on a competitively and technologically neutral, non-discriminatory basis. 
 
The bill amends the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to require executive agencies to grant or deny within 270 days applications for an easement or right-of-way on federal property to install, construct, and maintain wireless service antenna structures and equipment and backhaul transmission equipment. 
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report on:
 
 
how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ensures that the broadband data collected for the National Broadband Map is accurate, complete, and reliable;
 
the extent to which federal agencies or other entities authorized to distribute federal grants or loans for broadband projects rely on such data;
 
FCC actions to address the limitations on using such data for policy or funding decisions;
 
the extent to which interested parties have challenged the accuracy of information on the map; and 
 
whether the FCC should collect such data from additional or alternative commercial sources. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
National Museum of the American Latino Act

Bill: 115-s-1364
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: Historical and cultural resources
Latin America
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: 

National Museum of the American Latino Act

 
This bill establishes the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian Institution. 
 
The purposes of the museum are to: (1) illuminate Latino contributions to the story of the United States; (2) provide for the collection, study, research, publication, and establishment of exhibitions and programs related to Latino life, art, history, and culture; and (3) provide for collaboration with Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers and other museums and educational institutions in the United States and abroad to promote the study and appreciation of Latino life, art, history, culture, and its impact on society in the United States. 
 
The bill establishes a Board of Trustees for the museum to advise and assist the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian on all matters related to the administration and preservation of the museum.
 
The Director of the museum shall manage the museum and may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals.
 
The Board of Regents shall designate a site for the museum and is authorized to design and construct it. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes Act

Bill: 115-s-1365
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health facilities and institutions
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: 

Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes Act

 
This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to include victims of acts of terror in the evaluation and treatment of veterans and civilians at military treatment facilities.
 
The Department of Defense (DOD) shall establish implementing procedures: (1) for outreach and communication to local medical facilities after an act of terror in the United States; (2) to coordinate and provide medical expertise to local medical facilities that are treating victims of an act of terror that caused blast related injuries, mass shooting related injuries, burn related injuries, or other serious injuries; and (3) for medical evaluations of such victims.
 
DOD may not release a victim of an act of terror who is receiving such care to a private health care provider until a comprehensive treatment plan is communicated to the individual or his or her health care provider. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate