hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
True Reciprocity Investment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1722
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Free trade and trade barriers
Government studies and investigations
Rule of law and government transparency
Trade agreements and negotiations
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

True Reciprocity Investment Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to direct the Office of the United States Trade Representative to submit an annual report assessing the extent to which foreign governments allow investments by U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or U.S. entities) in their countries that are similar to investments in the United States made by entities organized in such foreign countries.
 
 The report shall include, with respect to each major trading partner of the United States: (1) a description of the laws, policies, and practices of the country with respect to foreign investment; and (2) an assessment of the transparency of the process for making such laws, policies, and practices.
 
The report shall also include the determination of the office whether each major trading partner: (1) has high barriers to investment by U.S. persons; (2) has recently taken measures that constitute barriers to investment by U.S. persons or has indicated an intention to take such measures; or (3) has investment laws, policies, and practices that should be monitored.
 
If the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States recommends that the President not suspend or prohibit a transaction made by a party that is subject to the jurisdiction of a high barrier country, it shall provide an explanation of the reasons for its recommendation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1723
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Strengthening Veterans Health Care Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes and appropriates funds to increase veterans access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, including by: (1) hiring primary and specialty care physicians and other medical staff, (2) establishing medical residency programs and increasing residency positions, and (3) improving VA health facility infrastructure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act

Bill: 115-s-1724
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Nutrition and diet
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits and grants for activities that provide access to healthy food in food deserts. 
 
A food desert must be more than 1 mile away from a grocery store in a metropolitan area or more than 10 miles away outside of a metropolitan area. It must also meet population requirements and have either a poverty rate of at least 20% or a median family income that does not exceed 80% of the median for the state or metropolitan area.
 
For entities that are certified by the Department of the Treasury as special access food providers using specified criteria, the bill allows tax credits for operating a new grocery store or renovating an existing grocery store in a food desert. The bill also authorizes grants for a portion of: (1) the construction costs of building a permanent food bank in a food desert, and (2) the annual operating costs of temporary access merchants (mobile markets, farmers markets, and food banks). 
 
Treasury, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (USDA), must annually allocate the tax credits and grants to special access food providers. Grants authorized by this bill are not considered gross income for tax purposes. 
 
The bill also amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to require USDA to update the Food Access Research Atlas at least annually to account for food retailers that are placed in service during that year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
I-VETS Act

Bill: 115-s-1725
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Immigrant Veterans Eligibility Tracking System Act or the I-VETS Act

 
 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), upon an alien's application for an immigration benefit or the placement of such alien in an immigration enforcement proceeding, to: 
 
 
determine if the alien is serving, or has served, as a member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces on active duty or as a member of a reserve component in an active status; and 
 
 annotate every DHS immigration and naturalization record relating to such an alien to reflect such membership and to afford an opportunity to track the outcomes for each alien.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Shareholder Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1726
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Shareholder Protection Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require shareholder authorization with respect to certain political expenditures by an issuer.
 
A violation of this requirement shall be considered a breach of fiduciary duty, and the officers and directors who authorized the expenditure shall be subject to joint and several liability.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission must direct the national securities exchanges and associations to prohibit the listing of any equity security of an issuer whose corporate bylaws do not require a board vote with respect to political expenditures in excess of $50,000. An issuer must, within 48 hours, make publicly available the individual votes of each board member with respect to such expenditures.
 
The bill establishes various reporting requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
NATS Act

Bill: 115-s-1727
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Military civil functions
Military education and training
Military personnel and dependents
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Naturalization at Training Sites Act of 2017 or the NATS Act

 
 This bill directs the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, to establish a naturalization office with trained personnel at each initial military training site of the Armed Forces. 
 
 Each military department concerned shall: (1) identify members of the Armed Forces who are not U.S. citizens and inform them of the availability of naturalization services at such offices, and (2) assign new non-citizen members of the Armed Forces to an initial military training site that has such an office. 
 
 Naturalization notifications shall be completed: (1) during every stage of basic training, (2) during training for any military occupational specialty, (3) at each school of professional military education, (4) upon each duty station transfer, and (5) at any other time determined appropriate by the military department concerned. 
 
 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall annually publish the number of members of the Armed Forces and their spouses and children who became naturalized U.S. citizens during the most recent year for which data is available, categorized by the country in which the naturalization ceremony took place.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Private Prison Information Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1728
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Detention of persons
Freedom of information
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Private Prison Information Act of 

2017

 
 This bill specifies that a record related to a non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility must be considered a federal agency record for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). 
 
A non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility must disclose information under FOIA unless the information is exempt from disclosure or the disclosure is prohibited by law. 
 
The term &quot;non-federal prison, correctional, or detention facility&quot; means: (1) a private prison, correctional, or detention facility; or (2) a state or local prison, jail, or other correctional or detention facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Dialysis Access Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1729
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health facilities and institutions
Licensing and registrations
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Dialysis Access Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow renal dialysis facilities to be accredited by an approved accreditation body for participation in the Medicare program. The bill also establishes a time frame with respect to initial surveys of renal dialysis facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1730
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Nutrition and diet
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Women's health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the President to: 
 
 
establish a five-year strategy to achieve, with target countries and donors, the goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths globally and ensure healthy and productive lives by 2030; and 
 
provide assistance to implement the strategy.
 
 
The President shall designate a current U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employee serving in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher to serve concurrently as the Maternal and Child Survival Coordinator, who shall be responsible for: 
 
 
overseeing such strategy, and 
 
all U.S. government funds appropriated or used for international maternal and child health and nutrition programs. 
 
 
 Strategy grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements shall include targets for increased implementation of high-impact, evidence-based interventions and strengthening health systems.
 
 The President shall report to Congress annually for six years regarding progress made toward achieving the strategy and ending preventable child and maternal deaths.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4774)
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Forest Management Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1731
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Insects
Judicial review and appeals
Legal fees and court costs
Pest management
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Forest Management Improvement Act of 2017

 
This bill makes categorical exclusions, from requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to conduct environmental assessment and environmental impact statements, available to the Forest Service to conduct forest management activities on up to 10,000 acres of National Forest System land for each exclusion to: 
 
 
 create early seral habitat forests; 
 
improve wildlife habitats; 
 
 commercially thin forest stands on suited timberlands; and 
 
 salvage trees that are dead and/or dying and were damaged by such events as wind, fire, or construction. 
 
 
For a forest management activity, the Forest Service:
 
 
in an NEPA-prepared environmental impact statement, shall study, develop, and describe only the activity and the alternative of no action; and 
 
in an NEPA-prepared environmental assessment, shall not be required to study, develop, and describe the alternative of no action. 
 
 
The bill makes permanent the authority to designate, at state request, treatment areas in national forests that are experiencing an insect or disease epidemic.
 
The bill revises authorities for watershed restoration and protection services.
 
The Department of Agriculture shall establish a pilot arbitration program under which specified forest management projects challenged in a civil action may be designated for an alternative dispute resolution procedure instead of judicial review.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-112.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Access to Behavioral Health Information Technology Act

Bill: 115-s-1732
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Medicaid
Medicare
Mental health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: 

Improving Access to Behavioral Health Information Technology Act

 
This bill amends title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to specify that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may test models to provide incentive payments to behavioral health providers for: (1) adopting electronic health records technology, and (2) using that technology to improve the quality and coordination of care.

action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

Improving Access to Behavioral Health Information Technology Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill specifies that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may test models to provide incentive payments to behavioral health providers for: (1) adopting electronic health records technology, and (2) using that technology to improve the quality and coordination of care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2018-05-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2528)
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S2528)
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2528)
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Customers Not Cargo Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1733
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: 

Customers Not Cargo Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise regulations to:
 
 
prohibit an air carrier from forcibly removing a passenger from an aircraft after boarding because the carrier oversold the flight or to provide a passenger seat to an employee of the carrier;
 
 establish standards for resolving oversales once an aircraft has been boarded through escalating incentives to passengers to encourage voluntary rebooking; and 
 
 require an air carrier, to the extent practicable, to resolve issues related to overselling a flight before boarding the flight. 
 
 
 DOT shall consider providing exceptions in such regulations for a medical emergency or a circumstance that poses a threat to the safety of the flight.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Regulatory Improvement and Transparency Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1734
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2017-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: 

Regulatory Improvement and Transparency Act of 2017

 

Administrative Procedures Improvement Act of 2017

 
The bill revises the process that governs the way in which executive agencies may propose and issue regulations, including by establishing requirements that agencies must follow when proposing or issuing a major rule. A major rule is defined as one that is likely to cause an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, a major increase in costs or prices, or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, public health and safety, or the environment.
 
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) must provide guidance on, and oversight of, agencies' assessments of their proposed major rules.
 

Pilot Retrospective Review Commission Act of 2017

 
The bill establishes in the legislative branch a Pilot Regulatory Review Commission to evaluate and provide recommendations for modifying, consolidating, or repealing certain regulations that impact the transportation sector.
 

Plain Writing Act for Regulations Act of 2017

 
When issuing or revising regulations, executive agencies must use plain writing that is clear, concise, and well-organized if feasible.
 

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Transparency Act of 2017

 
OIRA must ensure greater openness, accessibility, and accountability in the regulatory review process.
 

Cost-Benefit Analysis Improvement Act of 2017

 
The General Services Administration must contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to publish a study on the costs and benefits associated with major rules.

 
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Special Counsel Independence Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-1735
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2017-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Justice
Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Judicial review and appeals
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: 

Special Counsel Independence Protection Act

 
This bill sets forth requirements and limitations with respect to the removal from office of a special counsel appointed by the Attorney General, or of another official appointed by the Attorney General who exercises a similar degree of independence from the Department of Justice (DOJ) chain of command. 
 
Specifically, a special counsel or other appointed individual may be removed only if: (1) the Attorney General files an action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and files a contemporaneous notice of the action with Congress; and (2) the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issues an order finding misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or other good cause, including violation of DOJ policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-26
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act

Bill: 115-s-1736
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2017-08-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Government lending and loan guarantees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: 

Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act 

 
 This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase the amount of unpaid debt permitted per borrower under Department of Agriculture farm ownership and operating loans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Introduced in Senate