hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act

Bill: 115-s-225
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Oregon
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Sports and recreation facilities
Wetlands
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act

 
 This bill amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to revise details of the Cooper Spur-Government Camp land exchange between the United States and Oregon. 
 
After the final appraised value of the federal and nonfederal lands is determined and approved by Department of Agriculture (USDA), the USDA shall not be required to reappraise or update that value for a period of up to three years, unless the condition of any of the lands is significantly and substantially altered by fire, windstorm, or other events. 
 
The bill revises conveyance conditions regarding reservation of a conservation easement to protect identified wetland, reservation of a nonexclusive trail easement, and equalization of values of the exchange properties. 

action_date: 2017-05-09
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act

 
 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to revise details of the Cooper Spur-Government Camp land exchange between the United States and Oregon. 
 
After the final appraised value of the federal and nonfederal lands is determined and approved by Department of Agriculture (USDA), the USDA shall not be required to reappraise or update that value for a period of up to three years, unless the condition of any of the lands is significantly and substantially altered by fire, windstorm, or other events. 
 
The bill revises conveyance conditions regarding reservation of a conservation easement to protect identified wetland, reservation of a nonexclusive trail easement, and equalization of values of the exchange properties. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 65.
action_date: 2017-05-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-52.
action_date: 2017-05-09
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-52.
action_date: 2017-03-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Broadband Deployment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-228
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Small business
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Small Business Broadband Deployment Act 2017

 
This bill exempts for five years any small business broadband Internet access service provider with no more than 250,000 subscribers from the enhancements to the transparency rule of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under which any person engaged in the provision of broadband Internet access service must disclose publicly accurate information regarding the network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband Internet access services sufficient for:
 
 
consumers to make informed choices regarding their use; and
 
content, application, service, and device providers to develop, market, and maintain Internet offerings.
 
 
The FCC shall report to specified congressional committees, within 180 days after enactment of this bill, its recommendations (together with supporting data) on whether:
 
 
this exception should be made permanent, and
 
the definition of &quot;small business&quot; for these purposes should be modified.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks: CR S451; text of measure as introduced: CR S451)
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-229
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protect individual application information submitted to DHS after June 15, 2012, as part of a request for consideration or reconsideration for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from disclosure to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for any purpose other than implementing such program. Such information may be shared with national security and law enforcement agencies: (1) to identify or prevent fraudulent claims, (2) for national security purposes relating to an individual application, or (3) for the investigation or prosecution of a felony not related to immigration status.
 
DHS may not refer an individual whose case has been deferred pursuant to the DACA program to ICE, CBP, the Department of Justice, or any other law enforcement agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Capitalizing on American Methane Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-230
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Income tax credits
Motor fuels
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Capitalizing on American Methane Act of 201

7

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) include in the tax credit for investment in a qualifying gasification project any qualified methane conversion technology, and (2) allow an alternative fuel excise tax credit for liquid fuel produced through qualified methane conversion technology at a facility the construction of which begins before October 1, 2027. The bill defines &quot;qualified methane conversion technology&quot; as a process for the molecular conversion of a fuel consisting principally of methane into hydrocarbons and the use of such hydrocarbons to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum present in motor vehicle fuel and for the production of chemicals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Life at Conception Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-231
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Abortion
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Genetics

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Life at Conception Act of
 
2017

 
This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. 
 
Nothing in this bill shall be construed to require the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child, a prohibition on in vitro fertilization, or a prohibition on use of birth control or another means of preventing fertilization.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to terminate the EB-5 Visa Program and to reallocate the employment creation visas to the other employment-based visa classifications.

Bill: 115-s-232
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Employee hiring
Financial services and investments
Foreign labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the EB-5 visa category.
 
 The number of fiscal year immigrant visas available for the following employment categories is increased: (1) priority workers; (2) members of the professions with advanced degrees or persons of exceptional ability; (3) skilled workers, professionals, and certain unskilled workers; and (4) certain special immigrants.
 
The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 is amended to terminate the EB-5 regional center pilot program.
 
The EB-5 visa provides lawful permanent residence to foreign nationals who invest (directly or through a regional center) a specified amount of capital in a new commercial enterprise in the United States and create at least 10 jobs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-233
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alabama
California
Colorado
Department of Veterans Affairs
Florida
Georgia
Health facilities and institutions
Home and outpatient care
Indiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Mental health
Michigan
Montana
New York State
North Carolina
South Carolina
Texas
Veterans' medical care
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out major medical facility leases in specified amounts for:
 
 
 outpatient clinics in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Daytona Beach, Gainesville, and Ocala, Florida; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Missoula, Montana; Northern Colorado, Colorado; Oxnard and Santa Rosa, California; Pike County, Georgia; Portland, Maine; and Raleigh, North Carolina;
 
 an outpatient mental health clinic and an outpatient specialty clinic in Birmingham, Alabama;
 
research space in Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; and Mission Bay, California;
 
Chief Business Office Purchased Care office space in Denver, Colorado; and
 
 replacement outpatient clinics in Corpus Christi, Texas; Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida; Pontiac, Michigan; Rochester, New York (phase II); and Terre Haute, Indiana. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
End Outsourcing Act

Bill: 115-s-234
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Foreign and international corporations
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Labor-management relations
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public contracts and procurement
Taxation of foreign income
U.S. territories and protectorates
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

End Outsourcing Act 

 
This bill modifies provisions of tax, labor, and federal contracting laws related to the outsourcing of jobs. 
 
The bill amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to require employers to include an outsourcing statement in the notice that must be provided to employees, state dislocated worker units, and local governments prior to plant closings and mass layoffs. The statement must specify whether part or all of the positions held by affected employees will be moved outside of the United States, regardless of whether the positions are moved within the business enterprise involved or to another business enterprise. 
 
The Department of Labor must publish on its website a list of employers that have included an outsourcing statement in the notice or have incurred liability for failing to provide the required notice.
 
The bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to: 
 
 
 deny certain tax deductions and accounting methods for outsourcing employers; 
 
 require the recapture of certain tax credits and grants that were provided to outsourcing employers and were related to the design, construction, operation, or maintenance of an outsourced facility; and 
 
 grant business taxpayers a tax credit for up to 20% of insourcing expenses incurred for eliminating a business located outside the United States and relocating it within the United States if there is an increase in the taxpayer's employment of full-time employees in the United States. 
 
 
Federal contracting officers must: (1) require contractors submitting bids or proposals to disclose specified details regarding the outsourcing of jobs, and (2) take the disclosure into account in awarding contracts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
CHOICE Act

Bill: 115-s-235
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2017-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Education
District of Columbia
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military personnel and dependents
Religion
Special education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: 

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act or the
 
CHOICE Act

 
This bill amends the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act to include among the eligibility criteria for opportunity scholarships, a requirement that a student in Washington, DC is enrolled, or will be enrolled for the next school year, in a public or private elementary or secondary school. (Opportunity scholarships are provided to low-income DC students to enable them to attend a participating private school of their choice.)
 
The bill also amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to allow states that have established a program which allows the parents of disabled children to use public or private funds for assistance with the cost of their children attending a private school, to supplement those funds with their allocation of federal special education funds.
 
The bill authorizes grants to support the design and initial implementation of state programs that allow the parents of a disabled child to make a choice of the appropriate public or private school for their child.
 
The Department of Defense (DOD)must carry out a five-year pilot program to award scholarships to enable military dependent students who live on military installations to attend the public or private elementary or secondary schools their parents choose.DOD must select at least five military installations to participate in the program and choose those where military students would benefit from expanded education options.
 
The Department of Education must return to the Treasury specified amounts made available for salaries and expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-236
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alcoholic beverages
Business investment and capital
Business records
Competition and antitrust
Corporate finance and management
Department of the Treasury
Executive agency funding and structure
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Income tax deductions
Licensing and registrations
Sales and excise taxes
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax treatment of certain alcoholic beverages, to: 
 
 
 exclude the aging period from the production period for beer, wine, or distilled spirits for purposes of determining whether a taxpayer can expense, rather than capitalize, interest costs paid or incurred during the production period; 
 
 reduce excise tax rates on beer and distilled spirits; 
 
 modify the small wine producer tax credit to increase the amount of the credit, expand the producers that are covered, and specify an adjustment for hard cider;
 
modify the alcohol content limitations that apply to certain wines for tax purposes;
 
 specify definitions for &quot;mead&quot; and &quot;low alcohol by volume wine;&quot;
 
 modify requirements for records, statements, and returns for certain breweries; and 
 
 permit the transfer of beer between bonded facilities without payment of tax. 
 
 
The Department of the Treasury must amend applicable regulations with respect to the use of wholesome products suitable for human consumption in the production of fermented beverages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-237
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of
 
2017

 
This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.
 
The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets. 
 
Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-08
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas, formerly of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and currently of Colleyville, Texas, for acts of valor on January 28th, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

Bill: 115-s-238
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Belgium
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Europe
Military history
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to James Megellas for acts of valor on January 28, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to nullify the effect of the recent Executive order that temporarily restricted individuals from certain countries from entering the United States.

Bill: 115-s-240
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Africa
Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Immigration status and procedures
Iran
Iraq
Libya
Middle East
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports
Yemen

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 
This bill rescinds the provisions of Executive Order 13769, entitled &quot;Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.&quot; Among the order's major provisions are restrictions on the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) and additional limitations on refugee admissions to the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S491-492)
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act

Bill: 115-s-241
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Family planning and birth control
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act

 
This bill prohibits federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
WINGMAN Act

Bill: 115-s-242
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional officers and employees
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government information and archives
Members of Congress
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: 

Working to Integrate Networks Guaranteeing Member Access Now Act or the WINGMAN Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide each veteran who submits a claim for VA benefits with an opportunity to permit a covered congressional employee in the office of the veteran's Member of Congress to have read-only access to all of the veteran's records in the Veterans Benefits Administration databases. A Member may designate up to two such covered congressional employees.
 
A covered congressional employee may not be recognized as an agent or attorney with respect to veterans' benefit claims.
 
Funds under this bill may not be used to design or administer any training for covered congressional employees. 
 
The bill makes funds available for FY2018 through FY2021 for such congressional employee access program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate