hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase support for conservation practices under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-4212
Sponsor: Rep. Marshall, Roger [R-KS-1]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Farmland
Natural disasters
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to increase the maximum cost-share payment permitted under the Department of Agriculture Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). 
 
(The ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.) 
 
The bill requires the maximum cost-share payment permitted under the ECP (currently $200,000 per person or legal entity, per natural disaster) to be equal to the maximum cost-share permitted under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (currently $500,000 per person or legal entity, per disaster). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to establish a program to provide advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program for the repair or replacement of fencing.

Bill: 115-hr-4213
Sponsor: Rep. Marshall, Roger [R-KS-1]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Disaster relief and insurance
Farmland
Natural disasters
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give agricultural producers the option of receiving advance payments under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) for the repair or replacement of fencing. 
 
(The ECP provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.)
 
The advance payments must be provided before the producer carries out the repair or replacement and be based on the fair market value of the cost of the repair or replacement approved by USDA under the program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4214
Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Government lending and loan guarantees
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

American Taxpayer and Western Area Power Administration Customer Protection Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 to repeal the Western Area Power Administration's borrowing authority.It does not apply to any projects in execution on or before October 30, 2017, or any projects approved before September 15, 2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure that providers of services receive adequate payments for the acquisition of hematopoietic stem cells under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-4215
Sponsor: Rep. Paulsen, Erik [R-MN-3]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Blood and blood diseases
Cancer
Cell biology and embryology
Hospital care
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to pay, to a provider that furnishes a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, an adjusted Medicare payment consistent with the Medicare payment methodology for kidney-acquisition costs outlined in regulation. Under the applicable regulation, kidney-acquisition costs are treated apart from the prospective payment rate for inpatient operating costs, and payment is adjusted to compensate the hospital for certain reasonable expenses.
 
"Hematopoietic stem cell transplant" means the infusion of allogeneic hematopoietic cells (including bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, and cord-blood units, but excluding embryonic stem cells) that are: (1) not more than minimally manipulated; and (2) intended to reestablish hematopoietic function in an individual whose blood marrow or immune system is damaged, defective, or adversely affective by a congenital disorder.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Northern Mariana Islands Enhanced Nutrition Assistance Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4216
Sponsor: Del. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Food assistance and relief
Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Northern Mariana Islands Enhanced Nutrition Assistance Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to reauthorize through FY2023 the pilot program for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to operate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) in the same manner in which the program is operated in the states. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
SQUEAL Act

Bill: 115-hr-4217
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Income tax deductions
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Stop Questionable, Unnecessary, and Excessive Allowances for Legislators Act or the SQUEAL Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the deduction for living expenses incurred by Members of Congress. (Under current law, the deduction is limited to $3,000 per year.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Upholding the Integrity of Public Officials Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4218
Sponsor: Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-22]
Introduced: 2017-11-01 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: 

Upholding the Integrity of Public Officials Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise the definition of &quot;official act&quot; for purposes of an offense involving bribery of public officials. 
 
Currently, an official act is any decision or action on a question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding, or controversy, which may at any time be pending, or which may by law be brought before a public official, in their official capacity. This bill specifies that an official act includes any action taken or to be taken under color of official authority by a public official or person who has been selected to be a public official.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Introduced in House
Workflex in the 21st Century Act

Bill: 115-hr-4219
Sponsor: Rep. Walters, Mimi [R-CA-45]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal preemption
Labor-management relations
State and local government operations
Temporary and part-time employment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Workflex in the 21st Century Act 

 
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish a voluntary workflex option under which employers who provide flexible workplace arrangement plans that include a combination of paid leave and flexible work options are exempt from certain state and local laws regarding employee benefits.
 
A flexible workplace arrangement plan must provide all employees with a minimum amount of paid leave per year that ranges from 12-20 days, depending on the size of the employer and the tenure of the employee. 
 
The plan must also provide employees that meet certain service requirements with at least one of the following flexible work options: 
 
 
 a biweekly work program, 
 
 a compressed work schedule,
 
 a telework program, 
 
 a job sharing program, 
 
 flexible scheduling, or 
 
predictable scheduling. 
 
 
The bill also specifies various requirements for paid leave and the flexible work options. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-07-24
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
SOFFA

Bill: 115-hr-4220
Sponsor: Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
California
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Federal preemption
Fires
Product safety and quality
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act or SOFFA

 
This bill adopts a state flammability standard established by California as a federal standard to protect against the risk of upholstered-furniture flammability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
Kevin and Avonte's Law of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4221
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aging
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Department of Justice
Disability and paralysis
Family services
First responders and emergency personnel
Health personnel
Health promotion and preventive care
Law enforcement administration and funding
Neurological disorders
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Kevin and Avonte's Law of 2017

 

Missing Americans Alert Program Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to revise, rename, and reauthorize through FY2022 the Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program. 
 
It directs the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Bureau of Justice Assistance to award grants: 
 
 
to develop or operate programs to prevent wandering and locate missing individuals with dementia or children with developmental disabilities, and 
 
to develop tracking technology programs to locate missing individuals with dementia or children with developmental disabilities. 
 
 
The bill amends the Missing Children's Assistance Act to specify that, with respect to training and technical assistance provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, cases involving missing and exploited children include cases involving children with developmental disabilities such as autism.
 
DOJ must establish and certain grant recipients must comply with standards and best practices related to the use of tracking technology to locate missing individuals with dementia or developmental disabilities.
 
The bill prohibits the use of data from tracking devices to create a federal database. It also prohibits construing this bill to require a parent or guardian to use a tracking device.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (E1621-1622)
action_date: 2017-11-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4222
Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Mental health
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include the specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals among the "greatest social needs" served under that Act. An LGBT individual shall be considered a "minority" for purposes of services provided under the Act.
 
The bill authorizes the Administration of Aging to designate within it a person with responsibility for addressing issues affecting LGBT older individuals. In addition, the administration shall conduct studies and collect data to determine the services needed by LGBT older individuals. 
 
The administration shall establish and operate the National Resource Center on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging to provide national, state, and local organizations with the information and technical assistance needed by those organizations to effectively serve LGBT older individuals.
 
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman of each state shall, as a condition of receiving certain federal funding under the Act, collect and analyze data related to discrimination against LGBT older individuals in long-term care settings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H8300-8301)
Sustainable Fishing Workforce Protection Act

Bill: 115-hr-4224
Sponsor: Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Guam
Hawaii
Immigration status and procedures
Labor-management relations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Northern Mariana Islands
Transportation employees
Visas and passports
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Sustainable Fishing Workforce Protection Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a nonimmigrant renewable three-year visa (D-3 visa) for alien crewmembers employed on Hawaii-based longline fishing vessels.
 
The bill sets forth employer petition requirements and responsibilities, including requiring employers to enter into enforceable labor agreements with each approved D-3 alien prior to a fishing voyage. 
 
The Coast Guard shall perform dockside examinations of ships employing D-3 aliens to ensure compliance with health and safety laws and regulations affecting seamen.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-11-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by clarifying that State Exchanges are prohibited from imposing fees or assessments on issuers of excepted benefits and standalone dental plans not sold through an Exchange.

Bill: 115-hr-4225
Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Dental care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Insurance industry and regulation
State and local finance
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 
This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prohibit a state from funding its health insurance exchange by charging a health insurer a fee or tax for excepted benefits coverage (benefits not subject to requirements under the Act) or standalone dental plans that are not sold on an exchange.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Access to Care Act

Bill: 115-hr-4226
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Veterans Access to Care Act

 
This bill automatically designates medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as health professional shortage areas, therefore allowing primary care providers at VA hopsitals to participate in the National Health Service Corps program and receive scholarships or loan repayment.
 
Individuals may not participate in both the VA's Health Professionals Education Assistance Program and the National Health Service Corps program.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services, in carrying out the National Health Service Corps program, must consult with the VA regarding health professional shortage areas that are VA medical facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
Biennial Commission on Energy Policy Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4228
Sponsor: Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Alternative and renewable resources
Coal
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Executive agency funding and structure
General energy matters
Nuclear power
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Biennial Commission on Energy Policy Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to establish the Biennial Commission on Energy Policy.
 
The commission must be composed of 15 members from a diverse group of industries and political party affiliations with no federal, state, or local officers or employees. The commission must:
 
 
carry out specific analytical and research tasks related to a broad range of energy issues; and
 
report to Congress on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to create an integrated and comprehensive national energy policy for the United States.
 
 
This bill replaces provisions requiring the President to submit a biennial National Energy Policy Plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
Protecting HOME Access Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4229
Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2017-11-02 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicare
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: 

Protecting Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment Access Act of 2017 or the Protecting HOME Access Act of 2017

 
This bill: (1) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay by one year the full implementation of new Medicare payment rates for durable medical equipment, and (2) revises a Medicare budget-neutrality requirement related to oxygen.
 
Under current law, the CMS may establish separate payment classes under Medicare for items of oxygen and related equipment only if doing so does not result in increased program expenditures. The bill provides an exception to this budget-neutrality requirement with respect to such items that are included in a competitive acquisition program. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-11-02
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: 2017-11-02
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: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Introduced in House