hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1575
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-07-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Child health
Child safety and welfare
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Income tax credits
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: 

Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 201

7

 
This bill allows owners of eligible dwelling units a new tax credit for up to 50% of the lead hazard reduction activity costs for each such unit in a taxable year. An &quot;eligible dwelling unit&quot; is any unit located in the United States that was placed in service before 1978 and the residents of which during the preceding taxable year have a cumulative adjusted gross income of less than $110,000. 
 
The bill: (1) specifies the types of lead hazard reduction activity costs eligible for the credit, including risk assessment and abatement costs; and (2) limits the amount of the credit in any taxable year to $3,000 for specified abatement measures and $1,000 for interim lead control measures. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Industrial Hemp Water Rights Act

Bill: 115-s-1576
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2017-07-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Public contracts and procurement
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: 

Industrial Hemp Water Rights Act 

 
This bill specifies that the owner of an absolute or conditional water right, or an entity that receives or distributes water contracted from the federal government, may use or sell the water for the cultivation of industrial hemp if the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp is otherwise authorized under the laws of the state in which the use occurs. The bill applies regardless of whether the water has passed through a federal water project. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1577
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-07-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Judicial review and appeals

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: 

Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2017

 
This bill replaces the deference given to an agency's interpretation of a statute with a requirement that courts decide all relevant questions of law without giving deference to the agency's interpretation. Thus, this bill overturns 
Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Paperwork Reduction for Farmers Act

Bill: 115-s-1578
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Labor
Foreign labor
Fruit and vegetables
Immigration status and procedures
Livestock
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Paperwork Reduction for Farmers Act

 
 This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a process for filing petitions for nonimmigrant temporary agricultural workers (H-2A visa) that ensures that: (1) petitions may be filed through Labor's website or in a paper format, and (2) any technical deficiency in the petition will be indicated to the petitioner before submission. 
 
An employer that has received a request for evidence from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) may request that such evidence request be delivered in an online format. CIS, within 10 days of the employer's submission of evidence, shall: (1) provide an online response indicating whether the evidence is sufficient; and (2) if the evidence is insufficient, provide the employer with an opportunity to address the deficiencies. 
 
The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended to include year-round equine or livestock workers (including dairy or poultry workers) within the H-2A visa category. The requirement that apple pressing be performed on a farm in order to qualify for H-2A status is eliminated.
 
The bill permits multiple employers to submit a joint petition to import nonimmigrant H-2A visa temporary agricultural workers. Upon approval of such petition, each joint employer shall be subject to the Act's H-2A provisions with respect to each alien listed in the petition. 
 
An employer seeking to rehire H-2A workers who previously worked for the employer as H-2A workers at any time may submit a simplified petition, to be developed by CIS, which shall include a certification that the employer complies with all applicable employment requirements. Such petitions shall be approved upon completion of applicable security screenings. 
 
 An employer seeking to hire H-2A workers during different time periods in a given fiscal year may submit a single petition to CIS detailing each alien's employment period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Board Enhancement Act

Bill: 115-s-1579
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Executive agency funding and structure
Financial services and investments
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Board Enhancement Act

 
 This bill amends the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to require the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to establish: (1) a Small Business Advisory Board to advise and consult with the CFPB in the exercise of its functions under the federal consumer financial laws regarding financial products or services provided for use by consumers primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and to provide information on emerging practices of small businesses that provide such products or services; and (2) a Credit Union Advisory Council and a Community Bank Advisory Council to advise and consult with the CFPB on consumer financial products or services that impact credit unions and community banks, respectively.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1581
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Cooperative and condominium housing
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit equal to 75% of the gain from the sale or exchange of real property to a qualified manufactured home community cooperative or corporation if: (1) the property is acquired for use as a manufactured home community, (2) the seller (or any related person) owned the property for the entire two-year period before the sale or exchange, and (3) the property is transferred subject to a binding covenant that the property will be used as a manufactured home community for at least 50 years. 
 
A &quot;qualified manufactured home community cooperative or corporation&quot; is a cooperative or a nonprofit corporation established pursuant to the laws of the state in which the property is located. The bill specifies membership and governance requirements for the communities owned by the cooperative or nonprofit corporation.
 
The bill also imposes a tax on buyers who violate the covenant to use the property for manufactured housing for at least 50 years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act

Bill: 115-s-1582
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Commemorative events and holidays
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Racial and ethnic relations
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act 

 
This bill establishes the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities to honor Frederick Douglass for the bicentennial anniversary of his birth; and (2) recommend the federal government entities appropriate to carry out such programs and activities.
 
Not later than August 1, 2018, the commission must recommend appropriate activities to Congress. A final report detailing commission activities and expenditures must be submitted not later than June 1, 2019.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4083)
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Legislative Performance Review Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1583
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional committees
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Legislative Performance Review Act of 2017

 
This bill limits the duration of authorizations of appropriations, requires programs with expired authorizations to be terminated, and establishes reporting requirements. 
 
The bill prohibits Congress from considering legislation that: (1) authorizes appropriations for more than four years, or (2) authorizes the enactment of an unlimited amount of appropriations for any purpose. 
 
If Congress determines that an authorization for more than four years is necessary to accomplish the purposes of an authorization, it may waive the time limit by considering a waiver resolution using expedited legislative procedures. 
 
Congressional committees that report legislation authorizing appropriations must include in committee reports: (1) an analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of existing programs for which appropriations are authorized; and (2) specified details regarding the purpose and need for new programs for which appropriations are authorized. 
 
Federal agencies must implement a two-year plan to terminate programs with expired authorizations. 
 
The bill establishes new points of order against legislation that provides appropriations that are either unauthorized or are pursuant to authorizations that violate the time limits and other requirements established by this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to reauthorize the Judicial Conference of the United States to redact sensitive information contained in financial disclosure reports of judicial officers and employees, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-1584
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Protection of officials
Right of privacy
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 
This bill amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to make permanent the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact personal and sensitive information from the financial disclosure report of a judge or judicial employee if it finds that revealing the information could endanger that individual or a family member of that individual. 

action_date: 2017-10-16
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to make permanent the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact personal and sensitive information from the financial disclosure report of a judge or judicial employee if it finds that revealing the information could endanger that individual or a family member of that individual. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 242.
action_date: 2017-10-16
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 115-172.
action_date: 2017-10-16
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson without amendment. With written report No. 115-172.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
DISCLOSE Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1585
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Business ethics
Business records
Congressional elections
Corporate finance and management
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Financial services and investments
Foreign and international corporations
Government information and archives
Labor-management relations
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying
Tax-exempt organizations
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2017 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to ban campaign contributions and expenditures by corporations that are controlled, influenced, or owned by foreign nationals.
 
The bill redefines the term "independent expenditure" to include an expenditure that is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate.
 
The bill expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications.
 
The bill prescribes disclosure requirements for campaign-related disbursements by corporations, labor organizations, and other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Liu Xia.

Bill: 115-s-1587
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Provides for the relief of Liu Xia.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Democracy Restoration Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1588
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Law enforcement administration and funding
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Democracy Restoration Act of 2017

 
This bill establishes that an individual's right to vote in a federal election may not be abridged due to a criminal conviction unless the individual is incarcerated for a felony sentence at the time of the election. The bill also (1) requires incarcerated individuals to be notified of the restoration of their voting rights upon release, and (2) prohibits states and local governments that do not comply with this bill from receiving federal funds for constructing or improving prisons.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1589
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Department of the Treasury
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Income tax deferral
Securities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 201

7

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend to all domestic corporations, including S corporations, provisions allowing deferral of tax on gain from the sale of employer securities to an S corporation-sponsored employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
 
 The Department of the Treasury must establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations.
 
The bill also amends the Small Business Act to define "ESOP business concern" and allow such a concern to continue to qualify for loans, preferences, and other programs under such Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Employ Young Americans Now Act

Bill: 115-s-1590
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2017-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Government trust funds
Unemployment
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: 

Employ Young Americans Now Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to establish programs to provide summer and year-round employment opportunities to low-income youth and skills training for low-income youth and young adults.
 
The bill establishes the Employ Young Americans Fund, with an appropriation of $5.5 billion for FY2018, to finance such programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Firearm Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1592
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2017-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 

Firearm Act of 

2017

 
This bill prohibits the federal government from requiring an individual's race or ethnicity to be disclosed in connection with a firearm transfer to that individual.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1593
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2017-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Government information and archives
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement administration and funding
Lawyers and legal services
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 

Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs to make grants: (1) to replace bail systems that use payment of money as a condition of pretrial release in criminal cases, and (2) to implement a National Pretrial Reporting Program to collect data on the processing of defendants by state and local courts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting American Jobs Act

Bill: 115-s-1594
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 

Protecting American Jobs Act 

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act, with respect to the authority of the National Labor Relations Board, to: 
 
 
repeal the authority of the General Counsel ofthe board, to issue, and prosecute before the board, complaints of unfair labor practices; 
 
limit the board's rulemaking authority to rules concerning the internal functions of the board; 
 
prohibit the board from promulgating regulations affecting the substantive or procedural rights of any person, employer, employee, or labor organization, including rules concerning unfair labor practices and representation elections; 
 
repeal the board's authority to prevent persons from engaging in unfair labor practices, limiting such authority to the investigation of allegations of such practices; and 
 
repeal the board's authority to petition courts for enforcement of its orders, seek injunctions, or hold hearings on jurisdictional strikes. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
BRAVE Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1596
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Disability and paralysis
Inflation and prices
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 

Burial Rights for America's Veterans' Efforts Act of 2017 or the BRAVE Act of 2017
 
 
This bill increases the amounts payable through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for: (1) burial and funeral expenses of certain veterans, and (2) such expenses in connection with a veteran's death due to a service-connected disability. 
 
 The VA shall increase such amounts each fiscal year by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-08-01
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-616.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate