hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
ALERT Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1347
Sponsor: Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Federal-Indian relations
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Political movements and philosophies
State and local government operations
Terrorism
Travel and tourism
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Amplifying Local Efforts to Root out Terror Act of 2017 or the ALERT Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide training at state and major urban area fusion centers for the purpose of administering community awareness briefings and related activities in furtherance of its efforts to counter radicalization, identify and report suspicious activities, and increase awareness of and more quickly identify terrorism threats, including the travel or attempted travel of individuals from the United States to support a foreign terrorist organization abroad. (A &quot;fusion center&quot; serves as a focal point within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial and private sector partners.)
 
The bill directs DHS to assess its efforts to support countering radicalization at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels. Such assessment shall include:
 
 
a cataloging of DHS efforts to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in countering radicalization;
 
a review of cooperative agreements between DHS and such governments relating to countering radicalization; and
 
an evaluation of DHS plans and any potential opportunities to better support such governments that are in furtherance of DHS's countering radicalization objectives and consistent with all relevant constitutional, legal, and privacy protections. 
 
 
DHS shall notify Congress of the number of employees of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments with security clearances sponsored by DHS, including a detailed list of the agencies that employ such employees, the levels of clearance held, and whether such employees are assigned as representatives to state and major urban area fusion centers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Investing in Testing Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1348
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Medical research
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Investing in Testing Act of 2017

 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the health implications of contamination of drinking water by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). (PFASs can accumulate in the body and are commonly found at low levels in food, water, and the environment.)

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Wilderness Act to ensure that the use of bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers, and game carts is not prohibited in Wilderness Areas, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-1349
Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Health technology, devices, supplies
Pedestrians and bicycling
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: This bill amends the Wilderness Act to declare that provisions of such Act prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles, aircraft, or other forms of mechanical transport shall not prohibit the use of motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized wheelchairs, non-motorized bicycles, strollers, wheelbarrows, survey wheels, or game carts within any wilderness areas.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 805.
action_date: 2018-11-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-1032.
action_date: 2018-11-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-1032.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 18.
action_date: 2017-12-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-12-12
text: Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2017-12-07
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2017-03-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Preparing More Welfare Recipients for Work Act

Bill: 115-hr-1352
Sponsor: Rep. Renacci, James B. [R-OH-16]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Child care and development
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Poverty and welfare assistance
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Preparing More Welfare Recipients for Work Act

 
This bill revises mandatory work requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Specifically, for purposes of counting work activities toward the satisfaction of such requirements, the bill:
 
 
eliminates the distinction between core work activities and other specified work activities related to training and education; 
 
in general, eliminates separate requirements for two-parent families and other families; 
 
allows partial credit with respect to families that participate in work activities for fewer hours than required; 
 
allows states to request approval for an alternative work-participation rate calculation; 
 
limits, after three months of participation, the extent to which job-search activities shall be counted as work activities; 
 
modifies requirements for counting secondary-school attendance as work participation; 
 
removes from the definition of "work activities" the provision of child-care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program; and 
 
increases, from 12 to 24 months, the maximum period for which vocational educational training counts a work activities. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Stop Trafficking in Fentanyl Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1354
Sponsor: Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-17]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Stop Trafficking in Fentanyl Act of 2017

 
 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to modify the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl. 
 
Specifically, the bill reduces from 400 to 20 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 100 to 5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a 10-year or 20-year mandatory minimum prison term for high-level first-time or repeat offenders. It also reduces from 40 to 2 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 10 to 0.5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a 5-year or 10-year mandatory minimum prison term for low-level first-time or repeat offenders. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Crowd Sourcing of Environmental Data Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1355
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Crowd Sourcing of Environmental Data Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Clean Air Act to give states the option of monitoring lead, ozone, particulate matter, or sulfur dioxide by greatly increasing the number of air quality sensors under their state implementation plans.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency: (1) may not enforce a requirement concerning the method of monitoring unless the state is acting in bad faith, and (2) must allow states to base determinations on whether national ambient air quality standards for the air pollutants were exceeded on data derived from such monitoring.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit disclosure of tax return information to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

Bill: 115-hr-1356
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Internal Revenue Service to disclose certain tax return information to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence or the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, upon receiving a written request from the chairman of the relevant committee. Any return or return information that can be associated with, or otherwise identify, a particular taxpayer may only be furnished to a congressional committee when it is sitting in closed executive session, unless the taxpayer consents in writing to the disclosure. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Stamp Out Invasive Species Act

Bill: 115-hr-1357
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Ecology
Postal service
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Stamp Out Invasive Species Act

 
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue and sell a Combating Invasive Species Semipostal Stamp.
 
Proceeds from the sale of the stamp must be transferred in equal proportion to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture for combating invasive species. (Invasive species are nonnative species whose introduction poses a serious threat to natural ecosystems and causes detrimental economic damage to local communities.)
 
The stamp must be made available to the public for two years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, 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: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Scientific Integrity Act

Bill: 115-hr-1358
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Medical research
Policy sciences
Research administration and funding
Research ethics
Scientific communication

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Scientific Integrity Act

 
This bill requires, subject to Freedom of Information Act disclosure restrictions and privacy requirements, federal agencies that fund or conduct scientific research to: (1) promote and maximize the communication and open exchange of scientific data and findings to other agencies, policymakers, and the public; and (2) prevent the suppression or distortion of such data and findings.
 
The bill amends the America COMPETES Act to require federal agencies that fund or conduct scientific research to develop and enforce a scientific integrity policy and submit it to Congress and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
 
A scientific integrity policy must, at a minimum, ensure that scientific conclusions are not made based on political considerations. It must be made available to the public on agency websites and be disseminated to each new agency employee and contractor. Agencies must also develop and require training on the policy for its employees and contractors. 
 
The OSTP shall enter into an agrement with the National Academy of Public Administration to study the appropriateness of scientific integrity policies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Seller Finance Enhancement Act

Bill: 115-hr-1360
Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Licensing and registrations
Real estate business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 

Seller Finance Enhancement Act

 
This bill amends the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to exempt from certain licensing and registration requirements a person (other than a depository institution) that: (1) originates not more than 24 residential mortgage loans in a 12-month period, and (2) originates residential mortgage loans only with respect to property owned by the person.
 
The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury shall jointly study and report to Congress on specified issues related to seller financing. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the non-application of Medicare competitive acquisition rates to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and accessories.

Bill: 115-hr-1361
Sponsor: Rep. Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1]
Introduced: 2017-03-02 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the application of Medicare competitive acquisition rates to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and accessories. (A competitive bidding program has replaced the use of established fee schedule amounts to determine payments under Medicare for certain durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-02
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: 2017-03-02
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: 2017-03-02
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: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-02
text: Introduced in House
Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act

Bill: 115-hr-1363
Sponsor: Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-06 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: 

Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act

 
 This bill provides that any hours worked by a firefighter under a qualified trade-of-time arrangement shall be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility for, or the amount of, any overtime pay. The bill defines &quot;qualified trade-of-time arrangement&quot; as an arrangement under which two firefighters who are employed by the same agency agree, solely at their option and with the approval of their employing agency, to substitute for one another during scheduled work hours in the performance of work in the same capacity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Introduced in House
Official Time Reform Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1364
Sponsor: Rep. Hice, Jody B. [R-GA-10]
Introduced: 2017-03-06 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee leave
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: 

Official Time Reform Act of 2017

 
This bill prohibits the granting of official time to an employee who would otherwise be in a duty status for purposes of engaging in any political activity, including lobbying activity. Official time is time off from assigned duties granted to a federal employee for purposes of representing a union or its bargaining unit employees.
 
Under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System: (1) an employee may not be allowed retirement credit for any day of service spent principally on official time that is in excess of 365 days in the aggregate, (2) an employee is deemed to have spent a day principally on official time if it is at least 80% of the time such employee would otherwise be in a duty status, and (3) any such service spent principally on official time for which an employee is not allowed credit shall be treated as credible service for purposes of calculating the employee's average pay.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 17.
action_date: 2017-03-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Introduced in House