hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 Market Street in Saugerties, New York, as the "Maurice D. Hinchey Post Office Building".

Bill: 115-s-2300
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2018-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
House of Representatives
Members of Congress
New York State
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 Market Street in Saugerties, New York, as the "Maurice D. Hinchey Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2301
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Labor
Department of the Treasury
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: 

Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to require the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury to: (1) cooperatively issue regulations to require group health plans and health insurance issuers to annually disclose the analyses performed to ensure compliance with mental health parity laws, and (2) conduct annual random audits of group health plans and health insurance issuers to determine compliance.
 
HHS must establish a consumer parity unit: (1) to facilitate the collection of, monitoring of, and response to consumer complaints; and (2) to provide consumers information about the disclosure requirements and enforcement of the mental health parity laws.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Hyde Park Land Conveyance Act

Bill: 115-s-2302
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: 

Hyde Park Land Conveyance Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior, upon a written request by the city of Hyde Park, Utah, to convey to the city without consideration a specified 80-acre parcel of Bureau of Land Management land, including improvements, for use for public purposes. 
 
Interior shall complete the conveyance of the land and improvements within one year of the city's request. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2303
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2018-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Insurance industry and regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: 

Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to exclude remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers from administrative costs for purposes of calculating the medical loss ratio of a health insurance plan. 
 
The bill defines "independent insurance producer" to mean an insurance agent or broker, insurance consultant, benefit specialist, limited insurance representative, and any other person required to be licensed under state law to sell, solicit, negotiate, service, effect, procure, renew, or bind policies of insurance coverage or offer advice, counsel, opinions, or services related to insurance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2304
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2018-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: 

Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending Act of 2018

 
The bill establishes mortgage loan protections for veterans.
 
 A refinanced home loan may not be guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) unless: (1) a specified minimum time period has passed between the original loan and the refinancing; and (2) the lender complies with provisions related to fee recoupment, mortgage interest rates, and net tangible benefit tests. 
 
The National Housing Act is amended to prohibit the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) from guaranteeing a new refinanced VA loan until the later of: (1) 210 days after the first loan payment, or (2) the sixth monthly loan payment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Trafficking Victims Housing Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2305
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2018-01-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Government studies and investigations
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing supply and affordability
Public housing
Sex offenses
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: 

Trafficking Victims Housing Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, in coordination with other agencies, to conduct a study assessing the availability and accessibility of housing and services for homeless individuals who are victims of trafficking or at risk of being trafficked.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhancing Educational Opportunities for all Students Act

Bill: 115-s-2306
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Poverty and welfare assistance
Preschool education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Enhancing Educational Opportunities for all Students Act
 
 
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a state educational agency to allocate grant funds among local educational agencies based on the number of eligible children (children age 5 to 17 from a family with an income below the poverty level) enrolled in the public schools and the state-accredited private schools within each local agency's geographic jurisdiction.
 
This bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts; (2) remove the dollar limitation on contributions to Coverdell education savings accounts and require such accounts to provide adequate safeguards to prevent contributions from exceeding the amount necessary to provide for the qualified education expenses of the account beneficiary; and (3) allow tax-exempt qualified tuition programs (529 tuition programs) to pay qualified pre-kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Labor Rights for Development Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2307
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human rights
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Public participation and lobbying
Tariffs
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Labor Rights for Development Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require a developing country, as a condition for eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences, to establish in its law and practice:
 
 
freedom of association;
 
recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
 
elimination of all forms of compulsory or forced labor;
 
abolition of, and the prohibition of the worst forms of, child labor;
 
elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation; and
 
acceptable conditions of work regarding minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health. 
 
 
The Generalized System of Preferences is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in developing countries by providing preferential duty-free entry for certain products from designated beneficiary countries. 
 
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative shall prescribe regulations necessary for the implementation of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-Trafficking Trade Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2308
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Human trafficking
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Anti-Trafficking Trade Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President to suspend a country's designation of beneficiary developing country for one year if that country does not meet the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as reported annually by the Department of State. Such designation provides a country with duty-free treatment of its goods to the United States.
 
The bill also provides a process for downgrade of a country's classification (after notification) of watch list countries named in the annual State Department report.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Our CREDIT Act

Bill: 115-s-2309
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Congressional oversight
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Protect Our Citizens from Reckless Extortion of our Debt and Irresponsible Tactics Act of 2018 or the Protect Our CREDIT Act 

 
This bill allows the President to increase the statutory debt limit unless a joint resolution of disapproval is passed by Congress and becomes law.
 
Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the President must submit to Congress a certification that specifies the existing debt, the debt limit, and the debt that will be necessary to issue during the next year to meet existing commitments. The debt limit is increased by the proposed amount, unless a joint resolution of disapproval is passed by Congress within 15 days and becomes law. Congress must consider the joint resolution using specified expedited legislative procedures.
 
The President must submit an additional certification to Congress during the year if the debt is within $250 billion of the limit, and further borrowing is necessary to meet existing commitments. The certification must propose a new debt limit for the remainder of the year and explain any discrepancy with the earlier certification. The new debt limit also goes into effect, unless a joint resolution of disapproval is passed by Congress within 15 days and becomes law. 
 
The bill suspends the debt limit during the period in which Congress is considering a joint resolution of disapproval after the President has submitted a mid-year certification. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Trade Transparency and Public Input Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2310
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Trade Transparency and Public Input Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 to require the President, at least 30 days before initiating trade negotiations with a country, to publish on a publicly available website of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) an easily accessible portal that allows the public to electronically submit comments on the negotiations. The USTR shall also issue a request for comments through notice in the Federal Register.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-2311
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Medical ethics
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex offenses
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
 
 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. 
A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. 
The bill provides exceptions for an abortion: (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. 
A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 46. Record Vote Number: 25.
action_date: 2018-01-29
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S527-545)
action_date: 2018-01-24
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S498)
action_date: 2018-01-24
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S498)
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 294.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Helping Ensure Low-income Patients have Access to Care and Treatment

Bill: 115-s-2312
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Helping Ensure Low-income Patients have Access to Care and Treatment or the HELP Act

 
This bill establishes a two-year moratorium on allowing new, non-rural hospitals and associated child sites to participate in the 340B drug pricing program; during the moratorium, the Department of Health and Human Services must issue regulations with specified program eligibility standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2313
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2018-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Aviation and airports
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
China
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Europe
European Union
Foreign and international banking
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign property
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Metals
Middle East
Mining
North Korea
Oil and gas
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Railroads
Russia
Sanctions
Securities
Subversive activities
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: 

Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Act of 2018

 
This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), no more than 30 days after a U.S. election, to determine whether a foreign government interfered with the election and report on that determination.
 
If the DNI reports that there was not interference and subsequently determines that there was interference, the DNI shall report on the subsequent determination.
 
If the DNI determines that Russia interfered with an election, the President shall impose specified sanctions.
 
The President shall brief Congress on any foreign government the President determines interfered with, or is likely to interfere with, an election.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-09-12
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-09-06
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-08-21
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Border and Port Security Act

Bill: 115-s-2314
Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]
Introduced: 2018-01-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Law enforcement officers
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: 

Border and Port Security Act 

 
This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to increase the number of field operations officers to specified levels. If the CBP does not adequately increase personnel, the Government Accountability Office must report on CBP hiring practices. 
 
The CBP must report on infrastructure and equipment needed to prevent the illegal transportation of opioids and other drugs through U.S. ports of entry. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Over-the-Counter Drug Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act

Bill: 115-s-2315
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2018-01-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government information and archives
Judicial review and appeals
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: 

Over-the-Counter Drug Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to substantially revise how over-the-counter (OTC)drugs are approved. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 413.
action_date: 2018-05-14
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-05-14
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-04-24
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Native American Livestock Assistance Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2316
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2018-01-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Disaster relief and insurance
Farmland
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: 

Native American Livestock Assistance Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to authorize disaster assistance payments to members of Indian tribes under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), including for a horse that is owned by a member of an Indian tribe and is not used for commercial agricultural purposes.
 
(The LFP makes payments to eligible livestock producers who have suffered certain grazing losses due to a drought or on rangeland managed by a federal agency due to a fire. The LIP provides payments to eligible livestock producers on farms that incurred livestock deaths in excess of the normal mortality due to adverse weather or attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law.) 
 
The bill also amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to offer a one-time increase in the premium subsidy for members of an Indian Tribe who purchase policies for the Risk Management Agency Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) crop insurance program for the first time. 
 
(The PRF crop insurance program is intended to help protect a producer's operation from the risks of forage loss due to the lack of precipitation.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-01-17
text: Introduced in Senate