hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Gigabit Opportunity Act

Bill: 115-s-1013
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business investment and capital
Capital gains tax
Economic development
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Financial services and investments
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Securities
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Gigabit Opportunity Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the designation of qualified gigabit opportunity zones in low-income communities and to provide tax incentives for investments in the zones.
 
Governors may submit nominations for a limited number of qualified gigabit opportunity zones in low-income communities to the Department of the Treasury for certification and designation. Governors must give particular consideration to areas that: 
 
 
 are facing obstacles to economic development due to a lack of geographic broadband coverage or speed; 
 
 are the focus of mutually reinforcing state, local, or private economic development initiatives;
 
 are poised for economic growth that requires access to high speed broadband for commercial purposes; and
 
represent the areas of a state where such service would result in the highest return on investment. 
 
 
For eligible taxpayers that sell certain broadband services, the bill allows: (1) deferrals, reductions, or exemptions from taxes on capital gains invested in certain property used to provide broadband services in a zone (depending on how long the property is held), and (2) immediate expensing of the costs of the property. 
 
The bill also allows tax-exempt private activity bonds to be used for certain broadband projects in the zones. 
 
Within one year of enactment of this bill, the Federal Communications Commission must publish a Uniform Model Broadband Deployment Act containing laws for the state regulation of the deployment of broadband services. Qualified zones must adopt either the Act or laws comparable to the Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
PAWS Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1014
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Mammals
Mental health
Neurological disorders
Service animals
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2017 or the PAWS Act of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing other evidence-based treatment.
 
An organization that receives a grant shall provide for each participating service dog and veteran:
 
 
coverage by a commercially available veterinary health insurance policy,
 
hardware clinically determined to be required by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the veteran,
 
payments for travel expenses to obtain the dog, and 
 
travel expenses required to obtain a replacement service dog.
 
 
To be eligible for a grant, an organization must: (1) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee such benefits, (2) be certified by Assistance Dogs International, (3) provide one-on-one training for each service dog and recipient for 30 hours or more during a period of 90 days or more, and (4) provide an in-house residential facility or other accommodations nearby in which service dog recipients stay for a minimum of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of training.
 
The VA shall develop metrics to measure the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance and changes independence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of veterans participating in the program.
 
The Government Accountability Office must provide to Congress a briefing on the methodology established for, and a report on, the pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
CONNECT for Health Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1016
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Indian social and development programs
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicare
Mental health
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2017 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2017

 
This bill makes a series of changes to expand coverage of telehealth services under Medicare, including by exempting certain telehealth services (e.g., specified renal dialysis and stroke evaluation services) from originating site requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, as the "Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center".

Bill: 115-s-1017
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural research
Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
North Dakota

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 
This bill renames the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, as the &quot;Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Luis Barrios.

Bill: 115-s-1019
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Provides for the relief of Luis Barrios.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Carried Interest Fairness Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1020
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Capital gains tax
Financial services and investments
Income tax rates
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Carried Interest Fairness Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) set forth a special rule for the inclusion in gross income of partnership interests transferred in connection with the performance of services, (2) treat as ordinary income the net capital gain with respect to an investment services partnership interest except to the extent such gain is attributable to a partner's qualified capital interest, (3) exempt income from investment services partnership interests from treatment as qualifying income of a publicly traded partnership, (4) exempt certain family partnerships from the application of this bill; (5) increase the penalty for underpayments of tax resulting from failure to treat income from an investment services partnership interest as ordinary income, and (6) include income and loss from an investment services partnership interest for purposes of determining net earnings from self-employment and applicable self-employment taxes.
 
The bill defines "investment services partnership interest" as any interest in a partnership held by a person who provides services to a partnership by: (1) advising the partnership about investing in, purchasing, or selling specified assets; (2) managing, acquiring, or disposing of specified assets; or (3) arranging financing with respect to acquiring specified assets.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1021
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Coast guard
Currency
Department of Homeland Security
Military history
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act
 
of 2017

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue in commemoration of the U.S. Coast Guard: (1) $5 gold coins, (2) $1 silver coins, and (3) half-dollar clad coins. 
 
The design of such coins shall be emblematic of the traditions, history, and heritage of the Coast Guard and its role in securing the United States since 1790. 
 
The bill prescribes certain design requirements.
 
The issuance of such coins is restricted to the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2020.
 
The bill prescribes the sale price of the coins and coin surcharges. Surcharges shall be paid by Treasury to the National Coast Guard Museum Association to help finance the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of this museum.
 
Treasury shall ensure that minting and issuing coins under this bill will not result in any net cost to the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
MISSION ZERO Act

Bill: 115-s-1022
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Medical research
Military education and training
Military medicine
Military operations and strategy
Military readiness

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Military Injury Surgical Systems Integrated Operationally Nationwide to Achieve ZERO Preventable Deaths Act or the MISSION ZERO Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to award grants to certain trauma centers to enable military trauma care providers and trauma teams to provide trauma care and related acute care at those trauma centers. Funds may be used to train and incorporate military trauma care providers into the trauma center, including expenditures for malpractice insurance, office space, information technology, specialty education and supervision, trauma programs, and state license fees. Grantees must allow the military trauma care providers to be deployed for military operations, training, or response to a mass casualty incident.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1024
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Performance measurement
Personnel records
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017

 
This bill revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals system.
 
The bill permits a veteran to appeal within one year by: (1) requesting a review of the agency of original jurisdiction's (AOJ) decision by a higher-level adjudicator within AOJ using the same evidentiary record; (2) filing a supplemental claim with a regional office that includes the opportunity to submit additional evidence and have a hearing; or (3) appealing directly to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with the opportunity to select an expedited review to submit new evidence but without a hearing, or to select a review with the option to submit new evidence and request a hearing.
 
A veteran may: (1) maintain the original effective date of a claim if he or she submits new and relevant evidence within one year of the most recent decision, and (2) retain the services of attorneys and accredited agents who charge a fee when the AOJ provides notice of the original decision.
 
The VA's statutory duty to assist a veteran terminates after the original decision. 
 
The bill: (1) requires the VA to issue decision notification letters, (2) permits certain veterans who initiated an appeal prior to the bill's effective date to opt-in to the new appeals system, (3) authorizes the VA to conduct a pilot program to test such system, and (4) requires the VA, prior to full implementation, to certify to Congress that it has sufficient resources and personnel to carry out the legacy and new appeals systems.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-10
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 166.
action_date: 2017-07-10
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-126.
action_date: 2017-07-10
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-126.
action_date: 2017-06-28
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-299.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Assisting Family Farmers through Insurance Reform Measures Act

Bill: 115-s-1025
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Assisting Family Farmers through Insurance Reform Measures Act or the AFFIRM Act 

 
This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce federal crop insurance payments and disclose details regarding subsidies. 
 
The bill prohibits premium subsidies: (1) for additional coverage for any person or legal entity that has an average adjusted gross income that is greater than $250,000, (2) that exceed $40,000 per year for any person or legal entity, or (3) for policies that are based on the actual market price of an agricultural commodity at the time of harvest.
 
The bill establishes an annual cap on total reimbursements for administrative and operating costs of crop insurance providers that begins at $900 million for 2018 and is adjusted for inflation in each subsequent year. The average rate of return for insurance providers is limited to 8.9% of retained premiums. 
 
The bill eliminates a requirement that any renegotiated Standard Insurance Agreement (SRA) be budget-neutral. (The SRA is an agreement between USDA and the private companies that administer the federal crop insurance program that specifies details such as administrative and operating expense reimbursements and risk sharing. Eliminating the budget neutrality requirement permits USDA to use the renegotiation of the SRA to achieve savings.) 
 
USDA must annually disclose to the public specified details regarding the recipients and amounts of federal crop insurance subsidies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Know Conflicts Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1026
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Family relationships
Financial services and investments
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Know Conflicts Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to define:
 
 
 &quot;active financial conflict of interest&quot; to mean any potential source of conflict that constitutes a financial interest in or liability owed to an entity reported as receiving a federal award under such Act;
 
&quot;covered person&quot; to mean the President, Vice President, spouse of the President or Vice President, and a dependent child of the President or Vice President; and
 
&quot;potential source of conflict&quot; to mean any financial interest or liability held by a covered person that is not a financial interest held by a widely held investment fund and that is included in a covered person's financial disclosure report required to be filed under such Act, or that is otherwise identified by the Office of Government Ethics as a potential source of conflict.
 
 
The Office of Management and Budget must ensure that its publicly accessible website on federal awards includes information indicating whether an award has resulted in the existence of one or more active financial conflicts of interest.
 
 The Bureau of the Fiscal Service of the Department of the Treasury must annually submit to Congress a report that includes a comprehensive accounting of all new or ongoing active conflicts of interest. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Bill: 115-s-1027
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Civil actions and liability
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Property tax
Public contracts and procurement
State and local finance
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 
This bill extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 through FY2017, including provisions concerning secure payments to eligible states, territories, and counties containing federal land. 
 
The bill: (1) sets forth special rules for state and county payments for FY2016, and (2) requires all FY2016 payments to be made within 45 days of enactment of this bill. 
 
No funds made available to eligible counties under such Act may be used in lieu of, or to otherwise offset, a state funding source for a local school, facility, or educational purpose. 
 
The merchantable timber contracting pilot program is repealed.
 
 The bill extends through FY2019 the authority under such Act to initiate special projects on such federal lands and certain county activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to exempt certain small hydroelectric power projects that are applying for relicensing under the Federal Power Act from the licensing requirements of that Act.

Bill: 115-s-1029
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Endangered and threatened species
Licensing and registrations
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 
This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to exempt certain small hydroelectric power projects from licensing and other requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to submit to Congress a report on certain hydropower projects.

Bill: 115-s-1030
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Congressional oversight
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Licensing and registrations
Outdoor recreation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 
This bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to submit to Congress a report on hydropower projects that: 
 
 
identifies each project licensed by FERC that is located at a nonpowered site that serves as storage to support downstream power generation; 
 
analyzes the value of electric power generation associated with each of these projects; 
 
describes the range of options that exist under current law with respect to surrender or transfer of a FERC license for these projects; 
 
identifies any barriers to the surrender or transfer of a FERC license for these projects; and 
 
identifies the costs incurred by project owners resulting from the requirements imposed by a FERC license, including applicable costs broken down by category.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-07-31
text: By Senator Murkowski from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 115-310.
action_date: 2018-07-31
text: By Senator Murkowski from Committee on Energy and Natural Resources filed written report. Report No. 115-310.
action_date: 2018-07-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 535.
action_date: 2018-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-07-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-05-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-06-14
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-38.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in Senate