hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Forest Service Flexible Partnerships Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1705
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Government buildings, facilities, and property

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Forest Service Flexible Partnerships Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to lease as an administrative site, for consideration that is at least the market value of the site: 
 
 
any facility or improvement that was acquired or is used for the administration of the National Forest System (NFS);
 
any federal land associated with such a facility or improvement that was acquired or is used for the administration of Forest Service activities and underlies or abuts such facility or improvement; or
 
per fiscal year, no more than 10 isolated, undeveloped parcels no larger than 40 acres each. 
 
 
The bill makes the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 applicable to the leasing of administrative sites, subject to an exception. 
 
Cash consideration for an administrative site shall be available to USDA to pay:
 
 
necessary and incidental costs incurred in acquiring, improving, maintaining, reconstructing, or constructing a facility or improvement for the NFS and the lease of such site; and 
 
reasonable commissions or fees for brokerage services obtained regarding the lease. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Act

Bill: 115-s-1706
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Food supply, safety, and labeling
Mammals
Meat
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

John Stringer Rainey Memorial Safeguard American Food Exports Act or the SAFE Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem equine (horses and other members of the equidae family) parts to be an unsafe food additive or animal drug. 
 
 The bill prohibits the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts for human consumption.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
SNAP Standard Medical Expense Deduction Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1707
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Food assistance and relief
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Medicare
Performance measurement
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

SNAP Standard Medical Expense Deduction Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow households containing an elderly or disabled member to use a standard medical expense deduction for calculating income to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits.
 
If the amount of actual costs of allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member for a month, exclusive of special diets, is equal to or greater than $35, the standard medical deduction for each month is: (1) $140 for FY2018, and (2) the preceding year's amount with a specified adjustment for inflation for FY2019 and each subsequent year. If the monthly costs are greater than the sum of the standard medical deduction and $35, the household may deduct the actual costs. 
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) may approve a standard medical deduction that is higher than the amount required by this bill. 
 
USDA must submit specified studies and reports to Congress regarding: (1) state performance in enrolling disabled and elderly individuals in SNAP and specified Medicare programs, (2) disability and food insecurity, and (3) the effectiveness of the standard medical deduction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide that certain students who are family caregivers are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Bill: 115-s-1708
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Aging
Disability and paralysis
Food assistance and relief
Higher education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to make certain students who are informal providers of in-home and community care to elderly or disabled members of the household eligible to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Targeting Child Predators Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1709
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Domestic violence and child abuse
Evidence and witnesses
Judicial review and appeals
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Targeting Child Predators Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to add new provisions with respect to a nondisclosure requirement issued in connection with an administrative subpoena in a child exploitation or abuse investigation.
 
The bill modifies the process for issuing a nondisclosure requirement in a child exploitation or abuse investigation and lengthens the period of time during which a recipient of an administrative subpoena is prohibited from disclosure. 
 
It also subjects a nondisclosure requirement to judicial review, requires the administrative subpoena to include notice of the availability of judicial review, and establishes a process for judicial review.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act

Bill: 115-s-1710
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Energy revenues and royalties
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit or repeal certain tax benefits for major integrated oil companies (certain companies with annual gross receipts over $1 billion and an average daily worldwide production of crude oil of at least 500,000 barrels), including: (1) the foreign tax credit for companies that are dual capacity taxpayers; (2) the tax deduction for income attributable to the production, refining, processing, transportation, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or primary products thereof; (3) the tax deduction for intangible drilling and development costs; (4) the percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas wells; and (5) the tax deduction for qualified tertiary injectant expenses.
 
The bill modifies the definition of &quot;major integrated oil company&quot; to include certain successors in interest that control more than 50% of the crude oil production or natural gas production of the company.
 
The bill also amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to repeal royalty relief (suspension of royalties) for: (1) natural gas production from deep wells in shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) deep water oil and gas production in the Western and Central Planning Area of the Gulf (including the portion of the Eastern Planning Area encompassing whole lease blocks lying west of 87 degrees, 30 minutes west longitude).
 
Any net savings that occur as a result of this bill must be used for reducing the federal budget deficit or the federal debt. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
HEAT Act

Bill: 115-s-1711
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental regulatory procedures
Licensing and registrations
Lighting and heating
Lighting, heating, cooling
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Heat Efficiency through Applied Technology Act or the HEAT Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish model rules and procedures for (1)interconnection and its associated costs; and (2)determining fees or rates for supplementary power, backup or standby power, maintenance power, and interruptible power supplied to facilities that operate combined heat and power technology and waste heat to power technology. (&quot;Interconnection&quot; means service to an electric consumer under which an on-site generating facility on the consumer's premises is connected to the local distribution facilities.)
 
The bill also directs the Environmental Protection Agency to create a voluntary grant program to encourage states to update state or local air permitting procedures to incorporate output-based emission standards. (&quot;Output-based emission standard&quot; means a standard that relates emissions to the electrical, thermal, or mechanical productive output of a device or process rather than the heat input of fuel burned or pollutant concentration in the exhaust.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
SIMPLE Act

Bill: 115-s-1712
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Income tax deductions
Student aid and college costs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education Act or the SIMPLE Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish and implement a process for automatically recertifying a borrowers' income to determine eligibility for a loan discharge due to permanent and total disability under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. 
 
In addition, the bill establishes a process for enrolling a delinquent borrower in federal student loan repayment in an income-driven repayment plan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in State Energy Act

Bill: 115-s-1713
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Investing in State Energy Act

 
This bill amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require the Department of Energy to distribute funds for the Weatherization Assistance Program and the state energy assistance program within 60 days of Congress making the funds available for such programs.
 
(The Weatherization Assistance Program reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency. The State Energy Program supports state energy conservation plans and energy emergency planning and response.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-29
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-534.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1715
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Marriage and family status
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 201

7

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to change provisions that refer to married couples to make such provisions equally applicable to legally married same sex couples. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Strong Families Act

Bill: 115-s-1716
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee leave
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Strong Families Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow certain employers a business-related tax credit for a specified percentage (not to exceed 25%) of the amount of wages paid to their employees during any period (not exceeding 12 weeks) in which such employees are on family and medical leave, (2) limit the allowable amount of such credit with respect to any employee to the product of the normal hourly wage rate of such employee for each hour (or fraction thereof) of actual services performed for the employer and the number of hours (or fraction thereof) for which family and medical leave is taken, and (3) terminate such credit five years after the enactment of this bill. 
 
The Government Accountability Office shall complete a study on the effectiveness of the tax credit for paid family and medical leave. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Corporate Transparency Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1717
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Currency
Department of the Treasury
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Immigration status and procedures
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public contracts and procurement
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Corporate Transparency Act of 2017 
 
This bill requires an entity that forms a corporation or limited liability company to disclose information about its beneficial owners. A beneficial owner is an individual who exercises substantial control over a corporation or limited liability company or has a substantial interest in or receives substantial economic benefits from the assets of a corporation or limited liability company. 
Specifically, if an entity applies to form a corporation or limited liability company in a state that does not require the disclosure of beneficial ownership information, then the entity must file beneficial ownership information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. 
The bill imposes a civil penalty and authorizes criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term for up to three years, or both&#8212;for providing false or fraudulent beneficial ownership information or for willfully failing to provide complete or updated beneficial ownership information. 
It directs the Department of the Treasury to require persons engaged in the business of forming (or of purchasing, selling, or transferring the public records that form) corporations or limited liability companies to establish anti-money laundering programs. 
The Government Accountability Office must study and report on: (1) the availability of beneficial ownership information for other legal entities (e.g., partnerships), and (2) the effectiveness of incorporation practices implemented under this bill.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4770)
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 115-s-1718
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Conflicts and wars
Currency
Military history
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 500,000 $1 coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. 
 
The coins shall be emblematic of the sacrifices made by millions of people of the United States 75 years ago in bringing an end to World War II. The design on each coin shall represent the World War II Victory Medal, which was awarded to all 16 million U.S. military personnel who served from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. 
 
The bill requires all sales of such coins include specified surcharges, which shall be paid by Treasury to the congressionally designated National WWII Museum to fund its educational mission of telling the story of the U.S. experience in World War II. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
U.S. OUTDOOR Act

Bill: 115-s-1719
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Government trust funds
Manufacturing
Outdoor recreation
Research and development
Solid waste and recycling
Tariffs
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

United States Optimal Use of Trade to Develop Outerwear and Outdoor Recreation Act or the U.S. OUTDOOR Act

 
 This bill amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide for the duty-free treatment of certain recreational performance outerwear.
 
The bill establishes the Sustainable Textile and Apparel Research Fund (STAR Fund). The Department of the Treasury must impose and collect, with specified exceptions, a fee of 1.5% of the appraised value of imported recreational performance outerwear and to deposit amounts collected into the STAR Fund. 
 
The Department of Commerce must make quarterly distributions from the STAR Fund to one or more appropriate organizations to conduct applied research, development, and education activities to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in clean, eco-friendly apparel, other textile and apparel products, and sewn-product design and manufacturing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
RAISE Act

Bill: 115-s-1720
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Athletes
Business investment and capital
Citizenship and naturalization
Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Department of Homeland Security
Family relationships
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Olympic games
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Research and development
U.S. and foreign investments
Visas and passports
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act or the RAISE Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to:
 
 
eliminate the diversity visa program; 
 
replace the current employment visa system with a skills-based point system; 
 
revise the worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants, including by eliminating certain family-based immigration preferences; 
 
establish a 50,000 annual limit for refugees given permanent resident status; and 
 
create a nonimmigrant visa for parents of U.S. citizen children who are at least 21 years old. 
 
 
The bill prohibits an alien from being be naturalized if his or her sponsor has not repaid the federal government for all means-tested public benefits received by the alien during the five-year period beginning on the date the alien was lawfully admitted for permanent residence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
MOMS Leave Act

Bill: 115-s-1721
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2017-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child care and development
Employee leave
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Wages and earnings
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: 

Mothers of Military Service Leave Act or the MOMS Leave Act

 
This bill provides compensation and credit for retired pay purposes (including computation of years of service for retired pay) for maternity leave taken by members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate