hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1670
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2017-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: 

Community Solar Consumer Choice Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to expand community solar options to: (1) individuals, particularly individuals that do not have regular access to onsite solar, including low- and moderate-income individuals; (2) businesses; (3) nonprofit organizations; and (4) states and local and tribal governments.
 
Community solar is a solar power plant, through which the benefits of the electricity produced is shared by electricity customers.
 
In carrying out the program, DOE must: (1) provide technical assistance to states and local and tribal governments for projects to increase community solar; (2) assist such governments in the development of new and innovative financial and business models that leverage competition in the marketplace in order to serve community solar subscribers; and (3) use national laboratories to collect and disseminate data that assists private entities in the financing of, subscription to, and operation of community solar projects.
 
The bill encourages the federal government to participate in community solar projects, including by subscribing to community solar facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
International Communications Privacy Act

Bill: 115-s-1671
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government information and archives
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: 

International Communications Privacy Act

 
This bill establishes a framework governing law enforcement access to electronic communications data, regardless of where the data is stored.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act

Bill: 115-s-1672
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Great Lakes
Income tax credits
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a 30% tax credit for investment in a qualifying offshore wind facility (an offshore facility using wind to produce electricity), and (2) direct the Department of the Treasury to establish a qualifying credit for offshore wind facilities program to consider and award certifications for investments eligible for such a credit to qualifying offshore wind facility sponsors.
 
 The total amount of megawatt capacity for offshore facilities with respect to which credits may be allocated under the program may not exceed 3,000 megawatts.
 The bill requires Treasury to review credits allocated under this bill periodically and authorizes Treasury to make additional allocations and reallocations of such credits upon determining that: (1) the limit on the total amount of megawatt capacity for offshore facilities with respect to which credits may be allocated under the program has not been attained, or (2) scheduled placed-in-service dates of previously certified facilities have been significantly delayed and the applicant for certification will not meet the required timeline.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Pay What You Owe Before You Go Act

Bill: 115-s-1673
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Corporate finance and management
Foreign and international corporations
Taxation of foreign income

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Pay What You Owe Before You Go Act

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the recapture in subpart F income (i.e., income of a controlled foreign corporation earned outside the United States which is not tax deferred) of the accumulated deferred foreign income of such corporation (i.e., the undistributed earnings of the controlled foreign corporation over its undistributed U.S. earnings) for its last taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
School Building Improvement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1674
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Building construction
Buy American requirements
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Indian social and development programs
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes additional grant funding and tax-favored bonds to be used for the repair, renovation, and construction of public elementary and secondary schools. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4621-4622)
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Loan Servicer Performance Accountability Act

Bill: 115-s-1675
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Department of Education
Educational technology and distance education
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Student Loan Servicer Performance Accountability Act

 
This bill cancels the solicitations of the Department of Education for a single federal student loan servicer and instead requires competition in student loan servicing. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
B-CROP Act

Bill: 115-s-1676
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act or the B-CROP Act 

 
This bill amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to include grants in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides loans and loan guarantees for broadband telecommunications services in rural areas. 
 
In making grants, loans, or loan guarantees under the program, USDA must give the highest priority to applicants that offer to provide broadband service to the greatest proportion of unserved rural households or rural households that do not have the minimum acceptable level of residential broadband service. 
 
USDA must then give priority to projects to serve rural communities that: 
 
 
have fewer than 10,000 permanent residents, 
 
are experiencing out-migration, 
 
have a high percentage of low-income residents, and 
 
are isolated from other significant population centers. 

 
A grant may not exceed 50% of the development cost of the project. USDA may increase the limit to 75% for projects that serve a remote or low-income area that does not have access to broadband service from any provider. 
 
USDA must: (1) provide technical assistance and training to entities that are eligible for the loans, loan guarantees, or grants; and (2) use a specified portion of the appropriations provided for the program for this purpose. 
 
The bill sets forth reporting requirements for recipients of the grants, loans, or loan guarantees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to improve access to grants and loans for evidence-based substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-1677
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Educational technology and distance education
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 
This bill amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to require the Department of Agriculture to make funding available for substance use disorder treatment services from appropriations made for facilities and systems to provide telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to improve access to grants and loans for evidence-based substance use disorder treatment services in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-1678
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 
This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, with respect to the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize loans and grants for substance use disorder treatment services.
 
(Under current law, the program provides funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.) The bill requires USDA to prioritize grants and loans for entities: (1) to develop facilities to provide substance use disorder (including opioid substance use disorder) prevention, treatment, or recovery services; and (2) that employ staff with appropriate expertise and training to identify and treat individuals with substance use disorders. 
 
An entity that receives funds pursuant to this bill may use the funds for the development of telemedicine facilities and systems to provide telemedicine for substance use disorder treatment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign Agent Lobbying Transparency Enforcement Act

Bill: 115-s-1679
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Foreign Agent Lobbying Transparency Enforcement Act

 
This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA) to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to impose graduated civil fines for multiple offenses under FARA by an individual who is an agent of a foreign principal. 
 
The bill makes it unlawful for any such person within the United States who is required to register under FARA to transmit or cause to be transmitted in the U.S. mail, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, informational materials for or in the interests of such foreign principal without filing with DOJ: (1) the name of each original recipient of the materials, and (2) the original date on which the materials will be distributed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Food Recovery Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1680
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural education
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Alternative and renewable resources
Charitable contributions
Civil actions and liability
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Agriculture
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Livestock
Marketing and advertising
Meat
Public contracts and procurement
Retail and wholesale trades
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Solid waste and recycling
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 

Food Recovery Act of 2017

 
This bill provides funding and establishes requirements to reduce food waste and standardize date labeling on food. 
 
The bill authorizes grants or loans for: 
 
 
 raising awareness about wasted food and food recovery efforts to reduce the quantity of wasted food;
 
 reducing food waste at schools and farms; and 
 
reducing food waste in accordance with the Food Recovery Hierarchy of the Environmental Protection Agency, including for a state organic waste reduction plan, food waste management infrastructure, and certain composting or anaerobic digestion food waste-to-energy projects. 
 
 
The bill provides funds for: (1) state storage and distribution costs under the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and (2) national media campaigns to decrease food waste.
 
The bill also: 
 
 
establishes a Food Recovery Liaison within the Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
 
 specifies that composting is eligible for support under USDA's conservation programs,
 
expands the liability protections for the donation of food, and 
 
requires companies that receive federal food service contracts to donate surplus food to nonprofit organizations that assist food-insecure people. 
 
 

 The bill requires date labels on food packaging to include the phrases &quot;best if used by&quot; to indicate food quality and &quot;use by&quot; to warn of food that may be unsafe to eat after a specified date. 
 
Labelers may include a quality date on packaging, but must include a safety date on ready-to-eat products. No one may prohibit the sale, donation, or use of a product based on passage of the quality date of the product. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require persons who undertake Federally funded research and development of drugs to enter into reasonable pricing agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Bill: 115-s-1681
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2017-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Inflation and prices
Intellectual property
Medical research
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: 
This bill prohibits federal agencies and nonprofit entities that conduct federally funded health care research from providing a patent for a drug based on such research until the entity receiving the patent enters into a reasonable pricing agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
AIRWAVES Act

Bill: 115-s-1682
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Infrastructure development
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum Act or the AIRWAVES Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to complete auctions during each of the next three calendar years that will grant new broadcast licenses for specified frequency spectrum bands.
 
The FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration are directed to identify frequencies in specified spectrum bands that may be utilized for: (1) non-federal unlicensed use; and (2) commercial licensed use.
 
The FCC must allocate 10% of proceeds from each of the spectrum band auctions specified in the bill to expand wireless infrastructure in rural areas that are underserved or unserved. 
 
The FCC shall conduct a study on how unlicensed frequency spectrum bands can be utilized for: (1) the provision of healthcare in rural areas, (2) distance learning, and (3) facilitating innovations in agriculture.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act

Bill: 115-s-1683
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional officers and employees
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal officials
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 with respect to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to: (1) reduce the number of members of the FEC from eight to five, (2) remove the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House as ex officio members, and (3) permit no more than two members to be affiliated with the same political party. A majority of the FEC members serving at the time shall constitute a quorum, except that three shall constitute a quorum if there are only four members serving.
 
A Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel shall recommend to the President individuals for nomination to the FEC.
 
The President shall appoint the FEC Chair, subject to Senate confirmation as a member of the FEC.
 
The powers of the FEC are revised and distributed between the chair and the other FEC members.
 
Persons who submit written comments regarding requests for advisory opinions must be given an opportunity to appear at FEC hearings on such requests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1684
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2017 

 
This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish the position of Science Laureate of the United States to honor the service of scientists. 
 
 The NSF shall appoint a Science Laureate from three individuals to be nominated each year by the National Academy of Sciences on the basis of merit, particularly the ability to foster public awareness and interest in science and to provide ongoing significant scientific contributions. 
 
Each Science Laureate shall engage the public to increase public awareness about science and is encouraged to continue his or her scientific work. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Score Competition Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1685
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Credit Score Competition Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to allow the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), when determining whether to purchase a residential mortgage, to consider a borrower's credit score only if certain procedural requirements are met with respect to the validation and approval of credit-scoring models.
 
The Federal Housing Finance Agency may, by regulation, establish standards and criteria for processes used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to validate and approve credit-scoring models in accordance with the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
RED SNAPPER Act

Bill: 115-s-1686
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2017-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Animal and plant health
Congressional oversight
Fishes
Florida
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Gulf of Mexico
Hunting and fishing
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mississippi
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: 

Regionally Empowered Decision-making for Snapper, Noting the Angling Public and the Preservation of an Exceptional Resource Act or the RED SNAPPER Act

 
This bill requires any fishery management plan or regulation for red snapper fisheries that is submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to contain conservation and management measures that establish separate catch limits.
 
The bill gives Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas (Gulf states) exclusive authority through FY2024 to establish the timing and duration of the fishing season for private recreational fishing of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico in the extended red snapper management zone of each Gulf state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate