hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Food Donation Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2787
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Charitable contributions
Civil actions and liability
Department of Agriculture
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: 

Food Donation Act of 201

8

 
This bill amends the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to expand the liability protections for the donation of food. 
 
The bill expands the liability protections to include donations of an apparently fit grocery product or apparently wholesome food: 
 
 
 that is mislabeled in a manner that is not related to safety and safety-related labeling standards and regulations; 
 
 meets safety and safety-related labeling standards and regulations but is past the date label; 
 
 for which the recipient is charged a &quot;good Samaritan reduced&quot; price that is no greater than the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the product; or 
 
 that is donated directly to a needy individual by a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education. 
 
 
The Department of Agriculture must: (1) issue regulations with respect to the safety and safety-related labeling standards of apparently wholesome food and an apparently fit grocery product under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, (2) promote awareness of food donation under the Act, and (3) issue guidance with respect to the amendments made by this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to repeal the Act entitled "An Act to confer jurisdiction on the State of North Dakota over offenses committed by or against Indians on the Devils Lake Indian Reservation".

Bill: 115-s-2788
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2018-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Federal-Indian relations
Jurisdiction and venue
North Dakota
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: 
This bill repeals the Act titled &quot;An Act to confer jurisdiction on the State of North Dakota over offenses committed by or against Indians on the Devils Lake Indian Reservation.&quot;


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-11-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2018-11-14
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-435.
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Substance Abuse Prevention Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2789
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: 

Substance Abuse Prevention Act of 2018

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2022 various health and law enforcement programs related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and the reduction of demand for illicit drugs.
 
The bill reauthorizes, among others, the following:
 
 
the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
 
the Drug-Free Communities Program,
 
the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and
 
the Drug Courts Program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-06-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 475.
action_date: 2018-06-19
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-06-19
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-05-24
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2487-2490)
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Wood Energy Innovation Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2790
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2018-04-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Energy
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Forests, forestry, trees
Housing and community development funding

Summary:
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: 

Community Wood Energy Innovation Act of 2018 

 
This bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to reauthorize and modify the Forest Service Community Wood Energy Program. Under current law, the program provides grants for: (1) state and local governments to develop community wood energy plans or acquire or upgrade community wood energy systems, and (2) for biomass consumer cooperatives. 
 
The bill makes private entities eligible for grants and modifies the purposes for which the grants may be used. The grants may be used to install a community wood energy system or to build an innovative wood product facility in an area in which the market for low-value, low-quality wood used by the community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility has declined. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2018-04-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Healthier Students for Stronger Campuses Act

Bill: 115-s-2791
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2018-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Mental health
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

Healthier Students for Stronger Campuses Act

 
This bill replaces a grant program for reducing and eliminating the illegal use of drugs and alcohol on college campuses with a grant program for preventing and addressing the effects of substance use on college campuses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modernize training programs at aviation maintenance technician schools.

Bill: 115-s-2792
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue final regulations to modernize training programs at certain aviation maintenance technician schools. 
 
 The FAA shall ensure such training programs are revised and updated in correlation with aviation maintenance technician airman certification standards as necessary to reflect current technology and maintenance practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Afghan Allies Protection Amendments Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2793
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2018-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Congressional oversight
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Military operations and strategy
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

Afghan Allies Protection Amendments Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 to authorize, in addition to any unused visas in prior fiscal years, up to 4,000 visas in FY2019 for the Afghan special immigrant visa program. That program provides special immigrant visa status for Afghans (and certain family members) who are threatened because of their work as translators, interpreters, or support staff for the U.S. government or its Armed Forces in Afghanistan. 
 
The bill also requires that the period of employment for Afghans eligible for the special visa end by December 31, 2021, and that Afghans seeking special immigrant status must apply to the Chief of Mission in Afghanistan by that same date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect and Serve Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2794
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2018-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

Protect and Serve Act of 2018

 
This bill amends the federal criminal code to add a new section that imposes criminal penalties on a person who knowingly causes (or attempts to cause) bodily injury to a person based on the actual or perceived status of the person as a law enforcement officer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2796
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2018-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative treatments
Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Health information and medical records
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct and support research on the efficacy and safety of certain forms of cannabis and cannabis delivery for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system diagnosed with conditions such as chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder.
 
Collected data shall be preserved in a manner that facilitates further research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
White Sands National Park Establishment Act

Bill: 115-s-2797
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2018-05-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Military facilities and property
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Monuments and memorials
New Mexico
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

White Sands National Park Establishment Act

 
This bill establishes the White Sands National Park in New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System to protect, preserve, and restore the park's resources and recreational values and to enhance visitor experiences.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Defense Officer Personnel Pay Reform Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2798
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 
 
Defense Officer Personnel Pay Reform Act of 2018

 
 This bill directs the Department of Defense to submit to Congress a proposal for a pay table for commissioned officers of the Armed Forces that uses steps in grade for each pay grade based on time of service within such pay grade rather than on time of service in the Armed Forces as a whole.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program Oversight Improvement Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2799
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 

Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program Oversight Improvement Act of 2018

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to submit to the congressional armed services committees an annual report on the participation of members of the Armed Forces in the Transition Assistance Program during the preceding year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Promotion Accountability Act

Bill: 115-s-2801
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 

National Guard Promotion Accountability Act

 
This bill permits the date of promotion of a commmissioned officer of the National Guard to be backdated, after federal recognition is granted, to the date such officer's promotion was published by the state.
 
The bill requires the Departments of the Army and the Air Force to report to Congress on delay in publication of scrolls indicating promotions of commissioned National Guard officers.
 
The Departments of the Army and of the Air Force shall each undertake a comprehensive review of their policies and procedures for the federal recognition promotions of Army or Air Force National Guard commissioned officers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2802
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax exclusion
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 

Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 201

8

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax exclusion for distributions from health flexible spending arrangements provided under a cafeteria plan, to: (1) increase the annual limit on employee salary reduction contributions to $5,000, with an additional $500 for each additional employee dependent above two dependents that has not been taken into account by another person for the year; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation after 2018; and (3) allow a carryforward into the next year for unused amounts in such plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Fossil Energy Utilization, Enhancement, and Leadership Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2803
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy research
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Metals
Oil and gas
Public contracts and procurement
Research and development
Strategic materials and reserves
Technology assessment
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 

Fossil Energy Utilization, Enhancement, and Leadership Act of 2018

 
This bill addresses carbon capture, utilization, and storage, including by requiring the Department of Energy to:
 
 
establish a program to develop technologies that will significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, costs, and environmental performance of coal use;
 
implement a research, development, and demonstration carbon utilization program;
 
assess opportunities relating to commercializing carbon dioxide;
 
convene an interagency task force to assess the potential for a national system of carbon dioxide pipelines; and
 
carry out a program to develop advanced separation technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and minerals from coal.
 


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: 2018-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Cultivating Resources, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Sustainability (CROPS) for Indian Country Act

Bill: 115-s-2804
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2018-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Agricultural education
Agricultural insurance
Agricultural trade
Education programs funding
Federal-Indian relations
Food assistance and relief
Forests, forestry, trees
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Housing and Community Development
Minority education
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: 

Cultivating Resources, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Sustainability (CROPS) for Indian Country Act

 
This bill provides support to Indian tribes on matters relating to agriculture and forestry, including by establishing a demonstration project under which the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may enter into self-determination contracts with Indian tribes to plan, conduct, or administer functions, services, or activities of tribal forest protection or food distribution programs of USDA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-16
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate
START Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2805
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2018-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: 

Sexual Trauma Response and Treatment Act of 2018 or the START Act of 2018

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using intensive outpatient programs to treat members of the Armed Forces suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from military sexual trauma, including treatment for substance abuse, depression, and other issues related to such conditions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2806
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2018-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: 

National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Act of 2018

 
This bill establishes, as an independent commission within the executive branch, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence to review the advances in artificial intelligence, related machine learning developments, and associated technologies. Such commission shall consider the methods and means necessary to advance the development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and associated technologies by the United States in order to comprehensively address national and economic security needs, including economic risk, and any other associated issues. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act

Bill: 115-s-2807
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]
Introduced: 2018-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health facilities and institutions
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Bonus Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress annually on the performance awards and bonuses presented to Regional Office Directors of the VA, Directors of Medical Centers of the VA, and Directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks.
 
Each report shall include:
 
 
the amount of each award or bonus,
 
the job title of each recipient, and
 
the location where each recipient individual works.
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
TOOLS to Rehabilitate Communities Act

Bill: 115-s-2808
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2018-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Housing and community development funding
Public-private cooperation
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: 

Tools On Our Local Streets to Rehabilitate Communities Act or the TOOLS to Rehabilitate Communities Act

 
This bill expands eligible activities under the Community Development Block Grant program to include creating or strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide resources to assist with authorized development or revitalization projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Workplace Democracy Act

Bill: 115-s-2810
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2018-05-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal preemption
Government information and archives
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: 

Workplace Democracy Act

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act and related labor laws to preserve workers' rights to join labor organizations and engage in collective bargaining. Specifically, it
 
 
 prohibits employers from classifying employees as independent contractors or supervisors to avoid employee participation in union activities;
 
allows the National Labor Relation Board to certify a union, without a secret election, if it receives the consent of the majority of eligible workers; 
 
requires employers to begin negotiating with a new union within 10 days of its certification; 
 
prohibits coercion of employees to to participate in campaign activities unrelated to their job duties;
 
 requires employers to make disclosures of anti-labor organization activities; and 
 
repeals provisions allowing states to prevent labor organizations from collecting dues from nonunion workers who benefit from union representation (right to work laws.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2018-05-09
text: Introduced in Senate