hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To amend the Small Business Act to clarify the responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-1641
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2017-03-20 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Economic development
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Small Business Administration
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: 
This bill amends the Small Business Act to declare that the exclusive duties of a Business Opportunity Specialist reporting to the senior official (or designee) appointed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) with certain SBA loan responsibilities, including the procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program, shall be to implement specified SBA loan programs, and complete other duties related to contracting programs.
 
Such duties shall include: 
 
 
performing specified functions with respect to small business concerns eligible to receive federal contracts and subcontracts;
 
reviewing and monitoring compliance with mentor-protege agreements;
 
representing the interests of the SBA and small business concerns in the award, modification, and administration of contracts and subcontracts awarded pursuant to the Act; and
 
reporting fraud or abuse.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Introduced in House
Responsibly Paying Our Nation's Bills Act

Bill: 115-hr-1642
Sponsor: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2017-03-20 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: 

Responsibly Paying Our Nation's Bills Act 

 
 This bill suspends the public debt limit until September 30, 2018. On September 30, 2018, the debt limit is increased to accommodate obligations issued during the suspension period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Introduced in House
FEAA

Bill: 115-hr-1643
Sponsor: Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-20 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Employee performance
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Merit Systems Protection Board

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: 

Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2017 or FEAA

 
This bill allows federal agencies, under Office of Personnel Management regulations, to remove certain employees from civil service or to reduce their grade or pay.
 
An employee may appeal within 7 days to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which must refer the case to an administrative judge to expedite a final decision not later than 45 days after the MSPB receives the appeal. 
 
If the administrative judge cannot issue a decision within 45 days, the removal or reduction becomes final. The MSPB must explain to Congress why a decision was not issued within the 45 day period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Introduced in House
Certainty in Enforcement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1646
Sponsor: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-7]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Criminal justice information and records
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Certainty in Enforcement Act of
 
2017

 
This bill amends equal employment opportunity requirements under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to deem an employer's, labor organization's, employment agency's, or joint labor management committee's consideration or use of credit or criminal records or information, as mandated by federal, state, or local law, to be job related and consistent with business necessity. 
 
The use of credit or criminal records shall not be the basis of liability under any theory of disparate impact. (Currently, an unlawful employment practice based on disparate impact is established if a complaining party demonstrates that a respondent uses a particular employment practice that causes a disparate impact on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and the respondent fails to demonstrate that the challenged practice is job related for the position in question and consistent with business necessity.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Ellie's Law

Bill: 115-hr-1648
Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Ellie Helton, Lisa Colagrossi, Teresa Anne Lawrence, and Jennifer Sedney Focused Research Act or Ellie's Law

 This bill authorizes appropriations for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to conduct or support research on unruptured brain aneurysms in a patient population diversified by age, sex, and race.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act

Bill: 115-hr-1650
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Domestic violence and child abuse
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act

 
This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program through which each participating state or Indian tribe: (1) adopts the uniform, research-based home study methodology developed by HHS for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents; and (2) provides data gathered through operation of the program to HHS, as HHS may require for purposes of the national database established by this bill. 
 
HHS shall: (1) make grants to states and Indian tribes to enable and encourage them to establish demonstration programs, (2) establish a secure national database of home study reports, and (3) contract with an independent entity to carry out a periodic evaluation of the home study methodology developed by HHS and the demonstration programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
National Nurse Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1651
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health promotion and preventive care
Nursing
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

National Nurse Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to designate the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as the National Nurse for Public Health.
 
The duties of this position include: (1) providing leadership and coordination of Public Health Service nursing professional affairs for the Office of the Surgeon General and other agencies of the Public Health Service, (2) conducting outreach and education, and (3) providing guidance and leadership for activities that will increase public safety and emergency preparedness. 
 
The National Nurse for Public Health must: (1) participate in identification of national health priorities, (2) encourage volunteerism of nurses and strengthen the relationship between government agencies and health-related national organizations, and (3) promote the dissemination of evidence-based practice in educating the public on health promotion and disease prevention activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1652
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Consumer affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Marketing and advertising

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to categorize certain hearing aids as over-the-counter hearing aids and issue regulations regarding those hearing aids. The regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids must: (1) provide reasonable assurances of safety and efficacy; (2) establish output limits and labeling requirements; and (3) describe requirements for the sale of hearing aids in-person, by mail, or online, without a prescription.
 
State and local governments may not establish or continue in effect requirements specifically applicable to hearing products that are not identical to FDA requirements and that restrict or interfere with the servicing or sale of over-the-counter hearing aids.
 
The FDA must update and finalize its draft guidance on hearing products. The guidance must clarify which products are medical devices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Drinking Water Affordability Act

Bill: 115-hr-1653
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
State and local finance
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Drinking Water Affordability Act

 
This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to revise requirements concerning national primary drinking water regulations, including by:
 
 
removing a requirement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintain, or provide greater, protection of human health when revising those regulations;
 
extending the repayment schedule for loans from the drinking water state revolving funds (SRFs); 
 
authorizing states to protect public drinking water source areas;
 
removing federal reporting requirements if state or local requirements are not less stringent than federal requirements; and 
 
requiring the EPA to conduct a review on best practices for streamlining the application process for public water systems to receive loans or loan guarantees from an SRF as well as best practices for administering SRFs efficiently.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Capitalizing on American Methane Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1655
Sponsor: Rep. Meehan, Patrick [R-PA-7]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Income tax credits
Motor fuels
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Capitalizing on American Methane Act of 201

7

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) include in the tax credit for investment in a qualifying gasification project any qualified methane conversion technology, and (2) allow an alternative fuel excise tax credit for liquid fuel produced through qualified methane conversion technology at a facility the construction of which begins before October 1, 2027. The bill defines &quot;qualified methane conversion technology&quot; as a process for the molecular conversion of a fuel consisting principally of methane into hydrocarbons and the use of such hydrocarbons to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum present in motor vehicle fuel and for the production of chemicals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Higher Education Loan Payments for Students and Parents Act

Bill: 115-hr-1656
Sponsor: Rep. Meehan, Patrick [R-PA-7]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employee benefits and pensions
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Higher Education Loan Payments for Students and Parents Act or the HELP for Students and Parents Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance programs to exclude from the gross income of an employee: (1) employer payments of principal or interest on loans for higher education expenses incurred by an employee, and (2) any qualified dependent 529 contributions made by the employer. (Under current law, the maximum exclusion for educational assistance programs is $5,250 per year.)
 
A &quot;qualified dependent 529 contribution&quot; is any amount contributed by an employer to a qualified tuition program the designated beneficiary of which is an employee's child who: (1) has not attained the age of 19 at the time of the contribution, or (2) is a student who has not attained the age of 24 at the time of the contribution. 
 
The bill also allows a business tax credit for employer-provided higher education assistance, including: (1) 50% of the student loan repayment expenditures of the taxpayer for the year, and (2) 50% of the qualified dependent 529 contributions made by the taxpayer for the year. The amount taken into account for each expenditure with respect to any employee for any taxable year may not exceed $5,250.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Workforce Training Enhancement Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1657
Sponsor: Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employment and training programs
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Trade adjustment assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Workforce Training Enhancement Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Trade Act of 1974, with respect to trade adjustment assistance (TAA) for training to adversely affected workers, to authorize a state to use certain funds distributed by the Department of Labor to reimburse the costs of providing training to an adversely affected worker before the worker is approved for training under the Act if those costs have been paid by:
 
 
the state from state funds,
 
the state or local workforce development areas within the state from funds available for workforce investment activities and providers under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or
 
another entity eligible in the state under the national dislocated worker grants program from funds available for that program.
 
 
The use of funds under this Act shall be conditioned, however, on the worker's coverage by a certification for TAA eligibility for training meeting approval requirements which commenced after the date on which the total or partial separations of the group of workers covered by the certification for eligibility began or threatened to begin.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

Bill: 115-hr-1658
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: District of Columbia
Homeland security
Intergovernmental relations
Military command and structure
National Guard and reserves
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act 
 
This bill amends the District of Columbia Code to make the Mayor of the District of Columbia (under current law, the President of the United States) the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the District. 
Notwithstanding the authority of the Mayor of the District of Columbia as such Commander-in-Chief, the President shall retain control over units and members of the District of Columbia National Guard to conduct necessary and appropriate homeland defense activities.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E358)
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act

Bill: 115-hr-1659
Sponsor: Rep. Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL-6]
Introduced: 2017-03-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: 

Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual the discharge of student loans or private education loans due to the death or disability of the student.
 
The bill also amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to discharge the liability on loans that parents received on behalf of a student who: (1) has become permanently and totally disabled, or (2) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or is expected to last continuously for at least 60 months. (Under current law, ED is required to discharge the loans to parents if the student dies.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-21
text: Introduced in House