hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To prohibit any hiring freeze from affecting the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

Bill: 115-hr-1561
Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Department of Health and Human Services
Employee hiring
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: This bill exempts the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from any action by the President to prevent federal agencies from creating or filling civilian employee positions.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
SAFE Act

Bill: 115-hr-1562
Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional elections
Disability and paralysis
Election Assistance Commission
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

Secure America's Future Elections Act or the SAFE Act

 
This bill directs the National Protection and Programs Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to designate the infrastructure used to administer elections as critical infrastructure.
 
The bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to:
 
 
funding for states to upgrade the security of the information technology and cybersecurity elements of voting systems, voter registration lists, and voter registration processes;
 
 voting systems and cybersecurity standards;
 
paper ballot and manual counting requirements;
 
accessibility to voting systems and ballot verification for individuals with disabilities;
 
durability and readability requirements for ballots; and
 
mandatory manual audits of results of elections.
 
 
The National Science Foundation shall make grants to study, test, and develop accessible paper ballot voting mechanisms and best practices to enhance the accessibility of paper ballot voting for voters with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy.
 
The National Institute for Standards and Technology shall establish guidance for states that wish to establish alternative audit mechanisms.
 
The Election Assistance Commission is made permanent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1563
Sponsor: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Environmental health
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

Mary Jo Lawyer Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to develop a patient registry to collect data on mesothelioma.
 
The agency must use the registry to:
 
 
 enhance and expand infrastructure and activities for tracking the epidemiology of mesothelioma patients; 
 
 collect, consolidate, and report on health information on mesothelioma patients; 
 
 describe the incidence and prevalence of mesothelioma in the United States; 
 
 facilitate research on mesothelioma; 
 
 examine factors that may be associated with mesothelioma; 
 
outline key demographic factors associated with mesothelioma; and 
 
 make information available to the public to facilitate and enhance research on, and the prevention and treatment of, mesothelioma.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
VA Beneficiary Travel Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1564
Sponsor: Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Transportation costs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

VA Beneficiary Travel Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 to provide that payments for travel and incidental expenses related to disability examinations by non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians for veterans applying for VA benefits shall be made from amounts available to the VA for payment of compensation and pensions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-27
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2017-04-27
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Subcommittee on Health Discharged.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act

Bill: 115-hr-1565
Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Federal district courts
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health personnel
Jurisdiction and venue
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act

 
This bill establishes a framework for health care liability lawsuits to undergo review by independent medical review panels if health care professionals (practicing physicians or their agents or employees), providers, or organizations allege adherence to clinical practice guidelines.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must publish clinical practice guidelines provided and maintained by national or state medical societies or medical specialty societies designated by HHS. HHS must ensure that guidelines are developed in accordance with certain standards, including standards related to transparency, the composition of the panel, and the review of existing evidence. Professional organizations and participants in guideline development may not be held liable for injury allegedly caused by adherence to a guideline to which they contributed.
 
The bill does not preempt: (1) any state or federal law that imposes greater procedural or substantive protections for health care providers and health care organizations from liability, loss, or damages than those provided under this bill; (2) any state or federal law that creates a cause of action; or (3) any defenses otherwise available. 
 
The bill gives district courts jurisdiction over health care liability actions against health care professionals, providers, or organizations practicing within clinical practice guidelines. Defendants may remove health care liability actions brought in a state court to a district court. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
NO HATE Act

Bill: 115-hr-1566
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Hate crimes
Law enforcement administration and funding
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2017 or the NO HATE Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue grants to states and local governments to assist in implementing the National Incident-Based Reporting System, including training employees in identifying hate crimes. A state or local government receiving such funding must provide DOJ, through the Uniform Crime Reporting system, information pertaining to hate crimes committed in that jurisdiction. A state or local government failing to provide the required data must repay the grants.
 
The bill directs DOJ to issue grants to states to create hate crime reporting hotlines.
 
The bill creates a cause of action for: (1) a victim of a crime motivated by actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin; and (2) a victim of a crime motivated by actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, occurring in the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States or affecting interstate commerce. Under both civil actions, the victims must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the crime was based on one of the classifications listed. A criminal prosecution need not be brought before a civil action can be filed.
 
A court imposing a penalty for a violation of the federal hate crime statute may order the defendant to participate in education classes or community service related to the community harmed by the defendant's offense as part of his or her supervised release.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Transportation and Logistics Hiring Reform Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1568
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Evidence and witnesses
Licensing and registrations
Motor carriers
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

Transportation and Logistics Hiring Reform Act

 of 2017

 
This bill establishes a national hiring standard for motor carriers.
 
The bill defines an"entity" as a person acting as:
 
 
a shipper (excluding an individual shipper) or a consignee; 
 
 a broker, a freight forwarder, or a household goods freight forwarder;
 
 a non-vessel-operating common carrier, an ocean freight forwarder, or an ocean transportation intermediary;
 
 an indirect air carrier authorized to operate under a Standard Security Program approved by the Transportation Security Administration; 
 
 a federally licensed customs broker;
 
an interchange motor carrier; or
 
 a warehouse. 

 
Before tendering a shipment, but not more than 35 days before the pickup of a shipment by the hired motor carrier, an entity shall verify that the carrier:
 
 
 is registered with and authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to operate as a motor carrier or household goods motor carrier, 
 
 has the minimum insurance coverage required by federal law, and 
 
 does not have an unsatisfactory safety fitness rating issued by the FMCSA and has not otherwise been ordered to discontinue operations.
 
 
Only evidence of an entity's compliance with this bill may be admitted as evidence in a civil action for damages resulting from a case or proceeding in which it is alleged that such entity's selection or retention of a motor carrier was negligent. No other motor carrier data created or maintained by the FMCSA, including safety measurement system data or analysis of such data, may be admitted in such case or proceeding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
American Innovation Act

Bill: 115-hr-1569
Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Defense spending
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Energy research
Executive agency funding and structure
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

American Innovation Act 

 
This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to require certain adjustments to discretionary spending limits in FY2017-FY2021 to accommodate increases in appropriations for agencies that perform basic science research. 
 
Adjustments are required for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science, Department of Defense science and technology programs, National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientific and Technical Research and Services, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate. 
 
The bill also requires annual appropriations for each of the programs and agencies referenced in this bill to be at least the amount appropriated in FY2016. 
 
The bill exempts appropriations provided pursuant to this bill from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
action_date: 2017-04-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and 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: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and 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: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
African Descent Affairs Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1570
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Department of State
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

African Descent Affairs Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to direct the Department of State to establish within an Office of Global African Descent Affairs, to be headed by the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs.
 
Office functions shall include: 
 
 
advising the Secretary of State and directing policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and the advancement of people of African descent internationally; 
 
developing and managing the Fund for African Descent Affairs to invest in solutions to combat racial discrimination and create economic and other opportunities for people of African descent internationally; 
 
 directing U.S. government resources to respond to needs for protection, integration, resettlement, and empowerment of people of African descent in U.S. policies and international programs; and 
 
compiling an annual report on U.S. government activities relating to people of African descent. 
 
 
The bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the annual human rights report for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East a description of the status and the people of African descent in each country. 
 
The U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) shall appoint a Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Global African Descent Affairs who shall: (1) advise the AID Administrator and direct policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and advancement of people of African descent internationally; and (2) develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign assistance for people of African descent. 
 
The Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs shall develop or update annually (for 10 years after the initial report) a U.S. global strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E334-335)
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Fire Department Proper Response and Equipment Prioritization Act

Bill: 115-hr-1571
Sponsor: Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Accidents
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Railroads
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

Fire Department Proper Response and Equipment Prioritization Act

 
This bill amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in making grants to fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations, and state fire training academies, to give high priority consideration to grants that provide for planning, training, and equipment to firefighters for crude oil-by-rail and ethanol-by-rail derailment and incident response.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-04-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
Ratepayer Fairness Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1572
Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-8]
Introduced: 2017-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: 

Ratepayer Fairness Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require a state regulatory authority and a nonregulated electric utility, to the extent that they allow electric utility rates to include charges that subsidize customer-side technology, to consider whether that subsidy would:
 
 
result in benefits predominately enjoyed by only the users of the customer-side technology;
 
shift costs of a customer-side technology to electricity consumers who do not use it, particularly in cases in which disparate economic or resource conditions exist among the electricity consumers cross-subsidizing the customer-side technology;
 
negatively affect resource utilization, fuel diversity, grid reliability, or grid security;
 
give any unfair competitive advantage to market the customer-side technology, including an analysis of whether a state regulatory authority has uncovered fraudulent customer-side technology marketing practices; and
 
be necessary to fulfill an obligation to serve electric consumers. 
 
 
The bill sets deadlines within which the regulatory authority or electric utility must set a hearing date to consider and subsequently determine the subsidization of customer-side technology. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Introduced in House