hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Military Retirement Credit for Distance Learning Act

Bill: 115-s-1813
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Military Retirement Credit for Distance Learning Act

 
This bill allows a credit of up to 10 points toward computation of years of service for retired pay upon successful completion of a course of instruction using electronically delivered methodologies to accomplish military education or training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Middle STEP Act

Bill: 115-s-1814
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Public-private cooperation
Rural conditions and development
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Middle School Technical Education Program Act or the Middle School STEP Act 

 
 This bill directs the Department of Education to:
 
 
 create a pilot program for career and technical education exploration programs; and 
 
award grants to eligible partnerships (local educational agencies, area career and technical education schools, educational service agencies, and other organizations) to develop a middle school career and technical education exploration program that transition to career and technical education programs of study.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5746)
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1815
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Marketing and advertising
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act of 2017

 
This bill prohibits data brokers from obtaining or causing to be disclosed personal information relating to any person by making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, including by providing any document that the broker knows or should know to: (1) be forged, counterfeit, lost, stolen, or fraudulently obtained; or (2) contain a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation.
 
The bill defines "data broker" as a commercial entity that collects, assembles, or maintains personal information concerning an individual who is not a customer or an employee of that entity in order to sell or provide third-party access to the information. 
 
Data brokers must establish procedures to ensure the accuracy of the personal information they collect, assemble, or maintain, and provide individuals a cost-free means to review their personal or identifying information.
 
 Individuals may dispute the accuracy of their personal information with a written request that the data broker make a correction.
 

 

 
 Data brokers must provide individuals with a reasonable means of expressing a preference to exclude their information from being used, shared, or sold for marketing purposes.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom from Equifax Exploitation Act

Bill: 115-s-1816
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Marketing and advertising

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Freedom from Equifax Exploitation Act

 
This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to revise fraud alert provisions required of consumer reporting agencies. A fraud alert must be placed in a consumer's file upon request if the consumer suspects harm from an unauthorized disclosure. The time period for fraud alerts is extended from 90 days to 1 year. The bill also revises provisions relating to 7-year renewable fraud alerts in cases of identity theft. 
 
The bill establishes a credit freeze process. A consumer reporting agency must place a free credit freeze on the consumer's file upon a consumer's request, prohibiting a consumer reporting agency from releasing any credit information without the consumer's permission. Consumer reporting agencies must provide procedures for temporarily and permanently lifting the freeze at no charge to the consumer. Consumers are allowed a free credit report when requesting a credit freeze. While the file is subject to a freeze, a consumer reporting agency is prohibited from including the consumer in lists provided to third parties for credit or insurance offers.
 
A consumer reporting agency must provide on the Internet policies and procedures for consumers to: (1) place, temporarily lift, or fully remove a credit freeze; and (2) make required statements for fraud alerts or credit freezes. 
 
The bill requires consumer reporting agencies to issue a refund of fees to any consumer who requested a credit freeze beginning September 7, 2017, through the day before enactment of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-17
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-132.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1817
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 201

7

 
 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise the tax exclusion for distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes to: (1) eliminate the $100,000 cap on such exclusion; (2) permit tax-free distributions from IRAs to a split-interest entity (i.e., a charitable remainder annuity or unitrust, a pooled income fund, and a charitable gift annuity); and (3) allow distributions to a split-interest entity to be made when the account beneficiary attains age 59-1/2 (otherwise, age 70-1/2 for IRA distributions to a charitable organization). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Health Plans Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1818
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Employee benefits and pensions
Federal preemption
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Licensing and registrations
Self-employed
Small business
State and local government operations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Small Business Health Plans Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for the establishment and governance of small business health plans where multiple small business employers pool their employees for the purpose of creating a large group market for health insurance coverage. 
 
The small business health plan must have a plan sponsor who, among other requirements, is established for a purpose other than providing health benefits to its members, such as a trade association, and does not condition membership on the basis of a minimum group size.
 
The bill establishes requirements for certification, plan administrators, boards of trustees, participation, nondiscrimination, and voluntary termination.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Employment for All Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1819
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 

Equal Employment for All Act of 
 
2017

 
 This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit an employer from using a consumer report containing credit information for either employment purposes or for making an adverse employment action.
 
The bill makes exceptions to the prohibition when: (1) the consumer applies for, or currently holds, employment that requires a national security clearance, or (2) a consumer report is otherwise required by law.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the retention and service of transgender members of the Armed Forces.

Bill: 115-s-1820
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Military personnel and dependents
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 
This bill prohibits the involuntary separation of a member of the Armed Forces, or denial of reenlistment or continuation in the Armed Forces, solely on the basis of the member's gender identity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish the National Commission on the Cybersecurity of United States Election Systems, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-1821
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Computer security and identity theft
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Evidence and witnesses
Government studies and investigations
Subversive activities

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 
This bill establishes the National Commission on the Cybersecurity of United States Election Systems.
 
The purposes of the commission are to:
 
 
identify and document mitigation and response activities to or in the prevention of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in U.S. election systems in 2016; 
 
document and describe any harm or attempted harm to U.S. election systems in 2016; 
 
review foreign cyber interference in elections in other countries to determine additional cybersecurity threats, interference methods, and successful defense mechanisms; 
 
make a full and complete accounting of emerging threats and unmitigated vulnerabilities to U.S. election systems; and
 
report recommendations for action at the federal, state, and local levels.

 
The commission is given the authority to hold hearings and issue subpoenas to fulfill its purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit amounts paid for programs to obtain a recognized postsecondary credential or a license to be treated as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of a 529 account.

Bill: 115-s-1822
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2017-09-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Licensing and registrations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans), to allow distributions from the plans to be used for expenses required for programs to obtain a recognized postsecondary credential or occupational license. 
 
A &quot;recognized postsecondary credential&quot; is a credential consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or certification, a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship, a license recognized by the state involved or federal government, or an associate or baccalaureate degree. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-09-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1823
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2017-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Community life and organization
Disaster relief and insurance
Religion
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: 

Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2017

 
 This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include community centers, including tax-exempt houses of worship, as &quot;private nonprofit facilities&quot; for purposes of disaster relief and emergency assistance eligibility under such Act.
 
A church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization, are eligible for federal contributions for the repair, restoration, and replacement of facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster, without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.
 
This bill is applicable to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Appalachian Regional Commission Reform Act

Bill: 115-s-1824
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appalachian Regional Commission
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Poverty and welfare assistance
Regional and metropolitan planning

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: 

Appalachian Regional Commission Reform Act

 
This bill declares that the mission of the Appalachian Regional Commission shall be to focus primarily on poverty reduction and economic development in areas in the Appalachian region with the most persistent poverty. The headquarters of the commission shall be located in that region.
 
The bill increases from 50% to 60% the minimum amount of the grant expenditures approved by the commission that shall support activities or projects that benefit severely and persistently distressed counties and areas.
 
The commission shall: (1) allocate at least 60% of the funds made available each fiscal year for its Area Development Program for projects in counties designated as distressed, and (2) submit an annual report on the allocation of program funds to such counties. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5802-5803; text of measure as introduced: CR S5803-5804)
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the accuracy of geographic adjustment factors under the Medicare program and to permanently extend certain adjustments to such factors for certain localities, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-s-1825
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Iowa
Medicare
Wages and earnings
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: 
This bill alters provisions relating to the determination of geographic adjustment factors for the payment of physician services under Medicare, and makes permanent certain adjustments for services furnished in Wisconsin and Iowa.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill for the relief of Adrian Emin.

Bill: 115-s-1826
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2017-09-18 in the Senate
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Provides for the relief of Adrian Emin.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Weekend Voting Act

Bill: 115-s-1828
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-09-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: 

Weekend Voting Act

 
This bill amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to change the timing for regularly scheduled elections for the House of Representatives, Senate, and electors of the President and Vice President to the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November.

Each state shall by law establish the hours of operation for polling places.
 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the holding of elections over a weekend should be carried out in a manner which does not interfere with religious practices and should result in cost savings to the taxpayer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5804)
action_date: 2017-09-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Strong Families Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1829
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Family services
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: 

Strong Families Act of 2017

 
This bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to reauthorize through FY2022, and otherwise revise, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
 
Under current law, grantees were required, after three years of program implementation, to demonstrate improvement in specified benchmark areas. The bill requires grantees to continue to track and demonstrate, on a triennial basis, improvement in applicable benchmark areas. A grantee that fails to do so must develop and implement a corrective action plan, subject to approval by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS shall terminate a program grant made to a grantee that implements such a plan but continues to fail to demonstrate improvement. 
 
As a condition for receiving grant funds under the program, a state must review and update its statewide needs assessment by October 1, 2020.
 
A grantee may use a portion of program grant funds to support a "pay-for-outcomes initiative" (a performance-based grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, awarded by a public entity, in which a commitment is made to pay for improved outcomes that result in social benefit and public-sector cost savings). 
 
HHS must designate data-exchange standards applicable to the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1830
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2017-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: 

Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2017

 
This bill temporarily expands the awards program for cost-saving identifications by federal employees of fraud, waste, or mismanagement to include identifications of surplus salaries-and-expenses funds. Savings resulting from such identifications shall generally be used for deficit reduction, but agencies may retain up to 10% of such savings for the purpose of paying cash awards to employees for making the identifications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Volunteer First Responder Housing Act

Bill: 115-s-1831
Sponsor: Sen. Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]
Introduced: 2017-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: 

Volunteer First Responder Housing Act

 
This bill expands eligibility for assistance under the Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program with respect to qualified volunteer first responders. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Heightened Oversight of Travel, Eating, and Lodging Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1832
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2017-09-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: 

Heightened Oversight of Travel, Eating, and Lodging Act of 2017

This bill prohibits a federal agency from reimbursing an employee's lodging costs at an establishment that is owned by, or that employs, certain public officials or their relatives. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-19
text: Introduced in Senate