hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Jumpstart on College Act

Bill: 115-hr-2845
Sponsor: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Performance measurement
School administration
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Jumpstart on College Act

 
This bill allows the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to improve low-income and underrepresented students' post-secondary graduation rates. 
 
ED shall award competitive six-year matching grants to partnerships between an institution of higher learning and a local education agency to assist in establishing or supporting an early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment program.
 
ED shall also award competitive six-year matching grants to states for supporting or establishing such programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
RISE Act

Bill: 115-hr-2848
Sponsor: Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Economic development
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Small business
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Relief and Investment for Student Entrepreneurs Act or the RISE Act

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow a qualified entrepreneur with a loan under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program to defer loan payments for up to 3 years. A &quot;qualified entrepreneur&quot; is a borrower who: (1) has received a degree during the 10-year period before the date of the deferment, (2) has at least one registered business entity, (3) has raised capital of not less than $30,000 for such business entity, and (4) has an outstanding loan balance of not less than $5,000. 
 
The Department of Education may cancel up to $17,500 of federal direct and unsubsidized Stafford loans for a borrower who: (1) has operated a small business located in a historically underutilized business zone for at least three years, and (2) is not currently in default on the loan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Louisiana Flood and Storm Devastation Tax Relief Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2849
Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Garret [R-LA-6]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Books and print media
Capital gains tax
Charitable contributions
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic development
Elementary and secondary education
Employee benefits and pensions
Floods and storm protection
Forests, forestry, trees
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Louisiana
Low- and moderate-income housing
Motor vehicles
Poverty and welfare assistance
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Securities
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Transportation costs
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Louisiana Flood and Storm Devastation Tax Relief Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify several tax provisions and rules for individuals and businesses affected by storms and flooding in Louisiana. 
 
The bill applies to the area with respect to which a major disaster has been declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: 
 
 
 before September 3, 2016, by reason of severe storms and flooding occurring in Louisiana during August 2016; 
 
 before April 21, 2016, by reason of severe storms and flooding occurring in Louisiana during March and April 2016; and
 
before February 12, 2017, by reason of tornadoes, storms, and straight-line winds occurring in Louisiana on February 7, 2017.
 
 
For individuals and businesses in the specified Louisiana storm and flood disaster area, the bill modifies tax provisions and rules regarding: (1) early withdrawals of retirement funds; (2) employment-related tax credits; (3) charitable contributions; and (4) various tax deductions, exclusions, and credits related to losses and recovery from the storms and flooding. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Military Patron Protection Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2850
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Retail and wholesale trades
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Military Patron Protection Act of 2017

 
This bill establishes the Military Resale Patron Benefits Advisory Commission to advise the Department of Defense (DOD) on:
 
 
the effects of military commissary and exchange operations on their patrons and on morale, welfare, and recreation programs;
 
the sources and uses of commissary and exchange revenues; and 
 
fulfillment of the requirement to implement a comprehensive strategy to optimize management practices across the defense commissary and exchange systems. 
 
 
The Commission shall advise DOD on proposed reforms to commissary and exchange operations that could affect: 
 
 
the use of revenue;
 
the morale, welfare, and recreation programs provided for, and the morale of, military members and dependents; and
 
philanthropic programs that benefit members and their families. 
 
 
The bill requires DOD to: (1) report annually on the use of funds generated by commissaries and exchanges, the constitution and purpose of the boards of directors of the Military Exchanges and Commissary Operations and any determination to use such funds, and DOD responses to any commission proposals; (2) notify Congress before expending certain funds; and (3) notify Congress before taking action that would reduce a contract awarded by the Defense Commissary Agency to a small, veteran-owned, woman-owned, or disadvantaged business concern or a qualified nonprofit agency for the blind or other severely disabled.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
EPIC Act

Bill: 115-hr-2852
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Foreign and international corporations
Government studies and investigations
Marketing and advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Election Protection & Integrity Certification Act or the EPIC Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require an organization applying for tax-exempt status to certify that it will not: (1) use foreign funds to make certain expenditures in connection with an election, a political party, or an electioneering communication; or (2) solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation from a foreign national for an election or a political party. 
 
A tax-exempt organization must certify in its annual tax return that it has not violated the requirements described above. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the political activities of corporations to determine whether foreign money is being used in U.S elections. 
 
The bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require tax-exempt organizations filing certain reports regarding disbursements for independent expenditures or electioneering communications to certify that foreign funds were not used for the disbursements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2853
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural equipment and machinery
Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Congressional oversight
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government studies and investigations
Income tax credits
Livestock
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Securities
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow energy tax credits through 2021 for investments in: (1) qualified biogas property, or (2) qualified manure resource recovery property. The bill also permits new clean renewable energy bonds to be used for such properties.
 
&quot;Qualified biogas property&quot; comprises a system that: (1) uses anaerobic digesters or other specified processes to convert biomass into a gas which is at least 52% methane, and (2) captures the gas for use as a fuel. The term includes property that cleans and conditions the gas for use as a fuel. 
 
&quot;Qualified manure resource recovery property&quot; comprises a system that uses specified processes to recover the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus from a non-treated digestate or animal manure by reducing or separating at least 50% of the nutrients, excluding any reductions during the incineration, storage, composting, or field application of the non-treated digestate or animal manure. The term also includes certain processing equipment. 
 
The Department of the Treasury must enter into an agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for a study of biogas and report to Congress on the study. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
America Votes Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2854
Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
State and local government operations
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

America Votes Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to permit an individual required to present identification as a condition of voting in a federal election to meet the requirement by presenting a sworn written statement attesting to the individual's identification and that he or she is registered to vote in the election. An individual desiring to vote by mail may submit such a statement with the ballot.
 
States with an identification requirement shall: (1) prepare a pre-printed version of the statement which includes a blank space for an individual to provide a name and signature, (2) make copies of the pre-printed version available at polling places, (3) include a copy of the pre-printed version with each ballot transmitted to an individual who desires to vote by mail, and (4) include the use of a sworn written statement in voting information posted at polling places.
 
A state is prohibited from requiring an individual who presents or submits such a sworn written statement to cast a provisional ballot in the election. 
 
This bill does not apply to first-time voters registering by mail.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Combating BDS Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2856
Sponsor: Rep. McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC-10]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Israel
Middle East
Sanctions
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Combating BDS Act of 2017

 
This bill allows a state or local government to adopt and enforce measures to divest its assets from, prohibit investment of its assets in, or restrict contracting with: (1) an entity that engages in a commerce- or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activity targeting Israel; or (2) an entity that owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with such an entity. Such measures are not preempted by federal law. A state or local government that seeks to adopt or enforce such measures shall comply with specified requirements related to notice, timing, and opportunity for comment.
 
In addition, the bill amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to prohibit a person from bringing any civil, criminal, or administrative action against a registered investment company based solely upon that company's divestment from securities issued by a person that engages in a commerce- or investment-related boycott, divestment, or sanctions activity targeting Israel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
SUper Pollutant Emissions Reduction Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2858
Sponsor: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Environmental technology
Government studies and investigations
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

SUper Pollutant Emissions Reduction Act of 2017 or the SUPER Act of 2017

 
 This bill requires the President to establish the Task Force on Super Pollutants to: 
 
 
review existing and potential policies and measures that promote the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants, in part by identifying and evaluating programs and activities of the federal government that contribute to a reduction; 
 
 identify and recommend specific federal programs and activities that are duplicative and that can be consolidated to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness; 
 
 identify gaps where programs do not exist and recommend programs and activities to fill these gaps to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, with an emphasis on industry standards and public-private partnerships; 
 
identify activities where reductions in those pollutants can continue to spur innovation and job creation and increase U.S. competitiveness in the global market for new technologies to replace those using short-lived climate pollutants;
 
 identify, compile, evaluate, and develop best practices for reducing those pollutants; and
 
 report to Congress on its findings and recommendations.
 
 
A &quot;short-lived climate pollutant&quot; is black carbon, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, tropospheric ozone and its precursors, or emissions from banks of ozone-depleting substances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Advancing Competency-Based Education Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2859
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Advisory bodies
Education programs funding
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Minority education
Student records
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Advancing Competency-Based Education Act of 2017

 
This amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish competency-based education demonstration projects, which measure academic progress and attainment by the assessment of student learning in lieu of, or in addition to, credit or clock hours.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Tribal Social Security Fairness Act

Bill: 115-hr-2860
Sponsor: Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Tribal Social Security Fairness Act

 
This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to direct the Social Security Administration, at the request of an Indian tribe, to enter into an agreement with the tribe for the purpose of extending Social Security coverage to tribal council members.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
Hire Military Service Members Act

Bill: 115-hr-2861
Sponsor: Rep. Russell, Steve [R-OK-5]
Introduced: 2017-06-08 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Licensing and registrations
Military education and training
National Guard and reserves
Unemployment
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: 

Hire Military Service Members Act

 
This bill requires the military department concerned to withhold payments for unemployment compensation otherwise due for a calendar quarter from a state that imposes professional licensing requirements that fails to accept professional credentials related to military training and skills that are obtained by members of the Armed Forces under the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program or a similar program for members accredited by a nationally recognized, third-party personnel certification program accreditor. 
 
 Amounts that remain withheld at the end of a fiscal year shall be made available to the military department concerned during the following fiscal year to carry out such a program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-07-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Introduced in House