hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
RAISE Act

Bill: 116-hr-2278
Sponsor: Rep. Rooney, Francis [R-FL-19]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Athletes
Business investment and capital
Citizenship and naturalization
Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Department of Homeland Security
Family relationships
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Olympic games
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Research and development
U.S. and foreign investments
Visas and passports
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act or the RAISE Act

 
This bill eliminates the diversity visa program, replaces employment-based immigration programs with a points-based system, and imposes various limits on various types of immigration.
 
Aliens that reach the minimum number of points may apply for a points-based visa. Points are awarded for various characteristics including age, English language proficiency, education level, and investments made in the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall periodically invite the highest scoring applicants to petition for visas.
 
The bill limits eliminates various preference allocations (visa categories subject to various annual caps) for family-sponsored immigrant visas, such as those for the adult children of U.S. citizens. Only the spouses and children of U.S. citizens shall qualify as 
immediate relatives
, whereas currently parents also qualify (visas for immediate relatives are not subject to direct numerical caps). The bill creates a nonimmigrant visa for such alien parents.
 
The bill reduces the baseline annual cap for family-sponsored visas from 480,000 to 88,000 and revises the methods for calculating the cap. It also imposes a limit of 50,000 refugees admitted in any fiscal year.
 
An alien who received needs-based public benefits shall not be naturalized as a U.S. citizen until the individual who signed the affidavit of support for the alien has reimbursed the federal government for such benefits. 
 
The bill imposes various reporting requirements related to the points-based system. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Safe Step Act

Bill: 116-hr-2279
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Safe Step Act

 
This bill requires a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. 
 
A request for such an exception to the protocol must be granted if (1) the treatment is expected to be ineffective, (2) the treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction to the individual, (3) the treatment is expected to decrease the individual's ability either to perform daily activities or occupational responsibilities or adhere to the treatment plan, (4) the individual is stable based on the prescription drugs already selected, or (5) there are other medical reasons that warrant withholding the treatment.
 
The bill requires a group health plan to implement and make readily available a clear process for an individual to request an exception to the protocol. Requests must be granted no later than three days after receipt of the request. In certain cases where the life, health, and ability of the individual are jeopardized by the protocol, the request shall be granted no later than 24 hours after receipt of the request.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Stop Iran From Smuggling Weapons to Terrorists Act

Bill: 116-hr-2280
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Appropriations
Bahrain
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
Iran
Israel
Kuwait
Marine and inland water transportation
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
Military operations and strategy
Oman
Persian Gulf States
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Smuggling and trafficking
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
United Arab Emirates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Stop Iran From Smuggling Weapons to Terrorists Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide training to (1) the national military or other security forces of Israel, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar that have among their functional responsibilities maritime security missions; and (2) ministry-, agency-, and headquarters-level organizations for such forces. 
 
Such assistance and training may be referred to as the Counter Iran Maritime Initiative.
 
Such training may include the provision of de minimis equipment, supplies, and small-scale military construction and shall include the promotion of human rights and respect for legitimate civilian authority.
 
DOD shall negotiate a training cost-sharing agreement with a recipient country that covers at least 50% of related costs.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2282
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business ethics
Health care quality
Health personnel
Medical ethics
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Medicare Care Coordination Improvement Act of 

2019

 
This bill exempts certain alternative payment models under Medicare from the general prohibition on physician self-referrals (i.e., the Stark law).

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
CHANGE Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2283
Sponsor: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End Act of 2019 or the CHANGE Act of 2019

 
 This bill modifies the requirements under Medicare for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive impairments in older adults. Specifically, the bill expands the cognitive impairment detection benefit during annual wellness visits to require the use of validated detection tools and documentation of the results in the patient's medical record. Further, when a cognitive impairment is detected, the patient must be referred to an appropriate diagnostic service provider and other specified supports.
 
 Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must implement Medicare policies that increase the identification and response to patients' Alzheimer's disease risk factors and incentivize providers to utilize high-quality cognitive impairment diagnosis practices.
 
 The Government Accountability Office also must conduct a study of policies that may accelerate progress in Alzheimer's disease research and enhance the quality of care for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2284
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Disaster relief and insurance
Employee benefits and pensions
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019

 
This bill allows various tax credits, tax deductions, and modifications to existing rules for individuals and businesses affected by federally declared disasters that occurred after December 31, 2018, and before April 15, 2019. 
 
With respect to individuals and businesses in the affected areas, the bill 
 
 
waives the 10% additional tax on certain early distributions from retirement plans, 
 
permits individuals to recontribute funds to retirement plans if the funds were distributed for a home purchase that was cancelled on account of a disaster,
 
 increases the limit and extends the repayment deadline for loans from retirement plans, 
 
allows an employee retention tax credit for employers affected by disasters,
 
temporarily increases the limitation on tax deductions for charitable contributions for relief efforts in disaster areas,
 
modifies the rules for the deduction for personal casualty losses, and 
 
allows taxpayers residing in disaster areas to use earned income from the immediately preceding year for the purpose of determining earned income for the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Heidi’s Law

Bill: 116-hr-2285
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Transportation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Motor carriers
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Heidi's Law

 
This bill revises the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs to include testing for methadone and newly identified drug substances.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must revise the guidelines to expand the opiate category on the list of substances authorized for testing to include methadone and any new drugs which may not have been previously included on such list.
 
The Department of Transportation must update its regulations containing procedures for transportation employee workplace drug and alcohol testing programs to include testing for methadone and newly identified drug substances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to direct the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to provide to the congressional intelligence committees briefings regarding counterintelligence activities of the Bureau, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-2286
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional elections
Congressional oversight
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 
This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide quarterly briefings to Congress about the FBI's counterintelligence activities. 
 
The FBI shall promptly notify Congress of any counterintelligence investigation regarding a candidate seeking nomination or election for federal office or any campaign or individual related to such a candidate. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Federal Regulatory Certainty for Water Act

Bill: 116-hr-2287
Sponsor: Rep. Thornberry, Mac [R-TX-13]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Army Corps of Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Lakes and rivers
Water quality
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Federal Regulatory Certainty for Water Act

 
This bill nullifies the Clean Water Rule that was issued on May 27, 2015, by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The rule describes the scope of the Clean Water Act.
 
Under this bill, the Clean Water Act applies to waters of the United States that are (1) navigable-in-fact; or (2) permanent or continuously flowing bodies of water that form geographical features commonly known as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes that are connected to waters that are navigable-in-fact.
 
Under this bill, the Act does not apply to (1) waters that do not physically abut those waters of the United States through an actual and continuous surface water connection; (2) man-made or natural structures or channels through which water flows intermittently or ephemerally; or (3) wetlands (including playa lakes, prairie potholes, wet meadows, wet prairies, and vernal pools) that lack that continuous surface water connection. 
 
The aggregation of wetlands or waters may not be used to determine whether the wetlands or waters are navigable waters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act

Bill: 116-hr-2288
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Dams and canals
Department of the Interior
Executive agency funding and structure
Historic sites and heritage areas
New York State

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act

 
This bill increases the maximum amount of funding that may be authorized for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in the state of New York. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Notario Victim Relief Act

Bill: 116-hr-2289
Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Notario Victim Relief Act
 
 
This bill eliminates the time limit for an alien to file a motion to reopen removal proceedings where the alien's motion seeks relief based on allegations of certain misdeeds by a representative or a person claiming to be a representative, specifically (1) fraud; (2) negligence; (3) misrepresentation; or (4) extortion by, or attempted, promised, or actual practice of law without authorization on the part of, such representative. 
 
Currently, motions to reopen must be filed within 90 days of the entry of a final order of removal, with certain exceptions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
Wild Game Donation Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2291
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Meat
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Wild Game Donation Act of 2019

 
 This bill modifies the tax treatment of donations of wild game meat to (1) increase the tax deduction for charitable contributions of qualified wild game meat by the processing fees paid with respect to such contributions, and (2) exclude from the gross income of meat processors processing fees paid by a charitable organization for the processing of donated wild game meat. 
 
"Qualified wild game meat" is the meat of any animal typically used for human consumption, but only if (1) such animal is killed in the wild by the individual making the charitable contribution and is hunted or taken in accordance with all state and local laws, (2) the meat is processed for human consumption by a licensed processor, and (3) the meat is apparently wholesome as determined by regulations under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in House
ACA OUTREACH Act

Bill: 116-hr-2292
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2019-04-12 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and paralysis
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Minority health
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-12
text: 

Affordable Care Act Outreach for the Uninsured, Transformative Recruitment, and Enrollment Action for Compassionate Healthcare Act of 2019 or the ACA OUTREACH Act

 
This bill provides funds through FY2022 for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support (1) navigator programs, which conduct public education activities about qualified health plans and facilitate enrollment; and (2) outreach and promotional activities for health insurance exchanges. HHS also must award grants to states with state-run health insurance exchanges to conduct such outreach and promotional activities among diverse constituencies, including minority, rural, and underserved communities; people with disabilities; young adults; and individuals who are likely to be uninsured.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-04-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-04-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-04-12
text: Introduced in House