hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of their contributions to the Nation.

Bill: 116-hr-587
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Congressional tributes
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Law enforcement officers
Libya
Middle East
Terrorism
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, four Americans killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. (Stevens was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya at the time, Smith was an officer in the Foreign Service, and Doherty and Woods were both government contractors and former Navy SEALs.) 
 
After the medal has been awarded, it shall be given to the Central Intelligence Agency Museum. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Middle Class Savings Act

Bill: 116-hr-589
Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Income tax rates
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Middle Class Savings Act

 
 This bill modifies the tax brackets that apply to taxes on capital gains. The bill aligns the thresholds with the brackets for the regular income tax rates enacted in P.L. 115-97 (commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Freedom of Religion Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-590
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Immigration status and procedures
Religion

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Freedom of Religion Act of 2019 

 
This bill establishes that an alien may not be denied entry, reentry, or admission to the United States, or any other immigration benefit, because of the alien's religion or lack of religious beliefs. 
 
This bill shall not affect the authority of various government agencies or immigration officers to determine whether a particular individual may pose a threat to national security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
21st Century Investment Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-591
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

21st Century Investment Act of 201

9

 
This bill modifies the tax credit for increasing research activities to allow an increased 25% tax credit rate for amounts paid or incurred to any person (other than an employee of the taxpayer) for research, substantially all of which occurs in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-592
Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Mental health
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud Act
 

of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay a beneficiary (or beneficiary's successor fiduciary) the amount of the misused benefit when any fiduciary has misused all or part of an individual's benefit. Specifically, the bill requires this payment in any case not involving negligent failure by the VA to investigate or monitor a fiduciary but where a fiduciary misuses all or part of an individual's benefit. The bill removes the stipulation that the fiduciary (1) not be an individual, or (2) serve at least 10 beneficiaries for the VA to repay misused benefits.
 
 An adverse determination by the VA of a veteran's mental capacity to manage VA monetary benefits may be appealed in accordance with provisions governing the Board of Veterans' Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-22
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Small Business Owners’ Tax Simplification Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-593
Sponsor: Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Employment taxes
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Self-employed
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Small Business Owners' Tax Simplification Act of 201

9

 
 This bill modifies several tax-related requirements that affect small businesses and self-employed individuals. 
 
The bill includes provisions that
 
 
 align the deadlines for quarterly estimated tax payments with the calendar year quarters;
 
 modify the dollar thresholds for various information reporting requirements;
 
 allow certain self-employed individuals to participate in cafeteria benefit plans; 
 
 exclude from self-employment income net earnings that are less than the amount required under the Social Security Act for a quarter of coverage for the calendar year in which the tax year began; 
 
 allow certain health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to be deducted for self-employment tax purposes; and
 
specify that voluntary tax withholding agreements, training, or group discount programs have no effect on whether an individual is classified as an employee or an employer. 
 
 
The Department of the Treasury must (1) establish uniform standards and procedures for the acceptance of digital or electronic signatures, and (2) use prenotification testing to verify recipient information before transferring a tax refund or credit through an electronic funds transfer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Ellie’s Law

Bill: 116-hr-594
Sponsor: Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

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

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

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Denying Chinese Investors Access to U.S. Small Business Aid Act

Bill: 116-hr-595
Sponsor: Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Asia
China
Corporate finance and management
Foreign and international corporations
Securities
Small Business Administration
Small business
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Denying Chinese Investors Access to U.S. Small Business Aid Act

 
This bill prohibits the Small Business Administration from providing aid, counsel, or assistance to a small business concern that (1) is headquartered in China, or (2) has more than 25% of voting stock owned by citizens of China. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act

Bill: 116-hr-596
Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Russia
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Ukraine

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Ac
t 
 
The bill prohibits any federal agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters. 
 
The President may waive such prohibitions if such a waiver is vital to U.S. national security interests.

action_date: 2019-03-12
text: 

Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Ac
t 
 
The bill prohibits any federal agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters. 
 
The President may waive such prohibitions on a case-by-case basis if such a waiver is vital to U.S. national security interests.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-13
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 427 - 1 (Roll no. 122). (text: CR H2660)
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 427 - 1 (Roll no. 122).(text: CR H2660)
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2675)
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 596.
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2660-2662)
action_date: 2019-03-12
text: Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2019-03-07
text: Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules,.
action_date: 2019-03-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2019-03-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendments Act

Bill: 116-hr-597
Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations
Merit Systems Protection Board
Postal service
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendments Act

 
This bill extends federal employee protections against adverse personnel actions, including the right to appeal such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board, to additional categories of employees at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
 
Specifically, it extends such protections to any officer or employee of the USPS who is not represented by a bargaining representative and is in a supervisory, professional, technical, clerical, administrative, or managerial position covered by the Executive and Administrative Schedule.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act

Bill: 116-hr-599
Sponsor: Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Judicial procedure and administration

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act

 
This bill expands and establishes new prohibitions related to conflicts of interest involving certain federal government employees.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits a federal government employee from accepting a bonus from a former private sector employer for entering government service.
 
The bill prohibits certain senior officials from using their position to participate in matters wherein a former employer or client has a financial interest, and it establishes penalties for an official who violates this prohibition. The bill also increases lobbying restrictions to two years for certain senior officials.
 
In addition, the bill expands prohibitions that prevent certain former officials who were responsible for specified government contracts from receiving compensation from a participating contractor, contractor's affiliate, or subcontractor. The bill also prohibits a procurement officer in the federal government from working for a company that received a contract overseen by the procurement officer during the officer's last two years in government service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, 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: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, 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: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Abby Honold Act

Bill: 116-hr-600
Sponsor: Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Domestic violence and child abuse
Government information and archives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Abby Honold Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women to make competitive grants to law enforcement agencies and victim services organizations to implement evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches in responding to and investigating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-601
Sponsor: Rep. Gaetz, Matt [R-FL-1]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Health programs administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Medical research
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a new, separate registration process for manufacturers of cannabis for research.
 
As a part of this process, the Drug Enforcement Administration must annually assess whether there is an adequate and uninterrupted supply of research cannabis and register additional manufacturers.
 
The bill also authorizes health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide information to veterans regarding participation in federally approved cannabis clinical trials.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' 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: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' 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: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' 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: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act

Bill: 116-hr-602
Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Foreign and international corporations
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Technology transfer and commercialization
Telephone and wireless communication
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act

 
This bill directs the President to determine annually whether telecommunications companies domiciled in China, including Huawei and ZTE, have violated U.S. export controls or sanctions. If a violation is found, the President must impose appropriate penalties. Chinese subsidiaries of foreign companies are excluded from the bill. 
 
The bill also prohibits executive agencies from reducing any penalty imposed on a Chinese telecommunications company for violating a sanction or export control, unless the President certifies that the company has not violated U.S. law for at least one year and is fully cooperating with investigations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-603
Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2019

 
This bill modifies the requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs) to:
 
 
 increase the maximum contribution amounts, 
 
 permit the use of HSAs to pay health insurance premiums and for direct primary care service arrangements, 
 
 repeal the restriction on using HSAs for over-the-counter medications, 
 
 eliminate the requirement that a participant in an HSA be enrolled in a high deductible health care plan, and 
 
 decrease the additional tax for HSA distributions not used for qualified medical expenses. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
To direct the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Fairlawn, Virginia, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-604
Sponsor: Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Postal service
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 
This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP Code applicable to Fairlawn, Virginia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
Official Time Reporting Act

Bill: 116-hr-605
Sponsor: Rep. Hice, Jody B. [R-GA-10]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee leave
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Official Time Reporting Act

 
This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report annually to Congress on the use of official time by federal employees. Official time is paid time off from assigned duties to perform labor-management relations activities.
 
Among other things, the OPM must report on the following:
 
 
the total amount of official time granted to employees,
 
the specific types of activities for which official time was granted, and
 
the total amount of compensation provided to employees in connection with official time activities.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in House