hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-350
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Dental care
Health care costs and insurance
Insurance industry and regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 

2019

 
This bill declares that nothing in the McCarran-Ferguson Act modifies, impairs, or supersedes the operation of antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance, including the business of dental insurance. This declaration does not apply to a contract, combination, or conspiracy to (1) collect, compile, or disseminate historical loss data; (2) determine a loss development factor for historical loss data; (3) perform actuarial services if the collaboration does not involve a restraint of trade; or (4) develop or disseminate a standard insurance policy form if adherence to the form is not required.
 
Prohibitions against unfair methods of competition apply to the business of health insurance without regard to whether the business is for profit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-351
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act

 
This bill prohibits federal funding of, or support for, state databases that list (1) firearms lawfully owned or possessed, or (2) individuals who lawfully own or possess firearms.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
BUILD Act

Bill: 116-s-352
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Motor carriers
Railroads
Roads and highways
Securities
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Building United States Infrastructure and Leveraging Development Act or the BUILD Act

 
This bill increases from $15 billion to $20.8 billion the national limitation on the amount of tax-exempt highway or surface freight transfer facility bonds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
RAPID Act

Bill: 116-s-353
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Public transit
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development Act or the RAPID Act

 
This bill revises the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program to (1) require program applicants to obtain investment grade ratings from at least two credit rating agencies, unless the federal credit instrument is less than $150 million (currently, less than $75 million), in which case one rating will suffice; (2) require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement an expedited decision timeline for public agency borrowers seeking secured loans; and (3) require DOT to publish status reports on program applications on the TIFIA website. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to avoid duplicative annual reporting under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-354
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax deferral
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Labor to cooperate to modify specified returns required for deferred compensation plans and other employee benefit plans to permit all members of a group of plans to file a single aggregated annual return or report satisfying the requirements of both the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). 
 
The requirement applies to a group in which all of the plans 
 
 
 are individual account plans or defined contribution plans; 
 
 have the same trustee, the same one or more named fiduciaries, the same administrator, and plan years beginning on the same date; and 
 
 provide the same investments or investment options to participants and beneficiaries. 
 
 
The bill also specifies that, for the purposes of applying the numerical limitations related to the electronic filing of returns for deferred compensation plans, each plan for which information is provided on the return must be treated as a separate return. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Crumbling Foundations Small Business and Homeowners Assistance Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-355
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Cooperative and condominium housing
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Materials
Metals
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Crumbling Foundations Small Business and Homeowners Assistance Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to award grants for states to assist homeowners, small-business owners, and condominium associations in preventing, mitigating, and repairing structural damage to concrete foundations that contain pyrrhotite (an iron sulfide mineral linked to crumbling foundations).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Aid to Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-356
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Cooperative and condominium housing
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Materials
Metals
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Aid to Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants for states to assist residential-building owners in repairing or replacing concrete foundations that have deteriorated due to pyrrhotite (an iron sulfide mineral).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Saudi Educational Transparency and Reform Act

Bill: 116-s-357
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Books and print media
Congressional oversight
Elementary and secondary education
Human rights
Middle East
Political movements and philosophies
Religion
Saudi Arabia
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Saudi Educational Transparency and Reform Act 

 
This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress annually on educational materials published by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education, which are used both inside and outside Saudi Arabia. 
 
The report shall detail whether such educational materials include content that could be seen as encouraging violence and intolerance toward religious groups, including Muslims who hold dissenting views. The report shall also discuss related subjects, including the extent such materials are exported and efforts by the Saudi government to remove the intolerant content. 
 
The State Department shall issue such reports for 10 years, unless the State Department determines that the intolerant content has been completely removed. If such content is still included in Saudi Arabia's educational materials after 10 years, the State Department shall continue reporting to Congress for another 5 years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Census IDEA Act

Bill: 116-s-358
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Census Improving Data and Enhanced Accuracy Act or the Census IDEA Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce, in the 2020 decennial census of population and each decennial census thereafter, from (1) implementing any major operational design element that has not been researched, studied, and tested for a period of at least three years before the decennial census date; or (2) including on the questionnaire for the census any subject, type of information, or question that was not submitted to Congress.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall determine and report to Congress on whether the subjects, types of information, and questions to be included in that decennial census have been adequately researched, studied, and tested to the same degree as in previous decennial censuses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act

Bill: 116-s-359
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Dental care
Education programs funding
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax exclusion
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act

 
This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income payments received under the federally funded student loan repayment program for full-time faculty members of dental schools with programs in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.
 
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the participation of dental providers and faculty in areas and schools receiving funding under the program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S921)
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-360
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Business records
Corporate finance and management
Government information and archives
Minority employment
Racial and ethnic relations
Securities
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2019 

 
This bill requires certain issuers of securities to disclose the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of their boards of directors and executive officers, as well as the status of any of those directors and officers as a veteran. It also requires the disclosure of any plan to promote racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among these groups. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Water and Agriculture Tax Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-361
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Corporate finance and management
Farmland
Financial services and investments
Land transfers
Securities
Tax-exempt organizations
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Water and Agriculture Tax Reform Act of 201

9

 
This bill permits tax-exempt mutual ditch or irrigation companies to earn income from dispositions of certain property and stock interests without affecting their tax-exempt status, but requires that such income be used to pay the costs of operations, maintenance, and capital improvements of such a company.
 
The bill also establishes a rule regarding the organizational governance of mutual ditch or irrigation companies. Where state law provides that such a company may be organized in a manner that permits voting on a basis that is pro rata to share ownership on corporate governance matters, the tax-exempt status of the mutual ditch or irrigation company must be determined without taking into account whether its member shareholders have one vote on corporate governance matters per share held in the corporation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-362
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alcoholic beverages
Business expenses
Department of the Treasury
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Income tax deductions
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019

 
This bill modifies the tax treatment of certain alcoholic beverages to
 
 
exclude the aging period from the production period for beer, wine, or distilled spirits for purposes of determining whether a taxpayer can expense, rather than capitalize, interest costs paid or incurred during the production period; 
 
reduce excise tax rates on beer and distilled spirits; 
 
permit the transfer of beer between bonded facilities without payment of tax; 
 
increase the amount of the small wine producer tax credit and expand the categories of producers covered by such credit; 
 
allow an adjustment to the producer credit for hard cider; and 
 
modify the alcohol content limitations that apply to certain wines for tax purposes.
 
 
The Department of the Treasury must amend applicable regulations with respect to the use of wholesome products suitable for human consumption in the production of fermented beverages. 
 
The bill also increases funding for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Intercountry Adoption Advisory Committee Act

Bill: 116-s-363
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Executive agency funding and structure

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Intercountry Adoption Advisory Committee Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish an advisory committee on intercountry adoption. If such a committee is established, it shall periodically provide recommendations on improvements to intercountry adoption.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway Act of 1996 to modify the funding limitation.

Bill: 116-s-364
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Dams and canals
Historic sites and heritage areas
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 
 This bill increases the maximum total amount that may be appropriated to fund the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway in Ohio. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Trade Security Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-365
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Infrastructure development
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Military readiness
Oil and gas
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Public participation and lobbying
Tariffs
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Trade Security Act of 2019

 
This bill revises provisions related to the adjustment of U.S. imports due to a national security threat. 
 
The bill allows Congress to block a presidential import adjustment through a joint resolution. This provision retroactively applies to adjustments made on or after July 1, 2018. However, it shall not apply to specified steel and aluminum import adjustments. 
 
The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must
 
 
 investigate the national security threat of a U.S. import, and 
 
report to the President the results of that investigation.
 
 
Commerce must provide recommendations regarding such imports upon request by the President.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
FLAT Prices Act

Bill: 116-s-366
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-02-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business records
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Licensing and registrations
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous Prices or the FLAT Prices Act

 
This bill directs the Food and Drug Administration to reduce the market exclusivity of an approved prescription drug if the drug manufacturer increases the drug's price by more than a specified percentage. This reduction may be waived under specified circumstances.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S921-922)
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Introduced in Senate
ANTIQUITIES Act

Bill: 116-s-367
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Atlantic Ocean
California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Hawaii
Historical and cultural resources
Illinois
Kentucky
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Maine
Military history
Montana
Monuments and memorials
Nevada
New Mexico
New York City
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Parks, recreation areas, trails
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington State
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

America's Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States Act or the ANTIQUITIES Act
 

This bill provides for the administration of certain National Monuments and the designation of certain lands in New Mexico and Nevada as wilderness. 
 
This bill directs the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to administer each specified national monument in accordance with (1) the one or more presidential proclamations that apply to the monument, (2) any Act of Congress enacted before December 4, 2017, that provides for an adjustment to the boundary or administration of such monument, and (3) this bill.
 
The bill establishes the National Monument Enhancement Fund to furnish funding (1) to such federal agencies to develop management plans for their national monuments that were designated under current federal law, (2) for federal acquisition and development of certain land and other areas, and (3) to develop and enhance recreational infrastructure on such designated lands. 
 
The bill designates specified BLM lands within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks and Rio Grande del Norte National Monuments in New Mexico and in the Gold Butte National Conservation Area in Nevada as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
The Department of the Interior shall manage approximately 100 acres of BLM land in New Mexico identified as Lookout Peak Communication Site in a manner that preserves the character of the land for future inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

Bill: 116-s-368
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Foreign aid and international relief
Health promotion and preventive care
International organizations and cooperation
Public participation and lobbying
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

 
This bill establishes that a foreign nongovernmental organization shall not be disqualified from receiving certain U.S. international development assistance solely because the organization provides medical services using non-U.S. government funds if the medical services are legal in both the United States and the country in which they are being provided. Such foreign organizations shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy or lobbying activities, other than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations. 
 
Current U.S. policy prohibits various foreign assistance from going to a foreign nongovernmental organization unless it agrees to not perform or actively promote abortions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate