hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act

Bill: 116-s-2634
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business records
Cosmetics and personal care
Employment and training programs
Employment taxes
Income tax credits
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Small Business Tax Fairness and Compliance Simplification Act 

 
This bill expands the tax credit for a portion of the employer-paid Social Security taxes for employee cash tips to include beauty service establishments. (Under current law, the credit is limited to tips received for providing, serving, or delivering food or beverages.)
 
The credit applies to tips received in connection with providing beauty services to a customer or client if tipping employees who provide the service is customary. "Beauty services" include barbering and hair care, nail care, esthetics, and body and spa treatments.
 
The bill also (1) establishes an employer tip reporting safe harbor, and (2) specifies reporting requirements for income received from renting space to individuals who provide beauty services. 
 
The employer tip reporting safe harbor provides an exemption from certain Internal Revenue Service tip examinations for employers who meet certain requirements for educational programs, reporting procedures, compliance with tax law, and recordkeeping. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Saudi Fugitive Declassification Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2635
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Middle East
Saudi Arabia

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Saudi Fugitive Declassification Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, to declassify information relating to whether Saudi Arabia assisted a citizen or national of Saudi Arabia in departing the United States while the citizen or national was awaiting a trial or sentencing for a criminal offense.

action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Saudi Fugitive Declassification Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, to declassify information relating to whether Saudi Arabia assisted a citizen or national of Saudi Arabia in departing the United States while the citizen or national was awaiting a trial or sentencing for a criminal offense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5885; text: CR S5885)
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5885; text: CR S5885)
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act

Bill: 116-s-2636
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Floods and storm protection
Natural disasters
Research administration and funding
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Clean Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act

 
This bill authorizes grant programs to increase the resiliency of water infrastructure to natural hazards. 
 
Specifically, it requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a grant program for increasing the resilience of publicly owned treatment works to natural hazards. 
 
In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the EPA's Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program. Under the program, the EPA must award grants to community water systems for increasing their resilience to natural hazards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Mind Your Own Business Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2637
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Consumer affairs
Contracts and agency
Corporate finance and management
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal officials
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
News media and reporting
Right of privacy
Sales and excise taxes
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Mind Your Own Business Act of 2019

 
 This bill requires assessments, periodic reporting, and the development of an opt-out process for specified commercial entities that operate high-risk information systems or automated-decision systems, such as those that use artificial intelligence or machine learning. An automated-decision system or information system is considered high risk if it (1) raises security or privacy concerns; (2) involves the personal information of a significant number of people; or (3) systematically monitors a large, publicly-accessible physical location. An automated-decision system is also considered high risk if it (1) may contribute to inaccuracy, bias, or discrimination or (2) facilitates decision-making about sensitive aspects of consumers' lives by evaluating their behavior.
 
 Covered commercial entities must assess such high-risk systems and evaluate the extent to which they protect against the risk of exposing personal information. The bill further requires certain larger commercial entities to submit an annual report for which corporate officers must certify that the entity is in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) implementing regulations. A failure to comply with the reporting requirements is subject to criminal penalties and excise tax.
 
 Among other provisions, the bill requires the FTC to create a web portal for consumers to opt out of data sharing and view their opt-out status. Opting out prevents covered commercial entities from sharing personal information with third parties.
 
 The bill increases the civil penalties for unfair trade practices, which the bill modifies to include practices that involve noneconomic impacts or create a significant risk of exposing personal information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act

Bill: 116-s-2639
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Civil actions and liability
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act

 
This bill revises provisions regarding the Federal Election Commission (FEC), including to change FEC membership.
 
The bill reduces the number of members of the FEC from eight to five, including by removing the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House as ex officio members. No more than two members may be affiliated with the same political party.
 
A Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel shall recommend to the President individuals for nomination to the FEC.
 
The President shall appoint the FEC chair, subject to Senate confirmation.
 
The bill distributes the FEC's powers between the chair and the other FEC members.
 
The bill modifies the process for (1) the FEC to initiate an investigation, and (2) a party aggrieved by the FEC's dismissal of the party's complaint or the FEC's failure to take action on the party's complaint. 
 
Persons who submit written comments regarding requests for advisory opinions must be given an opportunity to appear at FEC hearings on such requests.
 
The FEC's administrative penalty authority is extended permanently.
 
FEC forms must allow for the use of an accent mark as part of a person's identification. 
 
The bill provides statutory authority for limitations on ex parte communications as applied to FEC members and employees. 
 
The bill specifies that FEC attorneys may represent the FEC before the Supreme Court. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Students Not Profits Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2640
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Area studies and international education
Bankruptcy
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Marketing and advertising
Medical education
Nursing
School administration
Student aid and college costs
Tax-exempt organizations
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Students Not Profits Act of 2019

 
This bill makes certain institutions of higher education (IHEs) ineligible to receive federal financial student assistance.
 
Specifically, the bill makes for-profit institutions of higher education ineligible to receive such assistance. The bill also makes ineligible any institution that has (1) filed for bankruptcy; (2) been convicted of, or pled nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime involving federal student aid; (3) committed fraud, substantial misrepresentation, or false certification involving federal student aid; or (4) executive officers who were previously employed at an institution receiving federal student aid that closed.
 
Additionally, the bill establishes certain criteria that an IHE must meet to be eligible for conversion from a for-profit IHE to a nonprofit IHE. Before approving such conversion, the Department of Education must publish the application in the Federal Register for notice and comment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
COMPRESSOR Act

Bill: 116-s-2642
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Energy storage, supplies, demand
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Community Outreach, Maintenance, and Preservation by Restricting Export Stations from Subverting Our Regulations Act or the
 
COMPRESSOR Act

 
This bill prohibits the construction of any natural gas compressor station as part of a project that would lead to the export of natural gas or facilitate the export of natural gas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Judge Damon Keith Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2643
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Federal appellate courts
Judges
Michigan
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Judge Damon Keith Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019

 
This bill directs Congress to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of the life and legacy of Judge Damon Keith, senior judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to impose sanctions with respect to Turkey, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2644
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Iran
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy
Oil and gas
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Russia
Sanctions
Syria
Turkey
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the President to impose sanctions related to Turkey.
 
The President shall impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on specified officials of Turkey's government, such as the president and vice president of Turkey. The President shall also impose property-blocking sanctions on (1) Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS, a Turkish state-owned bank; (2) any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates transactions for Turkey's armed forces or defense industry relating to military operations in Syria; (3) any foreign person that knowingly sells to, provides support to, or conducts a transaction with Turkey's armed forces; (4) any foreign person that supplies goods or services that support petroleum production for use by Turkey's armed forces; and (5) any foreign person that sells or provides support that significantly facilitate Syrian energy production for use by Russia, Iran, Turkey, or Syria's government. 
 
The President shall also prohibit any U.S. person from (1) engaging in any transaction with such sanctioned persons, or (2) purchasing Turkey's sovereign debt.
 
The President shall impose additional sanctions on Turkey based on Turkey's purchase of a surface-to-air defense system from Russia. 
 
No funds may be obligated or expended to transfer to Turkey's armed forces any U.S. defense articles, services, or technology.
 
The President may terminate such sanctions and prohibitions upon certifying to Congress that Turkey and affiliated groups have met certain conditions, such as stopping their attacks on the Syrian Kurdish community and withdrawing from certain locations in Syria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 249.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2645
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Historic sites and heritage areas
Licensing and registrations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act of 2019
 
 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to exempt projects that replace or make improvements to communications facilities following a major disaster or presidentially declared emergency from certain environmental or historic preservation review requirements. Specifically, the bill exempts such projects from any requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Such projects are also exempt from considerations about the effect they will have on any historic property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Emancipation National Historic Trail Study Act

Bill: 116-s-2646
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Land transfers
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Racial and ethnic relations
Texas
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Emancipation National Historic Trail Study Act

 
This bill requires the Emancipation National Historic Trail, which extends approximately 51 miles and follows the migration route taken by newly freed slaves and other persons of African descent from Galveston, Texas, to Houston, Texas, to be studied for designation as a national scenic trail. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
CREEPS Act

Bill: 116-s-2647
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-10-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Assault and harassment offenses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Public contracts and procurement
Sex offenses
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: 

Compulsory Requirement to Eliminate Employees who are Perpetrators of Sexual assault Act of 2019 or the CREEPS Act

 
This bill provides for the removal of federal employees and employees of government contractors convicted of a sexual assault offense that was committed while so employed.
 
Specifically, federal entities and government contractors must remove from employment or terminate an employee who is convicted of a sexual assault offense that was committed while employed by the entity or contractor. Further, federal entities and government contractors may not provide a raise, award a bonus, or promote an employee who engaged in a nonconsensual sexual act that was part of an unlawful employment practice by the employer. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural ACO Improvement Act

Bill: 116-s-2648
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2019-10-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Medicare
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: 

Rural ACO Improvement Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to exclude certain components from a methodology used under the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The program enables accountable care organizations (ACOs) to receive payments for savings stemming from care coordination and management. 
 
Specifically, the bill requires the CMS to exclude an ACO's assigned Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries from certain regional adjustments to the ACO's benchmark for savings determinations, and to otherwise ensure that an ACO is not in a less favorable financial position due to its share of assigned beneficiaries in the region. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act

Bill: 116-s-2649
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2019-10-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: 

Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act

 
This bill (1) sets deadlines for final examination reports and exit interviews of a financial institution by a federal financial regulatory agency, and (2) establishes the Office of Independent Examination Review to adjudicate appeals and investigate complaints from financial institutions concerning examination reports. 
 
The bill also requires the establishment of an independent internal agency appellate process at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for the review of supervisory determinations made at institutions supervised by the CFPB. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2650
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-10-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Department of Health and Human Services
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: 

Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish at least one prescription drug plan that is operated by Medicare. 
 
Among other things, the plan must (1) serve the entire United States; and (2) be the default plan for enrollees under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, unless the enrollee chooses another plan. 
 
Additionally, the CMS must negotiate prices for prescription drugs that are covered under the plan and, if appropriate, encourage the use of more affordable therapeutic equivalents. (Currently, the CMS is prohibited from negotiating the prices of covered drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must assess the clinical benefits of drugs and make recommendations to the CMS regarding price negotiations, based on specified information (e.g., comparable international prices). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S5924-5925)
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Honoring Veterans’ Families Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2651
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2019-10-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
Family relationships
Marriage and family status
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: 

Honoring Veterans' Families Act
 
of 2019

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide inscriptions for deceased spouses and children on certain headstones furnished by the VA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-21
text: Introduced in Senate