hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BARN Act

Bill: 116-hr-60
Sponsor: Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Department of Agriculture
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor
Foreign labor
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Housing finance and home ownership
Immigration status and procedures
Lawyers and legal services
Livestock
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Temporary and part-time employment
Visas and passports
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Better Agriculture Resources Now Act or the BARN Act

 
This bill revises the H-2A visa program for temporary nonimmigrant agricultural workers. It moves administration of the program from the Department of Labor to the Department of Agriculture, and eliminates the requirement that employers hire any qualified U.S. applicants until 50% of the time period of the H-2A worker's contract has elapsed.
 
The bill also revises requirements for employer-provided housing or housing allowances for H-2A workers, including standards for such accommodations. The employer shall request an inspection of the housing to certify that it meets the required standards. 
 
Aliens admittted as H2-A workers who overstay their visas are barred from the program for five years. Aliens admitted on the basis of fraud or who commit certain crimes are barred permanently. Employers who knowingly hire H-2A workers who overstay their visas or employers who engage in fraud or misrepresentation shall be barred from the program.
 

 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Carson City Mint 150th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-61
Sponsor: Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Currency
Nevada

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Carson City Mint 150th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins and $1 silver coins in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Carson City Mint in Carson City, Nevada. 
 
All surcharges from sales of such coins shall be paid to the Nevada State Museum Dedicated Trust Fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Head Start Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-62
Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Government studies and investigations
Preschool education

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Head Start Improvement Act of 2019

 
This bill replaces the existing Head Start program with block grants to states and Indian tribes for prekindergarten (pre-K) education. 
 
Instead of providing direct financial assistance to Head Start agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall allot block grant funds for pre-K education among eligible states and Indian tribes in accordance with their relative proportions of children, age five and younger, from low-income households. Grant recipients shall use the grant funds to (1) award subgrants to eligible entities that provide pre-K education programs; (2) administer such programs; and (3) provide technical assistance, oversight, monitoring, research, and training.
 
Under current law, HHS is authorized to designate, monitor, and establish standards for Head Start agencies. The bill instead shifts pre-K program oversight and control to states and Indian tribes, which shall have full flexibility to use grant funds to finance the pre-K programs of their choice. In addition, grant recipients may use grant funds to establish portable voucher systems that allow costs to be paid for attendance at private pre-K education programs.
 
Under current law, federal financial assistance for a Head Start program is generally limited to 80% of total program costs. The bill maintains this limitation by requiring grant recipients to provide matching funds equal to 20% of the grant amount. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

Bill: 116-hr-63
Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

 
This bill requires loan disclosure forms for federal student loans to be written in plain language, thus enabling borrowers to understand loan terms, total costs of loans, and estimated monthly repayments. Borrowers must acknowledge in writing that they have read the form before the loans are issued.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Patients First Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-64
Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cell biology and embryology
Department of Health and Human Services
Government studies and investigations
Medical ethics
Medical research
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Patients First Act of 

2019

 
This bill requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support stem cell research. Specifically, the NIH must conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, testing, and human clinical use of stem cells that may result in improved understanding of, or treatments for, diseases and other adverse health conditions. However, such techniques must not involve (1) the creation of a human embryo for research purposes; (2) the destruction or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo; or (3) the use of any stem cell the derivation or provision of which would be inconsistent with this bill.
 
The NIH must also report on peer-reviewed stem cell research proposals that were not funded.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Enhancing Educational Opportunities for Home School Students Act

Bill: 116-hr-65
Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Enhancing Educational Opportunities for Home School Students Act

 
This bill allows distributions from tax-favored qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for certain expenses in connection with a homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school for purposes of state law). 
 
The expenses include curriculum and curricular materials, books or other instructional materials, online educational materials, tuition for tutoring or educational classes outside of the home (if the tutor or instructor is not related to the student), dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Route 66 Centennial Commission Act

Bill: 116-hr-66
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Commemorative events and holidays
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Roads and highways
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Route 66 Centennial Commission Act

 
This bill establishes the Route 66 Centennial Commission to honor Route 66 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.
 
The Department of Transportation shall prepare a plan on the preservation needs of Route 66.

action_date: 2019-02-06
text: 

Route 66 Centennial Commission Act

 
This bill establishes the Route 66 Centennial Commission to honor Route 66 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.
 
The Department of Transportation shall prepare a plan on the preservation needs of Route 66.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 22 (Roll no. 67). (text: CR H1374-1375)
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 399 - 22 (Roll no. 67).(text: CR H1374-1375)
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1377-1378)
action_date: 2019-02-06
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: 2019-02-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 66.
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1374-1377)
action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act

Bill: 116-hr-67
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act

 
This bill requires federal employees and District of Columbia public employees furloughed due to a lapse in appropriations that begins on or about December 22, 2018, to be compensated at their standard rate of compensation for the period of such lapse as soon as practicable after such lapse ends.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-68
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: Executive agency funding and structure
Humanities programs funding
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Defund National Endowment for the Humanities Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits the use of any funds that are made available to the National Endowment for the Humanities of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities to carry out the functions, programs, and activities of such endowment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act

Bill: 116-hr-69
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act

 
This bill modifies requirements related to federal education funding for disadvantaged children. Specifically, the bill (1) eliminates the standards, assessments, and academic accountability requirements for state and local educational agencies that receive federal funds for the education of disadvantaged children, (2) requires such funds to be allocated based on the number of children residing in each state who are living in poverty, and (3) allows educational agencies to distribute per-pupil amounts from such funds to parents for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses.
 
The bill prohibits federal officers or employees from mandating academic standards, assessments, curricula, or accountability systems. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Freedom for Farmers Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-70
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Department of Health and Human Services
Environmental health
Executive agency funding and structure
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Freedom for Farmers Act of 

2019

 
This bill abolishes the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); HHS must transfer authority regarding certain national disease and toxic exposure registries to another appropriate HHS entity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage.

Bill: 116-hr-71
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Comprehensive health care
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Insurance industry and regulation
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 
This bill establishes which state law governs health insurers offering coverage in multiple states. Specifically, the bill provides that the laws of a state designated by a health insurer (primary state) apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that insurer in any state (secondary state) if the coverage, states, and insurer comply with the conditions of this bill. Insurers are exempted from any secondary state's laws that would prohibit or regulate the operation of the insurer in that state. The primary state is given sole jurisdiction to enforce its covered laws in any secondary state.
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the effect of this bill on specified health insurance issues.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Let Lenders Lend Act

Bill: 116-hr-72
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Housing discrimination
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing industry and standards

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Let Lenders Lend Act

 
This bill nullifies the "Home Mortgage Disclosure (Regulation C)" rule finalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on October 28, 2015. (The rule expanded the scope of information that must be disclosed with regards to home mortgages.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
To terminate the designation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-73
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan
Alliances
Asia
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Foreign aid and international relief
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Pakistan
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 
This bill removes Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally, a status that allows for various benefits such as access to excess U.S. defense supplies and participation in cooperative defense research and development projects. 
 
The President may not redesignate Pakistan a major non-NATO ally without certifying that the country has taken various actions against the Haqqani Network, including continuing to conduct military actions against the Taliban-affiliated group and prosecuting its leaders. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Grant’s Law

Bill: 116-hr-74
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Grant's Law

 
This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to detain any alien found to be unlawfully present in the United States and arrested for various crimes that would render the alien deportable or inadmissible. 
 
The bill transfers release authority from DOJ to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS may release the alien to an appropriate authority for proceedings related to the arrest, but DHS must resume custody for any period that the alien is not in such authority's custody. If the alien is not convicted of crimes for which the alien was arrested, DHS must continue to detain the alien until removal proceedings are completed. 
 
DHS must complete the removal proceedings within 90 days.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide that the United States district court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over actions arising under the immigration laws, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-75
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: District of Columbia
Federal district courts
Immigration status and procedures
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 
This bill grants exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over the following: (1) cases arising under the immigration laws, or (2) claims by foreign nationals challenging an order of removal or another action authorized under the Immigration and Nationality Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
action_date: 2019-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Protect the Gig Economy Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-76
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Self-employed

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Protect the Gig Economy Act of 2019

 
This bill amends Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to expand the preliminary requirements for class certification in a class action lawsuit to include a new requirement that the claim does not allege misclassification of employees as independent contractors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Injunctive Authority Clarification Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-77
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Federal district courts
Judicial procedure and administration
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Injunctive Authority Clarification Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits federal courts from issuing injunctive orders that bar enforcement of a federal law or policy against a nonparty, unless the nonparty is represented by a party in a class action lawsuit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-78
Sponsor: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2019-01-03 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alaska
Arizona
California
Federal appellate courts
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Montana
Nevada
Northern Mariana Islands
Oregon
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: 

Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2019

 
This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into two judicial circuits: (1) the Ninth Circuit, and (2) a new Twelfth Circuit.
 
The Ninth Circuit is composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Northern Mariana Islands. The new Twelfth Circuit is composed of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-03
text: Introduced in House