hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1443
Sponsor: Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a sex discrimination dispute.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Forest Recovery Act

Bill: 116-hr-1444
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Forests, forestry, trees
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Forest Recovery Act 

 
This bill modifies the tax deduction for casualty losses to establish special rules for losses of uncut timber. 
 
In the case of the loss of uncut timber from fire, storm, other casualty, or theft, the basis used for determining the amount of the deduction may not be less than the excess of (1) the fair market value of the uncut timber determined immediately before the loss was sustained, over (2) the salvage value of the timber. 
 
The rule applies only if (1) the timber was held for the purpose of being cut and sold, and (2) the uncut timber subject to the loss is reforested within five years of the loss. 
 
The bill also exempts casualty losses from uncut timber from the rule restricting the deduction for personal casualty losses to losses attributable to a federally declared disaster. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1445
Sponsor: Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Animals
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Idaho
Judicial review and appeals
Mammals
Montana
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to remove the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Medicaid Equality Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1447
Sponsor: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Medicaid
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Medicaid Equality Act of 2019

 
This bill repeals, beginning in 2020, the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) that currently applies to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 
 
Under current law, the enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 93% in 2019 and 90% thereafter. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to waive fees for Purple Heart recipients serving on active duty for loans guaranteed under the home loan program of Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bill: 116-hr-1448
Sponsor: Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 
This bill waives loan fees for active duty Purple Heart recipients under the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Do No Harm Act

Bill: 116-hr-1450
Sponsor: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Crimes against women
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
First Amendment rights
Health care coverage and access
Housing discrimination
Labor-management relations
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Do No Harm Act

 
This bill prohibits the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specified federal laws or the implementation of such laws. Currently, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means.
 
Under the bill, RFRA is inapplicable to laws or the implementation of laws that
 
 
protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity (e.g., the Civil Rights Act of 1964); 
 
require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; 
 
protect collective activity in the workplace; 
 
protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or 
 
provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. 
 
 
The bill prevents RFRA from being used to deny (1) goods or services the government has contracted, granted, or made an agreement to provide to a beneficiary; or (2) a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation.
 
In order for a person to assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Alice Paul Voter Protection Act

Bill: 116-hr-1451
Sponsor: Rep. Kim, Andy [D-NJ-3]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Election Assistance Commission
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Alice Paul Voter Protection Act

 
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of not more than five years, or both.
 
The Election Assistance Commission must develop best practices for states to deter and prevent unlawful interference with voter registration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Import Tax Relief Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1452
Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
China
Consumer affairs
Customs enforcement
Free trade and trade barriers
Government studies and investigations
Inflation and prices
Intellectual property
Tariffs
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade agreements and negotiations
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Import Tax Relief Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the President to establish a process by which certain articles imported from China may be excluded from duties.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the creation of a process whereby U.S. entities may request that articles imported from China be excluded from duties imposed under the Trade Act of 1974. Such an exclusion must be based on a determination that the article can easily be excluded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and that (1) the article is not commercially available outside of China or produced at a cost-competitive price, (2) a duty on the article would increase consumer prices for everyday items consumed by low- or middle-income families in the United States, or (3) the article does not directly benefit from nonmarket-based policies of China.
 
Further, this exclusion applies retroactively to recently imported articles that would have been subject to a lower rate under this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1453
Sponsor: Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Albania
Alternative and renewable resources
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Congressional oversight
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Estonia
Europe
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Infrastructure development
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Oil and gas
Poland
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Vatican City

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of State to prioritize assistance to develop energy infrastructure in Europe, in particular for projects involving the European Commission and governments in the region. Assistance shall include political, technical, and diplomatic support.
 
Projects eligible for such assistance include infrastructure for natural gas, electricity transmission, and renewable energy. The State Department shall give preference to projects that (1) improve the capacity to transfer gas and electricity within and between European countries, (2) have been identified by the European Commission as integral for regional energy security, (3) are expected to enhance energy market integration, (4) can attract other sources of funding, and (5) can potentially use U.S. goods and services.
 
The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the Countering Russian Influence Fund and establishes that U.S. agencies may use the fund to provide assistance under the bill.
 
The President shall report to Congress annually about U.S. assistance provided under the bill. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
COOL OFF Act

Bill: 116-hr-1454
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Family relationships
Firearms and explosives
Hunting and fishing
Law enforcement officers
Licensing and registrations
Military personnel and dependents
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Choosing Our Own Lives Over Fast Firearms Act or the COOL OFF Act

 
This bill establishes a three-day waiting period for certain handgun transfers.
 
Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual unless three business days have elapsed since the licensee initiated a background check. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.
 
Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful for an unlicensed individual to receive a handgun from another unlicensed individual unless at least three business days have elapsed since the recipient most recently offered to take possession of the handgun. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
 
The three-day waiting period does not apply to certain handgun transfers, such as for a loan between spouses for a lawful purpose. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Restraining Excessive Federal Enforcement & Regulations of Cannabis Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1455
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Restraining Excessive Federal Enforcement & Regulations of Cannabis Act of 2019 or the REFER Act of 2019

 
This bill limits restrictions on and penalties for certain cannabis-related activities that are authorized by state or local law (i.e., state-authorized).
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of funds made available by Congress to a federal department or agency
 
 
to restrict the state-authorized use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of cannabis;
 
to detain, prosecute, sentence, or initiate civil proceedings against an individual, business, or property involved in state-authorized cannabis-related activities; or
 
to penalize a financial institution for providing financial services to a business engaged in state-authorized cannabis-related activities.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act

Bill: 116-hr-1457
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Air quality
Building construction
Buy American requirements
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Disability and paralysis
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Indian social and development programs
Metals
Natural disasters
Noise pollution
Preschool education
Public contracts and procurement
Vocational and technical education
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

School Modernization and Revitalization Through Jobs Act, the SMART Jobs Act, or the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to make grants to states for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools, including early learning facilities and charter schools. The bill allocates grant funds among states on the basis of the relative portion of school improvement funds provided to local educational agencies (LEAs) in each state. States shall reallocate the grant funds to LEAs on the basis of each LEA's share of school improvement funds received by LEAs in the state for the previous fiscal year.
 
In addition, ED shall make grants to LEAs that serve specified disaster areas for the construction, modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools, including early learning facilities and charter schools. The bill allocates grant funds among LEAs on the basis of each LEA's share of infrastructure damage inflicted on public school facilities in such areas.
 
With specified exceptions, only U.S.-produced iron, steel, and manufactured goods shall be used in projects funded under the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
Keep Community Service Local Act

Bill: 116-hr-1458
Sponsor: Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Corporation for National and Community Service
Executive agency funding and structure
National and community service
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

Keep Community Service Local Act

 
This bill prohibits the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) from closing CNCS state offices if the closure results in a state not having a CNCS office, unless permitted or directed by an act of Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
U.S.-Israel Cooperation Expansion Act

Bill: 116-hr-1459
Sponsor: Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Europe
Hungary
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Israel
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Middle East
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 

U.S.-Israel Cooperation Expansion Act

 
This bill states that it is U.S. policy to support bilateral training between U.S. and Israeli law enforcement for sharing best practices related to anti-terrorism, community policing, and managing mass casualties. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and International Terrorism.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit voter caging and other questionable challenges.

Bill: 116-hr-1460
Sponsor: Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie [D-FL-26]
Introduced: 2019-02-28 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional elections
Crime prevention
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
Postal service
State and local government operations
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: 
This bill prohibits voter caging and establishes penalties for violations. Voter caging is a practice of preventing or challenging voter registration, oftentimes by sending direct mail to individuals on the voter rolls, compiling a list of the undeliverable mail (voter caging list), and using the list to remove or challenge voter registrations.
 
First, the bill generally prohibits state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any federal election, or from permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the decision is based on certain evidence. Such evidence includes (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list, (2) an unverified match list, (3) an error or omission on a voter document that is immaterial to the individual's eligibility to vote, or (4) other evidence as designated by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
 
Additionally, it requires a private individual who challenges the right of another citizen to vote to set forth in writing, under penalty of perjury, a good faith factual basis for the ineligibility. 
 
Further, it prohibits certain challenges to an individual's eligibility to vote in a federal election within 10 days of the election. 
 
A violator is subject to penalties&#8212;a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.
 
Finally, the EAC must develop and publish best practices for preventing voter caging, and include such practices in voter information materials. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2019-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-28
text: Introduced in House