hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BLAST Act

Bill: 116-hr-1145
Sponsor: Rep. Hollingsworth, Trey [R-IN-9]
Introduced: 2019-02-11 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Members of Congress
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: 

Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act or the BLAST Act

 
This bill revises the post-employment lobbying ban on former Members and elected officers of Congress. 
 
Specifically, it imposes a permanent ban on lobbying contacts by a former Member of the U.S. Senate (currently, a two-year ban), a former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (currently, a one-year ban), or a former elected officer of the House or Senate (currently, a one-year ban).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1147
Sponsor: Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]
Introduced: 2019-02-11 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Coal
Economic development
Forests, forestry, trees
Historic sites and heritage areas
Land use and conservation
Mining
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: 

Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Act of 2019

 This bill establishes the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area to include specified counties in Maryland and West Virginia. 
The bill designates the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc., as the local coordinating entity for the area and requires it to submit a plan that provides for the management and conservation of the cultural, natural, historical, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
2018 Natural Disasters Tax Relief Act

Bill: 116-hr-1148
Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
Introduced: 2019-02-11 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alabama
American Samoa
California
Charitable contributions
Disaster relief and insurance
Employee benefits and pensions
Fires
Floods and storm protection
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Guam
Hawaii
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Indiana
Natural disasters
North Carolina
Northern Mariana Islands
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families
Texas
U.S. territories and protectorates
Wages and earnings
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: 

2018 Natural Disasters Tax Relief Act

 
This bill permits penalty-free distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans for disaster-related purposes. It also allows an employer whose business was closed during a natural disaster an employee retention credit for 40% of the first $6,000 in wages paid to an eligible employee.
 
The bill allows a temporary suspension of limitations on charitable contributions made for relief efforts in one or more qualified disaster areas and sets forth special rules for personal casualty losses and for determining the earned income tax credit for individuals residing in qualified disaster areas or zones.
 
The bill provides for a mandatory 60-day extension of certain tax deadlines for individuals and business owners in a disaster area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act

Bill: 116-hr-1149
Sponsor: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [D-NJ-2]
Introduced: 2019-02-11 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean
Earth sciences
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: 

Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing certain permits to engage in geological and geophysical exploration for mineral resources on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-02
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
For the relief of Enrique Soriano and Areli Soriano.

Bill: 116-hr-1150
Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
Introduced: 2019-02-11 in the House
Subjects: Private Legislation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Provides for the relief of Enrique Soriano and Areli Soriano.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-11
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act.

Bill: 116-hr-1151
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]
Introduced: 2019-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alternative treatments
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: 

Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act

 
This bill provides guidance related to veterans and medical marijuana that shall be effective for five years.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes (1) a veteran to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana in accordance with applicable state or Native American tribal law; (2) a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physician to discuss with a veteran the use of medical marijuana as a treatment if the physician is in a state or on tribal land that authorizes such treatment; or (3) a VA physician to recommend, complete forms for, or register veterans for participation in a medical marijuana treatment program in accordance with applicable state or tribal law.
 
The bill requires the VA to report on (1) the effects of medical marijuana on veterans in pain; and (2) the relationship between state-approved medical marijuana treatment programs, program access, and opioid abuse reduction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-25
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: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Introduced in House
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-1152
Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Introduced: 2019-02-12 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Cancer
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Industrial facilities
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to amend its regulations to revise the standards for the emission of ethylene oxide. Specifically, regulations must be revised based on results from the National Center for Environmental Assessment report titled &ldquo;Evaluation of the Inhalation Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide.&rdquo;
 
The bill also requires revisions to apply maximum achievable control technology requirements to chamber exhaust vents. Maximum achievable control technology standards are established for sources of hazardous air pollutants to limit or control emissions.
 
The EPA must notify the public of violations under the revised standards, and failure to do so will result in an investigation to assess the health risks and prevent a future failure of notification.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2110)
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-12
text: Introduced in House
Reaching English Learners Act

Bill: 116-hr-1153
Sponsor: Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Performance measurement
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Reaching English Learners Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a grant program for preparing future teachers to effectively instruct English learners to achieve at high levels in early childhood education programs and in elementary schools and secondary schools. Under the program, grants must be given to partnerships between (1) certain institutions of higher education, and (2) high-need local educational agencies or high-need early childhood education programs. Grants may be awarded for up to five years. In awarding the grants, ED must give preference to partnerships that recruit and enroll teachers who are from underrepresented populations or former English learners.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act

Bill: 116-hr-1154
Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Federal preemption
First responders and emergency personnel
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Labor-management relations
Law enforcement officers
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine whether a state substantially provides public safety officers or employees
 
 
the right to form and join a labor organization; 
 
recognition by public safety employers of the employees' labor organization, agreement to bargain with the organization, and reduction of any agreements to writing in a contract or memorandum of understanding; 
 
the right to bargain over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment; and 
 
binding interest arbitration to resolve an impasse in collective bargaining negotiations. 

 
The bill makes the authority responsible for (1) determining the appropriateness of units for labor representation; (2) supervising elections; (3) conducting hearings and resolving complaints of unfair labor practices; and (4) protecting the right of employees to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or to refrain from doing so. 
 
An employer, public safety officer, or labor organization may not engage in a lockout, sickout, work slowdown, strike, or any other organized job action that will measurably disrupt the delivery of emergency services and is designed to compel an employer, public safety officer, or labor organization to agree to the terms of a proposed contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
PUPPERS Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1155
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Mammals
Medical research
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Preventing Unkind and Painful Procedures and Experiments on Respected Species Act of 2019 or the PUPPERS Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs, in carrying out research within the Veterans Health Administration, from purchasing, breeding, transporting, housing, feeding, maintaining, disposing of, or experimenting on dogs as part of the conduct of any study that causes significant pain or distress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
LEOSA Reform Act

Bill: 116-hr-1156
Sponsor: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Educational facilities and institutions
Firearms and explosives
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Law enforcement officers
Licensing and registrations
Personnel records
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

LEOSA Reform Act

 
This bill revises provisions related to the carrying of concealed firearms by certain active duty and retired law enforcement officers.
 
Specifically, the bill allows qualified active duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms, including magazines and ammunition, in school zones; on state, local, and private property that is otherwise open to the public; in national parks; and in certain federal facilities that are open to the public. 
 
Additionally, states may reduce the frequency (currently, once during the most recent 12-month period) with which a retired law enforcement officer must meet firearms training standards to be certified to carry a concealed firearm. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Horse Protection Amendments Act

Bill: 116-hr-1157
Sponsor: Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Department of Agriculture
Mammals
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Public-private cooperation
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Horse Protection Amendments Act
 
 
This bill addresses the protection of horses. Specifically, the bill replaces the Designated Qualified Persons program responsible for inspecting horses for soring with a new inspection system. The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse's limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness.
 
The Department of Agriculture must establish a single Horse Industry Organization (HIO) in order to establish a formal affiliation with the management of each horse sale, horse exhibition, and horse sale or auction, and appoint inspectors to conduct inspections.
 
The Commissioners of Agriculture for Tennessee and Kentucky must appoint individuals to the HIO. Those individuals must appoint individuals representing the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Bill: 116-hr-1160
Sponsor: Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Lakes and rivers
Oregon
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

 
This bill designates specified segments of the Molalla River in Oregon as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

Bill: 116-hr-1161
Sponsor: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
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: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act

Bill: 116-hr-1162
Sponsor: Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Solid waste and recycling
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act

 
This bill makes permanent, and otherwise revises, the Bureau of Reclamation's grant program for the funding of water recycling and reuse projects. The bill removes priority under the program for projects in areas that, in the preceding four-year period, have been (1) identified as experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought; or (2) designated as a disaster area by a state. Additionally, the bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the program and otherwise revises provisions related to program funding. 

action_date: 2020-12-18
text: 

Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act

 
This bill makes permanent and otherwise revises the Bureau of Reclamation's grant program for the funding of water recycling and reuse projects. The bill removes priority under the program for projects in areas that in the preceding four-year period have been (1) identified as experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought; or (2) designated as a disaster area by a state. Additionally, the bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the program and otherwise revises provisions related to program funding. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 551.
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-667.
action_date: 2020-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-667.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 12.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
action_date: 2019-06-13
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
VA Hiring Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-hr-1163
Sponsor: Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Medical education
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

VA Hiring Enhancement Act

 
This bill modifies requirements and procedures related to hiring physicians and applicants for certain other professional positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
 
Specifically, the bill negates enforcement of a noncompete agreement that an applicant for such an appointment in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has entered into with a non-VA facility or party. As a condition of terminating the noncompete agreement, the applicant must agree to serve at the VHA for one year or until the expiration of the noncompete agreement, whichever is later.
 
Eligibility requirements for a VA physician's appointment are revised to require completion of a residency program rather than an internship.
 
The bill also authorizes the VA to offer a contingent physician's appointment to an individual if the VA anticipates that the individual will, within two years of the offer, complete a residency program leading to board eligibility in a specialty and meet other requirements for the appointment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-03-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in House