hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
ENCORES Act

Bill: 116-s-4344
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2020-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Music
Performing arts
Professional sports
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: 

Entertainments New Credit Opportunity for Relief & Economic Sustainability Act or the ENCORES Act

 
This bill allows certain businesses and tax-exempt entities that conduct live events for which tickets are sold to the general public a tax credit for 50% of any refund made during the period beginning on January 31, 2020, and ending on the enactment date of this bill. The bill defines 
live event
 as any live concert, comedy show, sporting event, or theatrical production for which tickets were made available to the general public not less than six weeks prior to the event. The credit does not apply to an entity engaged in professional football, basketball, baseball, or other professional sport. 
 
The ticket refund paid by the entity to a ticket purchaser for a live event includes events cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 (i.e., the coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting America From Spies Act

Bill: 116-s-4345
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Espionage and treason
Family relationships
Immigration status and procedures
Subversive activities
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: 

Protecting America From Spies Act

 
This bill expands the grounds for barring aliens who have engaged in acts relating to espionage or sabotage from entering the United States.
 
Specifically, any alien shall be inadmissible if the alien has engaged in or will engage in an act that (1) violates a U.S. law relating to espionage or sabotage; (2) would violate any U.S. law relating to espionage or sabotage if it occurred in the United States; or (3) violates any U.S. law prohibiting the export of goods, technology, or sensitive information. Currently, an alien shall be inadmissible if the alien seeks to enter the United States to engage in such an action.
 
Furthermore, the bill expands these grounds of inadmissibility and other security-related grounds to cover the spouse or child of the barred alien if the act occurred in the last five years.
 
The bill also modifies the authority of the Department of Justice to waive certain security-related grounds of inadmissibility for an alien applying for a nonimmigrant visa.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act

Bill: 116-s-4346
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2020-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: 

Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act

 
This bill permanently authorizes and restores into effect the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act (ACPERA) of 2004. ACPERA, which expired on June 22, 2020, provides incentives (e.g., limitations on civil liability) for corporations to self-report criminal conduct to the Antitrust Division within the Department of Justice.

action_date: 2020-07-28
text: 

Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act

 
This bill permanently authorizes and restores into effect the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act (ACPERA) of 2004. ACPERA, which expired on June 22, 2020, provides incentives (e.g., limitations on civil liability) for corporations to self-report criminal conduct to the Antitrust Division within the Department of Justice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4550; text: CR S4550)
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act

Bill: 116-s-4347
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2020-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Commuting
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employee leave
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor-management relations
Public contracts and procurement
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: 

Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act

 
This bill establishes the Coronavirus Rapid Response Federal Labor-Management Partnership Task Force. 
 
The task force must assess the response of federal agencies to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency with respect to agency employees, including the adequacy of agency communications and necessary physical assets. The task force must also provide guidance to prepare for future pandemics, including with respect to equipment levels, cleaning protocols, and leave and telework policies, and must also recommend ways to ensure labor organizations participate in agency decision-making. Each agency must also establish its own working group that addresses similar issues for the future.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Health Care Access Review Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4348
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2020-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicaid
Medicare
Right of privacy
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: 

Rural Health Care Access Review Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on access to health care in rural areas during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency.
 
Specifically, this study must evaluate the use of telehealth and the impact of enforcement discretion in the application of federal privacy standards for the use and disclosure of personal health information by health care providers, health plans, health clearinghouses, and their businesses associates. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-4349
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government studies and investigations
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical education
Mental health
Natural disasters
Nursing
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

 
This bill establishes several grant programs and otherwise requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take actions to improve mental and behavioral health and prevent burnout among health care providers.
 
Specifically, HHS must award grants to (1) health professions schools, state or local governments, or nonprofits to provide training for health care providers on suicide prevention, other behavioral health issues, and strategies to improve well-being; and (2) health care providers, prioritizing those in COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) hot spots, to establish or expand programs to promote mental and behavioral health among health care providers involved with COVID-19 response efforts.
 
HHS must also study issues related to, and develop policy recommendations on, preventing burnout and improving mental and behavioral health among health care providers, removing barriers to accessing care and treatment, and identifying strategies to promote resiliency. 
 
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must conduct a campaign to encourage health care providers to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4593-4594)
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
COVID–19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4350
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Debt collection
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act of 2020

 
This bill temporarily limits certain activities to collect medical debts by health care providers that apply for, or accept, COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus 2019) financial relief.
 
Specifically, such health care providers must suspend extraordinary collection actions, such as selling a debt to a third-party collector or placing a lien on an individual's property, until the later of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency or 18 months after the enactment of this bill.
 
 Further, individuals who have entered into medical debt repayment plans with health care providers may request the suspension of payments during such period. Providers must provide reasonable repayment options for individuals once repayments resume, such as extending repayment periods.
 
The bill also applies specified consumer protections to medical debt incurred for COVID-19-related testing and treatment between February 1, 2020, and 60 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
TRUST CDC Act

Bill: 116-s-4351
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Transparent Reporting and Use of Statistics in the Transmission of Coronavirus Data Collection or the TRUST CDC Act

 
This bill nullifies specified guidance issued by the White House Coronavirus Task Force on July 10, 2020, concerning the reporting of state and hospital COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) data.
 
Specifically, states and hospitals must revert to reporting this data directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Under the task force guidance, they report it to the Department of Health and Human Services.
 
In addition, the CDC must reinstate, and update daily, a particular website that reported certain COVID-19 data, including the number of cases and deaths in each state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4352
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
California
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental technology
Floods and storm protection
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Infrastructure development
Intergovernmental relations
International organizations and cooperation
Lakes and rivers
Latin America
Mexico
Outdoor recreation
State and local government operations
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act
 
of 2020

 
This bill establishes programs that address water pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Tijuana River Public Health and Water Quality Restoration Program. Under the program, the EPA must plan, implement, coordinate, and provide grants for public health and water quality restoration and protection activities in the Mexican Tijuana River watershed and the American Tijuana River watershed in California.
 
In addition, the EPA must establish the California New River Public Health and Water Quality Restoration Program to plan, implement, coordinate, and provide grants for water quality restoration and protection activities in the New River watershed. 
 
Finally, the bill provides statutory authority for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program to provide assistance for activities related to the construction of infrastructure for drinking water treatment or distribution, wastewater management, or stormwater management.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4594-4595)
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide emergency assistance for independent poultry growers, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-4353
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Business records
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Livestock
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 
This bill provides funding and establishes requirements for the Department of Agriculture to make specified payments to independent poultry growers that have experienced losses during the COVID-19 public health emergency. An 
independent poultry grower
 is a poultry grower that assumes the production and market risks associated with the agricultural production of poultry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make recourse loans available to commercial processors of dairy products during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-4354
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Food industry and services
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to make recourse loans available to commercial processors, packagers, or merchandisers of dairy products during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
 
The bill also provides funding for the loans and specifies that loans shall be provided to applicants for up to the value of the dairy product inventory of such applicants.
 
Dairy product inventory used as collateral for the recourse loan program shall be pledged on a rotating basis to prevent spoilage of perishable products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Katherine’s Lung Cancer Early Detection and Survival Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4355
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Katherine's Lung Cancer Early Detection and Survival Act of 2020

 
 This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover, without cost sharing, screenings for the detection of lung cancer for individuals 40 years of age and older without regard to such individual's smoking history.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4356
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Historic sites and heritage areas
North Carolina
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2020

 
This bill extends through FY2036 the authority of the Department of the Interior to provide assistance for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina and removes the limitation on the total amount that may be appropriated for the heritage area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
REPLANT Act

Bill: 116-s-4357
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Air quality
Animal and plant health
Atmospheric science and weather
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Ecology
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Insects
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
Pest management
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees Act or the REPLANT Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) annually for each of the 10 years after enactment of this bill to transmit to Congress an estimate of the sums necessary to be appropriated, in addition to the funds available from other sources, to replant and otherwise treat an acreage equal to the acreage to be cut over that year, plus a sufficient portion of the backlog of lands found to be in need of treatment to eliminate the backlog within the 10-year period.
 
After such 10-year period, USDA shall transmit annually to Congress an estimate of the sums necessary to replant and otherwise treat all lands being cut over and maintain planned timber production on all other forested lands in the National Forest System to prevent the development of a backlog of needed work larger than the needed work at the beginning of the fiscal year. 
 
Each reforestation activity included in a renewable resource assessment shall be carried out in accordance with applicable Forest Service management practices and definitions, including those contained in a specified amendment and regulations related to silvicultural practices.
 
The Forest Service shall, based on recommendations from regional foresters, create a priority list of reforestation projects that primarily take place on priority land, promote effective reforestation following unplanned events, and may include activities to ensure adequate and appropriate seed availability. 
 
USDA shall give priority to projects on the priority list. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID–19 Pandemic Act

Bill: 116-s-4358
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2020-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug therapy
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Immigrant health and welfare
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: 

Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act

 
This bill allows COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines and treatment, as well as treatment for conditions that may complicate COVID-19 treatment, for uninsured individuals to be covered under Medicaid during the public health emergency. (Currently, state Medicaid programs have the option to cover COVID-19 testing for uninsured individuals.)
 
The bill also (1) specifically allows COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and treatment, as well as treatment for complicating conditions, for certain unlawful aliens to be covered under Medicaid during the public health emergency; and (2) specifies how the value and provision of COVID-19 assistance should be considered with respect to certain governmental programs and requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate