hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
SAFE Kids Act

Bill: 116-s-655
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Stopping Appealing Flavors in E-Cigarettes for Kids Act or the
 
SAFE Kids Act

 
This bill generally prohibits the inclusion of flavored products in non-cigarette tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery system (e.g., e-cigarettes and vape pens).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Lending Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-656
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Government studies and investigations
Indian social and development programs
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic Lending Act of 2019 or the SAFE Lending Act of 2019

 
This bill revises requirements related to consumer financial protection and small-dollar lending, including matters concerning remotely created checks, electronic fund transfers, registration of small-dollar lenders, overdraft fees, and the collection of personal information. 
 
 Under the bill, remotely created checks may only be issued by a person specifically designated in writing by a consumer and provided to the consumer's depository institution. (A remotely created check is a check not issued by the bank and not signed by the account owner.) 
 
A voluntary agreement to repay a small-dollar consumer credit transaction by an electronic fund transfer is subject to certain protections, including the right of the consumer to stop payment. 
 
Small-dollar consumer credit providers must register with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Any small-dollar consumer credit transaction is subject to the laws of the state in which the consumer resides. 
 
The bill also prohibits overdraft fees on prepaid accounts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to establish requirements with respect to prescription drug benefits.

Bill: 116-s-657
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 
This bill prohibits health insurers and contracted entities that provide pharmacy benefits management services from receiving a price reduction or other remuneration from prescription drug manufacturers. The prohibition does not apply if (1) the price reduction is reflected at the point-of-sale; and (2) the other remuneration is a transparent, flat service fee that the manufacturer pays in relation to pharmacy benefits management services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
ADAPT Act

Bill: 116-s-658
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Medical research
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Accelerated Drug Approval for Prescription Therapies Act or the
 
ADAPT Act

 
This bill authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)to create an expedited drug approval process specifically for drugs that are currently approved for sale in certain countries (i.e., a European Economic Area member country, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, or Switzerland) and meet certain criteria. Such criteria shall include establishing that (1) the drug is safe and effective, (2) all relevant U.S. patents or legal exclusivities have expired, and (3) the United States has a public health or unmet medical need for the drug. 
 
The FDA must process and review an application under this bill within 180 days of submission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Biologic Patent Transparency Act

Bill: 116-s-659
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Biological and life sciences
Genetics
Government information and archives
Intellectual property
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Biologic Patent Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the holder of a license to market a biologic drug to disclose all patents believed to be covering that drug. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make such information publicly available. (Biologics are drugs produced through natural processes or isolated from natural sources.)
 
The holder of a market approval license for a biologic product shall submit a list to HHS of all patents that the holder reasonably believes would be infringed by an unauthorized person making, using, offering to sell, selling, or importing that product. The license holder shall update HHS as to any relevant patents granted after the initial submission and as to listed patents that were later invalidated or rendered unenforceable.
 
If a patent that should have been listed was not timely disclosed to HHS, the patent holder may not sue for infringement of that patent.
 
HHS shall publish an easily searchable list of all biologics that have received market approval or for which an application for approval has been filed. The list shall contain information including (1) the official and proprietary name of the product, (2) the patents the license holder has listed under this bill, (3) whether various market exclusivity periods apply to the product, and (4) information about whether the product is interchangeable with another biologic product. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Efficiency and Transparency in Petitions Act

Bill: 116-s-660
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Efficiency and Transparency in Petitions Act

 
This bill requires a petition regarding a pending generic drug or biological product application to be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)within one year of when the petitioner discovers the issue that is the basis for the petition.
 
The FDA may grant a waiver of the one-year deadline.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Trafficking Victims Protection and Welfare Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-661
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement officers
Lawyers and legal services
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Right of privacy
Separation, divorce, custody, support
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Child Trafficking Victims Protection and Welfare Act
 
of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with experts in child development and welfare and pediatric medicine, to develop guidelines for the treatment of children (under age 18 with no permanent immigration status) in the custody of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). DHS must provide resources and trained staff to address the needs of such children, including child welfare professionals, at each port of entry and Border Patrol station. The bill imposes various duties on such child welfare professionals, including the duty to report allegations of abuse and ensure DHS compliance with abuse reporting laws.
 
DHS may not remove a child from a parent or legal guardian solely for the purpose of deterring individuals from migrating to the United States or for promoting compliance with the immigration laws. 
 
DHS must (1) assign a family unit tracking number to each family member apprehended at the border, (2) allow humanitarian organizations and state and local child welfare agencies to monitor children in detention and conduct unannounced inspections, (3) promulgate regulations establishing basic standards of care for the short-term custody of children by CBP, (4) ensure that children apprehended by CBP receive an interview and screening with a child welfare professional and are provided information about their rights under the immigration laws, and (5) provide each apprehended parent or legal guardian and each child with access to legal counsel. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-662
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Evidence and witnesses
Immigration status and procedures
Judicial procedure and administration
Judicial review and appeals
Lawyers and legal services
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to appoint or provide counsel, at the government's expense, to aliens in removal proceedings and related appeals. An unaccompanied alien child shall be represented by counsel paid for and appointed by the government at every stage of such proceedings.
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall provide a complete copy of an alien's immigration file to the alien (or the alien's counsel) within seven days of a notice to appear for an immigration proceeding, and failure to provide the file shall result in a delay in the proceeding. DHS shall provide access to counsel for all detained aliens.
 
The bill authorizes the DOJ to enter into contacts or award grants for providing immigration-related legal services to children. The Executive Office for Immigration Review shall develop model guidelines for representing alien children in immigration proceedings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-663
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Justice
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Immigration status and procedures
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Judicial review and appeals
Lawyers and legal services
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019

 
This bill revises the definition of "immigration judge" by establishing that an immigration judge is judicial by nature, and actions taken while serving in a judicial capacity shall be reviewed under the applicable Code of Judicial Conduct, not any code of attorney behavior. It also establishes that an immigration judge may not be disciplined for good faith legal actions made while hearing and deciding cases. Completion goal systems or efficiency standards imposed on immigration judges may not be used to limit such judges' independent authority or as a reflection of individual judicial performance.
 
The Department of Justice shall (1) establish a transparent judicial complaint process consistent with various professional guidelines, and (2) promulgate regulations governing an immigration judge's contempt authority. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Workers’ Freedom to Organize Act

Bill: 116-s-664
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Contracts and agency
Labor-management relations
Self-employed

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Protecting Workers' Freedom to Organize Act

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to modify the definitions of "employee" and "supervisor" under that Act to prevent the misclassification of employees as independent contractors in order to deny them collective bargaining rights. An individual performing any services is deemed to be an employee and not an independent contractor unless such individual is free from control and direction in the performance of such services, the services are performed outside the usual course of the employer's business, and the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Underrides Act

Bill: 116-s-665
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 

Stop Underrides Act

 
This bill requires the installation of rear, side, and front underride guards on certain trucks and trailers. 
 
 
 Specifically, the Department of Transportation must require the installation of rear, side, and front underride guards on the following: 
 
a trailer or semi-trailer that is more than 10,000 pounds, and 
 
a single unit truck for which the bottom of the carriage is greater than 22 inches above the ground and that is more than 10,000 pounds. 
 
For rear and side underride guards, DOT must require adherence to a performance standard that requires the guards to be able to prevent intrusion from the body or frame of a trailer, semi-trailer, or truck into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle that contacts the guard while traveling at 35 miles per hour.
 
In addition, DOT must require drivers to (1) conduct a pre-trip inspection of the underride protection system on their vehicles; (2) identify rusted metal compromising structural integrity, cracked welds, or missing or loose fasteners; and (3) complete any necessary repairs.
 
DOT must establish a Committee on Underride Protection to oversee the ongoing underride guard rulemaking process.
 
DOT must publish data on victims of truck underride crashes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
HUBS for Veterans Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-666
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2019-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Consumer credit
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Lawyers and legal services
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: 
 
Helping Unleash Benefits and Services for Veterans Act of 2019 or the HUBS for Veterans Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a grant program to assist the transition of military personnel to civilian life. It directs the Department of Labor to carry out a five-year program of grants to nonprofit organizations that assist the transition of the following persons from Armed Forces service to civilian life:
 
 
members eligible for preseparation counseling,
 
former members who are transitioning to civilian life, and
 
spouses of such members or former members.
 
 
Funds must be used for a broad range of supportive programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-668
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: 

Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 

2019

 
This bill waives Medicare coinsurance requirements with respect to colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of the code billed for a resulting diagnosis or procedure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-669
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2019-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Access Board
Administrative remedies
Aviation and airports
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: 

Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2019

 
This bill expands provisions prohibiting discrimination against disabled individuals by an air carrier. Specifically, it enumerates certain actions that an air carrier must take or may not take with respect to a disabled individual. It also requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure that disabled individuals traveling in air transportation are able to file complaints with DOT in response to disability-related discrimination and receive assistance from DOT through a hotline or comparable electronic means.
 
The bill authorizes an aggrieved individual and the Department of Justice to bring a civil action for discrimination.
 
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall prescribe regulations setting forth minimum standards for aircraft with new or existing type certificates to ensure the accessibility of individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs. The standards shall address, among other things, boarding and deplaning equipment, seatng accommodations, lavatories, visually accessible announcements, and proper stowage of assistive devices in the cargo hold to prevent damage. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Sunshine Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-670
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: State and local government operations
Time and calendar

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: 

Sunshine Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill makes daylight savings time the new, permanent standard time.
 
States with areas exempt from daylight savings time may choose the standard time for those areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Miners Pension Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-671
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2019-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Coal
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Mining

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: 

 Miners Pension Protection Act 

 
This bill transfers certain funds to provide pension benefits for retired coal miners who have been affected by issues such as coal company bankruptcies. 
 
The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the annual limit on transfers under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 exceeds the amount required to be transferred for existing obligations of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. The bill also increases the annual limit on transfers from $490 million to $750 million. 
 
The bill also allows in-service distributions under a pension plan or governmental section 457(b) plan at age 59-1/2 (currently age 62). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Debt-Free College Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-672
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-03-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Education
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational guidance
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Minority education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: 

Debt-Free College Act
 
of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to (1) award grants for state-federal partnerships with a goal of providing debt-free college for students at in-state public institutions of higher education, and (2) award grants to provide debt-free college for students at historically black colleges and universities and minority serving institutions, and (3) allow grants for financial aid for dreamer students (students who entered the United States before the age of 16 and who meet certain educational criteria). It also repeals the suspension of eligibility for financial aid for students convicted of the possession or sale of illegal drugs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-06
text: Introduced in Senate