hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
SMART Act

Bill: 116-s-3752
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Federal-Indian relations
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local finance
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: 

State Municipal Assistance for Response and Transition Act or the SMART Act

 
This bill provides $500 billion for a Coronavirus Local Community Stabilization Fund to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on state, local, and tribal budgets. The bill also expands the uses of payments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund.
 
The bill allows a jurisdiction to use funding from the Coronavirus Local Community Stabilization Fund or Coronavirus Relief Fund for (1) necessary expenditures related to COVID-19 that were not accounted for in the jurisdiction's budget, including the nonfederal share contribution requirement for disaster or emergency assistance; or (2) expenditures the jurisdiction would otherwise be unable to make because of decreased or delayed revenues. Funding from the Coronavirus Local Community Stabilization Fund may be used for expenditures through 2022. 
 
The bill (1) reserves specified funds for payments to tribal governments; (2) apportions funds to states based on population, infected population, and revenue lost; (3) provides for payments to counties and municipalities based on lost revenue.
 
The bill conditions funding on each state agreeing to fair and equitable budgeting based on need.
 
The Office of Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury may use amounts appropriated to carry out oversight and recoupment activities under this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-02
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions Act

Bill: 116-s-3753
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2020-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Health facilities and institutions
Prescription drugs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: 

VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that each VA medical center with an on-site pharmacy or a law enforcement officer has a physical location where patients may dispose of controlled substances medications. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3754
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Government trust funds
Idaho
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Nevada
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: 

Technical Correction to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to deposit specified interest payments into the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Water Rights Development Fund and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Operation and Maintenance Fund. These funds were established under the water rights settlement agreement for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3755
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Cemeteries and funerals
Department of Justice
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: 

Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act of 2020

 
This bill allows essential workers and their family members to file claims and receive compensation for harm or death suffered as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
A Special Master appointed by the Department of Justice must review claims submitted and determine if a claimant is eligible for compensation, the extent of the harm to the claimant, and the amount of compensation to be awarded.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Fuel Feedstock Reimbursement Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3756
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Renewable Fuel Feedstock Reimbursement Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to carry out a program to provide payments to certain renewable fuel producers to reimburse them for purchases of renewable fuel feedstock that were made between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2020.
 
The payment amount shall be equal to 75% of the purchase price of such feedstock.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Build Health Care Equipment in America Act

Bill: 116-s-3757
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Economic development
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment taxes
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government trust funds
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor market
Manufacturing
Medical education
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Build Health Care Equipment in America Act

 
This bill provides for certain tax incentives to combat COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). 
 
Specifically, it (1) allows a bonus depreciation allowance for property used solely for the production or manufacturing of medical equipment to combat COVID-19, (2) a new payroll tax credit related to the employment of certain skilled health care workers who previously worked in a declining field, (3) requires the Department of the Treasury to publish a list of any occupation or field of work that qualifies as a medical short supply field, (4) increases education-related tax benefits for medical professionals in short supply, and (5) establishes the 21st Century Technology Fund for State and Local Governments Looking to Draw Businesses to Their Rural Regions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Wildlife Health and Pandemic Prevention Act

Bill: 116-s-3759
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Ecology
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Endangered and threatened species
Food assistance and relief
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign property
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Land use and conservation
Meat
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Nutrition and diet
Sanctions
Smuggling and trafficking
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Trade restrictions
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
Visas and passports
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Global Wildlife Health and Pandemic Prevention Act

 
This bill establishes measures to close high-risk wildlife markets and prevent outbreaks of diseases of wildlife origin.
 
A high-risk wildlife market is a commercial market that sells or processes wildlife for human consumption where (1) the species of wildlife or regulation of the market is a risk factor for zoonotic (i.e., naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans) disease spread or is linked with the global illegal trade in wildlife, or (2) the manner of processing the wildlife is a risk factor for zoonotic disease spread.
 
The Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must (1) prioritize the closure of high-risk wildlife markets around the world, (2) provide support for foreign governments in their efforts to close such markets, (3) work with foreign governments and multilateral organizations to develop agreements around closing such markets, and (4) coordinate these activities with existing efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. Further, if a country is determined to be willfully harboring high risk wildlife markets, the President may impose certain sanctions, such as import bans.
 
The State Department, the USAID, the FWS, USDA, and the U.S. Geological Survey must leverage public health, animal health, and environmental health expertise to, among other things (1) identify high-risk wildlife markets; (2) strengthen global capacity for detection of zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential; and (3) coordinate an approach to global zoonotic disease preparedness, surveillance, and response.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID–19 Crisis Act

Bill: 116-s-3760
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Health personnel
Higher education
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Law enforcement officers
Military personnel and dependents
Nursing
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID-19 Crisis Act

 
This bill revises the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to provide for partial loan cancellation based on the length of public service employment. It also allows public service employees who are impacted by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency to continue to participate, without disruption, in the PSLF program.
 
First, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to cancel 15%, 15%, 20%, 20%, and 30% of the amount a borrower owes after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years of public service employment, respectively, on Federal Direct Loans made after the bill's enactment.
 
In addition, an individual who was employed in a public service job and who experiences lapse in employment (e.g., a furlough, a layoff, or the individual's resignation due to illness or caregiving responsibilities) because of the COVID-19 public health emergency may continue to participate in the PSLF program without disruption. The bill treats such an individual as employed in a public service job during the emergency and deems a monthly payment made by the individual as a qualifying monthly payment toward loan cancellation under the PSLF program. However, unless the individual would have completed requirements for partial or full loan cancellation during the public health emergency, the individual must resume employment in a public service job within six months after the end of the emergency.
 Finally, ED must develop and make available guidance related to certain assistance provided by the bill.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Claim Transparency Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3761
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability assistance
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Veterans Claim Transparency Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide an opportunity for a veteran's representative to review the veteran's disability rating determination before the rating is finalized.
 
Under the bill, the VA must provide notice to such representative when the determination is ready to be reviewed. The period for review begins at the moment notice is submitted and ends at the earlier of (1) the moment the representative agrees with the determination, or (2) 48 hours after the notice.
 
The VA may not finalize a determination until after the period for review has ended.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3762
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cemeteries and funerals
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act
 
of 2020

 
This bill increases to $10 million (currently $5 million) the maximum amount the Department of Veterans Affairs may grant in a fiscal year to states and tribal organizations for operating and maintaining veterans' cemeteries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Pandemic Responder Service Award Act

Bill: 116-s-3763
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Business investment and capital
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Cemeteries and funerals
Disability and paralysis
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health personnel
Higher education
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax exclusion
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Labor-management relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Mental health
Nursing
Student aid and college costs
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Pandemic Responder Service Award Act

 
This bill establishes a monetary award for health care workers who provide eligible services during the COVID-19 (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. The award may only be used by the worker or their dependents for specified purposes, such as repaying student loans or starting a business. Eligible services include, among others, emergency medical services, health care or patient care services, and mortuary services in environments that present an elevated risk of contracting COVID-19. 
 
The maximum award amount is $10,000 in 2021, with amounts in subsequent years increased by cost-of-living adjustments. Recipients receive a percentage of that amount based on the number of days they provided eligible services during the pandemic. 
 
The Department of the Treasury must establish application processes and guidelines for the award and maintain savings accounts for eligible health care workers or their dependents to receive distributions of award amounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Young American Savers Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3764
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Computers and information technology
Department of the Treasury
Disability and paralysis
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Student aid and college costs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Young American Savers Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to establish as a permanent program the Federal Child Savings Account Program not later than December 31, 2021. A program account shall be tax-exempt and distributions from an account shall be excludible from a child's gross income. 
 
The program allows the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 18 and a U.S. resident to make contributions to an account for the child's educational expenses. An account may also fund a Roth Individual Retirement account and an ABLE (i.e., Achieving a Better Life Experience) account for disabled individuals. Distributions from such accounts may begin on the earlier of the date such child attains the age of 26, receives an associate's or bachelor's degree, or enlists in active duty miliary service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Working Families Childcare Access (WFCA) Act

Bill: 116-s-3765
Sponsor: Sen. Loeffler, Kelly [R-GA]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adult day care
Child care and development
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Working Families Childcare Access (WFCA) Act

 
This bill increases to $15,000 the maximum amount of dependent care assistance that may be excluded from the gross income of an employee receiving such assistance. It also permits a carryforward to a succeeding year of unused balances in a dependent care assistance flexible spending arrangement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
SIGHT Act

Bill: 116-s-3766
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Department of the Treasury
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Seeking Inspector General's Honest Testimony Act or the SIGHT Act

 
This bill prohibits the President from blocking inspectors general from reporting to Congress regarding the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and requires a report to Congress under specified circumstances involving denial of access to records under such act.
 
Specifically, if the Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, or the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery determines that Treasury or the White House has not provided timely access or has impeded access to records regarding implementation of the CARES Act, then the office or committee shall report to Congress on the lack of access. If Treasury is responsible for the lack of access, then funding for the Office of the Secretary of the Treasury shall be rescinded until Treasury provides access to the records.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Local Coronavirus Response Act

Bill: 116-s-3767
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2020-05-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: 

Strengthening Local Coronavirus Response Act

 
This bill requires states to pay 45% of the amounts received from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to local governments that did not receive a direct payment from the fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Introduced in Senate