hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Community Health and Clean Transit Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2403
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Buy American requirements
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Community Health and Clean Transit Act of 201

9

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to make direct loans to eligible entities (i.e., grant recipients for buses and bus facilities or state and local governmental entities that operate fixed route bus service) for the costs of acquiring electric buses (zero emission vehicles) and for technical assistance in connection with such acquisition and related infrastructure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Christopher’s Law

Bill: 116-s-2405
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Disability and paralysis
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act or Christopher's Law

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning the private student loans of a deceased or disabled borrower.
 
Upon the event of the death, disability, or inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity of a student loan borrower, the lender of a private education lender must discharge the liability of the borrower, estate of the borrower, and any cosigner of the loan or parent borrowers.
 
In addition, the bill establishes disclosure requirements for such lenders with respect to such loans.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural America Health Corps Act

Bill: 116-s-2406
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Rural conditions and development
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Rural America Health Corps Act

 
 This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a demonstration project under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program to increase the number of health care providers in rural areas. Specifically, eligible participants who agree to serve for 5 years in such a rural area may receive up to $25,000 in loan repayments for each year of service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide criminal penalties for individuals acting as agents or attorneys for the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a claim under a law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs without being recognized by the Secretary for such purposes, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2407
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 
This bill requires a penalty when a person acts (or tries to act) as an agent or attorney for a veteran's benefit claim without recognition by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as an agent or attorney, or while such person is suspended or excluded from practice by the VA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2408
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to issue guidance for uniform best practices for the delivery of telehealth services. The bill also establishes a grant program to expand access to telehealth services in rural areas and revises the duties of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to incentivize the adoption of telehealth services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Reciprocal Trade Act

Bill: 116-s-2409
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Free trade and trade barriers
International organizations and cooperation
Legislative rules and procedure
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tariffs
Trade agreements and negotiations
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

United States Reciprocal Trade Act 

 
This bill allows the President, in certain circumstances, to (1) negotiate with a foreign country for tariff reductions on exported U.S. goods, or (2) impose additional duties on imported goods. Specifically, the President may take these actions if it is determined that the country (1) when importing a good from the United States, applies a higher rate of duty on that good than the rate imposed by the United States when imported from that country; or (2) similarly imposes other, nontariff trade restrictions on that good. 
 
The President must terminate a rate of duty increase under this bill if the country no longer applies such higher rates or nontariff trade restrictions, or if the higher rate is no longer in the interest of the United States. 
 
Congress may nullify a rate of duty increase implemented under this bill through a joint resolution. 
 
This bill is effective for three years, subject to one three-year renewal. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Flood Reduction, Wildlife Habitat, and Water Quality Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2410
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Floods and storm protection
Licensing and registrations
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Flood Reduction, Wildlife Habitat, and Water Quality Improvement Act of 2019

 
This bill revises requirements for permits to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, such as wetlands.
 
Under current law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may prohibit an area from being designated as a disposal site for dredged or fill materials when the EPA determines the discharge of those materials would have an unacceptable adverse effect on certain natural resources or wildlife. The EPA may also deny or restrict the use of an area as a disposal site when such a determination is made. This bill limits the authority of the EPA to prohibit such a designation or to restrict or deny such use. Before a permit application has been filed or after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a permit, the EPA may not prohibit such designation or use if the area is or contains a Corps project for flood control.
 
Further, the bill withdraws any prior determination made by the EPA for a flood control project if (1) a more practicable alternative to the projects has not been identified, and (2) severe flooding and damage to life and property have occurred as a result of a delay in construction of the project. The bill exempts from judicial review any action taken by the Corps to advance such a project.
 
In addition, a regional office of the EPA must follow requirements specified by this bill when considering such a determination. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5254-5255)
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2411
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Building construction
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019

 
 This bill establishes two grant programs to increase access to emergency care in remote rural areas where the nearest emergency department is at least 30 minutes away or inaccessible by road.
 
 First, the bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide grants to establish or maintain federally-qualified health centers or rural health clinics located remote rural areas. Eligible health centers or clinics must (1) employ physicians and professional clinical and support staff; (2) have laboratories, x-ray machines, and cardiac monitors on site; and (3) provide walk-in urgent care, and staging for transport to an emergency department.
 
 Further, the bill requires HRSA to provide grants to rural health departments that are located in remote rural areas to support the provision of emergency services, triage and transport to emergency departments, primary care services, or other similar services. Eligible rural health departments must (1) have a nursing staff and medical equipment, (2) agree to provide such emergency or similar services, and (3) submit an estimated cost for the first year of staffing and equipment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Addiction Treatment Access Act

Bill: 116-s-2412
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

Addiction Treatment Access Act

 
This bill provides for Medicare coverage of addiction counselor services that are used to diagnose and treat substance abuse and that would otherwise be covered if provided by a physician, including incidental services, as long as no payment is made to other providers for such services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Trade Certainty Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2413
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tariffs
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

Trade Certainty Act of 2019

 
This bill limits the President's authority to use emergency economic powers to impose duties or tariffs on items entering the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit.

Bill: 116-s-2414
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for five years the tax credit for health insurance coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Wind Workforce Modernization and Training Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2415
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

Wind Workforce Modernization and Training Act of 2019

 
This bill provides incentives for programs that prepare students for careers in the wind energy industry.
 
The Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a program to award grants to community colleges or technical schools that offer wind training programs. Such colleges and schools must use the grants for large pieces of wind component equipment (e.g., towers or blades) for use in training wind technician students.
 
DOE must also establish a program to prepare veterans for careers in the wind energy industry that shall be modeled off of the Solar Ready Vets pilot program.
 
In addition, DOE must convene a task force to study the wind technician workforce.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
EMPOWERS Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2416
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Executive agency funding and structure
Family services
Financial literacy
Food assistance and relief
Housing and community development funding
Intergovernmental relations
Low- and moderate-income housing
Poverty and welfare assistance
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

Economic Mobility, Prosperity, and Opportunity with Waivers that Enable Reforms for States Act of 2019 or the EMPOWERS Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes the Interagency Board for Empowering Low-Income Families and allows a governor to apply to the board for a four-year waiver from certain federal assistance program requirements. Specifically, under such a waiver, the governor's state may consolidate, replace, or alter eligibility requirements for two or more specified federal assistance programs related to nutrition, housing, income, foster care and adoption, and other social and community services. The board must evaluate waiver applications on the basis of whether a proposed project promotes employment, family stability, and financial literacy and savings with respect to program participants. 
 
Additionally, the bill excludes specified provisions from waiver authority and sets certain limits with respect to project funding. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2417
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Securities
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes requirements and procedures for the Department of the Treasury to transfer ownership of matured, unredeemed savings bonds and related records to states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
COASTAL Act

Bill: 116-s-2418
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Air quality
Alabama
Alaska
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Education programs funding
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy revenues and royalties
Gulf of Mexico
Higher education
Land use and conservation
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mississippi
Oil and gas
State and local finance
Texas
User charges and fees
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

Conservation Of America's Shoreline Terrain and Aquatic Life Act or the COASTAL Act 

 
This bill addresses the distribution of revenues collected from oil and gas leasing on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and the Alaska OCS.
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
increases the revenue Gulf states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) receive from certain federal oil and leases in the Gulf of Mexico and eliminates the revenue sharing cap;
 
exempts from sequestration payments of such revenue to Gulf states; and
 
allocates revenue from energy development in the Alaska OCS to Alaska for specified purposes, including mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
 

action_date: 2020-02-25
text: 

Conservation Of America's Shoreline Terrain and Aquatic Life Act or the COASTAL Act 

 
This bill addresses the distribution of revenues collected from oil and gas leasing on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and the Alaska OCS.
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
increases the revenue Gulf states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) receive from certain federal oil and leases in the Gulf of Mexico and eliminates the revenue sharing cap;
 
exempts from sequestration payments of such revenue to Gulf states; 
 
allocates revenue from energy development in the Alaska OCS to Alaska for specified purposes, including mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources; and
 
eliminates the 2% fee that the federal government currently deducts from a state's share to cover administrative or other costs.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 430.
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-11-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2019-11-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-346.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of Coconino National Forest land in the State of Arizona.

Bill: 116-s-2419
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 
This bill requires the conveyance of a land exchange involving Coconino National Forest in Arizona.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the independent appraisal of 13.3 acres of land within the Coconino National Forest, 43 acres of nonfederal land in Arizona, and an easement for the full maintenance and use of Forest Service Road 9201D from its junction with Forest Service Road 0618 (commonly known as Beaver Creek). Based on the appraisal of such lands and easement, the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), on behalf of the University of Arizona Experiment Station, may identify a portion of the nonfederal land that (1) is equal in value to the federal land, and (2) shall be offered in exchange for the federal land. 
 
Upon identification of the portion of the nonfederal land to be offered in the exchange, the ABOR may submit an offer to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to convey all right, title, and interest of the ABOR in and to the offered portion. On receiving an offer, USDA shall accept it and convey to the ABOR all U.S. interest in and to the federal land and easement.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
End Child Trafficking Now Act

Bill: 116-s-2420
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2019-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Child safety and welfare
Crimes against children
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Evidence and witnesses
Family relationships
Genetics
Human trafficking
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: 

End Child Trafficking Now Act

 
This bill imposes restrictions related to adult aliens being admitted into the United States with a minor. 
 
An adult alien shall not be admitted with a minor unless the adult (1) presents documents and witness testimony proving that the adult is a relative or guardian of the minor, or (2) submits to a DNA test that proves such a relationship. The Department of Homeland Security shall request a DNA test only if the required relationship cannot be established by specified evidence. An adult alien who does not consent to a requested DNA test shall be inadmissible.
 
If the required relationship cannot be established and the immigration officer believes the alien is guilty of a felony offense, the officer may arrest the alien adult.
 
The bill makes it a crime for an alien adult to knowingly use a minor to whom the adult is not a relative or guardian to enter the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate