hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Improving COVID–19 Data Transparency Act

Bill: 116-hr-8073
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Blood and blood diseases
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Department of Health and Human Services
Educational facilities and institutions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Hospital care
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Meat
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Minority health
News media and reporting
Nursing
State and local government operations
Television and film
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Improving COVID-19 Data Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take certain actions with respect to reporting and modeling COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) data. It also requires health information technology, as a condition of certification by HHS, to automatically generate and transmit reports of possible reportable conditions from electronic health records to public health agencies.
 
The CDC must standardize the reporting of COVID-19 data by governmental health departments, including information related to contact tracing and surveillance, hospital admissions and outcomes, outbreaks, and community compliance with preventive measures. The CDC must also post and periodically update this information on its website.
 
In addition, the CDC must provide sufficient information about federal COVID-19 models to allow them to be reproduced, and HHS must enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study issues related to COVID-19 modeling, including the data sources used in the models.
 
The CDC must also deliver a weekly televised presentation that is open to the media on its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication that reports surveillance statistics and other public health information and recommendations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Veterans Health Care Stamp Act

Bill: 116-hr-8074
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Government Operations and Politics
Postal service
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Veterans Health Care Stamp Act

 
This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to issue and sell a Veterans Health Care Stamp to help fund the medical care and treatment of veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act

Bill: 116-hr-8075
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Property tax
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act

 
This bill allows local educational agencies (LEAs) participating in the Impact Aid Program to use the student count and federal property valuation data from their FY2021 program applications for their FY2022 program applications. The program provides funding to LEAs that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property or to those that have experienced increased expenditures due to enrollment of federally connected children (e.g., children living on Indian lands or military bases). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act

Bill: 116-hr-8076
Sponsor: Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Veterans Affairs
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to waive existing eligibility requirements for a veteran to receive per diem payments for domiciliary care at a state home if the veteran has met at least four of such requirements (e.g., can feed himself or herself), or the waiver would be in the best interest of the veteran. A 
state home
 is a home established by a state for veterans who are disabled by age, disease, or otherwise and are incapable of earning a living because of such disability. The term also includes a home that furnishes nursing home care for veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
GIVE MILK Act

Bill: 116-hr-8077
Sponsor: Rep. Keller, Fred [R-PA-12]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Department of Agriculture
Food assistance and relief
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Giving Increased Variety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids Act or the
 
GIVE MILK Act 

 
This bill revises the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to allow WIC participants (or the parent or guardian of such participants) to elect to be issued nonfat milk, 1% low-fat milk, 2% reduced-fat milk, or whole milk.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act

Bill: 116-hr-8078
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Citizenship and naturalization
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign labor
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Inflation and prices
User charges and fees
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act

 
This bill expands Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to provide premium processing services for certain immigration-related applications and contains other related provisions.
 
DHS may collect a fee to provide premium processing of an application for any immigration benefit that DHS considers appropriate, subject to certain requirements. Currently, DHS only has statutory authority to provide premium processing for employment-based applications. 
 
Under current law, DHS must use such premium fees to provide premium processing services and make infrastructure improvements. Under this bill, such fees shall be used for these purposes and other activities that offset the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.

DHS may suspend premium processing of applications only if circumstances prevent the timely processing of a significant number of such applications. DHS shall provide those who have requested premium processing with access to case status information and communications channels to the premium processing units. 
 
DHS may expand premium processing to certain immigrant benefits and set fees for such processing without following certain rulemaking procedures if DHS meets certain requirements, such as limiting the premium fee to specified amounts.
 
The bill also increases the premium fees charged to applicants. DHS may, subject to requirements, biennially adjust premium fees to reflect inflation without following certain rulemaking requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Elder Justice Reauthorization Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8079
Sponsor: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Health and Human Services
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Indian social and development programs
Law enforcement administration and funding
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Minority health
Social security and elderly assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Elder Justice Reauthorization Act of 2020

 
This bill appropriates funding to support adult protective services and reauthorizes various programs that address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
 
Specifically, the bill appropriates additional funding for certain adult protective services to states under the Social Services Block Grant Program and to tribes under the Community Services Block Grant Program.
 
In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2024 certain programs focused on preventing elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation by, for example, supporting long-term care ombudsman programs, state and local adult protective services offices, and long-term care workforce activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Health STATISTICS Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8080
Sponsor: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Census and government statistics
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Research administration and funding
Right of privacy
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Health Standards To Advance Transparency, Integrity, Science, Technology Infrastructure, and Confidential Statistics Act of 2020 or the Health STATISTICS Act of 2020

 
This bill directs various departments and agencies to undertake activities concerning the collection, reporting, and use of public health data.
 
Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must take certain actions, including establishing a working group, to develop uniform standards for reporting public health data. Furthermore, the CDC must, in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, establish specific standards within 30 days for reporting COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) data, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must disseminate this data subject to privacy and other requirements. HHS may also award grants to entities that report public health data to support the adoption of uniform standards.
 
In addition, the Office of Management and Budget must issue directives concerning federal health data collection that address, for example, the use of determinants of health data and access to data for evidence-building initiatives.
 
The bill also directs the National Center for Health Statistics to expand an existing program that links different federal datasets to facilitate statistical public health research, including to address social determinants of health. The program must assess the availability of datasets, use existing authorities to link these datasets, and support linkage to a specified database of death record information.
 
Additionally, the CDC shall support research entities and public health departments to increase capacity for statistical public health research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
American Right to Vote Act

Bill: 116-hr-8081
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Northern Mariana Islands
Postal service
U.S. territories and protectorates
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

American Right to Vote Act

 
This bill generally prohibits states from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of individuals to cast ballots by mail in federal elections. It also requires the U.S. Postal Service to categorize, handle, and deliver election mail as first-class mail.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Freight RAILCAR Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8082
Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Congressional oversight
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Manufacturing
Railroads
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Freight Rail Assistance and Investment to Launch Coronavirus-era Activity and Recovery Act of 2020 or the Freight RAILCAR Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes a new tax credit for the replacement and modernization of qualified freight railcars. Specifically, it allows a credit for 50% of the sum of the qualifying replacement or modernization amount, the qualifying scrap amount, and the qualifying railcar facility and technology modernization amount. 
 
The bill defines 
qualified freight railcar
 as a freight railcar that meets significant improvement requirements for capacity, fuel efficiency, or performance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Preserving Employee Retirement Savings Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8083
Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Economic performance and conditions
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Preserving Employee Retirement Savings Act of 2020

 
This bill allows an employer that has a temporary substantial business hardship and, if not a tax-exempt or cooperative organization, does not have more that $41.5 million in gross receipts a tax credit for 20% of retirement contributions made to employee retirement accounts. The amount of such credit for any employer may not exceed $100,000 in any taxable year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Lethal Means Safety Training Act

Bill: 116-hr-8084
Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Medical education
Mental health
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Lethal Means Safety Training Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention training course at least once a year to ensure it is culturally appropriate and uses best practices identified by subject matter experts (e.g., veterans service organizations). 
 
The bill requires certain VA employees and care providers to take the most recently updated version of the training course within 90 days after the person is hired, agrees to furnish care, or receives support and at least annually thereafter. Specifically, the bill requires the following categories of VA employees or care providers to take the training course: 
 
 
employees of the Veterans Health Administration or Veterans Benefits Administration who regularly interact with veterans,
 
compensation and pension examiners,
 
employees of Veterans Centers or vocational rehabilitation facilities,
 
employees of Veterans Community Care Providers who provide care to veterans, and
 
family caregivers receiving support under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
 
 
The VA must publish the training course on a publicly available VA website. Additionally, the VA must publish a report on its website that includes the percentage of individuals in each category who have completed such training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-09-10
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
Pipeline Safety Pilot Program Act

Bill: 116-hr-8085
Sponsor: Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Introduced: 2020-08-21 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intergovernmental relations
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Research and development
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: 

Pipeline Safety Pilot Program Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish and carry out pilot safety-enhancing testing programs through FY2026 to evaluate innovative technologies and operational practices testing the safe operation of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities.
 
Such programs (1) may not exceed 5% of the total pipeline mileage of all hazardous liquid or natural gas pipelines in the United States; (2) are prohibited from being conducted in high population areas, high consequence areas, or unusually sensitive areas; and (3) are limited to a duration of four years.
 
DOT may select up to five owners or operators of pipeline facilities to carry out a testing program under a single application.
 
The bill allows states to opt-out of the testing programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-21
text: Introduced in House