hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2577
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Marketing and advertising
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act of 2019

 
This bill places requirements on an entity that collects, assembles, or maintains the personal data of an individual in order to sell or provide third-party access to the information (data brokers).
 
Specifically, the bill requires a data broker to ensure the accuracy of personal information it collects, and it prohibits a data broker from obtaining an individual's personal information by false pretenses. A data broker must provide an individual with access to their personal information and a means to correct inaccuracies. Additionally, a data broker shall not use an individual's personal information for unreasonable purposes, such as profiting from biometric information or processing personal information in a manner that is discriminatory.
 
Further, the bill requires a data broker to maintain a website with clear and conspicuous instructions for how an individual may (1) review their personal information, and (2) express a preference on the sharing of their data for marketing purposes. If an individual indicates a preference to not have their information used for marketing purposes, a data broker is required to abide by that preference.
 
The bill also directs a data broker to facilitate the retracing of access to an individual's personal information and implement a consumer privacy and data security program to protect against data breaches. If the personal information of an individual has been breached, the data broker must notify the individual.
 
The Federal Trade Commission is authorized to establish a website that lists covered data brokers and provides consumers with information about their rights. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2578
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Minority education
Minority employment
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women in business
Women's education

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2019

 This bill requires the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants to enable eligible entities to carry out the activities specified below in order to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
 An eligible entity that receives a grant shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of the following activities designed to increase the participation of women or minorities underrepresented in science and engineering, or both: 
 
 
 online workshops, 
 
 mentoring programs that partner STEM professionals with students, 
 
 internships for undergraduate and graduate students in STEM fields, 
 
 outreach programs providing elementary and secondary school students with opportunities to increase their exposure to STEM fields, and
 
programs to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
STEM Opportunities Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2579
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adoption and foster care
Census and government statistics
Child care and development
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Minority education
Minority employment
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Performance measurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's education
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

STEM Opportunities Act of 2019

 
This bill provides for guidance, data collection, and grants for groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at institutions of higher education (IHEs) and at federal science agencies. 
 
 Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to provide specified guidance related to such groups to federal science agencies and IHEs.
 
Each federal science agency must collect comprehensive demographic data on recipients of merit-reviewed research and development grants given to IHEs and federal laboratories supported by that agency.
 
 Each agency must also implement recommendations from the OSTP report titled 
Reducing the Impact of Bias in the STEM Workforce
. In addition, each agency must carry out a pilot program and implement evidence-based policies and practices to minimize the effect of implicit bias in the grant review process.
 
The National Science Foundation (NSF) must carry out and publish a survey to collect data on the demographics of STEM faculty, by broad fields of STEM, at different types of IHEs.
 
The NSF must also carry out a variety of grant programs, including grants for increasing (1) the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in STEM careers; (2) the recruitment and retention of minority students who are underrepresented in STEM fields; and (3) student participation in computer science and computational thinking education programs at tribal colleges and universities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5751-5752)
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2585
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Child health
Family planning and birth control
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Sex and reproductive health
State and local government operations
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2019

 
This bill requires states, as a condition of federal payment under Medicaid for family planning services, to report certain abortion data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Currently, reporting is voluntary.) The CDC must develop standardized questions for states with respect to specified variables (e.g., maternal demographics and methods of abortion).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
MOM Act

Bill: 116-s-2586
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Medical education
Minority health
Nursing
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Maternal Outcomes Matter Act of 2019 or the MOM Act

 
 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish specified grant programs to support positive maternal health care outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. Specifically, grants must be used to (1) develop best practices to reduce preventable maternal mortality, (2) train health care professionals to reduce and prevent adiscrimination when providing maternal health services, and (3) support the collaboration of professionals across health settings with respect to maternal health. Grants may also be used to establish evidence-informed, integrated health care services to pregnant and postpartum women and their infants.
 
 HHS also must contract with an independent research organization to study and make recommendations about best practices for reducing and preventing discrimination in the provision of maternal health services and meet certain reporting requirements for specified maternal and child health care grant programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
COURTS Act

Bill: 116-s-2587
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Indian social and development programs
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local courts

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Continuation of Useful Resources to States Act or COURTS Act

 
This bill extends funding through FY2023 for (1) the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, and (2) a formula-based grant program to improve foster-care and adoption proceedings in state courts. In addition, the bill makes changes to the latter program, including by requiring grantees to expend a portion of funds on data collection and data sharing activities and by reserving funding for a competitive grant program for tribal courts.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Home Energy Savings Act

Bill: 116-s-2588
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Department of the Treasury
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Oil and gas
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Home Energy Savings Act

 
This bill reinstates and extends the tax credit for nonbusiness energy property through 2019. It also increases the rate of such credit from 10% to 15% and the amount of its lifetime limitation.
 
The bill revises limitations on such credit relating to insulation material, windows, and the Energy Star program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the limitation on downward attribution of stock ownership in applying the constructive ownership rules to controlled foreign corporations, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2589
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Financial services and investments
Foreign and international corporations
Securities
Taxation of foreign income
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit the scope of downward attribution rules to 50% of stock ownership in applying constructive ownership rules to controlled foreign corporations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Dignity for Aborted Children Act

Bill: 116-s-2590
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Cemeteries and funerals
Census and government statistics
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Health information and medical records
Health personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Dignity for Aborted Children Act

 
 This bill requires abortion providers to offer patients specified options concerning the human fetal tissue from an abortion. Specifically, patients must be given an informed consent form specifying the options to (1) take possession of the tissue for transfer to an entity that provides interment or cremations services, or (2) release the tissue to the provider. If the tissue is released to the abortion provider, the provider must ensure the tissue is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains. Abortion providers must report annually about the aggregate number of abortions performed and other specified information.
 
The bill provides civil or criminal penalties for violations of disposal, informed consent, and reporting requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2591
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Chesapeake Bay
Delaware
District of Columbia
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Land use and conservation
Maryland
New York State
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Water quality
Water use and supply
Watersheds
West Virginia
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense program. Among other duties, the program must establish and carry out a grant and technical assistance program to restore and protect habitat for fish and wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Virginia Beach Strong Act

Bill: 116-s-2592
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Crime victims
Income tax deductions
Tax-exempt organizations
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Virginia Beach Strong Act

 
This bill confirms that cash contributions made for the exclusive benefit of the families of the dead or wounded victims of the mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on May 31, 2019, shall be treated as tax deductible contributions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
End Government Shutdowns Act

Bill: 116-s-2593
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

End Government Shutdowns Act 

 
This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if any appropriations measure for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the fiscal year begins or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 242.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans’ Preference Parity Act

Bill: 116-s-2594
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2019-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 

Veterans' Preference Parity Act

 
This bill modifies the eligibility criteria for certain veterans to qualify for a preference in the federal hiring process.
 
Specifically, an individual who is honorably discharged from active duty service is eligible for a veterans' preference, if the active duty service was performed for more than 180 total days (currently, consecutive days).
 
Additionally, a retired member of the Armed Forces is eligible for a veterans' preference, even if the retiree (1) is not a disabled veteran and (2) retired at or above the rank of major or its equivalent.

action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Veterans' Preference Parity Act

 
This bill modifies the eligibility criteria for certain veterans to qualify for a preference in the federal hiring process.
 
Specifically, an individual who is honorably discharged from active duty service is eligible for a veterans' preference, if the active duty service was performed for more than 180 total days (currently, consecutive days).
 
Additionally, a retired member of the Armed Forces is eligible for a veterans' preference, even if the retiree (1) is not a disabled veteran and (2) retired at or above the rank of major or its equivalent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-01-29
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
New Home Energy Efficiency Act

Bill: 116-s-2595
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2019-10-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental technology
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: 

New Home Energy Efficiency Act

 
This bill reinstates and extends the new home energy efficiency tax credit through 2022. It also increases to $2,500 in 2021 and through 2022, the amount of such credit for new homes meeting the revised energy efficiency standards set forth in the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Voluntary Water Partnership for Distressed Communities Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2596
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-10-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intergovernmental relations
Pollution liability
State and local government operations
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: 

Voluntary Water Partnership for Distressed Communities Act of 2019 

 
This bill allows a community water system that is not in compliance with drinking water standards to enter into a partnership with other community water systems or other entities to bring the system into compliance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Pension Stability Act

Bill: 116-s-2598
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2019-10-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Labor
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Financial services and investments
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: 

Pension Stability Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to establish user fees for qualified professional asset managers (QPAMs) who have been convicted of a crime and apply for an individual exemption (known as a QPAM waiver) to the prohibited transaction rules under requirements for certain private benefit plans. 
The fees
 
 
 apply to large regulated banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, and federally registered investment advisors who are QPAMs; 
 
 must be at least $1 million per application for an individual exemption; and 
 
 increase based on the severity of the crime and the number of prior applications for individual exemptions. 
 
 
Labor must transfer the amounts collected from the user fees to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to assist in guaranteeing benefits under pension plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5798)
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Introduced in Senate
Seeding Rural Resilience Act

Bill: 116-s-2599
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2019-10-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Mental health
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Rural conditions and development
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: 

Seeding Rural Resilience Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a public service announcement campaign to address the mental health of farmers and ranchers, including television, radio, print, outdoor, and digital public service announcements.
 
Additionally, USDA must 
 
 
establish a voluntary program to train employees of the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the management of stress experienced by farmers and ranchers, including the detection of stress and suicide prevention; and
 
convene a task force of agricultural and rural stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels to assess the causes of mental stress in farmers and ranchers and identify best practices for responding to such stress.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Introduced in Senate