hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-369
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Land use and conservation
North Carolina
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act of 2019

 
This bill extends through FY2021 the authority of the Department of the Interior to furnish assistance for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area in North Carolina. 
 
The bill also increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for the heritage area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
NOPEC

Bill: 116-s-370
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government liability
Jurisdiction and venue
Oil and gas
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act of 2019 or NOPEC 

 
This bill prohibits a foreign state from engaging in collective action impacting the market, supply, price, or distribution of oil, natural gas, or other petroleum product in the U.S. Specifically, a foreign state is prohibited from
 
 
collective action that limits the production or distribution of such product, 
 
collective action to set or maintain the price of such product, or 
 
any other action that restrains trade of such product. 
 
 
Specified defenses such as sovereign immunity (i.e., a foreign state's immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. courts) and the act of state doctrine (i.e., the prohibition of a court invalidating an official act of a foreign sovereign performed within its own territory) shall not apply to a foreign state's violation of this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Statistical Area Fairness Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-372
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Commuting
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Labor market
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Statistical Area Fairness Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits the Office of Management and Budget from including a county with a large federal installation in a core-based statistical area on the basis of employment in that county of residents of the central county or counties of the core-based statistical area. Core-based statistical areas are delineated based on census data and include metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the retention and service of transgender individuals in the Armed Forces.

Bill: 116-s-373
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Military personnel and dependents
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 
This bill prohibits (1) an individual serving as a member of the Armed Forces from being involuntarily separated from the Armed Forces, or denied reenlistment or continuation in service, solely on the basis of the member's gender identity; and (2) an individual from being denied initial enlistment, commissioning, or other accession into the Armed Forces solely on such basis.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-374
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Assault and harassment offenses
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability assistance
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employee performance
Evidence and witnesses
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Neurological disorders
Sex offenses
Sexually transmitted diseases
Telephone and wireless communication
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2019

This bill expands treatment for veterans with psychological trauma caused by sexual abuse or harassment that occurred during military service.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-376
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Army Corps of Engineers
Dams and canals
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government liability
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Lakes and rivers
Land use and conservation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Property rights
State and local government operations
Water quality
Water use and supply
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2019 

 
This bill revises the scope, jurisdiction, and requirements of the Clean Water Act.
 
It specifies the types of water bodies that are navigable waters and therefore receive protection. It defines 
navigable waters
 as waters of the United States that are (1) navigable-in-fact; or (2) permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water that form geographical features commonly known as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes that are connected to waters that are navigable-in-fact.
 
The bill limits the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over such waters, including by stating that ground water is under the jurisdiction of states. The bill prohibits the EPA from using a significant nexus test to determine federal jurisdiction over navigable waters and waters of the United States. 
 
The bill nullifies the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, the Migratory Bird rule, and a related guidance document issued in 2008. The bill prohibits the EPA and the Corps from issuing new rules or guidance that expands or interprets the definition of 
navigable waters
 unless expressly authorized by Congress.
 
Federal agencies must obtain consent from private property owners to collect information about navigable waters on their land. If regulations relating to navigable waters or waters of United States diminish the value of a property, then the federal government must pay the property owner an amount equal to twice the value of the loss.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-377
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Competition and antitrust
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Product safety and quality
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies regarding prices for drugs covered under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Current law prohibits the CMS from doing so.)
 
The CMS must take certain factors into account during negotiations, including the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the drug, the financial burden on patients, and unmet patient needs. If the CMS is unable to negotiate the price of a drug, such drug is subject to competitive licensing in order to further its sale under Medicare, notwithstanding existing government-granted exclusivities. 
 
Additionally, for one year after a drug is provided under a competitive license, such drug is also subject to specified price limitations; if the drug is not offered at such prices, the drug is subject to additional licensing that furthers its sale under any federal program (e.g., Medicaid).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Price Gouging Act

Bill: 116-s-378
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business records
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Prescription drugs
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Stop Price Gouging Act 

 
This bill imposes an excise tax on pharmaceutical companies that sell prescription drugs that are subject to price spikes that exceed the annual percentage increase in the Chained Consumer Price Index. 
 
For each taxable prescription drug, the excise tax ranges from 50% to 100% of price spike revenue received by the company, depending on the size of the price spike and including an adjustment for revenue that is due solely to an increase in the cost of the inputs necessary to manufacture the drug. 
 
Pharmaceutical companies must submit specified data regarding drug prices and revenue to the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the IG must submit an assessment of the data to the Internal Revenue Service.
 
HHS, upon the recommendation of the IG, may exempt certain drugs from the excise tax if (1) a for-cause price increase exemption should apply; or (2) the drug has an average manufacturer price of not greater than $10 for a 30-day supply and is marketed by at least 3 other holders of applications approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must examine (1) how drug manufacturers and health plans establish initial launch prices for newly approved drugs, and (2) alternative methods that have been proposed for setting the price of new drugs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit amounts paid for programs to obtain a recognized postsecondary credential or a license to be treated as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of a 529 account.

Bill: 116-s-379
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Licensing and registrations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 
This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for expenses required for programs to obtain a recognized postsecondary credential or occupational license. 
 
A &quot;recognized postsecondary credential&quot; is a credential consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or certification, a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship, a license recognized by the state involved or federal government, or an associate or baccalaureate degree. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
GOOD Act

Bill: 116-s-380
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD Act

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning the posting of agency guidance documents. Specifically, an agency must (1) publish guidance documents online on the dates they are issued, (2) publish all of its guidance documents that are in effect in a single location on a designated website, (3) display a hyperlink on its website that provides access to the guidance documents on such website, and (4) indicate on such website if a guidance document has been rescinded.
 
The documents must be categorized as guidance documents and further divided into subcategories. 

action_date: 2019-03-25
text: 

Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD Act

 
This bill establishes requirements concerning the posting of agency guidance documents. Specifically, an agency must (1) publish guidance documents online on the dates they are issued, (2) publish all of its guidance documents that are in effect in a single location on a designated website, (3) display a hyperlink on its website that provides access to the guidance documents on such website, and (4) indicate on such website if a guidance document has been rescinded.
 
The documents must be categorized as guidance documents and further divided into subcategories. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-25
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 43.
action_date: 2019-03-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-12.
action_date: 2019-03-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-12.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Space Resources Institute Act

Bill: 116-s-381
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Higher education
Mining
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Space flight and exploration
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Space Resources Institute Act

 
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to submit a report on the merits of, and options for, establishing an institute related to space resources in order to advance NASA's objectives for maintaining U.S. preeminence in space. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act

Bill: 116-s-382
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Canada
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Livestock
Mammals
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission in Cervidae Study Act

 
This bill requires the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to contract the National Academy of Sciences to study the predominant pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed populations of deer, elk, reindeer, and moose populations in the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1135-1136)
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to help facilitate the adoption of composite technology in infrastructure in the United States, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-384
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Building construction
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Infrastructure development
Materials
Research and development
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to (1) implement the recommendations in a specified report to help facilitate the adoption of composite technology in infrastructure, and (2) conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of adopting such technology in sustainable infrastructure.

action_date: 2019-09-26
text: 
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to (1) implement the recommendations in a specified report to help facilitate the adoption of composite technology in infrastructure, and (2) conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of adopting such technology in sustainable infrastructure.

action_date: 2020-08-04
text: 
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to (1) implement the recommendations in a specified report to help facilitate the adoption of composite technology in infrastructure, and (2) conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of adopting such technology in sustainable infrastructure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-07
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-08-07
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-08-07
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S4881-4882)
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (CR S4881)
action_date: 2020-08-04
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4881-4882)
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 240.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-128.
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-128.
action_date: 2019-07-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for Farm Workers Act

Bill: 116-s-385
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Labor standards
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Fairness for Farm Workers Act
 
 
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with respect to agricultural workers.
 
 The bill requires employers, beginning in 2021, to compensate agricultural workers for hours worked in excess of their regular hours (i.e., 55 hours in 2021, 50 hours in 2022, 45 hours in 2023, and 40 hours in 2024) at not less than one and one-half times the employee's regular rate. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, the overtime pay requirements begin in 2024. These overtime pay requirements do not apply, as in current law, to employees who are the parent, spouse, child, or other member of the employer's immediate family. 
 
The bill also repeals the exemption from overtime pay requirements for employers in various agriculture-related industries, including certain small farms, irrigation projects, sugar processing, and cotton ginning and compressing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-386
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2019-02-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: 

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

 
This bill increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15%, and eliminates the 7% cap for employment-based immigrant visas. It also removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for individuals from China.
 
The bill also establishes transition rules for employment-based visas from FY2020-FY2022, by reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled and other workers) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas. Of the unreserved visas, not more than 85% shall be allotted to immigrants from any single country.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-07
text: Introduced in Senate