hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Security from Political Interference in Justice Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1915
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Justice
Executive Office of the President
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Security from Political Interference in Justice Act of 2019

 
This bill requires reporting of certain communications between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Executive Office of the President.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Counsel to the President and DOJ to each maintain a log of any communication between an officer or employee of DOJ and an officer or employee of the Executive Office of the President that relates to an ongoing DOJ civil or criminal investigation. For each communication, the log must identify the participants, topic, and purpose.
 
Additionally, DOJ must submit semiannual reports to Congress, the DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) containing the communications log for the previous six-month period. DOJ must exclude from the report to Congress any record of a communication in which certain officials participated (e.g., President and Vice President).
 
The OIG and the OPR must review the log and notify Congress of inappropriate or improper communications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Children from Online Predators Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1916
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Protecting Children from Online Predators Act of 2019

 
This bill generally prohibits a covered interactive computer service from recommending a video to a user if such service knows or should have known that the video features one or more minors. (A 
covered interactive computer service
 refers to an interactive computer service that hosts or displays user-submitted video content and makes recommendations to users about which videos to view, including by automatically playing a video at the end of another video.)
 
Specifically, the bill requires a covered interactive computer service to ask each user who uploads video content to the service (1) whether the video features one or more minors; and (2) whether, in the case of a video that features one or more minors, the user wants to restrict the video to nonpublic viewership or make the video publicly available.
 
A covered interactive computer service may be held liable if the service recommends a video designated by the user who uploaded the video as featuring one or more minors, or the service recommends a video that was incorrectly designated by the user who uploaded the video as not featuring one or more minors.
 
The bill establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Empower Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1917
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government trust funds
Political parties and affiliation
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Empower Act of 2019

 
This bill modifies the system for the public financing of presidential primary and general elections.
 
The bill (1) eliminates spending limits on participating candidates, (2) increases the amount of matching funds for participating candidates by matching the first $200 of contributions by individuals to candidates at a 6:1 ratio, (3) requires participating candidates to agree to accept contributions of no more than $1,000, and (4) allows national parties to expend up to $100 million in coordination with participating candidates. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1918
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Food assistance and relief
Nutrition and diet
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act of 2019

 
This bill revises the Summer Food Service Program to direct the Department of Agriculture to establish electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards and off-site consumption as two alternative delivery options for certain children through schools and service institutions in the program.
 
These options shall be available to a child only if (1) the child lives in a rural area or outside of an area in which poor economic conditions exist, and (2) the child is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch and breakfast. In the case of off-site consumption, the option is also available if the summer program is available to the child at a congregate feeding site but (1) the site is closed due to extreme weather conditions, (2) violence or other public safety concerns in the area prevent the child from traveling safely to the site, (3) the site is open not more than four days a week, or (4) the site provides only one meal per day. 
 
A state may not operate the EBT card option and the off-site consumption option simultaneously in the same area.
 
Each state desiring to participate in the summer food service program shall include in its annual management and administration plan the state's plans for using one or both of these alternative delivery options.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Yes In My Backyard Act

Bill: 116-s-1919
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Historic sites and heritage areas
Housing and community development funding
Housing supply and affordability
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Public transit

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Yes In My Backyard Act

 
This bill requires certain Community Development Block Grant program recipients to submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development information regarding their implementation of certain land-use policies (e.g., policies for reducing minimum lot size).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1920
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Labor-management relations
National and community service
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act of 2019

 
This bill creates a federal program to generate job opportunities for full-time students and certain workers who have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks.
 
Specifically, the Department of Labor must establish and administer a jobs initiative for eligible workers (i.e., individuals who are at least 18 years of age, are authorized to be employed in the United States, have not been employed or are full-time students for at least 27 weeks, and are currently seeking or have been seeking employment for at least 4 weeks), carried out through local boards or community-based organizations.
 
Labor shall award grants to local boards and community-based organizations to carry out jobs programs, including any added costs related to them in order to achieve economic development and job growth. Grant recipients must serve (1) high-poverty areas, or (2) areas for which the prime working-age employment-to-population ratio has been low, relative to that ratio for the United States for at least three years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Provider Training in Palliative Care Act

Bill: 116-s-1921
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Provider Training in Palliative Care Act

 
This bill makes palliative care a primary care service under the National Health Services Corps program, which provides scholarships and loan repayment assistance for eligible health care professionals who provide primary care services in health professional shortage areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Coral Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1922
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Air quality
Aquatic ecology
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Economic performance and conditions
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Research administration and funding
Rural conditions and development
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Coral Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes the federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to carry out prize competitions that promote coral reef research and conservation. The prize competitions must be designed to help the United States achieve its goal of developing new and effective ways to advance the understanding, monitoring, and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.
 
Priority is given to establish programs that address communities, environments, or industries that are in distress due to the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Guaranteed 3 Percent COLA for Seniors Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1923
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Inflation and prices
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Guaranteed 3 Percent COLA for Seniors Act of 2019
 
 
This bill revises the method used to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for certain Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits. Specifically, the Bureau of Labor Statistics must develop a price index that tracks the spending patterns of older consumers for purposes of calculating the cost-of-living adjustment. Individuals over 62 must receive, at minimum, a 3% annual cost-of-living increase.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Jaime’s Law

Bill: 116-s-1924
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime prevention
Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Jaime's Law

 
This bill establishes background check requirements for the sale and transfer of ammunition.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer from transferring ammunition to an unlicensed individual prior to submitting a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It also establishes penalties for violations. (Currently, background checks are required under these circumstances for the transfer of firearms, but not for ammunition.)
 
Additionally, it prohibits an ammunition transfer between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals) unless a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer first takes possession of the ammunition to conduct a background check. However, this prohibition does not apply to certain ammunition transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating Meth and Cocaine Act

Bill: 116-s-1925
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Combating Meth and Cocaine Act

This bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to states for the treatment and prevention of opioid-use disorders. Funds may be used for activities including education, treatment, and medical screenings related to opioid-use disorders, as well as for referrals to behavioral health services and recovery support. Grants also may be used to prevent or treat cocaine- or methamphetamine-use disorders. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4172-4173)
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
PrEP Access and Coverage Act

Bill: 116-s-1926
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Family planning and birth control
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
HIV/AIDS
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Indian social and development programs
Insurance industry and regulation
Life, casualty, property insurance
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Minority health
Prescription drugs
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

PrEP Access and Coverage Act

 
This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover prescription drugs that prevent the acquisition of HIV, and any related screenings, diagnostic procedures, or clinical follow-ups, without any cost-sharing obligation for the plan holder. Further, insurance plans must not impose any preauthorization requirement for this coverage. These coverage requirements also apply to public health insurance programs, including, among others, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
 
Additionally, the bill prohibits denying, limiting, or qualifying coverage or increasing premiums for disability insurance, long-term care insurance, or life insurance policies based on a person taking medication for HIV prevention.
 
The bill further requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states, or directly to eligible local organizations, to provide uninsured individuals access to prescription drugs and related services that prevent HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also must develop a public awareness campaign that focuses efforts in communities with a high need for HIV prevention treatment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding Access to Retirement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1927
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Financial services and investments
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Expanding Access to Retirement Act of 2019 

 
This bill establishes limitations on defined contribution pension plans, such as 401(k) plans, offered by associations or groups of multiple employers. Specifically, the bill (1) specifies that these plans may be offered only by a bona fide group or association of employers or by a bona fide professional employer organization, and (2) establishes various requirements for each of these types of entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Enrollment REFORM Act

Bill: 116-s-1928
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Enrollment Reshaping Entry For Older, Retiring Members Act or the Enrollment REFORM Act

 
This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements relating to coordinated coverage between employer health insurance and Medicare. 
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits employer-sponsored health plans for certain smaller employers from reducing benefits for employees who are eligible for Medicare but have not yet enrolled. Additionally, for purposes of calculating the Medicare late enrollment penalty, an individual seeking to demonstrate proof of enrollment in an employer-sponsored health plan may not be required to provide proof for more than the immediately preceding 36-month period, with specified exceptions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Homeownership for DREAMers Act

Bill: 116-s-1929
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing discrimination
Housing finance and home ownership
Housing industry and standards
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Homeownership for DREAMers Act

 
This bill prohibits federal mortgage providers from limiting insurance eligibility on the basis of the mortgagor's participation in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair and Equal Treatment of Women in the Coast Guard Act

Bill: 116-s-1930
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military personnel and dependents
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Fair and Equal Treatment of Women in the Coast Guard Act

 
This bill specifies reporting requirements for the U.S. Coast Guard regarding gender diversity.
 
The Coast Guard must submit a biennial report that includes an analysis of its recruitment and retention of women and gender-based limitations on career opportunities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Western Area Power Administration Transparency Act

Bill: 116-s-1931
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2019-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Department of Energy
Electric power generation and transmission
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: 

Western Area Power Administration Transparency Act

 
This bill directs the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)to establish a pilot project to provide increased transparency for its customers.
 
WAPA must publicly display on its website a database of specific information dating back to FY2008, including
 
 
 rates charged to customers for power and transmission services, listed by power system;
 
the amount of capacity or energy sold by power system; and 
 
a detailed accounting of its expenditures and costs by region and for the headquarters office.
 
 
Additionally, WAPA must annually update the information it provides on the website. The updates must include specified details regarding changes to the information, the reasons for the changes, and the amount of unobligated balances retained. 
 
The pilot project shall terminate in seven years. 

action_date: 2019-10-23
text: 

Western Area Power Administration Transparency Act

 
This bill directs the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)to establish a pilot project to provide increased transparency for its customers.
 
WAPA must publicly display on its website a database of specific information dating back to FY2008, including
 
 
 rates charged to customers for power and transmission services, listed by power system;
 
the amount of capacity or energy sold by power system; and 
 
a detailed accounting of its expenditures and costs by region and for the headquarters office.
 
 
Additionally, WAPA must annually update the information it provides on the website. The updates must include specified details regarding changes to the information, the reasons for the changes, and the amount of unobligated balances retained. 
 
The pilot project shall terminate in seven years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 262.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 116-142.
action_date: 2019-10-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 116-142.
action_date: 2019-09-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate