hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act

Bill: 116-s-2750
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2019-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: 

Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act

 
This bill provides statutory authorization for the Operation Stonegarden grant program within the Department of Homeland Security. Through the program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide grants for enhancing border security to law enforcement agencies that are (1) in a state with an international land or maritime border, and (2) involved in an active U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation coordinated through the Border Patrol.

action_date: 2020-02-04
text: 

Operation Stonegarden Authorization Act

 
This bill provides statutory authorization for the Operation Stonegarden grant program within the Department of Homeland Security. Through the program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide grants for enhancing border security to law enforcement agencies that are (1) in a state with an international land or maritime border, and (2) involved in an active U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation coordinated through a sector office. 
 
The bill imposes various information collecting and reporting requirements related to Operation Stonegarden activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 410.
action_date: 2020-02-04
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. 116-212.
action_date: 2020-02-04
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. 116-212.
action_date: 2019-11-06
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Patient Access to ESRD New Innovative Devices Act

Bill: 116-s-2751
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: 

Patient Access to ESRD New Innovative Devices Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a process to provide a certain payment adjustment under the Medicare end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system. Specifically, the CMS must establish a process to provide for a temporary add-on payment adjustment for new medical devices used to diagnose, treat, or manage ESRD. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate
School Hunger Elimination Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2752
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: 

School Hunger Elimination Act of 2019 

 
This bill revises requirements under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program of the Department of Agriculture, including by expanding mandatory direct certification of low-income children for free or reduced-price meals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2753
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Marriage and family status
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local taxation
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: 

Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2019

 
This bill modifies eligibility for, and other components of, Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This needs-based program, administered by the Social Security Administration, provides cash benefits to the aged, blind, and disabled.
 
Among other changes, the bill increases income and resource limits used to determine SSI eligibility. Current law excludes from income limits the first $240 of income from sources other than earnings and the first $780 of earned income. The bill increases these amounts to $1,476 and $4,788, respectively. Current law also allows SSI recipients to have $2,000 in resources if they are single or $3,000 in resources if they are married. The bill increases those amounts to $10,000 and $20,000, respectively. The bill also excludes from income and resource determinations (1) support furnished in kind, and (2) state tax refunds derived from specified state tax credits. 
In addition, the bill equalizes treatment of married couples when both spouses receive SSI. Under current law, such a married couple receives a lower benefit amount and is subject to lower income and resource limits than would apply to two unmarried individuals. The bill instead sets benefit amounts and limits for these married couples at a rate that is twice that of unmarried SSI recipients.
 
Additionally, the bill eliminates the penalty for transfers of certain resources. Under current law, SSI recipients who transfer resources for less than fair market value may lose SSI eligibility for up to 36 months. The bill repeals this loss of eligibility.
 
The bill also indexes annual benefit increases to a price index that reflects the spending patterns of elderly consumers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate
American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2754
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Economic development
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Industrial facilities
International organizations and cooperation
Lighting, heating, cooling
Manufacturing
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: 

American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses the use and regulation of fluorinated compounds in products and manufacturing, including by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to establish specified production and consumption baselines for the phase-down of specified fluorinated compounds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a report on the plan to secure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Bill: 116-s-2755
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2019-10-30 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Currency
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Historical and cultural resources
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Iran
Iraq
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Mining
Oil and gas
Political parties and affiliation
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Russia
Sanctions
Syria
Terrorism
Turkey

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: 
This bill requires the President to report to Congress a strategy to secure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al Qaeda in the Middle East. The report shall contain certain elements including (1) a description of U.S. interests and long-term goals for Syria; and (2) an analysis of threats to U.S. interests from ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Russia, Iran, and non-state actors in the region.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 281.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text: CR S6303-6304)
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Philanthropic Facilitation Act

Bill: 116-s-2756
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Business investment and capital
Business records
Department of the Treasury
Government information and archives
Income tax deductions
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Judicial review and appeals
Sales and excise taxes
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Philanthropic Facilitation Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to (1) expand the definition of, and requirements relating to, "program-related investments" made by private foundations to for-profit entities to further certain charitable purposes; (2) allow a judicial determination (i.e., declaratory judgment) as to whether investments in any entity qualify as program-related investments; (3) require expanded reporting by for-profit entities that receive program-related investments of their gross income, expenses, disbursements, and other information; and (4) allow public inspection of any petition seeking a determination that an investment by a private foundation is a program-related investment and of any information reported by organizations receiving program-related investments. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
HELP for Small Businesses Act

Bill: 116-s-2757
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Harmless Error Lesser Penalty for Small Businesses Act or the HELP for Small Businesses Act

 
This bill prohibits an agency from imposing a civil fine on a small business for a first-time paperwork violation, with the exceptions that the agency may levy a fine for a violation that (1) interferes with the detection of criminal activity; (2) contravenes an internal revenue law; or (3) endangers public health, safety or interest. 

action_date: 2020-12-15
text: 

Harmless Error Lesser Penalty for Small Businesses Act or the HELP for Small Businesses Act

 
This bill prohibits an agency from imposing a civil fine on a small business for a first-time paperwork violation, with the exceptions that the agency may levy a fine for a violation that (1) interferes with the detection of criminal activity; (2) contravenes an internal revenue law; or (3) endangers public health, safety, or the environment. However, an agency must track each first-time violation and report each waiver or reduction of a civil penalty for the violation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 628.
action_date: 2020-12-15
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. 116-326.
action_date: 2020-12-15
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. 116-326.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Hong Kong Be Water Act

Bill: 116-s-2758
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign property
Hong Kong
Human rights
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Protest and dissent
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Hong Kong Be Water Act

 
This bill directs the President to impose sanctions on, and freeze assets belonging to, individuals and entities responsible for suppression of freedoms in Hong Kong.
 
The President shall impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is an official of Hong Kong's government or China's government and who knowingly suppressed the freedom of speech, association, procession, or demonstration in Hong Kong. These sanctions shall also apply to foreign individuals or entities acting on behalf of or cooperating with such a government official. 
 
The President shall also block property transactions involving a Chinese national, an entity owned or controlled by China's government, or an officer or senior official of such an entity, if that individual or entity has attempted to undermine the autonomy, basic liberties, and human rights of the people of Hong Kong. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code for Swanzey, New Hampshire.

Bill: 116-s-2759
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: New Hampshire
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code applicable to the area encompassing only Swanzey, New Hampshire.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
CARE for Kids Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2760
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Elementary and secondary education
Family relationships
Food assistance and relief
Indian social and development programs
Low- and moderate-income housing
Medicaid

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Caregivers, Access, and Responsible Expansion for Kids Act of 2019 or the
 
CARE for Kids Act of 2019

 
This bill modifies program requirements for the National School Lunch Program and school breakfast program of the Department of Agriculture.
 
A local educational agency (including any school operated by the Bureau of Indian Education) may certify as eligible for free lunches or breakfasts, without further application, the following:
 
 
 children whose placement with a caregiver was carried out with the involvement of an agency that administers a state plan or a tribal child welfare agency, without regard to whether the agency is responsible for the care and placement of the child;
 
children being raised by a relative who receives adoption or guardianship assistance; and
 
children of a family that lives in housing dedicated to low-income families with a caregiver who is a grandparent or another older person that cares for the child full-time or that receives housing or housing assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996.
 
 
The bill also extends eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunches for children who were determined to be eligible in the school year prior to placement with a grandparent or relative for the school year immediately following placement.
 
The bill provides children who receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program with direct certification for free lunches and breakfasts under the school lunch and breakfast programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
ELEVATE Act

Bill: 116-s-2761
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Caribbean area
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Ensuring Linguistic Excellence and Vocational Aptitude by Teaching English Act or the ELEVATE Act

 
This bill makes changes in the treatment of Puerto Rico with respect to allotments for English Language Acquisition grants, to allow students who have migrated from Puerto Rico to the states to be fully counted in the annual grant allocation that states receive under such program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
SALT Deduction Fairness Act

Bill: 116-s-2762
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

SALT Deduction Fairness Act 

 
This bill increases the limitation on the deduction for state and local taxes to $20,000 for individuals filing a joint tax return. The limitation applies to taxable years 2018 through 2025. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6336-6337)
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Filter Bubble Transparency Act

Bill: 116-s-2763
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Filter Bubble Transparency Act

 
 This bill establishes requirements for large online platforms that use algorithms applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to user-specific data to determine the manner in which content is displayed to users. Specifically, if an online platform applies such techniques to user-specific data that is not expressly provided by the user, the platform must (1) notify users that the platform uses such data, and (2) make a version of the platform available that uses only user-specific data that has been expressly provided by the user and which enables users to switch between the two platforms.
 
These requirements do not apply to search engines operated by downstream providers with fewer than 1,000 employees and that have an agreement to access an index of web pages from an upstream provider. However, the bill requires such upstream providers to make their algorithm available to downstream providers as part of such an agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S6337-6338)
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
SIMSA

Bill: 116-s-2764
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Stop the Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues Act of 2019 or SIMSA

 
This bill establishes a process and requirements for regulating substances that have a similar chemical structure and actual or predicted effect as a controlled substance that is currently subject to such regulation because of its potential for abuse or dependence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Girls LEAD Act

Bill: 116-s-2766
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crimes against women
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
Marriage and family status
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Rule of law and government transparency
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 

Girls' Leadership, Engagement, Agency, and Development Act of 2019 or the Girls LEAD Act

 
This bill directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to jointly report to Congress a strategy to strengthen the participation of adolescents, particularly girls, in democracy, human rights, and governance.
 
The State Department and the USAID shall (1) implement activities to achieve this goal, including activities to increase adolescent girls' civic and political knowledge and skills and address barriers to political participation; and (2) prioritize foreign assistance funding for democracy, human rights, and governance programs toward achieving the goals in this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6338)
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a pilot competitive grant program for improving the sharing of water quality data, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2767
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2019-10-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Government information and archives
State and local government operations
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a pilot program that awards grants to certain states for the creation of systems that improve the sharing of information concerning water quality, sources of water pollution, and water infrastructure needs among local governments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-10-31
text: Introduced in Senate