hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID–19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3736
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Aging
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Disability assistance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Public-private cooperation
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID-19 Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase access to food delivery under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) national emergency.
 
Specifically, the bill 
 
 
requires USDA to notify authorized program retailers of existing opportunities through which they can deliver food to SNAP participants, including allowing an electronic benefit transfer card to be swiped on delivery of food to the home (with a mobile device);
 
authorizes public-private partnerships between USDA, authorized program retailers, and community-based organizations to support food delivery, including through the use of private funds;
 
provides funding, which USDA must use to reimburse certain retailers for the costs of delivering food to program participants who are seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a program retailer; and
 
requires each state to submit a plan that describes how it will coordinate with program retailers and community-based partners to expand delivery, administer reimbursements, and ensure retailers meet eligibility requirements.
 
 
Authority for USDA to carry out the bill with respect to each state shall terminate on the later of (1) the date on which the national emergency declared by the President with respect to COVID-19 is terminated, and (2) the date on which the state emergency declared in such state with respect to COVID-19 is terminated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act

Bill: 116-s-3737
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Education programs funding
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Indian social and development programs
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025, and otherwise modifies, the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program (a program that awards student loan repayment to individuals with qualifying degrees who commit to work full-time for a federal, state, tribal, or local public health agency for a period of obligated service). Among other changes, the bill eliminates the option for individuals to complete the service obligation in a federal public health agency and expands the scope of qualifying degrees to include those in statistics, computer science, and programs related to information technology. 
 
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services may take actions to equitably distribute awards among geographic regions and jurisdictional levels and to ensure that at least 50% of individuals who receive loan repayment awards are not employed in qualifying public health agencies at the time they enter the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
COVID–19 Testing Inventory Act

Bill: 116-s-3738
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Manufacturing
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

COVID-19 Testing Inventory Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to share information on a public website about tests to diagnose COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) or detect the virus that causes the disease. The website must include, among other information, a list of testing sites and the number and type of diagnostic tests available for use in each state, territory, or tribe. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
POWER Act

Bill: 116-s-3739
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Crime prevention
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Family services
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Protect Our Women and Waive Emergency Requirements Act or the POWER Act

This bill waives state matching funds requirements and related reporting for specified family violence prevention and services grants for FY2019, FY2020, and the duration of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care at Home Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3741
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Mental health
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Health Care at Home Act of 2020

 
This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover certain services provided via telecommunications systems (i.e., telehealth) during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. Specifically, the telehealth services must be deemed medically necessary by a health care provider and covered under the plan if provided in person. Plans must apply the same cost-sharing and reimbursement amounts that would otherwise apply to such services and may waive cost-sharing requirements for any services to diagnose or treat COVID-19, including via telehealth.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
RELIEF for Main Street Act

Bill: 116-s-3742
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Department of the Treasury
Economic development
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal-Indian relations
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Rural conditions and development
Small business
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Recharge and Empower Local Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund for Main Street Act or the RELIEF for Main Street Act

 
This bill establishes for one year the Small Business Local Relief Program, which shall allocate resources to states, local governments, and Native American tribes for providing assistance to certain small businesses and nonprofits that have lost revenue due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Specifically, the bill provides $50.5 billion for such assistance, of which (1) $35 billion shall be distributed based on the Community Development Block Grant formula (70% allocated to larger cities and counties and 30% to rural communities), (2) $15 billion shall be allocated to provide financing exclusively to businesses in rural areas, and (3) $500 million shall be for Native American Tribes.
 
These amounts shall be used to start or scale a local small business emergency fund or to support organizations that provide technical assistance to small businesses or nonprofits. Such local funds or organizations may then use the amounts to assist small businesses (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals) and nonprofits that (1) employ no more than 20 full-time employees (50 if the recipient is located in a low-income community), (2) has experienced a loss of revenue because of COVID-19, and (3) satisfies any additional requirements imposed by the administrator of the fund.
 
A state, local government, or Native American tribe that receives funds under the bill must report specified demographic and disbursement information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Untraceable Firearms Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3743
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Digital media
Firearms and explosives
Manufacturing
Materials
Retail and wholesale trades
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Untraceable Firearms Act of 2020

 
This bill generally prohibits and penalizes the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of a ghost gun. A ghost gun is a firearm that lacks a unique serial number.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Coronavirus E-BD Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3745
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Employee hiring
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Coronavirus Emergency Borrower Defense Act of 2020 or the Coronavirus E-BD Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to discharge, within 30 days, the federal student loan debt of three categories of borrowers.
 
Specifically, ED must discharge the federal student loan debt of a borrower (1) who is covered by ED findings against an institution of higher education (IHE) for job placement rate misrepresentation; (2) for whom a state attorney general has asserted a right to borrower defense discharge; or (3) who was subject to a misrepresentation made by the IHE related to guaranteed employment or transferability of credits, and who has asserted such misrepresentation in a borrower defense application. 
 
ED must reimburse a borrower for amounts paid toward the federal student loan.
 
The bill also requires ED to (1) notify borrowers of loan relief and eligibility for financial aid, and (2) report loan discharge to consumer reporting agencies.
 
Finally, ED must initiate a proceeding to require the IHE whose act or omission resulted in loan discharge to repay ED for such amounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Stopping Doctor Shortages Act

Bill: 116-s-3746
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Higher education
Hospital care
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Stopping Doctor Shortages Act

 
This bill makes certain full-time health care practitioners eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Specifically, the bill extends program eligibility to health care practitioners who work at a nonprofit or public hospital or facility but are prohibited under state law from being directly employed by the hospital or facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2455)
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
WORK NOW Act

Bill: 116-s-3747
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child care and development
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Employee leave
Employment and training programs
Family services
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health technology, devices, supplies
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing and community development funding
Housing supply and affordability
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Rural conditions and development
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local finance
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Work Opportunities and Resources to Keep Nonprofit Organizations Well Act or the WORK NOW Act 

 
This bill establishes a grant program for the purpose of providing emergency relief to nonprofit organizations, prioritizing organizations that provide services related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Organizations receiving funding must use not less than 60% of these funds to hire new employees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 116-s-3748
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Aviation and airports
Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health personnel
Military history
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Dust Off crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

Bill: 116-s-3749
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Business records
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Consumer credit
Disability and health-based discrimination
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Genetics
Geography and mapping
Health information and medical records
Housing discrimination
Immigration status and procedures
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marketing and advertising
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Racial and ethnic relations
Right of privacy
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local government operations
Veterans' medical care
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

 
This bill imposes requirements on covered organizations concerning the privacy, confidentiality, and security of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency health data, which is data that is linked to an individual or device, such as test results. Covered organizations include those that collect, use, or disclose such data electronically or that develop or operate websites or applications for contact tracing and other COVID-19 response activities.
 
Among other actions, covered organizations must provide notice of privacy and other policies, as well as ensure the accuracy of, prevent discrimination based on, and limit disclosure of the data. Covered organizations that collect data from at least 100,000 individuals must publicly report additional information about how they use and disclose the data. The bill also prohibits the use of emergency health data for commercial advertising or in ways that restrict access to opportunities, services, and other accommodations.
 
In addition, government entities and covered organizations shall not use emergency health data to infringe on the right to vote. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the civil rights impact of the collection, use, and disclosure of health data.
 
The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, states, and a private right of action and specifies that pre-dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration, are unenforceable with respect to disputes arising under the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act

Bill: 116-s-3750
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-05-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Medicare
Securities
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Improvement Act 

 
This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements for the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The program provides Medicare payments in advance to eligible providers experiencing claims or cash flow disruptions, such as during national emergencies; the program was specifically expanded in response to COVID-19 to encompass more types of providers, subject to certain recoupment and repayment provisions.
 
Under the current program, recoupment of advance payments (through claims offsets) begins up to four months after the payment is made. Additionally, certain hospitals have one year to repay the full amount; other types of providers have seven months. Repayments made after this period are subject to the prevailing interest rate set by the Department of the Treasury (generally around 10% in FY2020).
 
The bill delays recoupment for one year and caps the recoupment at 25% of a claim. The bill also gives all providers up to two years for full repayment and caps the interest rate at 1%. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may waive repayment entirely upon a demonstration of extreme hardship, among other factors.
 
The bill also requires the CMS to continue to make the program available to providers of Medicare medical services for the duration of the public health emergency. (The CMS suspended the program for such providers on April 26, 2020.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery Expedited Hiring Authorities Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3751
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2020-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee hiring
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: 

Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery Expedited Hiring Authorities Act of 2020

 
This bill expands the hiring authority of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, which was created to oversee loan programs and other forms of financial assistance related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic that are administered by the Department of the Treasury.
 
Specifically, the bill allows the office to exercise, for up to six months, the expedited hiring authorities that are afforded to temporary organizations. The office may also hire up to 25 retired governmental employees; such retirees may continue to receive their pensions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate