hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-940
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Licensing and registrations
Mining
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Public contracts and procurement
Tariffs
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a carbon trading program that caps the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from crude oil, coal, and natural gas. Beginning in 2019, crude oil refineries, petroleum importers, coal mines, coal importers, and natural gas suppliers or processors must purchase carbon permits equivalent to the amount of CO2 that would be emitted by covered fuels. 
 
This bill establishes a declining cap on the quantity of permits issued to reduce CO2 emissions until 2040 when the permits issued represent an amount 80% below 2005 CO2 emission levels.
 
This bill provides for the trading or sale of permits between entities, the banking by entities of permits for future years, and the borrowing by Treasury of permits from future years to stabilize permit prices.
 
Auction proceeds and penalties are returned to U.S. citizens lawfully present in the United States using the Healthy Climate Trust Fund established by this bill. 
 
Treasury must impose fees on the import and pay fees for the export of carbon-intensive goods when the export country does not have equivalent measures to regulate greenhouse gases. Carbon-intensive goods are goods with an increased cost due to the regulation of greenhouse gases.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency must regulate within 10 years all sources of greenhouse gases that are anthropogenically emitted. This excludes gases attributable to the production of animals for food.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act

Bill: 116-s-941
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licensing and registrations
News media and reporting
Radio spectrum allocation
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Section 331 Obligation Clarification Act

 
This bill specifies that certain service obligations owed by the licensee of a commercial television broadcast station apply regardless of the broadcast frequency used by the licensee.
 
Specifically, the bill provides that a licensee making a change from a very high frequency (VHF) broadcast station to an ultrahigh frequency (UHF) broadcast station must ensure the change does not affect its obligation to provide service to its customers. The bill also requires such a licensee to (1) broadcast at least 14 hours of common local programming per week, (2) include a substantial amount of particularized local content, and (3) maintain a studio in the station's community. 
 
 The bill further provides for the reallocation of a station to a community where there is no VHF or UHF station.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Real Time Transparency Act

Bill: 116-s-942
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Real Time Transparency Act 

 
This bill revises the notification requirement for campaign contributions of $1,000 or more. The bill applies this requirement to (1) any political committee, not just a candidate's principal campaign committee; and (2) cumulative contributions of $1,000 or more during a calendar year, instead of only single contributions. Only the Federal Election Commission (FEC) must be notified, instead of the FEC and others.
 
Any amount transferred by a joint fundraising committee established by a candidate's authorized committee to any other authorized committee of that candidate shall be treated as a contribution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
College Equity Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-943
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Accounting and auditing
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational guidance
Higher education
Minority education
School administration
Student aid and college costs
Student records
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

College Equity Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to establish grant programs for reviewing and addressing inequities in student recruitment, admissions, and support at institutions of higher education (IHEs). 
 
Specifically, ED must award grants to IHEs to conduct equity audits that review IHEs' policies, practices, and resources (e.g., admission policies, financial aid, and faculty diversity) to identify areas that might produce gaps in outcomes by certain identity factors. Identity factors include gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, income, criminal background, military service, first-generation students, students with disabilities, student parents, and transfer students.
 
In addition, ED must award grants to IHEs for executing improvement plans that address inequities. 
 
Finally, higher education accrediting agencies and associations must assess the findings from the audits and assist IHEs in addressing inequities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening American Transportation Security Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-944
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Strengthening American Transportation Security Act of 2019

 
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the personnel system used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides insufficient workplace protections for its workforce and such personnel should be entitled to protections under the civil service system applicable to all federal employees.
 
Among other things, the bill
 
 
eliminates personnel authorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation governing the conditions of employment for TSA employees, thus making TSA employees subject to the personnel management system applicable to other federal employees;
 
sets forth transition rules that protect the pay rates and other rights of TSA employees;
 
requires DHS to consult with the labor organization certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to carry out the conversion of such positions; and
 
does not affect the prohibitions against disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the federal government.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-946
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government studies and investigations
Medical research
Minority health
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to complete a study reviewing how federal agencies address barriers to participation in federally-funded cancer clinical trials by individuals from underrepresented populations and provide recommendations for addressing such barriers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2019

Bill: 116-s-947
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Arizona
Cancer
Civil actions and liability
Colorado
Department of Justice
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Education programs funding
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Government liability
Government trust funds
Guam
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Higher education
Idaho
Legal fees and court costs
Medical research
Military history
Mining
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Nuclear weapons
Oregon
Personnel records
Public contracts and procurement
Radiation
Research administration and funding
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Washington State
Worker safety and health
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2019

 
This bill increases the amount of compensation provided to individuals exposed to radiation and expands eligibility requirements for compensation to include additional individuals.
 
Specifically, the bill extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund until 19 years after this bill's enactment. The trust fund compensates individuals who contract cancer or other diseases as a result of their exposure to radiation during nuclear testing undertaken by the United States during the Cold War.
 
The bill revises the requirements governing the compensation of individuals who were exposed to radiation, including by
 
 
increasing the amount of compensation that an individual may receive;
 
 expanding the affected area to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico;
 
 expanding eligibility requirements to include additional individuals, such as certain employees of uranium mines or mills; and 
 
 extending until 19 years after this bill's enactment the statute of limitations for the filing of claims.
 
 
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences must establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among non-occupationally exposed individuals.
 
The bill expands eligibility requirements for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program with respect to chronic beryllium disease.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act

Bill: 116-s-948
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Foreign labor
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Immigration status and procedures
Labor standards
Medical education
Rural conditions and development
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act

 
This bill modifies the Conrad 30 Waiver program, which incentivizes qualified foreign physicians to serve in underserved communities. It also extends statutory authority for the program through FY2021.
 
Aliens coming to the United States under a J-1 nonimmigrant visa to receive medical training typically must leave the country and reside for two years abroad before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence. The Conrad program waives this requirement for individuals who meet certain qualifications, including serving for a number of years at a health care facility in an underserved area. 
 
The bill increases the number of waivers that a state may obtain each fiscal year from 30 to 35 if a certain number of waivers were used the previous year, and provides for further adjustments depending on demand.
 
An alien physician may be employed at an academic medical center to meet the Conrad program's employment requirements if the alien's work is in the public interest, even if the medical center is not in an underserved area. 
 
Employment contracts for alien physicians under the Conrad program shall contain certain information, such as the maximum number of on-call hours per week the physician shall have to work. 
 
Certain alien physicians (along with the physician's spouse and children) shall be exempt from the direct annual numerical limits on immigration, including those physicians that have met certain requirements related to visas for physicians to serve in underserved areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
PFAS Detection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-950
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Lakes and rivers
Soil pollution
Water quality
Water use and supply
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

PFAS Detection Act of 2019

 
This bill sets forth requirements for detecting and sampling perfluorinated compounds. Perfluorinated compounds are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain perfluorinated compounds, such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and fire-fighting foams. 
 
The bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a performance standard for the detection of perfluorinated compounds.
 
Using such standard, the USGS must carry out a nationwide sampling to determine the concentration of perfluorinated compounds in estuaries, lakes, streams, springs, wells, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and soil. 
 
The sampling data must then be used to inform and enhance assessments of exposure, likely health and environmental impacts, and remediation priorities.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-951
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Educational guidance
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Minority employment
Small business
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Wages and earnings
Women's employment
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to implement a program to award grants to workforce intermediaries (certain national, regional, state, or local entities that facilitate the establishment of registered apprenticeship programs) to enable them to engage a variety of stakeholders to support, develop, and implement registered apprenticeship programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-952
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Correctional facilities and imprisonment
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2019

 
This bill allows a state or federal correctional facility to operate a jamming system to interfere with cellphone signals within inmate housing facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 West Kent Avenue in Missoula, Montana, as the "Jeannette Rankin Post Office Building".

Bill: 116-s-953
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Members of Congress
Montana
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 West Kent Avenue in Missoula, Montana, as the "Jeannette Rankin Post Office Building."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
POWER Act

Bill: 116-s-954
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Chemistry
Criminal justice information and records
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Employment and training programs
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Providing Officers With Electronic Resources Act or the POWER Act

 
This bill authorizes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to make grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase a chemical screening device and to train personnel to use, and interpret data collected by, such device.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Polling Place Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-955
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Legal fees and court costs
State and local government operations
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Polling Place Protection Act of 2019 

 
This bill requires states and jurisdictions responsible for administering elections to provide sufficient resources to ensure 
 
 
a reasonably uniform ratio of staff and voting systems to registered voters, 
 
a reasonably uniform geographic distribution of polling places, 
 
a fair and equitable waiting time for voters, and 
 
a wait of no longer than 30 minutes to cast a ballot at a polling place. 
 
 
These states and jurisdictions must develop an election administration plan that includes a contingency plan for additional resources to be deployed if there are wait times of over 30 minutes at any polling place on an election day. Contingency plans must be approved by the Federal Election Commission.
 
 This bill provides a private right of action for an individual aggrieved by a state or jurisdiction's violation of the voting wait time limit. 
 
A U.S. district court may extend polling hours to enforce these requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Brighter Sunshine on Donations Act

Bill: 116-s-956
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
Political advertising

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Brighter Sunshine on Donations Act

 
This bill requires the disclosure of certain federal campaign contributions regardless of the purpose of the contribution, subject to other requirements. Currently, reporting is generally required for a contribution over a certain amount for 
 
 
a communication expressly advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate (i.e., an independent expenditure), or 
 
a broadcast, cable, or satellite communication during preelection periods that refers to a candidate, but does not call for election or defeat (i.e., an electioneering communication).
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Early Voting Act

Bill: 116-s-957
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Public transit
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Early Voting Act 

 
This bill requires states and jurisdictions that administer elections to offer early voting. The bill provides for the minimum required number of early voting locations, the length of the early voting period, and other requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
SAVE VOTERS Act

Bill: 116-s-958
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
State and local government operations
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: 

Stop Automatically Voiding Eligible Voters Off Their Enlisted Rolls in States Act or the SAVE VOTERS Act 

 
This bill requires verification and notice of the removal of registrants from an official list of eligible voters. Specifically, the bill requires a state or political subdivision to provide notice to individual registrants that are removed, the grounds for the removal, and information on contesting the removal. Public notice must be provided after any systematic removal of names. 
 
The bill provides conditions for the removal of names from an official list of eligible voters. A state is prohibited from removing a name unless the state verifies that the registrant is ineligible to vote. A state is prohibited from considering failure to vote in an election or failure to respond to a notice as evidence of ineligibility to vote.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate