hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
CREATE Opportunities Act

Bill: 116-s-1983
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime prevention
Criminal justice information and records
Detention of persons
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Prescription drugs
Rural conditions and development
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Community Re-Entry through Addiction Treatment to Enhance Opportunities Act or the CREATE Opportunities Act

 
This bill establishes the Medication-Assisted Treatment Corrections and Community Reentry Program in the Department of Justice. Under the program, the National Institute of Corrections may award grants to support local programs that provide medication-assisted treatment for incarcerated individuals who have opioid-use disorders; such treatment must be provided in accordance with specified requirements, including drug, screening, and personnel criteria.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to provide fisheries disaster relief for commercial fishery failures that are due to certain duties, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-1984
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Economic performance and conditions
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Seafood
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to provide disaster relief for commercial fishery failures that occur because of an increase in duties on U.S. seafood or fish products imposed as retaliation for increases in duties imposed by the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
STRANDED Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1985
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Government studies and investigations
Nuclear power
Radioactive wastes and releases
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development Act of 2019 or the
 
STRANDED Act of 2019

 
This bill provides resources to communities that are challenged by stranded nuclear waste. 
 
The bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a competitive prize competition for affected communities to carry out alternatives to nuclear facilities, generating sites, and waste sites.
 
DOE must also (1) establish the Stranded Nuclear Waste Task Force to study existing public and private resources and funding for affected communities, and (2) establish a grant program to assist localities near nuclear power plants to offset the impacts of stranded nuclear waste in affected communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1986
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Housing and community development funding
Housing discrimination
Housing industry and standards
Low- and moderate-income housing
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their source of income, veteran status, or military status in the sale or rental of housing and other related real estate transactions and services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
End Price Gouging for Medications Act

Bill: 116-s-1987
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Asia
Australia
Canada
Civil actions and liability
Europe
France
Germany
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Inflation and prices
Italy
Japan
Medicaid
Medical research
Medicare
Military medicine
Netherlands
North America
Oceania
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

End Price Gouging for Medications Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to set maximum prices for prescription drugs under specified federal health programs. Specifically, HHS must establish reference prices based on certain factors, including drug prices in listed countries. Retail prices of covered drugs under specified federal health programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid) may not exceed the established reference prices. Drugs must also be available at such prices to uninsured individuals and to individuals with private health insurance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4569-4570)
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act

Bill: 116-s-1988
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Electric power generation and transmission
Government information and archives
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act

 
This bill extends the 30 % energy tax credit for offshore wind facilities that begin construction by January 1, 2027, or the year that the United States has increased its offshore wind capacity by not less than 3,000 megawatts as compared to such capacity on January 1, 2020, whichever is later. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
PAID Act

Bill: 116-s-1989
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Health information and medical records
Insurance industry and regulation
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Provide Accurate Information Directly Act or PAID Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify, in response to an inquiry from certain non-group health plans (e.g., liability insurers), whether an individual was enrolled in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or the Medicare prescription drug benefit during the preceding three-year period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Appointee Accountability Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1990
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Employee performance
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Presidential Appointee Accountability Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to impose a fine on a presidentially appointed employee against whom the Special Counsel determines disciplinary action should be taken for (1) committing a prohibited personnel practice; (2) violating the provision of any law, rule, or regulation, or engaging in certain other conduct within the jurisdiction of the Special Counsel; or (3) knowingly and willfully refusing or failing to comply with an order of the MSPB.
 
If the Special Counsel determines that such disciplinary action should be taken, the Special Counsel must prepare a written complaint containing such determination and present it to the President. The President shall submit a written response explaining whether the President is taking the recommended disciplinary action and, if not, the reason for not doing so.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Restore Honor to Service Members Act

Bill: 116-s-1991
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Evidence and witnesses
Government information and archives
Military history
Military law
Military personnel and dependents
Personnel records
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

 

Restore Honor to Service Members Act

 

 
 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to review the discharge characterization of a service member who was discharged on the basis of sexual orientation (i.e., on the basis of Don't Ask Don't Tell or a similar policy) if the service member requests such a review. If the service member's discharge is characterized as other than honorable, and if there were no aggravating circumstances that would have independently caused the discharge to be characterized as other than honorable, then DOD must change its characterization of the discharge to honorable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the FAST Act to repeal a rescission of funds.

Bill: 116-s-1992
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Appropriations
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 
This bill amends the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) to repeal the permanent rescission on July 1, 2020, of $7.569 billion in unobligated federal-aid highway funds for states.

action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 
This bill amends the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) to repeal the permanent rescission on July 1, 2020, of $7.569 billion in unobligated federal-aid highway funds for states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 168.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Barrasso without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Barrasso without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Patient Rights Act

Bill: 116-s-1993
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Aging
Child health
Civil actions and liability
Disability and health-based discrimination
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Indian social and development programs
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Military medicine
Minority health
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Patient Rights Act

 
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for health care services unless the entity receiving the funds certifies to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the entity respects all human life.
 
Specifically, the entity must ensure that health care practitioners employed by or affiliated with the entity (1) exercise the same degree of professional skill and diligence to preserve the life and health of any patient as a conscientious health care practitioner would render to a patient in a different state of functionality, including patients in specified categories (e.g., terminally ill patients, elderly patients, and the unborn); (2) do not intentionally end the life of, or otherwise harm, any patient; and (3) do not institute a do-not-resuscitate or similar order without obtaining specified informed consent.
 
In addition, HHS must (1) establish a public database that indicates whether an entity is in compliance, and (2) periodically review entities to ensure compliance. The Department of Justice or a person adversely affected may bring a civil action for violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in Main Street Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1994
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Business investment and capital
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Investing in Main Street Act of 2019

 
This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to permit certain banking entities, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, to invest up to 15% of their capital and surplus in one or more small business investment companies (SBICs), or in any entity established to invest solely in SBICs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Food Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1995
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Agricultural trade
Animal and plant health
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Health and Human Services
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Livestock
Meat
Medical research
Research administration and funding
Seafood
State and local government operations
Trade restrictions
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Safe Food Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes the Food Safety Administration (FSA) as an independent agency to administer and enforce food safety laws.
 
The functions of specified federal agencies that relate to the administration or enforcement of food safety laws are transferred to the FSA.
 
The FSA is directed to
 
 
promulgate regulations to protect the food supply from contamination;
 
implement federal food safety inspection, labeling, enforcement, and research efforts to protect the public health;
 
develop consistent and science-based standards for safe food;
 
prioritize federal food safety efforts and deployment of resources to achieve the greatest benefit in reducing foodborne illness;
 
administer a national food safety program based on an analysis of the hazards associated with different foods and the processing of different foods;
 
require that all food and feed facilities register before operation or importation of food, feed, or ingredients;
 
establish an accreditation system for foreign governments seeking to certify food for importation to the United States;
 
establish requirements for tracing food and animals from point of origin to retail sale;
 
establish and administer a food safety technology program to foster innovations with the potential to improve food safety;
 
maintain or access an active surveillance system of food and epidemiological evidence;
 
establish a sampling system to monitor contaminants in food;
 
rank categories of food based on their health hazard;
 
establish a national public education campaign on food safety; and
 
conduct research relating to food safety.
 
 This bill includes provisions regarding prohibited acts, recall authority, penalties for violations of food safety laws, whistle-blower protection, and civil actions.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S4570-4579)
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Net Operating Loss Clarification Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1996
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Income tax deductions
Life, casualty, property insurance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Net Operating Loss Clarification Act of 2019

 
This bill amends the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-97) to provide that the net operating carryforward and carryback modifications in that Act are effective for net operating losses arising in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 (instead of tax years ending after December 31, 2017).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Wildfire Smoke Relief Act

Bill: 116-s-1997
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Aging
Air quality
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Disaster relief and insurance
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Wildfire Smoke Relief Act

 
This bill provides for assistance for the purchase of smoke inhalation prevention equipment to specified individuals at risk of wildfire smoke-related illness.
 
The President, in carrying out the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), shall provide (1) assistance to a state or local government, local public health authority, or a coordinated care organization to purchase and provide such equipment to at-risk individuals; and (2) cost-efficient transitional shelter assistance to at-risk individuals in any case in which such equipment is insufficient to mitigate the risk of illness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4579)
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Small Business Ownership Improvements Act

Bill: 116-s-1998
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2019-06-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Congressional oversight
Credit and credit markets
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Military personnel and dependents
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
National Guard and reserves
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Veterans Small Business Ownership Improvements Act 

 
This bill establishes new veteran entrepreneurial development programs within the Small Business Administration (SBA) and makes adjustments to existing programs to provide access for veterans.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the SBA to make grants to private nonprofit organizations to establish veteran's business outreach centers. Each center must provide individual counseling to small businesses, as well as training and counseling through online and in-person workshops and seminars. 
 
The bill also provides statutory authority for the Boots to Business Program, which provides entrepreneurship training to individuals including veterans and active members of the Armed Forces. The SBA must designate an individual in each district office as a veterans business development officer, who shall coordinate activities of the district office with entities receiving assistance under the program. The SBA must also establish an online tool to coordinate and aid the work of veterans' small business assistance providers.
 
Finally, the SBA must develop the existing network of peer-to-peer counseling and mentoring resources that are available to veteran-owned small businesses as components of SBA programs. The SBA must also establish an online resource for veterans regarding all of the entrepreneurial development programs of the SBA.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report on the ability of veteran-owned small businesses to access credit, including an analysis of the sources of credit and the default rate for such businesses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Low Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1999
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-06-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Medicare
Poverty and welfare assistance
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: 

Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019

 
This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services transition program under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for limited-income, newly eligible individuals (i.e., individuals who are eligible for subsidies and have not yet enrolled in, or whose coverage has not yet taken effect under, a Medicare or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan). The program's coverage provides immediate access to covered drugs at the point of sale as soon as the individual becomes eligible for subsidies; coverage also applies retroactively for dual eligible individuals and for individuals who receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Introduced in Senate