hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Social Security Expansion Act

Bill: 116-s-478
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Congressional oversight
Disability assistance
Elementary and secondary education
Employment taxes
Financial services and investments
Government trust funds
Higher education
Income tax rates
Inflation and prices
Railroads
Self-employed
Social security and elderly assistance
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Social Security Expansion Act

 
This bill increases benefits and certain taxes related to Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance.
 
Changes to benefits include (1) increasing the primary insurance amount for certain beneficiaries; (2) revising the method of calculating cost-of-living adjustments; (3) establishing a new minimum benefit for certain low earners; and (4) allowing certain children of retired, deceased, or disabled workers to receive benefits until age 22 if they are a full-time students. 
 
Changes to taxes include increasing the net investment income tax for certain taxpayers and extending payroll taxes on wages, salaries, and self-employment earnings to income above $250,000. Under current law, the maximum amount subject to the Social Security payroll tax is $132,900 for 2019. 
 
The bill also combines the existing Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund into a single Social Security Trust Fund.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
PACT Act

Bill: 116-s-479
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Digital media
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Photography and imaging
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act
 
or the PACT Act

 
This bill revises and expands criminal provisions with respect to animal crushing.
 
It retains existing criminal offenses that prohibit knowingly creating or distributing an animal crush video using interstate commerce. The bill also adds a new provision to criminalize an intentional act of animal crushing. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both.
 
It provides additional exceptions for conduct, or a video of conduct, including conduct that is (1) medical or scientific research, (2) necessary to protect the life or property of a person, (3) performed as part of euthanizing an animal, or (4) unintentional.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act

Bill: 116-s-480
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa
Alliances
Asia
Australia
Canada
China
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Director of National Intelligence
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
New Zealand
News media and reporting
Oceania
Political parties and affiliation
Protest and dissent
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Subversive activities
Taiwan
Tibet
U.S. and foreign investments
Western Hemisphere

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act

 
This bill directs the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to devise a long-term strategy to counter the Chinese government's political influence operations. 
 
The strategy shall seek to counter the ruling Chinese Communist Party's campaigns to corrupt democratic countries and undermine democratic institutions, both in the United States and elsewhere. It shall also seek to increase awareness of such campaigns and help other countries develop the capacity to counter them. 
 
The strategy shall also ensure that Chinese nationals living in the United States, as well as Chinese Americans and members of the Uyghur and Tibetan diaspora, are protected against malign political influence operations, such as surveillance and intimidation.
 
The State Department shall also report to Congress about Chinese government efforts to exert influence in the United States and in U.S. partner countries, and suggestions for countering such efforts. The report shall address issues including attempts to (1) influence government institutions and officials, (2) undermine democratic institutions and freedom of speech, and (3) suppress public information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Inaugural Committee Transparency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-484
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2019-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: 

Inaugural Committee Transparency Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the presidential inaugural committee to disclose to the Federal Election Commission, by 90 days after the presidential inaugural ceremony, any disbursement made in an amount equal to or greater than $200 and the purpose of each disbursement. The committee must also disclose the name and address of the person to whom the disbursement was made, the date of the disbursement, and the total amount and purpose of the disbursement.
 
The bill prohibits (1) an inaugural committee from soliciting or receiving a donation from a foreign national, in addition to the current ban on a committee accepting such a donation; (2) a person from making a donation to an inaugural committee in the name of another; (3) a foreign national from making a donation or making a promise to make a donation to such a committee; or (4) converting a donation to an inaugural committee to personal use.
 
The committee must disburse any remaining donated funds not later than 90 days after the inaugural ceremony to tax-exempt charitable organizations, but may request an extension of such 90-day period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act

Bill: 116-s-485
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Age discrimination
Civil actions and liability
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Racial and ethnic relations
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act

 
This bill amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to establish an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age or participation in investigations, proceedings, or litigation under such Act was a motivating factor for any unlawful employment practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice (thereby allowing what are commonly known as "mixed motive" claims).
 
The bill (1) permits a complaining party to rely on any type or form of admissible evidence, which need only be sufficient for a reasonable trier of fact to find that an unlawful practice occurred; and (2) declares that a complaining party shall not be required to demonstrate that age or retaliation was the sole cause of the employment practice (thereby rejecting the Supreme Court's decision in 
Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.
, which required a complainant to prove that age was the "but-for" cause for the employer's decision).
 
The bill authorizes a court in a claim in which age discrimination is shown to grant declaratory and injunctive relief, but prohibits a court from awarding damages or issuing an order requiring any admission, reinstatement, hiring, promotion, or payment.
 
The bill applies the same standard of proof to other employment discrimination and retaliation claims, including claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to waive the penalty for withdrawals from retirement plans for certain Federal employees and contractors affected by a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-486
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
District of Columbia
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 
This bill allows certain employees who are not paid during a lapse in federal appropriations to make penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts. The bill applies to employees of the federal government, federal contractors, federal grantees, and the District of Columbia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Energy Infrastructure Demand Response Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-487
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air quality
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy prices
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Oil and gas
Public utilities and utility rates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a natural gas demand response pilot program that uses the latest demand response technology from the energy sector for natural gas to (1) reduce the cost of energy for consumers, (2) reduce market price volatility, (3) increase reliability of the energy system, and (4) achieve reductions in air emissions and other benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-488
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Hate crimes
Racial and ethnic relations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching.
 
Specifically, a person who conspires to commit certain civil rights offenses (e.g., a hate crime act) is subject to criminal penalties.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching.
 
Specifically, a person who conspires to commit certain civil rights offenses (e.g., a hate crime act) is subject to criminal penalties.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S1346-1347; text: CR S1347)
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S1346-1347; text: CR S1347)
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
State Public Option Act

Bill: 116-s-489
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Appropriations
Child health
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax credits
Medicaid
Medicare
Performance measurement
Sex and reproductive health
State and local government operations
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

State Public Option Act

 
This bill allows residents who are not already eligible for Medicaid and not concurrently enrolled in other health insurance coverage to buy into a state Medicaid plan beginning January 1, 2020, at the option of the state. State Medicaid programs may set premiums and cost-sharing requirements for such coverage in accordance with specified limitations.
 
The bill also (1) provides the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place; and (2) requires state Medicaid programs to cover comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
America's Public Land Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-491
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional-executive branch relations
Land transfers
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

America's Public Land Act of 2019

 
This bill reaffirms that it is U.S. policy 
 
 
to retain public land in federal ownership unless its disposal has been authorized by an Act of Congress; 
 
to retain management authority over public land, except where a nonfederal individual or entity is authorized to exercise management authority pursuant to an Act of Congress or another applicable law; and 
 
that retention of public land and the management authority over it is in the public interest. 
 
 
Neither the Department of the Interior nor of Agriculture shall approve or permit the conveyance of public land or the granting of management authority over such land to nonfederal individuals or entities except as authorized by an Act of Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Disabled Veterans Rebuilding Infrastructure to Vitalize our Economy Act

Bill: 116-s-492
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Public contracts and procurement
Roads and highways
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

Disabled Veterans Rebuilding Infrastructure to Vitalize our Economy Act

 
This bill amends the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) to (1) add the term "service-connected disabled veteran-owned small business concern" for purposes of awarding transportation contracts under such Act; (2) require, to the maximum extent practicable, not less than 5% of amounts available under such Act to be expended through service-connected disabled veteran-owned small business concerns; and (3) require states to notify the Department of Transportation of the percentage of small business concerns controlled by service-disabled veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
DRAIN Act

Bill: 116-s-493
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

Decentralize Regulatory Agencies, Include the Nation Act of 2019 or the DRAIN Act

 
This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration to jointly develop and implement a plan for relocating nonsecurity agencies outside the National Capital region by the later of October 1, 2029, or the expiration date of the lease for the building in which the nonsecurity agency's headquarters is located.
 
The bill exempts security agencies and nonsecurity agencies specifically exempted by the President from the relocation requirement. A security agency is an agency that receives the majority of its funding from appropriations provided for the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

Bill: 116-s-494
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Food industry and services
Hunting and fishing
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marketing and advertising
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Seafood

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

 
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to advise on an existing grant program to address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable.
 
NOAA must establish six regions within the committee.The committee must consist of members chosen regionally and across all sectors of the fishing industry.Additionally, the committee must: (1)identify the needs of the fishing industry, (2)develop grant proposals to fund projects that address the industry needs, (3)review grant applications, and (4)provide NOAA with grant applicants for approval.
 
NOAA may not approve a grant application unlessthe application selected for funding meets the proposal criteria developed by the committee.

action_date: 2019-08-16
text: 

American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act

 
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to advise on an existing grant program to address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable.
 
NOAA must establish six regions within the committee.The committee must consist of members chosen regionally and across sectors of the fishing industry.Additionally, the committee must (1)identify the needs of the fishing community, (2) develop request for proposals for the grant program, (3)review grant applications, and (4)provide NOAA with grant applications for approval.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 179.
action_date: 2019-08-16
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/01/2019 without amendment. With written report No. 116-77.
action_date: 2019-08-16
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/01/2019 without amendment. With written report No. 116-77.
action_date: 2019-04-03
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate
EAGLES Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-495
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Elementary and secondary education
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Law enforcement administration and funding
School administration
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: 

EAGLES Act of 2019

 
This bill reauthorizes the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) within the U.S. Secret Service. 
 
It reauthorizes the functions of NTAC through FY2023 and expands them to include the establishment of a national program on targeted school violence prevention. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1386)
action_date: 2019-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate