hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Move America Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-146
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Infrastructure development
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Public transit
Railroads
Roads and highways
Securities
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Move America Act of 201

9

 
This bill allows tax-exempt Move America bonds and Move America tax credits to be used for certain infrastructure projects. 
 
A Move America bond is treated as a tax-exempt private facility bond with certain exceptions. At least 95% of the net proceeds from the issuance of the bond must be used for infrastructure projects, including
 
 
 airports; 
 
 docks and wharves; 
 
mass commuting facilities; 
 
 facilities for the furnishing of water; 
 
 sewage facilities; 
 
 railroads; 
 
certain surface transportation projects eligible for federal assistance, projects for an international bridge or tunnel, or facilities for transferring freight from truck to rail or rail to truck;
 
 flood diversions; 
 
 inland waterways; or 
 
 rural broadband service infrastructure. 
 
 
The bill specifies exceptions and modifications to existing rules for bonds regarding land acquisition, government ownership, rehabilitation expenditures, and the alternative minimum tax.
 
The bonds are subject to a volume cap equal to 50% of a state's current private activity bond volume cap. States may exchange all or a portion of the volume cap for Move America tax credits to be allocated to taxpayers. The credits include (1) an equity credit for a portion of the basis of each qualified facility; and (2) an infrastructure fund credit for investments in qualified infrastructure funds, including a state infrastructure bank, a water pollution control revolving fund, or a drinking water treatment revolving loan fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-147
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2019

 
This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if any appropriations measure for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the fiscal year begins or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect. 
 
For an initial 90-day period, the bill provides continuing appropriations at 99% of the rate for the preceding year to continue programs, projects, and activities for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year. The bill reduces the continuing appropriations by 1% after the first 90-day period and by an additional 1% for each subsequent 90-day period until the applicable appropriations legislation is enacted.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-148
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Federal Reserve System
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes requirements regarding audits of certain financial agencies performed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
 
Specifically, the bill directs the GAO to complete, within 12 months, an audit of the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve banks. In addition, the bill allows the GAO to audit the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve banks with respect to (1) international financial transactions; (2) deliberations, decisions, or actions on monetary policy matters; (3) transactions made under the direction of the Federal Open Market Committee; and (4) discussions or communications among Federal Reserve officers, board members, and employees regarding any of these matters. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Senior Scams Act

Bill: 116-s-149
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Aging
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Crime prevention
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Stop Senior Scams Act

 
This bill establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council, which shall create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect seniors. 

action_date: 2019-12-19
text: 

Stop Senior Scams Act

 
This bill establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group, which shall create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect seniors. 

action_date: 2020-06-10
text: 

Stop Senior Scams Act

 
This bill establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Group, which shall create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect seniors. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-06-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-06-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2898; text: CR S2898)
action_date: 2020-06-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2898; text: CR S2898)
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 393.
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-182.
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-182.
action_date: 2019-07-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Raise the Wage Act

Bill: 116-s-150
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Labor standards
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Raise the Wage Act

 
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. 
 
The bill sets forth a schedule of annual increases in the federal minimum wage for individuals with disabilities. The Department of Labor shall no longer issue special certificates for the payment of subminimum wages to such individuals after the final wage increase under this bill for such individuals takes effect. 
 
Labor shall provide, upon request, technical assistance and information to employers to: (1) help them transition their practices to comply with wage increases and other requirements under this bill for individuals with disabilities, and (2) ensure continuing employment opportunities for such individuals.
 
The bill eliminates the separate minimum wage requirements for tipped, newly hired, and disabled employees. After a specified period, these employees shall be paid the same minimum wage as regular employees.
 
Labor must publish any increase in the minimum wage in the Federal Register and on its website 60 days before it takes effect.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act

Bill: 116-s-152
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Foreign and international corporations
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Technology transfer and commercialization
Telephone and wireless communication
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act

 
This bill directs the President to determine annually whether telecommunications companies domiciled in China, including Huawei and ZTE, have violated U.S. export controls or sanctions. If a violation is found, the President must impose appropriate penalties. Chinese subsidiaries of foreign companies are excluded from the bill. 
 
The bill also prohibits executive agencies from reducing any penalty imposed on a Chinese telecommunications company for violating a sanction or export control, unless the President certifies that the company has not violated U.S. law for at least one year and is fully cooperating with investigations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
VA CLEAR Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-154
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Medical ethics
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Contract, Leadership, and Ensuring Accountability and Reform Act of 2019 or the VA CLEAR Act of 2019
 
 
This bill addresses oversight of financial processes of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and also requires implementation of systems for maintaining specified records.
 
Among other elements, the bill requires the VA to
 
 
include specified elements in contracts it enters for services (e.g., measurable metrics to ascertain the performance of the provider of the service),
 
submit a justification and plan for contracts for services that would incur an obligation of more than $2 billion,
 
contract with a third party to review and audit the VA's financial processes and provide recommendations for improvement, and
 
submit a justification for requests for supplemental appropriations. 
 
 
Additionally, the Inspector General of the VA and the Government Accountability Office must complete a review of a contract for services that would result in the VA incurring an obligation of more than $2 billion.
 
The bill authorizes the Inspector General of the VA, in the performance of the functions assigned to such office, to subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses.
 
Finally, the bill requires the VA to implement a centralized system to maintain and record completed reviews of administrative investigation boards, and the Veterans Health Administration must implement a centralized system for tracking instances where the VA has referred a clinician to a state's licensing board because of behavior or clinical outcomes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Youth Financial Learning Act

Bill: 116-s-155
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Financial literacy
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Youth Financial Learning Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants, on a competitive basis, to state educational agencies to integrate financial literacy education into public secondary schools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act

Bill: 116-s-156
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Civil actions and liability
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Department of the Treasury
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Federal Reserve System
Federal officials
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
National Credit Union Administration
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Personnel records
Public contracts and procurement
Public participation and lobbying
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act

 
This bill revises ethics requirements and modifies provisions related to conflicts of interest involving certain federal government employees. 
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
expands restrictions on certain federal government employees' acceptance of compensation from nongovernment sources,
 
generally requires certain federal government employees to recuse themselves from any official action that would provide a direct and substantial pecuniary benefit for a recent former employer or client,
 
generally prohibits such an employee from participating in matters that involve an individual or entity with whom the employee is negotiating future employment,
 
prohibits a federal government employee from participating in a procurement involving a contractor that had recently employed that employee, and
 
expands restrictions on lobbying by certain former federal government employees.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Empowerment Act

Bill: 116-s-157
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Special education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Student Empowerment Act 

 
This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school. 
 
(Under current law, distributions in connection with an elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school.) The bill allows the distributions to be used for additional educational expenses, including
 
 
curriculum and curricular materials, 
 
books or other instructional materials, 
 
online educational materials, 
 
tutoring or educational classes outside the home, 
 
testing fees, 
 
fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and 
 
educational therapies for students with disabilities.
 
 
Distributions may also be used for tuition and the purposes above in connection with a homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit Federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Bill: 116-s-158
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Family planning and birth control
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax-exempt organizations
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 
This bill prohibits the availability of federal funds to Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Life at Conception Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-159
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Abortion
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Genetics

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Life at Conception Act of
 
2019

 
This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. 
 
Nothing in this bill shall be construed to require the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child, a prohibition on in vitro fertilization, or a prohibition on use of birth control or another means of preventing fertilization.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-160
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Medical ethics
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex offenses
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
 
 
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. 
A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. 
The bill provides exceptions for an abortion (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. 
A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal Service Fund programs.

Bill: 116-s-161
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Educational facilities and institutions
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Libraries and archives
Rural conditions and development
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress on the filing requirements for telecommunications carriers or service providers that receive Universal Service Fund program support to provide service to qualifying low-income consumers, rural or high-cost areas, rural health care providers, schools, or libraries. The report must analyze the financial impact of those filing requirements and provide any recommendations on how to consolidate redundant filing requirements.
 
After receiving the GAO report, the FCC must initiate a rulemaking to consolidate redundant filing requirements and incorporate any of the reported recommendations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-162
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Contracts and agency
Executive agency funding and structure
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: 

Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act of 2019

 
This bill appropriates funding to provide compensation to certain employees of contractors who lost pay or leave due to the lapse in appropriations that began on December 22, 2018. 
 
Each agency subject to such lapse shall adjust the price of any contract for which the contractor was ordered to suspend, delay, or stop work as a result of the lapse. The agency shall compensate the contractor for reasonable costs incurred to (1) provide compensation, at an employee's standard rate of compensation, to any employee who was furloughed or laid off, or who was not working, who experienced a reduction of hours, or who experienced a reduction in compensation, as a result of the lapse, for the period of the lapse; or (2) restore paid leave taken by any employee during the lapse, if the contractor required employees to use paid leave as a result of the lapse.
 
The maximum amount of weekly compensation of an employee for which an adjustment may be made may not exceed the lesser of the employee's actual weekly compensation or $965.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate