hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Department of State Inclusivity Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3430
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-03-10 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Marriage and family status
Military personnel and dependents
Minority employment
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Visas and passports
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: 

Department of State Inclusivity Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes measures to promote diversity at the Department of State, and it offers a formal apology from Congress for encouraging policies at the State Department such as the Lavender Scare, which resulted in the wrongful termination of at least 1,000 people for alleged homosexuality.
 
The bill establishes a Chief Diversity Officer at the State Department to lead inclusion initiatives, support recruitment of a diverse workforce, recommend trainings on inclusivity, and ensure continued compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
 
The bill requires the State Department to
 
 
report certain data regarding the diversity of its workforce;
 
conduct interviews with current employees, and exit interviews with separating employees, to receive feedback on workplace policies, professional development opportunities, and other issues affecting diversity;
 
expand anti-harassment, antidiscrimination, and implicit bias training and make such training mandatory for certain individuals;
 
develop a pilot program to use gender-neutral terms in evaluation forms;
 
review employee terminations to determine wrongful terminations based on sexual orientation and issue a report on the findings;
 
establish a Reconciliation Board to contact an employee (or family member) improperly terminated during the Lavender Scare and offer to change the employee's record;
 
establish a board to address issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex Foreign Service employees and their families; and
 
report on which countries refuse to issue spousal visas for Foreign Service employee spouses due to sexual orientation and recommend how to address this issue. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Introduced in Senate
INFORM Consumers Act

Bill: 116-s-3431
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2020-03-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Business records
Consumer affairs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: 

Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act or the INFORM Consumers Act

 
This bill requires online marketplaces to collect, verify, and disclose certain information from high-volume, third-party sellers. 
 
High-volume, third-party sellers include online marketplace participants that conduct 200 or more transactions resulting in total revenues of $5,000 or more during a continuous 12-month period. Online marketplaces must acquire these sellers' (1) bank account numbers, (2) government-issued identification, (3) tax identification numbers, and (4) contact information. Online marketplaces must verify this information and annually certify changes to it.
 
Further, online marketplaces must make certain information (e.g., sellers' names and contact information) available to consumers through the sellers' product listings and provide consumers with methods to report electronically and by telephone any suspicious activity on the marketplace.
 
The bill provides the Federal Trade Commission with the authority to enforce these requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing America’s Medicine Cabinet Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3432
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2020-03-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Educational facilities and institutions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Manufacturing
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research and development
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: 

Securing America's Medicine Cabinet Act of 2020

 
This bill encourages the development and approval of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and designates certain university research centers to assist in developing such technologies.
 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must continue to evaluate and approve new drug manufacturing technologies included in an application for drug approval and expedite the development and implementation of such technologies. The FDA must designate such a technology as an advanced manufacturing technology if it is likely to (1) prevent or resolve a drug shortage, (2) maintain an adequate supply of critical medications for national emergencies, or (3) promote the adoption of innovative approaches to drug design and manufacturing. 
 
The sponsor of such a designated technology must provide the FDA with certain related scientific evidence. After receiving this evidence, if the FDA validates the technology for a proposed use, then the sponsor may use the validated technology across multiple manufacturing product lines within the same use context without obtaining additional FDA validation.
 
The FDA must designate certain institutions of higher education as National Centers of Excellence in Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. Among other requirements, such centers must demonstrate the ability to provide federal agencies with technical assistance and to train a future workforce in such technologies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

Bill: 116-s-3433
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2020-03-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: 

Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include
 
 
integrating civil rights and civil liberties protections into all DHS programs and activities;
 
conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments; 
 
initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities;
 
leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; and
 
engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities.
 
 
The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL.
 
The bill grants the CRCL the authority to issue subpoenas with the approval of the Secretary of DHS.
 
The CRCL must report annually to the President.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress within two years of this bill's enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-10
text: Introduced in Senate
COPS Counseling Act

Bill: 116-s-3434
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: First responders and emergency personnel
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Law enforcement officers
Medical ethics
Mental health
Right of privacy
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act

 
This bill sets forth requirements related to peer support counseling programs. A peer support counseling program is a program provided by a law enforcement agency that provides counseling services from a peer support specialist to a law enforcement officer of the agency.
 
Among other things, the bill does the following:
 
 
generally prohibits the disclosure of the contents of a peer support communication, and
 
requires the Department of Justice to develop best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs.
 

action_date: 2020-05-14
text: 

Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act

 
This bill sets forth requirements related to peer support counseling programs. A peer support counseling program is a program provided by a law enforcement agency that provides counseling services from a peer support specialist to a law enforcement officer of the agency.
 
Among other things, the bill does the following:
 
 
generally prohibits the disclosure of the contents of a peer support communication, and
 
requires the Department of Justice to develop best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-15
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-05-15
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-05-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2464-2465)
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2464-2465)
action_date: 2020-05-14
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-s-3435
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Arizona
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Homeland Security
Federal-Indian relations
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Indian lands and resources rights
Law enforcement officers
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act

 
This bill authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reclassify officers assigned to the tactical patrol unit on Tohono O'odham Nation land (commonly known as 
Shadow Wolves
) as ICE special agents upon completing certain required training.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall study the best processes for expanding the Shadow Wolves program to areas not located on tribal lands that are historically and culturally significant for tribal communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Border Health Security Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3436
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Arizona
Building construction
California
Canada
Cancer
Chemical and biological weapons
Child health
Crime prevention
Dental care
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employment and training programs
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Mexico
Minority health
New Mexico
Nutrition and diet
Sex and reproductive health
Terrorism
Texas
Violent crime
Women's health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Border Health Security Act of 2020

 
This bill modifies the duties and activities of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission and the Canada-United States Pan-Border Public Health Preparedness Council, and makes other changes to address health issues along the U.S. border.
 
Specifically, the commission must cooperate with the council where appropriate, and both the commission and the council must develop strategic plans, work plans, evaluations, and reports concerning their activities.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must award grants to (1) eligible entities in border areas to address recommendations of the commission and the council to improve the health of border area residents; and (2) trauma centers, public health entities, and state, local, or tribal entities for infectious disease surveillance activities in border areas. In addition, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response may coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security in establishing a system that alerts clinicians and public health officials to emerging health threats in border areas.
 
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate commission and council activities every two years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3437
Sponsor: Sen. Loeffler, Kelly [R-GA]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health programs administration and funding
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2020

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and otherwise modifies certain grant programs in the Department of Health and Human Services for (1) rural health services outreach, (2) rural health network development, and (3) small health care provider quality improvement. Among other changes, the bill expands eligibility for certain grants to include entities that are not nonprofits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
R–DOCS Reauthorization Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3438
Sponsor: Sen. Loeffler, Kelly [R-GA]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Rural Delivery of Online Care Services Reauthorization Act of 2020 or the R-DOCS Reauthorization Act of 2020

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and otherwise modifies grants for telehealth networks and telehealth resource centers that serve medically underserved populations. Among other changes, the bill (1) provides statutory authority for including substance-use disorder providers in the list of entities that may participate in telehealth networks, and (2) specifies a preference for applicants with a record of success in expanding telehealth in rural areas for telehealth resource services grants. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Lower Health Insurance Deductibles Act

Bill: 116-s-3439
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Lower Health Insurance Deductibles Act

 
This bill modifies eligibility requirements of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to allow a high deductible health plan to divide the amount of its deductible between medical and drug costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3440
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Disaster relief and insurance
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government liability
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Natural disasters
Postal service
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020

 
This bill requires states and jurisdictions to adopt contingency plans and permit absentee voting in order to prevent the disruption of federal elections due to natural disasters or infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, create and publish a plan to operate their federal elections if a significant number of voters or poll workers are quarantined due to COVID-19. Such plan must (1) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote in federal elections by mail, and (2) extend vote-by-mail deadlines if postal service is disrupted as a result of COVID-19.
 
Additionally, when at least 25% of states have declared an emergency due to any single natural disaster or infectious disease, including COVID-19, states must
 
 
allow registered voters to vote by absentee ballot, 
 
permit voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots, 
 
allow voters to receive electronic (i.e., print-at-home) ballots, 
 
accept absentee-ballot requests up to five days before an election for mailed ballots and one day before the election for print-at-home ballots, and 
 
accept ballots postmarked on or before the date of the election. 

 
The bill also provides for an emergency voting period if a state governor declares a state of emergency.
 
States and jurisdictions must provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots. The Election Assistance Commission must reimburse states for the costs of doing so. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Hiring in Banking Act

Bill: 116-s-3441
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Fair Hiring in Banking Act 

 
This bill exempts certain individuals convicted of a crime from specified requirements related to employment by an insured depository institution. Specifically, written consent from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is not required for an institution to hire an individual convicted of a criminal offense involving dishonesty, a breach of trust, or money laundering 
 
 
7 years after the individual meets sentencing requirements;
 
for an individual who committed the offense while under the age of 21, 30 months after the individual meets sentencing requirements; or 
 
if the conviction was pardoned, sealed, or expunged. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Care for COVID–19 Act

Bill: 116-s-3442
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Hospital care
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Care for COVID&#8211;19 Act

 
 This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover, without any cost-sharing requirement, inpatient and outpatient services related to the diagnosis, care, and treatment of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill further provides a special enrollment period for individuals who are diagnosed with, or presumed diagnosed with, COVID-19 to obtain coverage through (1) the individual or group marketplace, (2) a health insurance exchange, or (3) an employer-funded health plan.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Coverage and Care for Mothers Act

Bill: 116-s-3443
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Medicaid
Sex and reproductive health
State and local finance
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Improving Coverage and Care for Mothers Act

 
This bill expands the scope of Medicaid coverage of pregnant women, including by extending coverage to all pregnant women regardless of otherwise applicable requirements, requiring one year of postpartum coverage, and expanding coverage to include services provided by doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3444
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2020-03-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Conflicts and wars
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability assistance
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Neurological disorders
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: 

Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2020

 
This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism for veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Introduced in Senate