hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Department of Veterans Affairs Committal Service Shelter Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2369
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Cemeteries and funerals
State and local government operations
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Committal Service Shelter Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make grants for the construction of fully enclosed committal service shelters in veterans' cemeteries owned by states that have (1) one or fewer veterans' cemeteries that are federally funded, and (2) one or fewer national cemeteries under the control of the VA with space available to accommodate remains.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Automatic IRA Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2370
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Securities
Small business
State and local government operations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Automatic IRA Act of 2019

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to (1) require certain employers who do not maintain qualifying retirement plans or arrangements to make available to their eligible employees a payroll deposit individual retirement account (IRA) arrangement (automatic IRA arrangement) which grants such employees the right to opt-out of participation, (2) require the Department of the Treasury to provide employers with a model notice for notifying employees of their opportunity to participate in an automatic IRA arrangement and for providing details regarding the election period, (3) impose a penalty on employers who fail to provide eligible employees access to an automatic IRA arrangement, (4) allow employers who do not have more than 100 employees a tax credit for costs associated with establishing an automatic IRA arrangement, and (5) increase the dollar limitation on the tax credit for small employer pension plan startup costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Honor and Remember Flag Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2371
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Military personnel and dependents
Monuments and memorials
National symbols

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Honor and Remember Flag Act of 2019

 
This bill designates the Honor and Remember Flag as a national symbol to honor service members who died in service to the United States and specifies federal locations and dates for its display. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural MOMS Act

Bill: 116-s-2373
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Medical education
Mental health
Minority health
Nursing
Performance measurement
Rural conditions and development
Sex and reproductive health
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Telephone and wireless communication
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services Act or the Rural MOMS Act

 
This bill expands initiatives to address maternal health in rural areas.
 
The bill provides funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish rural obstetric networks for improving outcomes in birth and maternal morbidity. Specifically, these networks must (1) connect individuals with care providers, (2) identify successful maternal-care models, (3) facilitate collaboration among rural providers, (4) provide training and guidance, (5) collaborate with academic institutions that have regional expertise, and (6) measure and address inequities in birth outcomes among rural residents.

HRSA also must award five-year demonstration program grants to (1) train physicians, medical residents, and other practitioners to provide maternal and obstetric services in rural communities; and (2) support academic programs that develop or provide training to improve maternal care in rural areas.

Further, the bill adds maternal-health services as part of the telehealth network and telehealth resource-centers grant programs.

The bill also makes a series of changes to the research and reporting requirements of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Government Accountability Office with respect to data on maternal-health outcomes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
SAVES Act

Bill: 116-s-2374
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Ecology
Endangered and threatened species

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Saving America's Vulnerable and Endangered Species Act or the SAVES Act

 
This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit a living nonnative species from being listed as a threatened or endangered species.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
ARC Relocation Act

Bill: 116-s-2375
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appalachian Regional Commission
Economic development
Executive agency funding and structure
Regional and metropolitan planning
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

ARC Relocation Act

 
This bill provides for the relocation of the headquarters of the Appalachian Regional Commission (an economic development agency focused on the Appalachian region) from the District of Columbia to West Virginia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2376
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Border security and unlawful immigration
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Firearms and explosives
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mental health
Organized crime
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violent crime
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes stand-alone criminal offenses for trafficking in firearms and straw purchasing of firearms. 
It expands the categories of prohibited persons (i.e., persons barred from receiving or possessing a firearm or ammunition) to include persons who intend (1) to sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person; (2) to sell or transfer a firearm to further a crime of violence, a federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking offense; or (3) to unlawfully export.
 
It increases the maximum prison term for the sale or transfer of a firearm to or the receipt or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
 
It broadens the scope of and increases the maximum prison term for violating existing prohibitions on (1) transferring a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense, and (2) smuggling a firearm into the United States with the intent to unlawfully import or to promote a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense.
 
It makes it a crime to smuggle a firearm or ammunition out of the United States, or to conspire or attempt to do so, with the intent to unlawfully export or to promote a crime of violence, a federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking offense.
 
 Finally, it generally prohibits the Department of Justice and its related agencies from facilitating the transfer of an operable firearm to agents of drug cartels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicaid Accountability Act

Bill: 116-s-2377
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Medicaid Accountability Act

 
This bill establishes and expands certain requirements relating to Medicaid asset verification programs and other eligibility determinations. 
 
Specifically, the bill requires state Medicaid programs to verify the assets of all Medicaid applicants and recipients for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility, rather than only of applicants or recipients who are aged, blind, or disabled. The bill also requires U.S. territories to implement asset verification programs. Such requirements must be fully implemented by FY2024.
 
The bill also requires state Medicaid programs to apply a resource eligibility test whenever an income eligibility determination is required, based on resource limitations under the Supplemental Security Income program (currently, states are prohibited from using resource tests).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
REG Act

Bill: 116-s-2378
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Budget deficits and national debt
Business investment and capital
Competition and antitrust
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Industrial policy and productivity
Inflation and prices
Legislative rules and procedure
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Reducing Excessive Government Act of 2019 or the REG Act

 
This bill requires Congress, within 60 days after the debt limit is increased or suspended, to enact legislation eliminating agency rules that effectuates a reduction of the direct cost of federal regulation during a specified 10-fiscal-year period by at least 15% of the amount of the increase of the debt limit.
 
If the debt limit is increased or suspended, each agency must submit to the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Government Accountability Office a report identifying each major rule of the agency. A major rule is an agency rule likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, or innovation or on the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.
 
The bill further specifies procedures for both houses to recommend a list of rules for repeal and the expedited consideration of a joint resolution to repeal such rules.
 
 If the Office of Management and Budget determines that such legislation has not been enacted by the prescribed deadline, then the public debt limit must be set equal to the total amount of outstanding obligations on that date.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicaid Patient Abuse Prevention Act

Bill: 116-s-2379
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Health care quality
Medicaid
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Medicaid Patient Abuse Prevention Act

 
This bill allows state Medicaid fraud control units to investigate complaints of patient abuse or neglect in additional settings. Specifically, the bill allows a unit to review complaints regarding Medicaid patients who are in noninstitutional or other settings. Currently, such units may review complaints regarding patients who are in Medicaid-funded health care facilities or certain board-and-care facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Next Generation Electric Systems Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2380
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Higher education
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Lighting, heating, cooling
Public utilities and utility rates
Right of privacy
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Next Generation Electric Systems Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a grant program for eligible partnerships to develop and implement projects to modernize the electric grid, including (1) projects to improve observability, stability, advanced controls, and prediction of system performance on the distribution system; and (2) projects relating to transmission system interconnections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Energy Savings Program Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2382
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy prices
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Housing supply and affordability
Public utilities and utility rates
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Community Energy Savings Program Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a grant program for states and Indian tribes to provide loans to consumers and communities that want to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Administration Franchise Loan Transparency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2383
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business records
Government lending and loan guarantees
Retail and wholesale trades
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Small Business Administration Franchise Loan Transparency Act of 2019

 
This bill requires a franchisor seeking guaranteed lending from the Small Business Administration to disclose historical revenue and store-closure information to any prospective franchisee before the loan will be approved. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act

Bill: 116-s-2384
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Biological and life sciences
Department of the Interior
Employee hiring
Endangered and threatened species
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Horticulture and plants
Land use and conservation
Natural disasters
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Student aid and college costs
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act 

 
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish a botanical science research program, hire botanical scientists, and establish a student loan repayment program for botanical scientists. 
 
The bill also (1) requires certain federal agencies and states to establish a preference for using locally adapted native plant materials in various federally funded projects and activities, (2) authorizes federal agencies to carry out specified activities related to native plant materials, and (3) establishes a grant program for projects to prevent rare plants species from becoming endangered species and encourage the recovery of endangered plant species.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act

Bill: 116-s-2385
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Agricultural practices and innovations
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Farmland
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Rural conditions and development
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, when distributing funds for broadband deployment, to give priority to projects for small ports and projects on cropland or ranchland.
 
In addition, a recipient of such rural broadband buildout funding must provide certain geolocation information as a condition of receiving the funds. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate
TIANANMEN Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2386
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-07-31 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign property
Genetics
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Photography and imaging
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sanctions
Securities
Technology transfer and commercialization
Telephone and wireless communication
Trade restrictions
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: 

Targeting Invasive Autocratic Networks, And Necessary Mandatory Export Notifications Act of 2019 or the TIANANMEN Act of 2019

 
This bill imposes sanctions on foreign entities related to surveillance in China's Xinjiang province.
 
The President shall (1) report to Congress a list of foreign entities that provide the Chinese government with technology to conduct surveillance in Xinjiang; and (2) consider whether specified entities, such as China Communications Services Co. Ltd., should be on the list. Entities on the list shall be subject to Bureau of Industry and Security export licensing requirements. Such entities, and any corporate officer or primary shareholder, shall be subject to property-blocking sanctions. 
 
The Department of Commerce may not remove Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (or any subsidiaries or affiliates) from the President's list until the President certifies that Huawei (1) is not involved in activities contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, and (2) does not conduct or facilitate Chinese government surveillance in Xinjiang. 
 
U.S. entities that conduct transactions with entities on the President's list shall disclose such transactions to the Securities and Exchange Commission. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Introduced in Senate