hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Community College Student Success Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5029
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational guidance
Food assistance and relief
Higher education
Minority education
Poverty and welfare assistance
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Community College Student Success Act 

of 2020

 
This bill establishes two grant programs for public two-year institutions of higher education (IHEs) to plan and implement programs that are designed to increase the rate at which their students graduate, the rate at which their students transfer to a four-year IHE, and the number of credits that students apply to a degree in their major.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
UNITE for our Oceans Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5030
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Unify Nations In Trash Elimination for our Oceans Act of 2020 or the UNITE for our Oceans Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of State to work with federal agencies, foreign countries, and international organizations to establish a Trust Fund for Marine Debris and Plastic Pollution. Grants must be provided from the fund to prevent or reduce marine debris, such as plastic pollution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Progressive Consumption Tax Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5031
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Corporate finance and management
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Inflation and prices
Poverty and welfare assistance
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Progressive Consumption Tax Act of 2020

 
This bill revises the federal income tax system by, among other things, imposing a 10% consumption tax on specified supply items, including (1) the sale or provision of property; (2) the performance of services; (3) the grant, assignment, or surrender of real property; (4) the creation, grant, transfer, assignment, or surrender of any right; (5) financial supplies; and (6) entry into, or release from, an obligation or agreement to perform or refrain from performing an act. The bill specifies certain exempt supplies to which the tax does not apply. 
 
The bill reduces to three the number of brackets for the individual income tax and reduces the income tax rate to a maximum level of 28%. It treats long-term capital gains and dividends as ordinary income. 
 
It also provides for a family allowance based on filing status. 
 
The bill repeals limitations on certain itemized tax deductions and restores previously repealed tax deductions, including the deductions for state and local taxes and personal casualty losses. It eliminates the alternative minimum tax.
 
The bill reduces the corporate income tax rate to 17%. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7544-7553; text: CR S7544-7553)
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5032
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Federal district courts
Jurisdiction and venue
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2020 

 
This bill limits where a non-individual debtor (e.g., a corporate debtor) may file for bankruptcy. 
 
Specifically, these debtors must file in the district court for the district in which the principal place of business or principal assets of the debtor are located. Such a debtor may also file in a district where there is a pending bankruptcy case concerning an affiliate that has a certain level of control or ownership of the debtor (e.g., if the affiliate is a controlling shareholder of the debtor), if that pending case is in a proper venue under this bill. 
 
Under current law, these debtors may also file where they are domiciled (i.e., incorporated) or where there is a bankruptcy case pending concerning an affiliate, general partner, or partnership. 
 
For certain debtors who are issuers of securities, their principal place of business is defined in the bill as the address of the entity's principal executive office as provided in specified Securities and Exchange Commission filings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Satisfactory Academic Progress Reset and Reform Act

Bill: 116-s-5033
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Satisfactory Academic Progress Reset and Reform Act

 
This bill revises satisfactory academic progress requirements for federal student-aid programs, including by allowing a student who has not been enrolled in an institution of higher education for two years to regain eligibility for federal student aid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act

Bill: 116-s-5034
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
First responders and emergency personnel
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
Medicare
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Telephone and wireless communication
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act

 
This bill expands access to, and resources for, behavioral health crisis services that provide for a continuum of care, including 24/7 crisis hotlines, mobile crisis response teams, and facilities that provide short-term observation and stabilization services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Encouraging Americans to Save Act

Bill: 116-s-5035
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Income tax deferral
Inflation and prices
Securities
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Encouraging Americans to Save Act

 
This bill sets forth provisions to provide matching payments for retirement savings and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contributions for lower income individuals. Specifically, it allows an enhanced 50% tax credit, up to $2,000, for deductible retirement savings contributions and for IRA contributions. 
 
The bill also directs the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish the R-Bond Program as a permanent program for the establishment and maintenance of Roth IRAs and directs the IRS to educate taxpayers on the benefits of the savings programs provided by this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7553)
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Relief for Working Families Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5037
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local government operations
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Relief for Working Families Act of 2020

 
This bill authorizes a state to require a recipient of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to repay any overpayment of such assistance to the state agency unless the overpayment of such assistance was without fault on the part of any such individual, and such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Supportive Living Food Access Protection Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5038
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 

Supportive Living Food Access Protection Act of 2020

 
This bill modifies the definitions of 
food 
and 
household
 under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to make eligible for SNAP benefits individuals (including their spouses) who reside in certain residential care facilities and who are 60 years of age or over or receive Supplemental Security Income or other needs-based Social Security payments for the aged, blind, and disabled.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the automatic extension of certain deadlines in the case of taxpayers affected by federally declared disasters, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-5039
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2020-12-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Disaster relief and insurance
Judicial review and appeals
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: 
This bill modifies the mandatory extension of certain tax filing and other tax-related deadlines for taxpayers affected by federally declared disasters and rules for postponing certain tax filing or payment requirements due to service in a combat zone or a contingency operation. It also tolls the deadline for filing a petition in the Tax Court if the location for filing the petition is inaccessible. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-12-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Climate Change Diplomacy and Development Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5040
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Budget process
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
International law and treaties
Multilateral development programs
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Climate Change Diplomacy and Development Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of State, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop a Joint Department of State and USAID Strategy to Address the Global Climate Change Crisis. The State Department must also designate its Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs to coordinate State Department and USAID efforts to guide U.S. foreign policy related to global climate change.
 
Further, the State Department must include specified climate-related items and estimates in its annual budget request.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Addressing Climate Financial Risk Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5041
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Financial Stability Oversight Council
Financial crises and stabilization
Financial services and investments
Insurance industry and regulation
Intergovernmental relations
International organizations and cooperation
Life, casualty, property insurance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Addressing Climate Financial Risk Act of 2020 

 
This bill establishes the Climate Risk Advisory Committee that must consult with the Financial Stability Oversight Council of the Department of the Treasury regarding a report on the impact of climate risk on U.S. financial stability. 
 
Additionally, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration must include climate risk in the guidance provided to a supervised financial institution. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7592)
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Debt Disclosure for Officials in Government Act

Bill: 116-s-5042
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Debt Disclosure for Officials in Government Act

 
This bill requires the President, Vice President, and certain presidential appointees to disclose more detailed debt information, including with respect to the liabilities of private companies in which the individual or the individual's spouse or child is a beneficial owner.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
American COMPETE Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5043
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Age discrimination
Aging
Assault and harassment offenses
Aviation and airports
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Crimes against children
Digital media
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Economic performance and conditions
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Hate crimes
Health technology, devices, supplies
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor market
Manufacturing
Materials
Political movements and philosophies
Pornography
Public-private cooperation
Retail and wholesale trades
Sex offenses
Small business
Subversive activities
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security
Unemployment
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

American Competitiveness Of a More Productive Emerging Tech Economy Act of 2020 or the American COMPETE Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to study and submit reports on the state of specified technology industries (e.g., artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain technology, and unmanned delivery services) and the impact of these industries on the U.S. economy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5044
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 

2020

 
This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. 
 

 
Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Chris Allen Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization and Reform Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5045
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Corporate finance and management
Crimes against property
Disability and paralysis
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Chris Allen Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization and Reform Act of 2020

 
This bill makes various changes with respect to the administration of multiemployer pension plans. Among other provisions, the bill allows qualified plans to apply for special partition assistance from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, revises the criteria for plans that are in endangered or critical status, and establishes rules for new composite plans that have certain attributes of both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7592-7593; text: CR S7593-7634)
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Investment Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5046
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Rural Investment Act of 2020 

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to enter into an interagency agreement with the Small Business Administration to carry out the day-to-day management and operation of the Rural Business Investment Program. It also provides funding for the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Slate Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5047
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Clean Slate Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes a framework for sealing records related to certain federal criminal offenses.
 
Courts must automatically seal records related to (1) a conviction for simple possession of a controlled substance, or (2) an arrest for an offense that does not result in a conviction. 
 
Additionally, an individual who meets certain criteria may petition to seal records related to a conviction for other nonviolent offenses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-5048
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-12-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: 

Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2020 

 
 This bill revises requirements governing (1) investigations of mine accidents, (2) miners' rights and protections (e.g., whistle-blower rights and protections), (3) mine health and safety standards, (4) underground coal mines, and (5) health and safety training for miners.
 
The Department of Labor, when investigating coal or other mines, must (1) determine why an accident occurred and whether there were violations of law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other requirements; and (2) make recommendations to avoid a recurrence of an accident.
 
 The bill expands Labor's enforcement authority, including by requiring Labor to (1) revoke the approval of mine operators' plans or programs based on certain criteria, and (2) order mine operators to withdraw all persons from a mine until Labor approves a new plan. The bill revises civil and criminal penalties, including by subjecting a mine operator who knowingly violates health or safety standards to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1 million fine.
 
Underground coal mine operators must implement a communication program to brief miners of current mine conditions and install atmospheric monitoring systems. 
 
The bill amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to expand its coverage to government employees and increase civil and criminal penalties for violations of the act. The bill also expands whistle-blower rights and protections against retaliation under the act, establishes employee rights with respect to work-related bodily injuries or death, and establishes procedures for correcting serious, willful, or repeated violations of occupational safety and health standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-12-17
text: Introduced in Senate