hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
CHOICE Act

Bill: 116-s-1033
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Medicaid
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Consumer Health Options and Insurance Competition Enhancement Act or the CHOICE Act

 
 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a public health insurance option that meets all federal plan requirements and is available on state and federal health insurance exchanges. Specifically, the CMS must offer silver and gold plans, may offer bronze plans, and must include all essential benefits, consumer protections, and cost-sharing limitations in each plan.
 
 The CMS may contract with a third party to administer the public option plans and states may establish advisory councils to make recommendations to the CMS about the operation and policies of such plans. Further, the CMS must establish geographically adjusted premiums and negotiate provider payment rates for services and prescription drugs covered the plans. If a payment rate cannot be negotiated, the CMS must pay the amount for such service as required under traditional Medicare.
 
 Medicare and Medicaid providers are automatically participants in public option plans unless they opt out, and providers not participating in Medicare or Medicaid may opt in.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1034
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill provides that a child shall be eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of the child's marital status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1035
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a new criminal offense that prohibits a physician from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion. It provides a definition of the term &quot;dismemberment abortion.&quot;
 
A physician who performs a dismemberment abortion is subject to a criminal fine, up to two years in prison, or both, unless the dismemberment abortion was necessary to save the mother's life.
 
A woman or a parent of a minor who undergoes a dismemberment abortion may file a civil action for damages against an individual who violates this bill.
 
The legislation bars the criminal prosecution of a woman who undergoes a dismemberment abortion for conspiracy to violate the provisions of this bill, for being a principal or an accessory after the fact, or for concealing a dismemberment abortion.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable College Textbook Act

Bill: 116-s-1036
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Books and print media
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Inflation and prices
Intellectual property
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Licensing and registrations
Retail and wholesale trades
School administration
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Affordable College Textbook Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to make grants to institutions of higher education or states to support projects that expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students while maintaining or improving instruction and student learning outcomes. An open textbook is an educational resource that either resides in the public domain or has been released under an intellectual license that permits its free use, reuse, modification, and sharing with others.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2272-2274)
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Health Clinic Modernization Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1037
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Rural Health Clinic Modernization Act of 2019

 
This bill makes a series of changes to criteria, requirements, and payments for rural health clinics under Medicare. 
 
Among other things, the bill (1) allows rural health clinics that are not directed by physicians to enter into arrangements with physician assistants or nurse practitioners that generally comply with state laws (regarding scope of practice), rather than other specific requirements; (2) allows rural health clinics to serve as the distant site for purposes of telehealth services; and (3) beginning in 2020, increases the maximum payment rate per visit for rural health clinics.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Build USA Infrastructure Act

Bill: 116-s-1038
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Government trust funds
Intergovernmental relations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Roads and highways
Small business
State and local finance
Tariffs
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Build USA Infrastructure Act

 
This bill addresses highway infrastructure funding.
 
The bill requires, for the five-year period beginning on October 1, 2020, the deposit of the first $21.4 billion of revenues collected by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection into the Highway Trust Fund.
 
A state may enter into an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for a period of three years or longer, under which it agrees to
 
 
opt out of receiving at least 60% of funds out of the Highway Trust Fund that the state may receive during each year of the agreement for federal-aid highway activities under the national highway performance program and the surface transportation block grant program; 
 
accept from the FHWA funds equal to 90% of the amount the state opted out of; and 
 
use those funds to carry out core infrastructure projects in accordance with provisions that authorize the state to determine whether it is in compliance with certain federal project requirements, including the use of steel, iron, and manufactured products produced in the United States. 

 
The amount of the opt out does not include amounts required to be set aside, penalties, or amounts required to be suballocated to areas based on population.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1039
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Iran
Legislative rules and procedure
Middle East
Military operations and strategy

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits funds from being used for kinetic military operations against Iran unless Congress authorizes such an action, with various exceptions such as in response to an imminent threat. ("Kinetic military operations" typically refers to active military actions, in contrast to latent operations or cyberwarfare.)
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
I–VETS Act

Bill: 116-s-1040
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Immigrant Veterans Eligibility Tracking System Act or the I-VETS Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify aliens who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces, when such an alien applies for an immigration benefit or is placed in an immigration enforcement proceeding. Such information shall be reflected in DHS records, and shall not be used to remove an alien from the United States. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1041
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Citizenship and naturalization
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill implements procedures relating to the legal permanent resident status of noncitizen veterans.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a program that allows (1) eligible veterans outside of the United States to be admitted as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and (2) eligible veterans in the United States to adjust their status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. If noncitizen aliens obtain this status, they shall be eligible for naturalization through service in the Armed Forces. Additionally, they are eligible for military and veterans benefits as if they had not been ordered removed or removed from the United States. 
 
The bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reopen removal proceedings for noncitizen veterans who are subjects of final orders of removal, make a determination with respect to whether such noncitizen veterans are eligible veterans who may be lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and adjust the status of eligible veterans. 
 
A noncitizen veteran shall be eligible if DHS or DOJ determines the noncitizen veteran was not removed or ordered removed, and is not inadmissible or deportable, based on a conviction for a crime of violence or a crime that endangers national security for which the veteran has served at least five years in prison. DHS may waive eligibility requirements for humanitarian, family unity, public interest, or exceptional military service reasons.
 
The bill also protects noncitizen veterans or service members from being removed from the country unless the noncitizen has been convicted of a crime of violence. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
HOPE Act

Bill: 116-s-1042
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Immigration status and procedures
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Healthcare Opportunities for Patriots in Exile Act or the HOPE Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to parole into the United States an alien veteran who (1) is seeking temporary admission to receive health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and (2) is outside the United States after having been ordered removed or voluntarily departed from the United States.
 
Such parole shall not be available for an alien who is inadmissible due to a criminal conviction for a crime of violence, excluding a purely political offense, or a crime that endangers U.S. national security, for which the alien has served at least five years in prison.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Working Families Flexibility Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1043
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government studies and investigations
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Working Families Flexibility Act of 2019

 
This bill revises requirements for the receipt of compensatory time off for private sector employees. 
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
authorizes private employers to provide compensatory time off to their employees at a rate of one and one-half hours for each hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required, 
 
prohibits an employee from accruing more that 160 hours of compensatory time, 
 
requires an employer to give their employees a 30-day notice before discontinuing compensatory time, 
 
prohibits an employer from interfering with an employee's right to or not request compensatory time off in lieu of payment of overtime compensation or from requiring an employee to use such compensatory time, and 
 
imposes penalties on employers who violate the compensatory time requirements set forth by this bill.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Fentanyl Sanctions Act

Bill: 116-s-1044
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Asia
Banking and financial institutions regulation
China
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Crime prevention
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Foreign and international banking
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International monetary system and foreign exchange
Judicial review and appeals
Latin America
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mexico
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Sanctions
Securities
U.S. and foreign investments
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Fentanyl Sanctions Act 

 
This bill establishes programs to address illicit opioid trafficking and imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in such activities.
 
The President shall impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities identified as opioid traffickers or those that own, control, or supply opioid precursors. The sanctions include bans on (1) receiving loans, (2) foreign exchange transactions, (3) property transactions, and (4) certain investments that fall under U.S. jurisdiction. The President may waive sanctions on certain parties for national security and humanitarian concerns.
 
The President shall report to Congress about the implementation of such sanctions and also on cooperative efforts with Mexico and China to combat illicit opioid trafficking. 
 
The bill establishes the Commission on Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, which shall develop a strategy to combat the flow of synthetic opioids into the United States. The commission shall report on various topics, including the scope of illicit trafficking in other countries and the deficiencies in other countries' regulation of pharmaceutical and chemical production.
 
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) shall establish a program to assist in enforcement efforts and sanctions against illicit opioid traffickers, with a focus on illicit finance. ODNI shall periodically report to Congress about the intelligence community's counter-narcotics efforts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-04
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S2274-2278)
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Nursing WIN Act

Bill: 116-s-1045
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Medical education
Nursing
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Nursing Where It's Needed Act or the Nurse WIN Act

 
This bill repeals the prohibition under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program that restricts nurses in the program from working for private entities that are not nonprofits. The program generally provides repayment for a maximum of 85% of the educational loans of (1) registered nurses or nurse practitioners who serve in areas of high need or (2) nurse faculty at eligible schools of nursing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1047
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Marriage and family status
Military personnel and dependents
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Improvement Act of 2019
 
 
This bill creates an allowance for a deceased veteran's or deceased service member's surviving spouse who is receiving dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs. DIC is a monthly payment made to survivors and dependents of (1) certain veterans, and (2) service members killed while on active military duty. The bill provides a formula for calculating the monthly rate of the allowance based on the DIC amount the spouse is entitled to receive.
 
Payment amounts under the Survivor Benefit Plan shall not be affected by the implementation of the DIC allowance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
PROTECT Act

Bill: 116-s-1048
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Marketing and advertising

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Preventing Opportunities for Teen E-Cigarette and Tobacco Addiction Act or the PROTECT Act

 
 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement a campaign to reduce and prevent the use of electronic cigarettes and emerging tobacco products among youth and young adults. As part of this process, the CDC must conduct research about the types and patterns of use of such products and the corresponding health impacts of their use. The CDC also must provide grants to state agencies, local health departments, and nonprofits to further reduce the use of electronic cigarettes among young people.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1049
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2019-04-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Family planning and birth control
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Military education and training
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Military readiness
Right of privacy
Sex offenses
Sexually transmitted diseases
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: 

Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses the access of military personnel and dependents to contraception and family planning information.
 
The bill revises coverage of women's health services under the TRICARE program to (1) prohibit the imposition of cost-sharing for care related to the prevention of pregnancy, whether provided through a facility of the uniformed services, the TRICARE retail pharmacy program, or the national mail-order pharmacy program; and (2) include all methods of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration, contraceptive care, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling.
 
The Department of Defense (DOD) must furnish to sexual assault survivors at military medical facilities clear and comprehensible information about all methods of approved emergency contraception, notification of the survivor's right to confidentiality, and, upon request, emergency contraception or a prescription for emergency contraception.
 
DOD shall also establish a uniform standard curriculum for use in programs of family planning education during the first year of a member's service, when a member is in training to assume command, and when an enlisted member becomes a senior enlisted member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-04-04
text: Introduced in Senate