hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Support Small Business R & D Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3291
Sponsor: Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Research and development
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Support Small Business R & D Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide resources to small businesses relating to available federal income tax credits.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the SBA, in consultation with the Internal Revenue Service, to provide and make available, both in-person and online, training and information about federal income tax credits that benefit small businesses and startups. This training and information shall have a particular focus on credits for research and experimentation.
 
In addition, the bill requires small business development centers to provide such training and information as part of the services they render to small businesses and startups.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
AFFIRM Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3292
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural insurance
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Assisting Family Farmers through Insurance Reform Measures Act of 2020 or the
 
AFFIRM Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reduce federal crop insurance payments and to disclose details regarding subsidies.
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
requires USDA to annually disclose to the public specified details regarding the recipients and amounts of federal crop insurance subsidies;
 
prohibits certain premium subsidies, including for additional coverage for any person or legal entity that has an average adjusted gross income that is greater than $250,000, and for policies that are based on the actual market price of an agricultural commodity at the time of harvest;
 
establishes an annual cap on total reimbursements for administrative and operating costs of crop insurance providers that begins at $900 million for 2020 and is adjusted for inflation in each subsequent year; and
 
eliminates a requirement that any renegotiated Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) be budget-neutral. (The SRA is an agreement between USDA and the private companies that administer the federal crop insurance program that specifies details such as administrative and operating expense reimbursements and risk sharing. Eliminating the budget neutrality requirement permits USDA to use the renegotiation of the SRA to achieve savings.)
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Food and Nutrition Education in Schools Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3293
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child health
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Horticulture and plants
Indian social and development programs
Minority education
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Food and Nutrition Education in Schools Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Food and Nutrition Education in Schools Pilot Program to award grants to local educational agencies for (1) projects that hire qualified, full-time food and nutrition educators to carry out programs in schools that have the goal of improving student health and nutrition; and (2) projects that fund school gardens or other evidence-based interventions relating to student health and nutrition to create hands-on learning opportunities for students.
 
In awarding grants under the program, USDA must prioritize projects that serve schools or districts (1) in which not less than 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, or (2) that include neighborhoods with high rates of childhood obesity or other diet-related diseases.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act

Bill: 116-s-3294
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Citizenship and naturalization
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act

 
This bill directs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure that various naturalization-related services are available at a U.S. port of entry, embassy, or consulate that is accessible to noncitizen veterans. Specifically, USCIS must ensure that naturalization examinations, biometric collections, and naturalization ceremonies are available at such locations for noncitizen veterans. 
 
Such services must be available to a noncitizen veteran who has been removed from the United States or is inadmissible.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Act of August 18, 1941 (commonly known as the "Flood Control Act of 1941"), to authorize the Secretary to provide reimbursement to non-Federal sponsors for emergency response repair and restoration work, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-3295
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Floods and storm protection
Natural disasters
Transportation and Public Works
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 
This bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to reimburse nonfederal sponsors for qualifying planning, design, or construction activities related to the emergency response to natural disasters. Such reimbursements to nonfederal sponsors shall not be subject to certain annual limits on reimbursements for Corps of Engineers projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
ALIGN Act

Bill: 116-s-3296
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Business investment and capital
Income tax deductions

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Accelerate Long-term Investment Growth Now Act or the ALIGN Act

 
This bill makes permanent the expensing of certain new business equipment. 
Expensing
 allows the deduction of the full amount of an expense item in the same taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3297
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Personnel records

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to publish specified information on its website relating to deficiencies of Medicaid intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, including information regarding inspections, complaints, and administrative actions. The CMS must also (1) develop and publish a standardized complaint form for such facilities; and (2) convene an advisory council to recommend ways to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation in such facilities.
 
The bill also allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information for affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
FDIC Act

Bill: 116-s-3298
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Financial Defense for Industrial Contractors Act or the FDIC Act 

 
This bill requires the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to begin proceedings for terminating the insured status of large depository institutions that deny banking services to federal contractors that otherwise qualify for such services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act

Bill: 116-s-3299
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Business records
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Firearms and explosives
Freedom of information
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Tiahrt Restrictions Repeal Act

 
This bill amends several appropriations laws to remove limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws.
 
Specifically, the bill removes provisions that
 
 
limit the use of firearms tracing data, 
 
prohibit the imposition of a requirement that firearms dealers conduct a physical inventory, and
 
require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Data Protection Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3300
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Consumer affairs
Consumer credit
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Digital media
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal officials
Geography and mapping
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Personnel records
Photography and imaging
Right of privacy
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Data Protection Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes in the executive branch an independent Data Protection Agency (DPA) to regulate the processing of personal data.
 
The DPA shall seek to protect individuals' privacy and limit the collection, disclosure, processing, and misuse of individuals' personal data by a covered entity (i.e., a person that collects, processes, or otherwise obtains personal data other than an individual processing personal data in the course of personal or household activity).
 
The DPA must examine and oversee high-risk data practices, which include
 
 
a systematic or extensive evaluation of personal data that is based on automated processing;
 
any processing of biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual;
 
processing which involves tracking an individual's geolocation; or 
 
 the use of personal data of children or other vulnerable individuals for marketing purposes, profiling, or automated processing.
 
 
The DPA is authorized to (1) enforce federal privacy law, and (2) take specified actions to prevent a covered entity from committing or engaging in an unfair or deceptive act or practice.
 
The DPA shall establish procedures to provide consumers with a timely response to complaints against, or inquiries concerning, a covered entity. 
 
The DPA may engage in joint investigations and requests for information and may issue subpoenas. The bill provides for civil monetary penalties for violations of privacy law and the use of such penalties, including as monetary relief for individuals affected by violations.
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Women’s Global Empowerment, Development and Prosperity Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3301
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
Infrastructure development
Public-private cooperation
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Vocational and technical education
Women in business
Women's education
Women's employment
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Women's Global Empowerment, Development and Prosperity Act of 2020

 
This bill provides statutory authority for the Women's Global Empowerment, Development and Prosperity Initiative at the Department of State. The objectives of the initiative shall be to advance women in the workforce, promote women entrepreneurs, and aid women's participation in the global economy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Health Security Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3302
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Environmental health
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Global Health Security Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes a permanent, presidentially appointed position to manage outbreak response efforts. 
 
Specifically, the bill establishes the role of Special Advisor for Global Health Security who shall (1) serve as the President's principal advisor on global health security and global health emergencies (2) coordinate U.S. efforts to carry out global health security activities, and (3) convene the Global Health Security Interagency Review Council. The bill establishes such council to provide policy guidance to participating agencies on global health security matters and to facilitate the implementation of the existing Global Health Security Agenda. 
 
The Special Advisor must also develop a strategy to advance global health security and other specified policy objectives and coordinate a whole-of-government approach to the implementation of such strategy.
 
In addition, the Department of State must coordinate and facilitate interagency, multi-sectoral activities outside of the United States in response to a declared global health emergency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Service in Transportation Act

Bill: 116-s-3303
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government information and archives
Marketing and advertising
Minority employment
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Promoting Service in Transportation Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish and administer a transportation workforce outreach program to (1) increase awareness of transportation career opportunities; and (2) increase diversity such as race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status of professionals in the transportation sector.

action_date: 2020-12-15
text: 

Promoting Service in Transportation Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish and administer a transportation workforce outreach program to (1) increase awareness of transportation career opportunities; and (2) target awareness of professional opportunities in the transportation sector to diverse segments of the population, including with respect to race, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 635.
action_date: 2020-12-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-329.
action_date: 2020-12-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-329.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
MONARCH Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3304
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Arizona
California
Government trust funds
Idaho
Insects
Nevada
Oregon
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Utah
Washington State
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2020 or the MONARCH Act of 2020

 
This bill provides support for the conservation of western monarch butterflies (the monarch butterfly population that overwinters along the coast of California and breeds across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah).
 
Specifically, the bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must use amounts in the fund to provide grants for the conservation of such butterflies.
 
In addition, USDA must transfer amounts from the fund to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Legal Assistance to Prevent Evictions Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3305
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Census and government statistics
Government information and archives
Housing and community development funding
Landlord and tenant
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
Low- and moderate-income housing
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Legal Assistance to Prevent Evictions Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to nonprofit and governmental entities to provide free legal assistance to eligible low-income tenants at risk of, or subject to, eviction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
MICRO Plastics Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3306
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Marine pollution
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Making Investments in Curbing the Ruinous Output of Plastics Act of 2020 or the MICRO Plastics Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a pilot program that tests the efficacy and cost effectiveness of tools, technologies, and techniques to (1) remove microplastics from the environment, and (2) prevent the release of microplastics into the environment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3307
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2020-02-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Health programs administration and funding
Human trafficking
Law enforcement administration and funding
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: 

Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes a demonstration grant program within the Administration for Children and Families for nonprofits, local and state education agencies, and elementary and secondary schools to train students, school personnel, and parents to recognize and prevent human trafficking and child exploitation.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Introduced in Senate