hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
LOVE Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1252
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Marriage and family status
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration Act of 2019 or the LOVE Act of 2019

 
This bill offers a formal apology from Congress for encouraging policies at the Department of State such as the 
Lavender
 
Scare
, which resulted in the wrongful termination of at least 1,000 people for alleged homosexuality.
 
The State Department and Foreign Service shall (1) review all employee terminations since January 1, 1950, to determine who was wrongfully terminated for their real or perceived sexual orientation; and (2) issue a public report on the findings. The State Department shall periodically report to Congress on recommendations for continued actions. 
 
The State Department shall establish an independent Reconciliation Board to contact any employee (or a family member of a deceased employee) improperly terminated during the Lavender Scare and offer to change the employee's record to reflect such a finding. The board shall accept and review grievances from former employees who believe they were terminated due to sexual orientation.
 
The State Department shall establish a board of senior-level officials to address issues that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) Foreign Service employees and their families face. The board shall report to Congress comments on or recommendations for improving State Department policies to prevent sexual orientation discrimination.
 
The State Department shall report to Congress on (1) countries that do not issue spousal visas for Foreign Service employee spouses due to sexual orientation, and (2) recommendations on how to address the issue. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act

Bill: 116-s-1253
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Postal service
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act

 
This bill revises requirements regarding the sale and delivery of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-hookah, e-cigars, and vape pens).
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
subjects the sale and delivery of these systems to certain requirements, including tax, licensing, and labeling requirements; 
 
prohibits the sale and delivery of these systems to anyone under the legal age to purchase tobacco products; and
 
requires the U.S. Postal Service to implement regulations to prohibit the mailing of these systems.
 
 
The bill does not apply to products approved by the Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or any other therapeutic purposes.

action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 

Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act

 
This bill revises requirements regarding the sale and delivery of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-hookah, e-cigars, and vape pens).
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
subjects the sale and delivery of these systems to certain requirements, including tax, licensing, and labeling requirements; 
 
prohibits the sale and delivery of these systems to anyone under the legal age to purchase tobacco products; 
 
requires the U.S. Postal Service to implement regulations to prohibit the mailing of these systems; and
 
requires the National Institutes of Health to conduct a study on the health impacts of e-cigarette use by youths and young adults.
 
 
The bill does not apply to products approved by the Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or any other therapeutic purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-06
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-07-06
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4175-4176)
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4175-4176)
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4174-4176)
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2522)
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop for School Buses Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1254
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Elementary and secondary education
Evidence and witnesses
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Motor vehicles
Photography and imaging
Rural conditions and development
Technology assessment
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Stop for School Buses Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses safety measures and programs to prevent the illegal passing of school buses.
 
Specifically, the Department of Transportation must
 
 
conduct a review of existing state laws and programs regarding the illegal passing of school buses;
 
establish and implement a nationwide public safety campaign to highlight the importance of illegally passing school buses;
 
review and evaluate the effectiveness of various technologies to enhance school bus safety;
 
review driver education materials in states to determine how the illegal passing of school buses is addressed; and
 
research and prepare a report on the connections between the illegal passing of school buses and other safety issues.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act

Bill: 116-s-1255
Sponsor: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Insects
Labor standards
Livestock
Motor carriers
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to amend regulations on hours of service for commercial drivers who transport livestock or insects within a 300 air-mile radius from where the on-duty time of the driver begins.
 
The regulations must (1) exclude from the driver's on-duty time certain activities, such as loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle; (2) change the driving time requirement to a maximum of not less than 15, and not more than 18, hours within a 24-hour period; (3) permit the driver to take one or more rest periods during the trip, which shall not be included in the calculation of the driving time; (4) require the driver, after completion of the trip, to take a rest break for a period that is 5 hours less than the maximum driving time; (5) exclude from the calculation of the driving time any additional driving to the point of delivery if the driver is within 150 air-miles of the point of delivery; and (6) make inapplicable the requirement that the driver take a 10-hour rest period before driving.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
PCAOB Enforcement Transparency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1256
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Corporate finance and management
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

PCAOB Enforcement Transparency Act of 2019

 
This bill makes Public Company Accounting Oversight Board disciplinary proceedings open to the public unless the board, on its own motion or after considering the motion of a party, orders otherwise.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2522-2523)
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Legacy IRA Act

Bill: 116-s-1257
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax exclusion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Legacy IRA Act 

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes. 
 
The bill increases from $100,000 to $400,000 the annual limit on the aggregate amount of distributions for charitable purposes that may be excluded from the gross income of a taxpayer. 
 
The bill permits tax-free distributions from IRAs to a split-interest entity for four years after the enactment of this bill. A split-interest entity is exclusively funded by charitable distributions and includes: a charitable remainder annuity trust, a charitable remainder unitrust, or a charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity must commence fixed payments of at least 5% no later than one year from the date of funding. 
 
A distribution to a split-interest entity may only be treated as a qualified charitable distribution if: (1) no person holds an income interest in the entity other than the individual for whose benefit the account is maintained, the spouse of such individual, or both; and (2) the income interest in the entity is nonassignable. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Tobacco to 21 Act

Bill: 116-s-1258
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Tobacco to 21 Act 

 
This bill prohibits the sale of tobacco products to (1) anyone under the age of 21, or (2) anyone under the age of 30 without photo identification of the purchaser's age.
 
The Food and Drug Administration must enforce this prohibition by, for example, conducting undercover compliance checks, performing retailer inspections, and initiating enforcement actions for noncompliance.
 The bill establishes penalties for violations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act

Bill: 116-s-1259
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Chesapeake Bay
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act

 
This bill reauthorizes for FY2020-FY2025 the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Reducing Administrative Costs and Burdens in Health Care Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1260
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicaid
Medicare
Public-private cooperation
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Reducing Administrative Costs and Burdens in Health Care Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take a series of actions relating to health care administrative costs. Specifically, HHS must develop a strategy and take associated action to reduce unnecessary costs and administrative burdens in the health care system, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the private health-insurance market, by at least half over a period of 10 years. HHS must also award grants so that states may establish commissions targeting such costs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Choose Medicare Act

Bill: 116-s-1261
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Comprehensive health care
Consumer affairs
Employee benefits and pensions
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Insurance industry and regulation
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Sex and reproductive health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Choose Medicare Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish public health insurance plans and addresses health insurance costs. Such public plans must be offered on health insurance exchanges and (1) meet the requirements of a qualified health plan; (2) cover benefits at the gold plan level; and (3) cover reproductive services, including abortions.
 
Additionally, the bill makes a series of changes related to health insurance costs, including
 
 
requiring employers to refer employees to health care navigators to assist with enrollment,
 
establishing an annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for services under Medicare,
 
providing HHS with the authority to negotiate prices under the Medicare prescription drug benefit program,
 
expanding the premium-assistance credit by benchmarking the credit amount to the second-lowest cost gold plan and increasing the income threshold for eligibility,
 
requiring qualified health plans to reduce cost sharing for low-income plan holders, 
 
providing funding for states to provide reinsurance to health insurance issuers and to assist individuals with out-of-pocket costs for plans offered through health insurance exchanges,
 
applying the premium rate-setting requirements to large group health plans, and
 
requiring HHS or states to take corrective actions to address unreasonable premium rates set by insurance issuers.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act

Bill: 116-s-1263
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Health promotion and preventive care
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to report on and make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1264
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Crimes against children
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Domestic violence and child abuse
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits a federal employee from receiving federal retirement benefits if the employee (1) has been convicted of certain crimes relating to the sexual abuse of children, or (2) willfully remains outside the United States to avoid prosecution for such crimes.
 
Additionally, the bill requires that, for an individual convicted of such crimes, a computation of any refund of retirement contributions must exclude any interest for the period after the conviction.
 
.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Oil Region National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act

Bill: 116-s-1265
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Oil and gas
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pennsylvania
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Oil Region National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through the end of FY2026 the Oil Region National Heritage Area Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills Act

Bill: 116-s-1266
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills Act

 
 This bill prohibits balance billing the holder of a self-insured group health plan (plans in which an employer pays claims to providers for health benefits offered to employees) for emergency and specified nonemergency services. Balance billing is the practice of charging a plan holder for the difference between a provider's rate for a service and the in-network rate.
 
 First, the bill requires self-insured group health plans that cover emergency services to comply with the requirements for other types of group health plans. This includes the requirement to bill a plan holder no more than the in-network cost-sharing amount for covered emergency services, even if the provider is out-of-network. Second, the bill prohibits emergency services providers from billing a self-insured group plan holder for any remaining balance for covered services not paid to the provider by the employer.
 
 Further, unless a plan holder has the option to select an in-network provider, an out-of-network provider of covered, nonemergency services is prohibited from billing plan holders for the difference in rates for such services when provided at an in-network facility.
 
 Employers must pay out-of-network providers for services subject to the requirements of this bill (1) the amount the provider claims, (2) the usual and customary amount for such services in that community, or (3) an amount agreed to within 60 days of when the claim is submitted. Otherwise the parties may enter voluntary binding arbitration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
National Museum of the American Latino Act

Bill: 116-s-1267
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: Historical and cultural resources
Latin America
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

National Museum of the American Latino Act

 
This bill establishes the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian Institution. 
 
The purposes of the museum are to (1) illuminate Latino contributions to the story of the United States; (2) provide for the collection, study, research, publication, and establishment of exhibitions and programs related to Latino life, art, history, and culture; and (3) provide for collaboration with Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers and other museums and educational institutions in the United States and abroad to promote the study and appreciation of Latino life, art, history, culture, and its impact on society in the United States. 
 
The bill establishes a Board of Trustees for the museum to advise and assist the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian on all matters related to the administration and preservation of the museum.
 
The Director of the museum shall manage the museum and may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals.
 
The Board of Regents shall designate a site for the museum and is authorized to design and construct it. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-339.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate
PACT Act

Bill: 116-s-1268
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2019-05-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Blood and blood diseases
Cell biology and embryology
Hospital care
Immunology and vaccination
Medicare
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: 

Patient Access to Cellular Transplant Act or the PACT Act

 
This bill specifies that payment under Medicare to a hospital for the acquisition costs of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (e.g., bone marrow transplant from a donor) must be made on a reasonable cost basis (similar to the current payment methodology for solid organ acquisitions). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must determine included items through regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-05-01
text: Introduced in Senate