hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Small Business and Consumer Debt Collection Emergency Relief Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3565
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Consumer credit
Debt collection
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Public utilities and utility rates
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Small Business and Consumer Debt Collection Emergency Relief Act of 2020

 
This bill places restrictions on the collection of consumer and small business debts during a major disaster or emergency, including during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period. Among other things, debt collectors may not during such a period 
 
 
enforce a security interest through a repossession or foreclosure, 
 
commence or continue litigation to collect a debt, 
 
terminate utility service, 
 
seize assets, 
 
commence or continue an eviction, or 
 
charge fees or apply a higher interest rate as a result of nonpayment. 
 
 
After such a period, debt collectors must provide certain repayment options including extending the repayment period for debts. 
 
Violations of these provisions are subject to civil enforcement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Overdraft Profiteering during COVID–19 Emergency Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3566
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Consumer credit
Disaster relief and insurance

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Stop Overdraft Profiteering during COVID-19 Emergency Act of 2020 

 
This bill suspends, during a major disaster or emergency declaration and for 120 days after the end of the incident period, certain penalties applicable to consumer transaction accounts. During such a period, depository institutions are prohibited from 
 
 
charging checking-account penalties (i.e., non-sufficient fund fees and overdraft coverage fees), or 
 
reporting a consumer's overdraft use to a credit reporting agency. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Helping Health Care Workers Afford Child and Elder Care Act

Bill: 116-s-3567
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adult day care
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child care and development
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Family services
First responders and emergency personnel
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Helping Health Care Workers Afford Child and Elder Care Act

 
 This bill provides funding for FY2020 for child and adult-dependent care services for essential workers. Essential workers include (1) health-sector employees, (2) emergency responders, (3) sanitation workers, (4) employees of businesses required to remain open during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, and (5) other workers a state deems essential and who are unable to telework. Eligibility for such funding is not based on income.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3568
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2020-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Strategic materials and reserves
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: 

Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act of 2020

 
This bill directs the President to use existing authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to the production of ventilators, N-95 respirator masks, and specified personal protective equipment to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). (That act confers upon the President a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in order to provide essential materials and goods needed for the national defense.) 
 
The President must (1) make a determination that such items are essential for the national defense, (2) identify private-sector capacity to produce these items, and (3) exercise authorities under the act to require emergency production of them at a reasonable price. In addition, the President shall coordinate the allocation of these items based on requests from governors and the needs of the states as determined by the number of COVID-19 cases and the proportion of the population at higher risk of the disease in a given state. 
 
The bill makes specified funds available for these efforts. Equipment produced under these authorities but unused at the termination of the COVID-19 emergency declared on March 13, 2020, shall be deposited into the Strategic National Stockpile. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Keeping Critical Connections Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3569
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Economic performance and conditions
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Poverty and welfare assistance
Small business
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: 

Keeping Critical Connections Act of 2020

 
This bill provides funds with which the Federal Communications Commission shall reimburse small business broadband providers for costs incurred during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period to voluntarily (1) provide free or discounted service to students in need of distance learning capacity, or (2) refrain from disconnecting low-income households that cannot afford to make a full payment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the expedited procurement of equipment needed to combat COVID-19 under the Defense Production Act of 1950.

Bill: 116-s-3570
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2020-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Manufacturing
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: 
This bill directs certain actions to procure equipment necessary to prevent, identify, and mitigate cases of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
The National Response Coordination Center of the Federal Emergency Management Agency must, within seven days, submit a report to Congress and the President that (1) assesses the need for equipment, including personal protective equipment and ventilators, across the United States; and (2) identifies the industry sectors and manufacturers capable of fulfilling purchase orders for such equipment, as well as government-owned and privately owned stockpiles of such equipment that could be refurbished. 
 
Within 24 hours, the President must issue a purchase order with the highest priority rating under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) for a specified number of N-95 respirators and face masks. (DPAS is used to prioritize national defense-related contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders.) Within seven days of receiving the center's report, the President must also issue priority purchase orders for the equipment identified in the report under authorities provided by the Defense Production Act of 1950. (That act confers upon the President a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in order to provide essential materials and goods for the national defense.) The bill waives certain requirements under the act related to congressional notification and authorization and makes specified funds available for these efforts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Banking for All Act

Bill: 116-s-3571
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2020-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Federal Reserve System
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: 

Banking for All Act 

 
This bill requires Federal Reserve member banks to provide digital pass-through accounts (i.e., digital dollar wallets) to residents and citizens, and to businesses domiciled in the United States. Among other things, these accounts must provide specified banking services to eligible persons who elect to deposit funds into these accounts, including access to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) aid payments. These accounts may not charge fees or have balance requirements, and must provide a specified interest rate. 
 
In areas with limited access to Federal Reserve member banks, these banks must partner with postal retail facilities to provide services. 
 
Federal Reserve banks must permit state nonmember banks and credit unions to open master accounts for the purpose of offering digital pass-through accounts. 
 
Postal retail facilities and certain small banks must be reimbursed by the appropriate Federal Reserve bank for operational costs incurred by offering the accounts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-30
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Strained Partnership Act

Bill: 116-s-3572
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Foreign aid and international relief
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy
Saudi Arabia

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 

Strained Partnership Act

 
This bill requires the removal of all U.S. Armed Forces and equipment from Saudi Arabia and the relocation of specified equipment to another location or locations in the Middle East. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
American-Made Protection for Healthcare Workers and First Responders Act

Bill: 116-s-3573
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Asia
Buy American requirements
China
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
First responders and emergency personnel
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Law enforcement officers
Public contracts and procurement
Strategic materials and reserves
Trade restrictions
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 

American-Made Protection for Healthcare Workers and First Responders Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the strategic national stockpile includes a one-year supply of personal protective equipment (e.g., face masks and gloves). It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a stockpile of such equipment for use by first responder agencies during a declared emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Ending Price-Gouging During Emergencies Act

Bill: 116-s-3574
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Disaster relief and insurance
Inflation and prices
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 

Ending Price-Gouging During Emergencies Act

 
 This bill makes it unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale a designated consumer good or service during a public health emergency at a price that (1) is unconscionably excessive and (2) indicates that the seller is using the circumstances related to the public health emergency to increase prices unreasonably. The Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue proclamations designating necessary goods and services to which these prohibitions apply. 
 
The bill requires enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and imposes enhanced civil and criminal penalties for violations of prohibitions. It also authorizes a state attorney general to bring a civil action to enforce the prohibitions of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Disabled Veterans Education Relief Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3575
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Higher education
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 

Disabled Veterans Education Relief Act
 
of 2020

 
This bill addresses Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assistance entitlements and subsistence allowances.
 
Under the bill, an assistance payment for training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to such assistance if an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the closure of an educational institution or disapproval of the course. 
 
The bill also authorizes the VA to continue to pay subsistence allowances for a specified amount of time during periods following the permanent closure of an institution or the disapproval of a course of study.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act

Bill: 116-s-3576
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Inflation and prices
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 

Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act

This bill prohibits a person from selling or offering for sale an essential good or service at a price that is unconscionably excessive during, or in anticipation of, a state of emergency or natural disaster. Additionally, the bill establishes a telephone hotline to receive complaints from the public about potential violations of this prohibition. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax exemption for distilled spirits used for hand sanitizer.

Bill: 116-s-3577
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 
This bill exempts alcohol used for hand sanitizers from the distilled spirits excise tax. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
COVID-19 Funding Accountability Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3578
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2020-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Advisory bodies
Aviation and airports
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional agencies
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Financial crises and stabilization
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marketing and advertising
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: 

COVID-19 Funding Accountability Act of 2020

 
This bill provides oversight for the use of assistance provided to businesses under COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) relief programs.
 
The bill establishes a COVID-19 Relief Oversight Board.
 
The Office of Management and Budget shall issue regulations or guidelines necessary to address and manage or to prohibit conflicts of interest that may arise in connection with the administration and execution of the authorities provided under COVID-19 relief programs.
 
The bill sets limits on compensation and bonuses for senior executives of private entities receiving certain emergency financial assistance.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall commence ongoing oversight of the activities and performance of the programs and any agents of the executive branch invoking federal authority or rendering assistance to private entities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
 
The bill establishes (1) a special inspector general office for COVID-19 relief programs, and (2) the Congressional Oversight Panel in the legislative branch.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2009; text: CR S2011-2013)
action_date: 2020-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Community Supervision Act

Bill: 116-s-3579
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Emergency medical services and trauma care
HIV/AIDS
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Neurological disorders
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: 

Emergency Community Supervision Act

 
This bill establishes measures to reduce the number of individuals in federal custody during a national emergency relating to a communicable disease.
 
Specifically, it does the following:
 
 
requires certain categories of inmates to be released and placed in community supervision (e.g., home confinement); 
 
limits the use of pretrial detention; and 
 
modifies supervised release, including to limit the use of incarceration as a sanction for a parole violation. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Defense Healthcare Billing Report Act

Bill: 116-s-3580
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: 

Department of Defense Healthcare Billing Report Act

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the billing practices of the Department of Defense (DOD) for care received under the TRICARE program (a health care program operated by DOD for servicemembers, military retirees, and their dependents) or at military medical treatment facilities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Examining Mental Health Services for the National Guard and Reserves Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3581
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-03-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
National Guard and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: 

Examining Mental Health Services for the National Guard and Reserves Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to assess the mental health and resiliency services available to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces (i.e., National Guard and Reserves).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Introduced in Senate