hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act

Bill: 116-s-2283
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Industrial facilities
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Waste Heat to Power Investment Tax Credit Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an energy tax credit for investment in waste heat to power property. 
 
The bill defines &quot;waste heat to power property&quot; as property (1) comprising a system which generates electricity through the recovery of a qualified waste heat resource, and (2) the construction of which begins before January 1, 2027. &quot;Qualified waste heat resource&quot; is defined as (1) exhaust heat or flared gas from an industrial process that does not have as its primary purpose the production of electricity, and (2) a pressure drop in any gas for an industrial or commercial process. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Crossroads of America Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2285
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Motor carriers
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Crossroads of America Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a pilot program to award grants for freight and highway projects of national or regional significance.
 
The Department of Transportation must give priority to entities that provide the greatest non-federal share of the cost of a project relative to other applications under the pilot program and allot specified percentages of grant funds for small projects and rural projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Justice Programs through Science Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2286
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Public-private cooperation
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Improving Justice Programs through Science Act of 2019

 
This bill reestablishes the Science Advisory Board within the Department of Justice (DOJ). 
 
Specifically, it provides statutory authority for the board. Previously, the board was created in 2010 by DOJ and terminated in 2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Employment Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2287
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Age discrimination
Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional officers and employees
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Genetics
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Fair Employment Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill sets forth employer liability standards to be applied in employee harassment claims under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Revised Statutes, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, employment discrimination laws relating to certain executive branch employees, and the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. 
 
The bill declares that employers under such Acts are liable for the acts of any individual whose harassment of an employee created or continued an unlawful hostile work environment if, at the time of the harassment (1) such individual was authorized by that employer to undertake or recommend tangible employment actions affecting the employee or to direct the employee's daily work activities; or (2) the negligence of the employer led to the creation or continuation of that hostile work environment, otherwise modifying the liability standards provided by the Supreme Court in 
Vance v. Ball State University
, which limited the category of supervisors for whom an employer may be held vicariously liable to those individuals who have authority to take tangible employment actions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
American Energy Efficiency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2288
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Lighting, heating, cooling
Oil and gas
Performance measurement
Public utilities and utility rates
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

American Energy Efficiency Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to prescribe a federal energy efficiency resource standard for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers.
 
Among other things, the bill establishes
 
 
procedures and standards for evaluating, measuring, and verifying electricity and natural gas savings, including specifying the types of energy efficiency and energy conservation measures that may be counted;
 
certain requirements governing retail electricity suppliers;
 
other requirements governing applications for, and implementation of, delegated state administration;
 
rules to govern transfers of electricity or natural gas savings between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving the same state and between suppliers and third-party efficiency providers serving different states;
 
performance standards for retail electricity and natural gas suppliers; and 
 
penalties for suppliers who fail to document the adequate savings required by this bill.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2289
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Energy efficiency and conservation
Income tax credits
Lighting, heating, cooling
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019

 
This bill extends the energy tax credit for certain renewable resources and the credit for residential energy efficient property for five years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act

Bill: 116-s-2290
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Business expenses
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act
 
 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for expenditures by an eligible small business to provide access to disabled individuals, to (1) increase from $10,250 to $20,500 the annual dollar limitation for eligible access expenditures, (2) require the $20,500 limit to be adjusted for inflation after 2020, and (3) increase from $1 million to $2.5 million the gross receipts limitation for an eligible small business. 
 
The bill also requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to carry out an ADA Mediation Program to (1) facilitate voluntary mediation to resolve disputes arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (2) train mediators who provide services through the program. DOJ may hire or enter into contracts with personnel for the program. 
 
DOJ must also report to Congress on the ADA Information Line, which is a toll-free line operated by DOJ to provide information and materials to the public about the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2291
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Civil actions and liability
Disability and paralysis
Housing and community development funding
Housing for the elderly and disabled

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2019

 
This bill requires certain newly constructed, federally assisted housing, including single-family homes and town houses, to contain at least one level that complies with specified minimum standards of accessibility for individuals with disabilities. An aggrieved person may commence a civil action with respect to a violation of this requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Asylum Abuse Reduction Act

Bill: 116-s-2292
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Canada
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Immigration status and procedures
Judges
Latin America
Mexico
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Asylum Abuse Reduction Act

 
This bill places restrictions on aliens seeking asylum and contains provisions related to immigration enforcement.
 
Under this bill, an asylum seeker who arrives at a U.S. land port of entry without entry documents may not be admitted unless an asylum officer at a U.S. consulate or embassy has interviewed the alien in person and concluded that the alien (1) has been persecuted in the alien's country of origin due to race, religion, or other characteristics; or (2) would be tortured upon return to that country. (Currently, an alien arriving at a port of entry may apply for asylum, and an immigration officer there typically will give the alien a credible fear interview.)
 
Furthermore, an alien who traveled through a third country to enter the United States through the southern border shall be ineligible for asylum unless (1) the alien has applied for and been denied asylum or protection in that third country, (2) the alien was a victim of severe human trafficking, or (3) the third country is not party to certain international agreements relating to refugees.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall establish an alternatives to detention pilot program available to aliens who (1) certify that they will comply with all immigration proceedings, (2) agree to only a single appeal of an immigration judge decision, and (3) sign a privacy waiver. 
 
Each federal judicial district shall appoint at least one magistrate judge to issue arrest warrants for individuals violating orders to depart, upon a showing of probable cause.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2293
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Executive agency funding and structure
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Federal officials
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government lending and loan guarantees
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2019 

 
This bill reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank through FY2029. It also provides for a temporary board of directors of the Export-Import Bank if the existing board fails to constitute a quorum for 90 consecutive days during the term of a President. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Office of Disability Policy Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2294
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional agencies
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Government studies and investigations
Medicaid
Medicare
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social security and elderly assistance
Special education

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Office of Disability Policy Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes the Office of Disability Policy within the Government Accountability Office to provide Congress, the executive branch, the states, and the public with data and analysis regarding the effects of legislation, regulations, and guidance on individuals with disabilities, their families, and service providers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
GLRI Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2295
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Great Lakes
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Lakes and rivers
Marine pollution
Water quality
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019 or the GLRI Act of 2019

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Pregnancy Assistance Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2296
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Education programs funding
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Pregnancy Assistance Act of 2019

This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Pregnancy Assistance Fund program, which awards grants to states for a range of support services for expectant and parenting teens, women, fathers, and their families. Such services include those related to personal health, child health, parenting, education, and employment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
RESTORE Act

Bill: 116-s-2298
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Environmental regulatory procedures
Motor fuels

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Restore Environmental Sustainability To Our Renewable Energy Act or the RESTORE Act

 
This bill revises the renewable fuel program to eliminate the annual renewable fuel standard.
 
The existing standard requires 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel that is produced from renewable biomass to be blended into transportation fuel by 2022. The renewable fuel standard includes fuels that are produced from renewable biomass, such as corn.
 
The bill would not affect the standards under the program for advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel, or biomass-based diesel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Reforming Disaster Recovery Act

Bill: 116-s-2301
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-07-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Disaster relief and insurance
Executive agency funding and structure
Floods and storm protection
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Low- and moderate-income housing
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: 

Reforming Disaster Recovery Act

 
This bill addresses housing assistance in disaster recovery areas. 
 
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must establish the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilient Communities. The office's duties shall include (1) developing policy to build community resiliency and restore housing, (2) leading certain HUD disaster recovery activities, and (3) providing periodic disaster mitigation and recovery training to HUD staff. 
 
In addition, HUD must award grants under the Community Development Block Grant program for government entities to provide disaster relief, increase long-term resilience to natural hazards, and provide housing assistance to distressed areas after a declared major disaster.
 
HUD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must collect certain information during the course of a disaster recovery and make such information public. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must analyze and report on the allocation of disaster-related housing benefits administered by FEMA, HUD, and the Department of Agriculture.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2303
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2019-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Cuba
Latin America
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: 

Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes that any law, regulation, or policy that prohibits or restricts travel to or from Cuba, or transactions incident to such travel, shall have no effect. The President may not restrict or prohibit such travel or transactions unless doing so is necessary to protect (1) U.S. national security, or (2) the health and safety of U.S. citizens or legal residents. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5146-5147)
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Strategies To Address Antibiotic Resistance Act

Bill: 116-s-2304
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: 

Strategies To Address Antibiotic Resistance Act or the STAAR Act

This bill expands various initiatives to address antibiotic resistance.
 
The bill reestablishes the interagency Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force to coordinate and develop efforts addressing antibiotic resistance.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must encourage health care facilities to implement antimicrobial stewardship programs to evaluate and improve the use of antimicrobial drugs.
 
The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use the National Healthcare Safety Network to collect and report data about the usage of antibiotic drugs, changes in resistance to such drugs, and other trends impacting patient outcomes.
 
Additionally, the bill increases nationwide efforts to monitor, research, and prevent the spread of infection from resistant organisms by
 
 
establishing the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance and Laboratory Network in at least seven geographic regions, 
 
establishing the Clinical Trials Network on Antibacterial Resistance to conduct clinical research, and 
 
requiring the CDC to collaborate with state and local agencies to support health care facilities that focus on preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Humane Correctional Health Care Act

Bill: 116-s-2305
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-07-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Detention of persons
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Medicaid
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: 

Humane Correctional Health Care Act

 
This bill allows states to cover inmates of public institutions under Medicaid. The Government Accountability Office must report on specified information relating to the health of inmates and the effects of Medicaid coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Introduced in Senate