hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4203
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Infrastructure development
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 

American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2020

 
This bill allows the issuer of an American infrastructure bond a credit with respect to each interest payment under such bond. Specifically, a credit of 35% of such interest is payable for bonds issued before January 1, 2026, and 28% for bonds issued after December 31, 2025. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Homeland Security Higher Education Advisory Council Act

Bill: 116-s-4205
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Higher education
Homeland security
International exchange and broadcasting
Research administration and funding
Subversive activities
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 

Homeland Security Higher Education Advisory Council Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a homeland security higher education advisory council. The council must make recommendations to DHS on matters concerning homeland security and the academic community, including the threat of foreign influence and interference in the United States, homeland security academic and research programs, issues relating to international students (e.g., visas), and cybersecurity. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text: CR S4229-4230)
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 to authorize the interest rate to be used on a secured loan to be the interest rate for United States Treasury securities of a similar maturity on the date of first disbursement of the loan, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-4206
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Floods and storm protection
Government lending and loan guarantees
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 
This bill modifies statutory requirements related to the minimum interest rate for a secured loan provided under a federal program to help finance water infrastructure projects (i.e., the program established under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014).
 
Specifically, the interest rate for such a loan shall not be less than the yield of U.S. Treasury securities of similar maturity to the loan, either on the date the loan agreement was executed or the date of the loan's first disbursement, whichever is lower. Currently, the statute only takes into consideration the yield of comparable U.S. Treasury securities on the execution date of the loan agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended to require news outlets that are agents of a foreign principal to provide adequate disclosure of their status.

Bill: 116-s-4207
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Government information and archives
News media and reporting
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 
This bill requires a news outlet that is an agent of a foreign principal to provide certain disclosures. Specifically, any news outlet that is required to register as an agent of a foreign principal must include, in any transmission in or into the United States, that the transmission is made by an agent of a foreign principal and that additional infomation is on file with the Department of Justice. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4208
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Appropriations
Business education
Business investment and capital
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Economic performance and conditions
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marketing and advertising
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Teaching, teachers, curricula
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 

Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2020

 
This bill permanently authorizes the Minority Business Development Agency and provides additional funding for the agency to assist minority businesses affected by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Specifically, the bill requires the agency to (1) promote and administer minority business development programs in the public and private sectors, and (2) carry out programs that increase access to capital, management, and technology for such businesses. The bill provides statutory authority for the agency's existing initiatives. Such initiatives include the Minority Business Development Center Program, which is a national network of public-private partnerships that assist, provide counseling and mentoring to, and facilitate the growth of minority businesses.
 
The bill also establishes new initiatives to promote resiliency for minority businesses, such as (1) an annual government-business forum to review the status of problems and programs relating to capital formation by minority businesses, (2) an agency study on opportunities to provide alternative financing solutions to minority businesses, and (3) grants to institutions of higher education for developing and implementing entrepreneurship curricula. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing Healthcare and Response Equipment Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4210
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Public contracts and procurement
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 

Securing Healthcare and Response Equipment Act of 2020 or the SHARE Act of 2020

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to transfer personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during a declared public health emergency. These transfers must be made at the request of HHS and on a reimbursable basis.
 

 

action_date: 2020-12-14
text: 

Securing Healthcare and Response Equipment Act of 2020 or the SHARE Act of 2020

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to transfer personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during a declared public health emergency. These transfers must be made at the request of HHS and on a reimbursable basis.
 
It also allows HHS to (1) sell certain items from the Strategic National Stockpile to government agencies and nonprofits, and (2) maintain a stockpile of personal protective equipment for use by first responder agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 624.
action_date: 2020-12-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-321.
action_date: 2020-12-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-321.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Facilitating Reforms that Offer Necessary Telehealth In Every Rural (FRONTIER) Community Act

Bill: 116-s-4211
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2020-07-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health technology, devices, supplies
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicare
Mental health
Minority health
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: 

Facilitating Reforms that Offer Necessary Telehealth In Every Rural (FRONTIER) Community Act

 
This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of certain telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in certain rural areas and to be a specific type of facility, if the services (1) are mental health services furnished in a frontier state, or (2) are furnished in an Indian Health Service facility. 
 
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Agriculture must award grants for broadband infrastructure in frontier states to support the provision of mental health services via telehealth under Medicare.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act

Bill: 116-s-4212
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government liability
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Jurisdiction and venue
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

 Civil Justice for Victims of China-Originated Viral Infections Diseases Act or the Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act 

 
 This bill allows a foreign government to be sued in U.S. district court regarding that government's actions related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak.
 
A foreign government shall not have sovereign immunity against a lawsuit in the United States seeking money damages for physical or economic injury occurring in the United States following any reckless action or omission of that foreign government (or any official or agent of that government) that caused or substantially contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. 
 
If the United States is in discussions with a foreign state seeking to resolve claims related to COVID-19 against that foreign state, a court may stay a pending case brought under this bill against that foreign state.

action_date: 2020-07-30
text: 

Civil Justice for Victims of China-Originated Viral Infections Diseases Act or the Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act 

 
 This bill allows a foreign government to be sued in U.S. district court regarding that government's actions related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak.
 
A foreign government shall not have sovereign immunity against a lawsuit in the United States seeking money damages for physical or economic injury occurring in the United States following any reckless action or omission of that foreign government (or any official or agent of that government) that caused or substantially contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. 
 
If the United States is in discussions with a foreign state seeking to resolve claims related to COVID-19 against that foreign state, a court may stay a pending case brought under this bill against that foreign state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 504.
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial Relief Noting The Large Impact Of Our Nation’s Essential Employees (FRNT LINE) Act

Bill: 116-s-4213
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child care and development
Disability assistance
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment taxes
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Government trust funds
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax exclusion
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Preschool education
Retail and wholesale trades
School administration
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

Financial Relief Noting The Large Impact Of Our Nation's Essential Employees (FRNT LINE) Act

 
This bill excludes from gross income wages of certain front-line employees during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period (the period beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on the earlier of the last day of the first month in which the COVID-19 emergency is no longer in effect, or December 31, 2020). The bill also suspends payment of payroll taxes during the emergency period for employees earning $50,000 or less.
 .

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide a payroll tax credit for certain expenses associated with protecting employees from COVID-19.

Bill: 116-s-4214
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Disability assistance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment taxes
Government trust funds
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Social security and elderly assistance
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 
This bill allows employers a 50% payroll tax credit for the cost of qualified employee protection expenses and qualified workplace reconfiguration expenses paid in a calendar quarter. The bill defines
 
 

qualified employee protection expenses
 as the cost of testing employees for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), equipment to protect employees from COVID-19, and cleaning products or services for preventing the spread of COVID-19; and 
 

qualified workplace reconfiguration expenses 
as amounts paid to design and reconfigure retail space, work areas, break areas, or other employee or customer areas for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and such design and reconfiguration is completed pursuant to a plan in place before March 13, 2020, and completed before January 1, 2021. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act

Bill: 116-s-4215
Sponsor: Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Utah
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act

 
This bill modifies the wilderness designations of certain lands in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah. 
 
The bill designates approximately 334.16 acres in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest as part of the Mount Olympus Wilderness. 
 
The bill also removes the following lands in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest from designation as wilderness:
 
 
approximately 19.06 acres in the Mount Naomi Wilderness,
 
 approximately 197.4 acres in the Mount Olympus Wilderness,
 
 approximately 9.8 acres in the Twin Peaks Wilderness, and 
 
 approximately 107.9 acres in the Lone Peak Wilderness Area.
 
 
The lands removed from designation as wilderness shall be managed as part of the forest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-382.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4216
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicaid
Medicare
Mental health
Minority health
Poverty and welfare assistance
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent Telehealth Options Act of 2020 or the KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the availability and effects of expanded telehealth services under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Among other information, HHS must detail its actions during the emergency to expand access to telehealth services and must analyze telehealth usage by certain demographic groups. The GAO must report on the efficiency and management of the telehealth expansion and related risks of fraudulent activity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
PPP Access for Rural Hospitals Act

Bill: 116-s-4217
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business expenses
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Rural conditions and development
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

PPP Access for Rural Hospitals Act

 
This bill includes within the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), certain rural hospitals or hospitals serving low-income patients that are designated as critical care hospitals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Coronavirus EGC Extension Act

Bill: 116-s-4218
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Business investment and capital
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Corporate finance and management
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Securities
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

Coronavirus EGC Extension Act 

 
This bill extends the status of an issuer of securities as an emerging growth company. Specifically, these issuers will remain emerging growth companies until the later of 
 
 
one year after the date of enactment of this bill, 
 
the end of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency declaration period, and 
 
the date the issuer would otherwise cease being an emerging growth company. 
 
 

Emerging growth companies
 (in general, a newly public company with revenues below a specified threshold) are subject to reduced disclosure requirements, among other regulations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Long Island All-Water Helicopter Route Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4219
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2020-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: 

Long Island All-Water Helicopter Route Act of 2020

 
This bill extends the special air traffic rule for civil helicopters operating under visual flight rules (VFR) along the North Shore in Long Island, New York to use the New York North Shore Helicopter Route. (VFR are a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.)
 
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct a rulemaking proceeding to promulgate a new special air traffic rule for civil helicopters operating VFR along the North Shore and South Shore of Long Island, New York in accordance with specified requirements of the bill.
 
A person who pilots a civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's northern shoreline or southern shoreline may deviate from the North Shore Helicopter Route or South Shore Helicopter Route requirements: (1) for safety or weather conditions; or (2) when transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing, except for on the North Shore Helicopter Route when departing from or arriving to certain locations.
 
 If safety or weather conditions cause a person piloting a civil helicopter operating VFR to deviate from either route, the person must submit a one page report to the FAA identifying the condition not later than 14 days after landing.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S4267)
action_date: 2020-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate