hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1306
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019

 
This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act and related labor laws to extend protections to union workers. Specifically, it 
 
 
revises the definition of &quot;employee&quot; and &quot;supervisor&quot; to prevent employers from classifying employees as exempt from labor law protections,
 
expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of or discrimination against workers who participate in strikes, 
 
makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership, 
 
permits workers to participate in collective or class action litigation, 
 
allows injunctions against employers engaging in unfair labor practices involving discharge or serious economic harm to an employee, 
 
expands penalties for labor law violations, including interference with the National Labor Relations Board or causing serious economic harm to an employee, and 
 
allows any person to bring a civil action for harm caused by labor law violations or unfair labor practices.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1307
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Adult day care
Child care and development
Elementary and secondary education
Federal-Indian relations
Food assistance and relief
Indian social and development programs
Intergovernmental relations
Nutrition and diet
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act of 201

9

 
This bill allows an Indian tribe to assume, from a nearby local educational agency (LEA) and in lieu of a state, responsibility for administration of the school breakfast program, the school lunch program, the child and adult care food program, or the summer food service program for children. 
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must identify, for optional use in LEAs on or near Indian reservations, alternatives to current program requirements related to the daily counting of meals by category, the use of annual applications to determine program eligibility, and the use of universal meal service. USDA may implement such alternatives, as limited by the bill, as well as further test them in demonstration projects.
 
The bill also requires USDA to increase the amount of administrative funds paid to an Indian tribe that agrees to assume responsibility for the administration of one of the specified food programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Faith-Based Community Center Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-1308
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Community life and organization
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Homeland security
Religion
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Faith-Based Community Center Protection Act

 
This bill permits the use of Urban Area Security Initiative or State Homeland Security Grant Program grant funds to protect a faith-based community center or vulnerable populations, including children or the elderly. A 
faith-based community center 
is a facility operated by a nonprofit faith-based community organization for the provision of recreational, social, or education services, or a house of worship. 
 
The bill increases the term of imprisonment from 5 to 10 years for providing false or misleading information or engaging in hoaxes. 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1311
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Roads and highways

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2019

 
This bill bars the Department of Agriculture from allowing the construction of roads, the reconstruction of roads, or logging in an inventoried roadless area where those activities are prohibited by the Roadless Rule (i.e., certain federal regulations relating to roadless area management). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Territorial Relief Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1312
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Appropriations
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Bankruptcy
Budget deficits and national debt
Caribbean area
Civil actions and liability
Disaster relief and insurance
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal district courts
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Judicial review and appeals
Jurisdiction and venue
Puerto Rico
Securities
State and local finance
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

United States Territorial Relief Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a process under which Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories may terminate certain debts if they meet eligibility criteria. 
 
The bill allows territories to terminate their public, unsecured debt if they meet two of three criteria:
 
 
the population of the territory has decreased by more than 5% over 10 years, 
 
the territory received major federal disaster assistance, or
 
the territory's per capita debt exceeds $15,000.

 
If Puerto Rico discharges its debt under this process, the bill provides funding that a special master must allocate to certain creditors whose debts were discharged.
 
The bill also establishes a Puerto Rico Public Credit Comprehensive Audit Commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
RIP MSP Act

Bill: 116-s-1313
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Repeal Insurance Plans of the Multi-State Program Act or the RIP MSP Act

 
 This bill repeals the multi-state insurance plan program. (The multi-state plan program requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to contract with insurance issuers to provide a qualified health plan through the health insurance exchanges in multiple states.) The OPM must report about the process and timeline for ending the program within 60 days.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Silencing Victims Act

Bill: 116-s-1314
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional officers and employees
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Stop Silencing Victims Act

 
This bill makes unenforceable any provision of a nondisclosure agreement between a public sector employer and an employee that prohibits the disclosure of information relating to an allegation or a series of allegations that could give rise to a valid claim of sex discrimination. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-s-1315
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Allied health services
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Medical education
Medical research
Military medicine
Research administration and funding
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants to eligible institutions to (1) establish a master's degree program in orthotics and prosthetics, or (2) expand upon an existing master's degree program in such area. The VA shall give grant priority to institutions that have entered into a partnership with a medical center administered by the VA or a facility administered by the Department of Defense. An 
eligible institution
 is an educational institution that is either accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education or that demonstrates an ability to meet such accreditation requirements if it receives a grant.
 
The bill also requires the VA to award a grant to an institution with orthotic and prosthetic research and education experience to (1) establish the Center of Excellence in Orthotic and Prosthetic Education; and (2) improve orthotic and prosthetic outcomes for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and civilians by conducting orthotic and prosthetic research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text: CR S2618)
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-s-1316
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aging
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Health technology, devices, supplies
Materials
Medical research
Military medicine
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act 

 
This bill directs the Department of Defense to award grants to advance orthotic and prosthetic care for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians who have undergone amputation, traumatic brain injury, and other serious injuries resulting from combat or military experience. The grants must fund research on (1) outcomes for such patients, (2) materials used in orthotics and prosthetics, and (3) improving existing orthotic and prosthetic technology and the development of new technology.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text: CR S2618-2619)
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1318
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: California
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oil and gas
Oregon
Pacific Ocean
Washington State

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019

 
This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2619)
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
PRIDE Voting Act

Bill: 116-s-1319
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government studies and investigations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Protecting the Right to Independent and Democratic Elections Act or the PRIDE Voting Act

 
This bill establishes an election security grant program under which the Department of Homeland Security awards grants to states to carry out one or more of the following activities: (1) implementing or improving the use of auditable paper ballots, (2) conducting postelection risk limiting audits, and (3) implementing cybersecurity standards and best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1320
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 

Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019

 
This bill permanently reauthorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) Mentor-Protege Program, designed to help major defense contractors facilitate the participation of disadvantaged small business concerns as subcontractors and suppliers.
 
The DOD Office of Small Business Programs shall establish performance goals and conduct periodic reviews of approved agreements between mentors and proteges. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Air Traffic Control Safe Operation and Readiness Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1322
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
National Guard and reserves
Transportation employees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 

Air Traffic Control Safe Operation and Readiness Act of 2019

 
This bill revises the hiring process for air traffic control specialists.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to
 
 
give preferential consideration to individuals who have successfully completed air traffic controller training and veterans, 
 
consider for the interview stage of the hiring process candidates who score at or above the passing score on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (AT-SA) and meet minimum qualifications established by the FAA, and 
 
revise the AT-SA to ensure that all questions are supported by a peer reviewed job analysis and that it does not incorporate any biographical questionnaire or other questions of a biographical nature. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate
UNDERSTAND Act

Bill: 116-s-1323
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adult education and literacy
Congressional oversight
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Health and Human Services
Economic performance and conditions
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Housing supply and affordability
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Mental health
Unemployment
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 

Utilizing National Data, Effectively Reforming Standards and Tools, to Address Negative Determinates [
sic
] of Health Act or the UNDERSTAND Act

 
This bill requires the collection and reporting of social determinants of health that may affect Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries and individuals who receive services at federally qualified health centers. Social determinants of health include educational, employment, housing, and family circumstances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate
BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1324
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Buy American requirements
Congressional oversight
Free trade and trade barriers
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Public contracts and procurement
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 

BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the President and specified federal agencies to take steps to increase transparency and limit the use of waivers of Buy American laws. Generally, Buy American requires agencies to procure domestic goods.
 
The bill requires (1) the Department of Commerce to report periodically to Congress and the President on the implementation of, and compliance with, Buy American laws; (2) Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to assess the impacts of all U.S. free trade agreements and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement on the operation of such laws; and (3) the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish a free, publicly available BuyAmerican.gov website. Public interest waivers from Buy American laws shall be construed to ensure the maximum utilization of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States.
 
The President shall develop a mechanism to collect information on requests to waive Buy American laws and other domestic content restrictions for purposes of providing early notice to possible waivers via the website. Executive agencies shall make information concerning the intention to issue a waiver or exception in connection with a federal procurement available to the GSA at least 20 days prior to waiving a Buy American law.
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress within two years of this bill's enactment describing the bill's implementation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1325
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Military operations and strategy
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
United Nations
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 

Military Humanitarian Operations Act of 2019

 
This bill defines a 
military humanitarian operation
 as an operation involving the deployment of members or weapons systems of the Armed Forces where hostile activities are reasonably anticipated with the aim of preventing or responding to a humanitarian catastrophe or addressing a threat posed to international peace and security. 
 
The President may not deploy members of the Armed Forces into a foreign country for a military humanitarian operation not authorized by statute or Congress.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Chronic Wasting Disease Research Act

Bill: 116-s-1326
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Environmental Protection
Genetics
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Mammals
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 

Chronic Wasting Disease Research Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to award grants for research on the transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of chronic wasting disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose populations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the credit for production of refined coal.

Bill: 116-s-1327
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-05-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air quality
Coal
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: 
This bill extends the tax credit for the production of refined coal. With respect to refined coal production facilities that do not produce steel industry fuel, the bill (1) allows facilities that were placed in service before January 1, 2012, to claim the credit for an additional 10 years, and (2) establishes an additional 3-year period (after December 31, 2018, and before January 1, 2022), during which facilities may qualify for the credit by being placed in service. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-05-06
text: Introduced in Senate