hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Climate Equity Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4513
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2020-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Budget process
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Congressional agencies
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional-executive branch relations
Due process and equal protection
Economic performance and conditions
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Judicial review and appeals
Legislative rules and procedure
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Public participation and lobbying
Racial and ethnic relations
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: 

Climate Equity Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the review and analysis of new legislation, regulation, or federal investments that are related to environmental or climate change issues and sets forth related requirements. The analysis must determine the impacts of such legislation, regulation, or investments on frontline communities (e.g., communities that have experienced environmental injustice or are vulnerable to climate injustice). 
 
Specifically, the bill establishes a Climate and Environmental Equity Office within the Congressional Budget Office. The former must prepare an analysis for each bill or resolution with an environmental or climate change nexus that is reported by any congressional committee. The analysis must include the bill's impacts on frontline communities.
 
The bill also establishes an Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Accountability within the Office of Management and Budget. Among other things, the former must (1) measure the costs of environmental and climate regulations on frontline communities, (2) review agencies' investments to determine if they have an environmental or climate change nexus and ensure that frontline communities benefit from such investments, and (3) represent the views of frontline communities in the rulemaking process.
 
Each agency must biannually publish a climate and environmental justice accountability agenda. An agency must prepare and publish a climate and environmental justice analysis for a proposed or final rule that may have a significant impact on a substantial number of residents within frontline communities. Further, each agency must ensure that frontline communities have been given an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
FENTANYL Results Act

Bill: 116-s-4514
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Cultural exchanges and relations
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employment and training programs
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Smuggling and trafficking
Solid waste and recycling
United Nations
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: 

Fighting Emerging Narcotics Through Additional Nations to Yield Lasting Results Act or the FENTANYL Results Act

 
This bill creates two programs, establishes a reporting requirement, and otherwise modifies provisions to facilitate global cooperation against synthetic drug trafficking.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of State to establish a program to provide capacity-building assistance for law enforcement agencies of specified countries to identify, track, and detect certain synthetic drugs (e.g., fentanyl). The State Department must also carry out an international exchange program for drug demand reduction experts to provide educational and professional development on demand-reduction matters relating to the illicit use of narcotics and other drugs.
 
The bill requires the State Department to include new sections in its annual international narcotics control strategy report that contain (1) an assessment of the countries likely involved in the trafficking of synthetic opioids; and (2) policies of responding to new psychoactive substances.
 
The bill also expands the definition of 
major illicit drug producing country
 to include countries that produce synthetic drugs. Under current law, foreign assistance may be withheld from such countries.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
ACCESS the Internet Act

Bill: 116-s-4515
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2020-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
American Samoa
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Department of Veterans Affairs
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Guam
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Libraries and archives
Marshall Islands
Mental health
Micronesia
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Public contracts and procurement
Rural conditions and development
U.S. territories and protectorates
Veterans' medical care
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: 

Accelerating Connected Care and Education Support Services on the Internet Act or the ACCESS the Internet Act

 
This bill provides funding to support distance learning and connected care in response to COVID-19.
 
Specifically, the bill provides funds for (1) elementary and secondary school emergency relief grants to purchase internet-connected devices and associated services that support distance learning, (2) a pilot program to award grants for the purchase and distribution of internet-connected devices for libraries in rural and low-income areas, (3) the COVID-19 Telehealth Program of the Federal Communications Commission, and (4) the furnishing of internet-connected devices and associated services to veterans for accessing telehealth services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Support for STEM Act

Bill: 116-s-4516
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Preschool education
Science and engineering education

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: 

Emergency Support for STEM Act

 
This bill provides FY2020 appropriations for grants to states and, through them, subgrants to eligible public elementary and secondary schools and nonprofit programs to support hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, including through remote learning, after-school activities, and innovative learning opportunities (e.g., robotics competitions).
 
The amounts provided by the bill are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO) and the Senate PAYGO rule.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide States additional time relating to the appointment of electors and for the meeting of electors for the 2020 election for President and Vice President.

Bill: 116-s-4517
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2020-08-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: 
This bill revises the electoral college time line for the 2020 presidential election.
 
First, the bill requires states to make final determinations of controversies or contests as to the appointment of electors by January 1, 2021. Currently, the deadline is December 8, 2020.
 
Further, the bill requires electors to meet in their respective states on January 2, 2021, to cast their votes for President and Vice President. Currently, electors must meet on December 14, 2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2020-08-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Pandemic Federal Telework Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4518
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Commuting
Computers and information technology
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: 

Pandemic Federal Telework Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes several requirements for federal agencies with respect to telework. 
 
Specifically, the bill requires each federal agency (executive, legislative, and judicial) to allow eligible employees to telework full-time during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). An employee is considered eligible if the employee has not received specified disciplinary action and is otherwise determined eligible by the agency. 
 
Additionally, the Office of Personnel Management must, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, develop an expansive telework policy for use in future outbreaks of infectious diseases. 
 
The bill also requires executive agencies to ensure that all new managers and supervisors receive certain training on specified aspects of telework, including the benefits of telework, the technology involved, and information security. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
RELIEF Act

Bill: 116-s-4519
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2020-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Bankruptcy
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Federal Reserve System
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Landlord and tenant
Lawyers and legal services
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public utilities and utility rates
Securities
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: 

Rent Emergencies Leave Impacts on Evicted Families Act or the RELIEF Act 

 
This bill generally revises housing protections established in response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, including by expanding protections for renters and mortgage holders, providing consumer protections regarding credit reports and utility access, and increasing oversight regarding housing protections. Among other things, the bill 
 
 
prohibits all evictions and foreclosures for one year; 
 
prohibits increases in rent; 
 
provides an 18-month grace period for missed rent payments; 
 
prohibits landlords and mortgage servicers from reporting missed payments to credit reporting agencies; 
 
establishes a credit facility to provide landlords with low-cost, long-term loans to compensate for losses due to reduction in rent payments; 
 
establishes a program to assist low-income households in paying utility bills; and
 
provides congressional oversight regarding rental property assistance.
 
 
The bill also generally revises bankruptcy provisions, including by excluding COVID-19 aid from property subject to bankruptcy proceedings. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
VA–SBA Act

Bill: 116-s-4520
Sponsor: Sen. Loeffler, Kelly [R-GA]
Introduced: 2020-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: 

Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business Adjustment Act or the VA-SBA Act

 
This bill transfers responsibility for verifying that a small business concern is owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran, for the purposes of eligibility for certain procurement programs, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to the Small Business Administration (SBA). 
 
Specifically, the bill transfers maintenance of the database of veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to the SBA. For the purposes of procurement programs for small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, the SBA must certify the status of such businesses, require their periodic recertification, and penalize any small business that misrepresents its status. Accordingly, the bill also abolishes the Center for Verification and Evaluation of the VA and transfers all of its functions to the SBA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Care Improvement Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4521
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2020-08-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
American Samoa
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Child health
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of the Treasury
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Guam
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
Northern Mariana Islands
Personnel records
Poverty and welfare assistance
Puerto Rico
Right of privacy
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families
Tax-exempt organizations
U.S. territories and protectorates
Unemployment
User charges and fees
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: 

Health Care Improvement Act of 

2020

 
 This bill makes various changes to the health care marketplace, such as expanding premium assistance, encouraging states to expand Medicaid, and establishing a public health insurance option.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to authorize appropriations for the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund.

Bill: 116-s-4522
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2020-08-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural research
International organizations and cooperation
Israel
Middle East
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: 
This bill authorizes appropriations for the United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund for each fiscal year to promote and support agricultural research and development activities that are of mutual benefit to the United States and Israel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Natural Gas Blowout Prevention, Oversight, and Liability Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4523
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2020-08-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Accidents
Air quality
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Oil and gas
Pollution liability

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: 

Natural Gas Blowout Prevention, Oversight, and Liability Act of 2020

 
This bill sets forth federal standards related to natural gas blowouts. A blowout is the loss of control of any well that leads to the release of combusted or uncombusted natural gas into the atmosphere.
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
requires operators of wells to report natural gas blowouts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) within 72 hours after a blowout occurs;
 
directs the EPA to establish and maintain a public database of all blowouts;
 
imposes penalties for natural gas or flared natural gas that is released as a result of a well blowout, based on the volume released;
 
establishes a grant program to reduce the scale and regularity of blowouts and the burden to states and local governments with respect to emergency responses to blowouts; and
 
directs the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to submit a report that describes each natural gas blowout from the past 10 years and includes recommendations to reduce the number of blowouts. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Quit Because of COVID–19 Act

Bill: 116-s-4524
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2020-08-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Drug therapy
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicaid
Mental health
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: 

Quit Because of COVID-19 Act

 
This bill provides for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of certain tobacco cessation services during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), as well as for two years after the emergency period ends. 
 
Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services and pharmacotherapy, including prescription and nonprescription tobacco cessation agents, that are provided under medical supervision and in accordance with specified guidelines. The bill excludes such items and services from cost-sharing and applies an enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate).
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to ensure that health care providers do not incur additional Federal income tax liability due to receipt of assistance through the Provider Relief Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill: 116-s-4525
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2020-08-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Business expenses
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: 
This bill affirms that any payment or benefit provided to a taxpayer under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) shall be excluded from gross income, for income tax purposes. Additionally, no deduction shall be denied or reduced, no tax attribute shall be reduced, and no basis increase shall be denied resulting from such exclusion. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Coronavirus Language Access Act

Bill: 116-s-4526
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2020-08-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Appropriations
Business expenses
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability assistance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Small business
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: 

Coronavirus Language Access Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies to take actions to expand access to information about COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) for those with limited English proficiency. It also provides emergency funding to the Administration on Community Living for FY2020 to increase access to such information for those who have limited English proficiency and are older individuals, individuals with disabilities, or individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
 
Among other requirements, the CDC must award grants to, or enter cooperative agreements with, community-based organizations or governmental health departments to offer interpretive services for individuals receiving COVID-19 tests and otherwise provide information about COVID-19 and other public health activities in certain languages other than English. The CDC must also translate, within seven days, certain COVID-19 materials into specified languages other than English and must operate a hotline staffed by trained interpreters to provide information about COVID-19 to the public.
 
In addition, any federal agency that receives funding pursuant to a COVID-19 response law must translate, within seven days, materials that describe programs and opportunities related to COVID-19 into specified languages other than English and must provide oral language assistance services to those with limited English proficiency.
 
 

 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-08-12
text: Introduced in Senate