hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Innovation Zone Act

Bill: 116-s-1221
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Innovation Zone Act

 
This bill replaces the Experimental Sites Initiative of the Department of Education (ED) with an innovation zone initiative consisting of voluntary experiments by participating institutions of higher education (IHEs). 
 
Upon selection of an experiment but prior to choosing the participating IHEs, ED must identify the methodology of data collection and the evaluation methods for determining the impact of the experiment, including any differential impacts for historically underrepresented students (e.g., students of color and low-income students).
 
Under the experiment, ED and the IHEs may test the effectiveness of statutory and regulatory flexibility that aims for (1) an increase in student success (e.g., reductions in student loan debt and increases in student retention and employment outcomes); and (2) a reduction of regulatory burdens on IHEs or ED, without harm to students.
 
The bill also requires ED to conduct a review of existing experiments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
COFA Veterans Review Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1222
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Disability and paralysis
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Marshall Islands
Medical education
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Micronesia
Palau
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Compact of Free Association Veterans Review Act of 2019 or the COFA Veterans Review Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a three-year pilot program to provide hospital care, medical services, and other related services to veterans residing in the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
 
The bill requires the VA to conduct a study and report on the feasibility and advisability of establishing one or more VA offices in the remote Pacific islands to provide hospital care and medical services to veterans residing in the area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1223
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Protecting Beneficiary Access to Complex Rehab Technology Act of 2019

 
This bill excludes specified wheelchairs and associated accessories from Medicare's competitive acquisition program (in which rates are set through a competitive bidding program rather than by an established fee schedule).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop STALLING Act

Bill: 116-s-1224
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business ethics
Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Licensing and registrations
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Stop Significant and Time-wasting Abuse Limiting Legitimate Innovation of New Generics Act or the
 
Stop STALLING Act

 
This bill makes it an unfair method of competition to submit an objectively baseless petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in an attempt to interfere with a competitor's application for market approval of a drug.
 
The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to sue an individual or entity that submits such a petition to the FDA. A party found liable in such a lawsuit shall be subject to civil penalties, such as a fine of up to $50,000 for each day that the FDA spent reviewing the baseless petition.

action_date: 2019-06-28
text: 

Stop Significant and Time-wasting Abuse Limiting Legitimate Innovation of New Generics Act or the
 
Stop STALLING Act

 
This bill makes it an unfair method of competition to submit an objectively baseless petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in an attempt to interfere with a competitor's application for market approval of a drug.
 
The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to sue an individual or entity that submits such a petition to the FDA. A party found liable in such a lawsuit shall be subject to civil penalties, such as a fine of up to $50,000 for each day that the FDA spent reviewing the baseless petition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 130.
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Elder Pride Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1225
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Elder Pride Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes the Office of Older LGBT Policy and a related rural outreach grant program.
 
The office shall coordinate research and services for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.
 
The office shall oversee a program, and may award grants, for addressing the needs of older LGBT individuals in rural areas. Some of the approved activities for the grant program include education and outreach, reducing isolation and improving access to care, and expanding the use of nondiscrimination policies.
 
The office shall be a part of the Administration on Aging. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Access Business Credit Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1226
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Business investment and capital
Income tax exclusion
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Access Business Credit Act of 201

9

 
This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from the gross income of certain banks interest received on small business loans of up to $5 million. 
 
The bill applies to loans that are (1) secured by land situated in the United States that is used or held by the small business in connection with the active conduct of a farming business, or (2) incurred in the ordinary course of the trade or business of the small business. 
 
To be eligible for the exclusion, the bank must have less than $50 billion in assets at the closing of the preceding taxable year. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1227
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business ethics
Business records
Competition and antitrust
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Inflation and prices
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to report to Congress on the effect of certain anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical supply chain. 

action_date: 2019-06-28
text: 

Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019

This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report about anticompetitive practices and other trends within the pharmaceutical supply chain that may impact the cost of prescriptions drugs. The FTC also must provide recommendations to increase transparency in the supply chain and prevent anticompetitive practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 131.
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-1229
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Building construction
Business records
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Hospital care
Housing industry and standards
Landlord and tenant
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Members of Congress
Military facilities and property
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Public contracts and procurement
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act 

 
This bill addresses Department of Defense (DOD) oversight and service member protections in DOD-sponsored private military housing. Among other things, the bill covers contracts, unit inspection, remedying substandard conditions, handling housing-related injuries, and prohibiting improper financial interests by public officials. 
 
Specifically, DOD must establish requirements for entering into and renewing contracts with private landlords and must make the financial details of such agreements public. 
 
DOD must employ certified independent housing inspectors to ensure that private military housing units are safe, clean, and adequate, and that they meet federal, state, and local laws and standards of habitability. DOD must allow state and local housing inspectors to conduct no-notice inspections, including on military installations. 
 
DOD must require each landlord to provide access to the landlord's maintenance work order system. Service members may file a claim with DOD to withhold the basic allowance for housing if a landlord has not met maintenance guidelines or the unit is uninhabitable according to state and local law. 
 
Military treatment facilities must screen service members and family members for medical conditions resulting from unsafe private housing, and landlords must pay medical bills associated with housing-related injuries. The Department of Veterans Affairs must provide similar care for veterans and their families. 
 
The bill prohibits members of defense-related congressional committees and certain military officers and high-level DOD employees from having a financial interest in private military housing. Violations are subject to civil penalties.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1230
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-04-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer credit
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Interest, dividends, interest rates

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: 

Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 
 
2019

 
 This bill prohibits a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (i.e., credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%.
 
The bill also sets forth criminal penalties for violations and empowers state Attorneys General to enforce the bill.
 
Credit card billing statements must include the fee and interest rate, displayed as &quot;FAIR,&quot; instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.

Bill: 116-s-1231
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 
This bill makes permanent the authority for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. The BVP Program provides grants to states and localities to purchase body armor vests for law enforcement officers.

action_date: 2019-05-09
text: 
This bill makes permanent the authority for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. The BVP Program provides grants to states and localities to purchase body armor vests for law enforcement officers.
 
Additionally, the bill renames the BVP Program as the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.

action_date: 2019-05-14
text: 
This bill makes permanent the authority for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Program. The BVP Program provides grants to states and localities to purchase body armor vests for law enforcement officers.
 
Additionally, the bill renames the BVP Program as the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2837; text: CR S2837)
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2837; text: CR S2837)
action_date: 2019-05-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 82.
action_date: 2019-05-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-05-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-05-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
RECLAIM Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1232
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Coal
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing and community development funding
Land use and conservation
Mining
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act of 2019 or the RECLAIM Act of 2019

 
This bill expands and revises the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to provide support for economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed mining communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977.
 
Specifically, it makes specified funds available to the Department of the Interior through FY2024 for distribution to states and Indian tribes for reclaiming and restoring abandoned mine lands and waters in such communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1233
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 201

9

 
This bill creates an exemption from internal control report attestation requirements for depository institutions with assets less than $5 billion. These institutions are also exempt from certain annual reports on financial condition and management.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission must revise Regulation D (which exempts certain offerings from securities registration requirements) to (1) raise the limit on the number of purchasers of securities, and (2) include a person's primary residence as an asset used in determining whether a person is an accredited investor eligible to participate in these offerings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1234
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Federal-Indian relations
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Public contracts and procurement
Public participation and lobbying
Radioactive wastes and releases
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses nuclear waste management.
 
Among other things, this bill
 
 
establishes the Nuclear Waste Administration (NWA) to provide for the permanent disposal of nuclear waste, including the siting, construction, and operation of additional repositories, a test and evaluation facility, and additional storage facilities;
 
transfers to the NWA specified functions of the Department of Energy, including those related to the construction and operation of a repository;
 
prescribes siting guidelines for nuclear waste storage facilities and repositories and for the identification and suitability of candidate sites;
 
directs the NWA to establish a storage program to provide interim storage for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; and
 
confers upon the NWA responsibility for transporting nuclear waste.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

Bill: 116-s-1235
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2019-04-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Currency
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Smithsonian Institution
U.S. history
Voting rights
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: 

Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 400,000 $1 silver coins that are emblematic of the women who played a vital role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 
 
Such coins may be issued during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. 
 
All surcharges received from the sales of such coins shall be paid to the American Women's History Initiative of the Smithsonian Institution. 

action_date: 2019-06-04
text: 

Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 400,000 $1 silver coins that are emblematic of the women who played a vital role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 
 
(Sec. 5) Such coins may be issued during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. 
 
(Sec. 7) All surcharges received from the sales of such coins shall be paid to the American Women's History Initiative of the Smithsonian Institution. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-05
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2019-06-05
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2019-06-05
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2019-06-04
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S3197-3198)
action_date: 2019-06-04
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S3197-3198)
action_date: 2019-06-04
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3197-3198)
action_date: 2019-06-04
text: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3197-3198)
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-04-30
text: Introduced in Senate