hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act

Bill: 116-hr-5464
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2019-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional agencies
Congressional committees
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal district courts
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
House Committee on Ethics
House of Representatives
Library of Congress
Members of Congress
Senate
Senate Select Committee on Ethics
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act

 
This bill requires Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for amounts paid on their behalf as settlements and awards in all instances of employment discrimination acts by any Member, and it requires the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to conduct an independent investigation for an allegation of harassment or discrimination.
 
Under current law, a Member is only required to make reimbursement for instances of harassment (not discrimination), and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights is required to notify an employee who filed a claim alleging harassment about the process and deadlines for mediation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
To provide technical and financial support for the completion of the Interstate 11 environmental impact statement, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-5465
Sponsor: Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-9]
Introduced: 2019-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Arizona
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Regional and metropolitan planning
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to provide technical and financial assistance to metropolitan planning organizations and states for the completion of Tier II environmental impact statements in regards to the development of Interstate 11 in Arizona. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-5466
Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Introduced: 2019-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Hate crimes
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Racial and ethnic relations
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

Prevention of Anti-Immigrant Violence Act of 

2019

 
This bill provides protections for noncitizens who are victims of certain crimes.
 
The bill expands eligibility for U visas, which are for victims of certain serious crimes or individuals who are likely helpful to law enforcement in persecuting such a crime, to include victims of hate crimes.
 
The bill raises the annual cap on U visas to 12,000 (from 10,000) and designates the additional visas for victims of hate crimes. (Such caps apply only to the primary visa recipient, not to certain family members who may accompany the primary recipient.)
 
A noncitizen with a pending application for certain immigration benefits, such as for a U visa or a T visa (human trafficking victim), may not be removed from the United States. A noncitizen with such a pending application may only be detained if there is clear and convincing evidence that (1) alternatives to detention would not reasonably ensure the noncitizen's appearance at removal proceedings, or (2) the noncitizen is a threat to the community.
 
The Department of Justice may award grants to entities to assist noncitizen victims of hate crimes or to train law enforcement to identify and protect victims of anti-immigrant violence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
LOCAL Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-5467
Sponsor: Rep. Tipton, Scott  R. [R-CO-3]
Introduced: 2019-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of the Interior
Endangered and threatened species
Land use and conservation
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Right of privacy
State and local government operations
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

Land Ownership Collaboration Accelerates Life Act of 2019 or the LOCAL Act of 2019 

 
This bill provides statutory authority for conservation agreements involving threatened or endangered species, including by providing for the legal treatment of species included in conservation agreements, setting forth the requirements of certain conservation agreements, and establishing safe harbor provisions for these agreements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
Border Workforce Efficiency Act

Bill: 116-hr-5468
Sponsor: Rep. Torres Small, Xochitl [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2019-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Immigration status and procedures

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

Border Workforce Efficiency Act

 
This bill authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire Border Patrol processing coordinators. Such coordinators may (1) perform administrative tasks related to the intake and processing of apprehended individuals, (2) transport detained individuals, and (3) perform custodial watch duties. Such coordinators may not arrest individuals or conduct asylum interviews. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-5470
Sponsor: Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX-14]
Introduced: 2019-12-17 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Asia
China
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
International organizations and cooperation
International scientific cooperation
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Space flight and exploration
Spacecraft and satellites
Technology transfer and commercialization
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2019

 
This bill sets forth programs, projects, and activities regarding human exploration of space.
 
The bill authorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct missions to intermediate destinations, such as the Moon, if each such mission demonstrates or advances a technology or operational concept that will enable human missions to Mars.
 
NASA shall establish the Artemis program management office at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Artemis program is the NASA program for going back to the Moon and for establishing sustainable exploration there. 
 
NASA
 
 
shall establish a plan for the development and manufacture of advanced spacesuits; 
 
may carry out a program to conduct lunar science research, including missions to the surface of the Moon; 
 
shall ensure that the International Space Station (ISS) remains a viable and productive facility of potential U.S. use through at least FY2030; 
 
 shall establish a low-Earth orbit development program to encourage commercial use and development of space by private entities in the United States; 
 
 must update and improve the cybersecurity of its space assets and supporting infrastructure; and 
 
must maintain a Security Operations Center to identify and respond to cybersecurity threats to its information technology systems. 
 
 
The bill extends through 2030 authorization for cash or in-kind payments by the United States to Russia for certain work or services regarding the ISS.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the eligibility of children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida for benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bill: 116-hr-5471
Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA-2]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Birth defects
Child health
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 
This bill states that the effective date for an award of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for a child of a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from spina bifida is the date of the child's birth. Under current law, the effective date for the provision of such benefits is January, 1, 1997 (but not before receipt of the application for benefits). This bill thus provides benefit eligibility for children born before January 1, 1997.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
EASE Behavioral Health Services Act

Bill: 116-hr-5473
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicaid
Medicare
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 

Enhance Access to Support Essential Behavioral Health Services Act or the EASE Behavioral Health Services Act

 This bill removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in a rural area, and allows the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site, for behavioral health telehealth services under Medicare. The bill also expands the scope of required guidance, studies, and reports to address the provision of such services under Medicaid.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
Shawnee Wilderness Designation Act

Bill: 116-hr-5474
Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Illinois
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 

Shawnee Wilderness Designation Act

 
This bill designates approximately 289,000 acres of Forest Service land comprising the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois as the Shawnee Wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-01-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
PROSPECT Act

Bill: 116-hr-5475
Sponsor: Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Employee hiring
Family services
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Higher education
Performance measurement
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local finance
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
User charges and fees
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 

Preparing and Resourcing Our Student Parents and Early Childhood Teachers Act or the PROSPECT Act

 
This bill establishes various grant programs to increase the supply of, and access to, high-quality, early-childhood care. Specifically, grants are established for
 
 
 planning and developing expanded access to free infant and toddler child care for student parents attending community college or minority-serving institutions;
 
providing free infant and toddler child care to such student parents, including developing on-campus child care centers that meet specified requirements;
 
training, mentorships, and technical support to community child care agencies and the professional development of licensed and unlicensed child care professionals; and
 
 
increasing the workforce pipeline of high-quality infant and toddler child care providers, particularly in locations with a low supply of affordable care.
 
 
The bill also revises the formula for providing federal matching funds to states providing child care assistance.
 
Further, the bill requires the Department of Education&rsquo;s college cost calculator to include information about the dependent care allowance with respect to the cost of attendance and financial aid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
LEVEE Act

Bill: 116-hr-5476
Sponsor: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Army Corps of Engineers
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic performance and conditions
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Floods and storm protection
Water resources funding

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 

Local Expertise is Vital for Effective Embankments Act or the LEVEE Act

 
This bill provides that, upon request of a community that has received emergency flood-fighting assistance involving the construction of a temporary structure, the U.S. Department of the Army shall evaluate whether the structure should be made permanent. 
 
If the Army makes such a determination, it (1) shall begin planning, design, and construction of a permanent feature if the total construction cost of the project is not expected to exceed $25 million; and (2) shall seek congressional authorization if construction cost is expected to be in excess of that amount.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from denying home loans for veterans who legally work in the marijuana industry on the basis of the nature of such work, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-5477
Sponsor: Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing finance and home ownership
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 
This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from denying a veteran a home loan because the veteran works in the marijuana industry in a state where the industry is legal.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2020-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
Inventor Rights Act

Bill: 116-hr-5478
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Department of Commerce
Intellectual property
Judicial procedure and administration
Jurisdiction and venue
Legal fees and court costs
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 

Inventor Rights Act

 
This bill establishes additional protections for a patent owned by the inventor of the patented invention or an entity controlled by that inventor.
 
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shall not reexamine or review an inventor-owned patent after issuance without the owner's consent.
 
For venue purposes, a lawsuit involving an inventor-owned patent may be brought in the judicial district where (1) the inventor conducted research or development on the patented invention; or (2) a party has a regular and established facility engaged in research, development, or manufacturing related to the patented invention. Currently, a patent lawsuit generally must be filed where the defendant has a regular and established place of business.
 
The bill also makes it easier for the owner of an inventor-owned patent to secure an injunction after a court finds patent infringement, by establishing a presumption that (1) further infringement would cause irreparable injury, and (2) remedies available at law are inadequate to compensate for that injury. Currently, the patent owner must establish these factors to get an injunction.
 
If a court finds that an inventor-owned patent has been infringed, the patent owner may elect to recover the infringer's profits stemming from the infringement, whereas, currently, a patent owner is generally entitled to compensation for the injury caused by the infringement. If the infringement was willful, the court may award triple damages. If the patent owner elects to recover damages under this bill, the owner shall receive attorney's fees that exceed 10% of the damages award.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-01-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
To protect Americans with pre-existing conditions.

Bill: 116-hr-5479
Sponsor: Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 
This bill specifies that no American may be denied health insurance due to preexisting conditions. (Current law also prohibits such denials.)



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
ALS Placebo No More Act

Bill: 116-hr-5480
Sponsor: Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1]
Introduced: 2019-12-18 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Medical research
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: 

ALS Placebo No More Act

 
This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to collaborate to provide all patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease) with access to medicines in clinical trials.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-12-18
text: Introduced in House