hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Responsible Body Armor Possession Act

Bill: 116-hr-4568
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Responsible Body Armor Possession Act

 
This bill prohibits the purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians. Enhanced body armor refers to body armor, including a helmet or shield, the ballistic resistance of which meets or exceeds the ballistic performance of Type III armor, determined using the National Institute of Justice standard.
 
The bill provides exceptions for (1) the purchase, ownership, or possession by or under the authority of the United States or any state or political subdivision; (2) qualified law enforcement officers; and (3) enhanced body armor that was lawfully possessed before the effective date of the bill.
 
A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1222-1223)
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4569
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise Act of 2019

 
This bill revises the duties, membership, and reporting requirements of the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1220)
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Notch Fairness Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4570
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Inflation and prices
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Notch Fairness Act of 2019

 
This bill increases Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits for certain individuals born between 1917 and 1921, referred to as the Notch years. Currently, these individuals receive lower cost-of-living increases than individuals born in 1916 or earlier, as a result of legislative changes to OASDI benefits enacted in 1977. Under the bill, eligible individuals may elect to (1) recompute and increase their current primary insurance amount according to a specified schedule, or (2) receive lump sum payments over four years totaling $5,000.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1222)
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act

Bill: 116-hr-4571
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-3]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Poverty and welfare assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act

 
This bill requires the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to make grants to states for demonstration projects that provide wage subsidies to enable low-income individuals to enter and retain employment.
 
States may use grant funds to subsidize an individual's wages for up to 12 months. The subsidy may be up to 50% of an individual's wages. Individuals are eligible for subsidized wages if they (1) are recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or similar state assistance or a noncustodial parent of a child receiving such assistance, and (2) are unemployed when the subsidy begins or have an income below 200% of the poverty line.
 
States must ensure that participants in subsidized job programs do not displace current workers.
 The ACF must reserve funding to carry out this bill from amounts in the Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Government Bailout Prevention Act

Bill: 116-hr-4572
Sponsor: Rep. Rooney, Francis [R-FL-19]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Federal Reserve System
Government lending and loan guarantees
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

 

Government Bailout Prevention Act
 
 
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase or guarantee obligations of, issue lines of credit to, or provide grants to any state (defined to include the District of Columbia and any U.S. territory or possession), municipal, local, or county government that, on or after January 1, 2019, has defaulted on its obligations, is at risk of defaulting, or has filed for bankruptcy. 
 
The Department of the Treasury is prohibited from using general fund revenues or borrowed funds to purchase or guarantee any asset or obligation of any such state, municipal, local, or county government. 
 
Federal Reserve banks are prohibited from assisting such a state, municipal, local, or county government or other entity with taxing or bonding authority. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Accessing Higher Education Opportunities Act

Bill: 116-hr-4573
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Health personnel
Higher education
Medical education
Minority education
Minority employment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Accessing Higher Education Opportunities Act

 
This bill expands grant activities under the Hispanic Serving Institutions program to include: (1) support programs that facilitate student advancement to doctoral degree programs in health care occupations, and (2) the development of or expanded access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Veterans’ Right to Breathe Act

Bill: 116-hr-4574
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Air quality
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Conflicts and wars
Fires
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Military facilities and property
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Solid waste and recycling
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Veterans' Right to Breathe Act

 
This bill provides a presumption of service connection to burn pit-exposed veterans for certain diseases. Under a presumption of service connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. A burn pit-exposed veteran is a veteran who was supporting a contingency operation on or after January 1, 1990, and was stationed at a location where an open burn pit (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) was used.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Improving Provider Directories Act

Bill: 116-hr-4575
Sponsor: Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Insurance industry and regulation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Improving Provider Directories Act

 
This bill requires private health insurance plans, including self-funded employer health plans, to display in online provider directories a method for notifying the plan about inaccurate provider information. Upon such notification, plans must correct and update the provider information in each directory within 30 days and submit an annual report to the state insurance commissioners in each state where the plan is available that contains the all corrective actions taken during the previous year.
 
Plans that do not comply with this requirement are subject to a tax penalty.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and 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: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and 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: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and 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: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Health Savings for Families Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4576
Sponsor: Rep. Wexton, Jennifer [D-VA-10]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Marriage and family status
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Health Savings for Families Act of 2019

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit contributions to health savings accounts by individuals whose spouses have health flexible spending accounts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Expanding Disability Access to Higher Education Act

Bill: 116-hr-4577
Sponsor: Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Special education
Student records
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Expanding Disability Access to Higher Education Act

 
This bill establishes and revises programs to increase access to higher education for students with disabilities and increase their graduation rates.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to
 
 
award additional funds under existing TRIO programs (i.e., programs designed to identify and support disadvantaged students) to increase the number of individuals with disabilities served by such programs;
 
award grants to institutions of higher education to establish offices of accessibility on their campuses to support students and staff with disabilities; and
 
collect data on students served by TRIO programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, including with respect to student persistence in such programs, graduation rates, postsecondary enrollment rates, and supports provided to enrolled students.
 
 
The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to review and report on how ED and TRIO program agencies identify and support students with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
BETTER TEACH Grants Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4578
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Preschool education
Student aid and college costs
Student records
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Build Effective Teachers Through Essential Reforms to Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants Act of 2019 or the BETTER TEACH Grants Act of 2019

 
This bill revises provisions related to the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program.
 
Specifically, the bill includes within the purview of the grant program certain teacher preparation programs that were formerly ineligible, and it increases award amounts for teacher candidates enrolled as undergraduate juniors or seniors. The bill also expands TEACH Grant eligibility to associate degree students as well as to applicants obtaining a graduate degree in early childhood education.
 
The bill clarifies the requirement that a TEACH Grant be treated as a Stafford Loan subject to repayment by establishing designated time frames within which a recipient must serve as a teacher. Further, the bill allows for the continued eligibility of a grant recipient despite certain changes to school description, teacher duties, or high-need field status.
 
In addition, the bill requires the Department of Education to collect and make publicly available certain student data such as the number of (1) TEACH Grants awarded to students at a participating institution, (2) TEACH Grant recipients who complete their program of study and begin employment as a teacher in the first academic year following completion, and (3) TEACH Grant recipients who fulfill the terms of their agreement to serve and those whose grants are converted into loans for failure to fulfill such terms. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Quality Higher Education Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4579
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Higher education
Licensing and registrations
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Quality Higher Education Act of 2019

 
This bill revises the accreditation standards under which an accrediting agency or association must assess an institution of higher education (IHE), and it requires the Department of Education to establish procedures for an agency or association to follow when an IHE fails to meet these standards.
 
An accrediting agency or association must measure an IHE's success in student achievement against at least one standard for completion, workforce participation, and progress toward meeting such completion and workforce participation standards. An agency or association must also make certain information such as student achievement standards and IHE performance benchmarks available on a publicly accessible website.
 
Additionally, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity must evaluate the effectiveness of the revised standards and compare similar accrediting agencies or associations based on their assessments of IHEs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act

Bill: 116-hr-4580
Sponsor: Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Human trafficking
Performance measurement
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Prevent Trafficking in Our Schools Act

 
This bill directs (1) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Education (ED) to jointly carry out a pilot program under which qualified DHS personnel provide annual human trafficking awareness training to ED personnel and to teachers, school leaders, and other personnel of elementary schools and secondary schools; and (2) ED to develop and implement a public awareness program on the threat of human trafficking in the education system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
COMBAT Act

Bill: 116-hr-4581
Sponsor: Rep. Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 

Collecting Official Measurements and Baselines to Assess Trafficking Act of 2019 or the COMBAT Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to undertake a study to determine the extent of human trafficking in the United States, including estimates of the number of victims.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that Alexander Creek, Alaska, is and shall be recognized as an eligible Native village under that Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-4582
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2019-09-27 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Federal-Indian relations
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
Small towns

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: 
This bill recognizes the Alaska Native group corporation of Alexander Creek as an Alaska Native village corporation eligible for certain land and benefits. 
 
Alexander Creek must file any amendments to its corporate charter that are necessary to convert from a Native group corporation to a Native village corporation. 
 
The Department of the Interior must open negotiations with Alexander Creek to settle Alexander Creek's aboriginal land claims and any other claims it has against the United States.
 
Alexander Creek must notify its members that (1) they will cease to receive benefits from Cook Inlet Region Incorporated (CIRI) individually as at-large shareholders, and (2) all future resource payments from CIRI will be made to the village. CIRI is not liable under any state, federal, or local law for damages related to that payment cessation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-27
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Extra Rx HELP Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4583
Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Introduced: 2019-10-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Medicare
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: 

Medicare Extra Rx Higher Eligibility Limits in Part D Act of 2019 or the Medicare Extra Rx HELP Act of 2019

 
This bill expands eligibility for certain premium subsidies for low-income beneficiaries under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Specifically, the bill raises the maximum allowable income for beneficiaries to qualify from 135% to 200% of the federal poverty line.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-10-01
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: 2019-10-01
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: 2019-10-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: Introduced in House
FAFSA Act

Bill: 116-hr-4584
Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2019-10-01 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: 

Financial Aid Fairness for Students Act or the FAFSA Act

 
This bill repeals a provision that makes students convicted of drug-related offenses ineligible for federal student aid, and it prohibits the Department of Education from asking about drug-related convictions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-10-01
text: Introduced in House