hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act

Bill: 116-s-284
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2019-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Financial crises and stabilization
Homeland security
Performance measurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-30
text: 

Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act 

 
This bill requires biennial budget resolutions, appropriations bills, and government strategic and performance plans, instead of the annual budget process required under current law. 
 
The bill specifies that budget biennium is the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. The Office of Management and Budget must report to Congress on the impact and feasibility of changing the definition of a fiscal year and the budget process based on that definition to a two-year fiscal period. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2019-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate
Sarah's Law

Bill: 116-s-285
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Crime victims
Criminal justice information and records
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Sarah's Law

 
This bill directs U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.
 
 ICE shall make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the identity of any victims of the crimes for which such alien was charged or convicted. It shall provide the victim, or the closest living relative of a deceased victim, with information about such alien, including name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, criminal history, and a description of any related removal efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802)
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-286
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Mental health
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 

2019

 
This bill provides for coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services under Medicare. It also excludes such services from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system, and authorizes marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors to develop discharge plans for post-hospital services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-287
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Government studies and investigations
Infrastructure development
Legislative rules and procedure
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Tariffs
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2019

 
This bill requires congressional approval for a presidential import adjustment due to a national security threat from an import related to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security. Specifically, the bill requires the President to submit a proposal to Congress, which Congress may approve by a joint resolution. Under current law, the President determines whether any adjustment of an import is necessary and must submit to Congress the reasons for any action taken or not taken. 
 
The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must investigate the effect of these imports on national security.
 
The bill retroactively applies to any proposed action made four years before enactment of this bill. In general, any rate of duty modification occurring in the time period beginning four years before and ending the day before enactment of this bill must revert to the previous rate unless it receives congressional approval. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act

Bill: 116-s-288
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Domestic violence and child abuse
Human trafficking
Indian social and development programs
Jurisdiction and venue
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act

 
This bill expands Native American tribal criminal jurisdiction over crimes of domestic violence to include sex trafficking, sexual violence, stalking, and related conduct. The bill also authorizes a tribe to exercise jurisdiction over a non-Native American defendant regardless of whether the defendant resides on the tribe's lands, is employed on the tribe's lands, or is a spouse, dating partner, or intimate partner of a Native American who resides on the tribe's lands.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-19
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-289
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Medical education
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 

2019

 
This bill allows hospitals and critical access hospitals to receive payment under Medicare for each resident that receives training in a rural training location, in accordance with specified criteria and limitations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-290
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Crimes against women
Domestic violence and child abuse
Federal-Indian relations
Government information and archives
Indian social and development programs
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement officers
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act

 
This bill extends tribal jurisdiction over the following crimes: 
 
 
violence committed against a child by a caregiver; 
violence against law enforcement officers involved in preventing, investigating, arresting, or prosecuting a person for domestic violence, dating violence, or child violence; 
attempted dating violence or domestic violence; or 
threatened dating violence or domestic violence. 
 
 
In addition, the bill reauthorizes grants to tribal governments for exercising tribal criminal jurisdiction for those crimes through FY2024.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-19
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-291
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Housing and community development funding
Housing supply and affordability
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act of 2019

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to implement a mobility demonstration program to enable public housing agencies (PHAs) to administer housing-choice rental-assistance vouchers in a manner designed to (1) encourage low-income families receiving such assistance to move to lower-poverty areas, and (2) expand access to opportunity areas.
 
HUD shall require PHAs applying to participate in the program to submit a specified Regional Housing Mobility Plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep Families Together Act

Bill: 116-s-292
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Domestic violence and child abuse
Family relationships
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement officers
Public contracts and procurement
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Separation, divorce, custody, support

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Keep Families Together Act

 
This bill limits the separation of families at or near U.S. borders or ports of entry.
 
The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian at a port of entry or within 100 miles of a U.S. border unless 
 
 
a state court terminates the parent or legal guardian's rights; 
 
a state child welfare agency or court determines it is in the child's best interests to be removed; or 
 
the child is determined to be a trafficking victim or at risk of becoming one, the accompanying adult is most likely not the parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. 

 
An agency may not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian solely to deter migration into the United States or to promote compliance with immigration laws. 
 
DHS shall develop (1) training related to the bill's family separation requirements, and (2) guidance for how parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child. 
 
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803)
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing the Border and Making Drug Cartels Pay for it Act

Bill: 116-s-293
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Homeland Security
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Latin America
Mexico
Organized crime
Public contracts and procurement
Smuggling and trafficking

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Securing the Border and Making Drug Cartels Pay for it Act

 
This bill establishes various ways for funding border security enhancements, and increases the government's burden of proof in civil forfeiture cases.
 
The bill establishes the Secure America Financing Corporation, which shall be authorized to issue Secure America Bonds. The proceeds from such bonds shall be available to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol for security measures, including physical barriers, along the southwest border. Such funds may also be used for data analytics that may lead to increased drug seizures near the border.
 
Forfeited funds related to a felony conviction for a continuing enterprise involved in the intentional distribution of an imported controlled substance shall be used for security measures, including physical barriers, along the U.S.-Mexico border.
 
The bill also requires the government, when bringing an action for the civil forfeiture of property, to establish its case by clear and convincing evidence, where it is currently only required to meet the lower preponderance of the evidence standard. 
 
Seized property may be released pending trial in certain situations, but the bill establishes that currency or contraband likely to belong to or used to support a foreign illegal trafficking organization shall not be released.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Rural Exports Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-295
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Business education
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Department of Commerce
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Promoting Rural Exports Act of 2019 

 
This bill establishes the Rural Export Center for the purpose of assisting rural businesses seeking to export their products. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-296
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 

2019

 
This bill allows Medicare payment for home health services ordered by a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse-midwife, or a physician assistant. Currently, coverage is provided only for services ordered by a physician. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S803-804)
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Courts Access Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-297
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Federal district courts
Judicial procedure and administration

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Federal Courts Access Act of 2019

 
This bill revises the statutory requirements for federal court jurisdiction in cases involving diversity of citizenship.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act

Bill: 116-s-298
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil disturbances
Historic sites and heritage areas
Illinois
Monuments and memorials
Racial and ethnic relations
U.S. history
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act

 
This bill establishes the Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument in Illinois as a unit of the National Park System to preserve, protect, and interpret the resources associated with the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 and its role in the forming of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 

action_date: 2019-12-17
text: 

Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act

 
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 in Springfield, Illinois, and adjacent property. 
 
In conducting the study, Interior must evaluate the national significance of such area and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 347.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-12-17
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-12-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-06-19
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-308.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act

Bill: 116-s-299
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Indian social and development programs
Medical education
Mental health
Minority health
Rural conditions and development
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises several programs relating to geriatric-care training and workforce development, including a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program to support the development of a health care workforce that integrates geriatrics with primary care and other appropriate specialties.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act

Bill: 116-s-300
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Employment and training programs
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intergovernmental relations
Oil and gas
Pipelines
State and local government operations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy to implement a program to ensure the security, resiliency, and survivability of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
E-Verify Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-301
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Foreign labor
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 

E-Verify Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop an electronic employment eligibility verification system modeled after and to replace E-Verify, which allows employers and recruiters to verify the immigration status of new hires and employees. The bill also requires all employers to use this new system and addresses other related issues. Currently, only some employers, such as federal contractors, are required to use E-Verify.
 
The bill phases in the mandatory use of the system with different deadlines for various types of employers to start using the system. Generally, all employers must use the system within four years of the system's implementation. An employer who takes an employment-related action based on good faith reliance on the system shall not be liable in a civil or criminal case based on that action.
 
DHS shall (1) develop various tools, including a photo checking tool for employers and a tool for an individuals to verify their own status; (2) establish procedures to allow individuals to stop the system from using identifying information belonging to that individual or that individual's child; (3) establish procedures to allow individuals to file complaints about violations relating to the employment of unauthorized aliens; and (4) provide grants to states that allow DHS to access driver's license information to use with the system. 
 
The bill also increases civil and criminal penalties related to employing unauthorized aliens. Employers convicted of hiring unauthorized aliens may be debarred from receiving federal contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Bill: 116-s-302
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2019-01-31 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Hunting and fishing
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
State and local finance
Water use and supply
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: 
This bill permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The greater of 1.5% of the annual authorized funding amount or $10 million shall be used for projects that secure recreational public access to existing federal public land for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-01-31
text: Introduced in Senate