hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4084
Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Introduced: 2019-07-26 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Arms control and nonproliferation
Asia
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Civil actions and liability
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Department of the Treasury
Financial services and investments
Foreign and international banking
Foreign loans and debt
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
International organizations and cooperation
Multilateral development programs
North Korea
Nuclear weapons
Sanctions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: 

Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act of 2019

 
This bill imposes financial sanctions and restrictions related to North Korea.
 
The Department of the Treasury shall restrict correspondent and payable-through accounts that are used to facilitate significant transactions or provide services to sanctioned entities, specifically North Korean financial institutions, companies, and certain North Korean individuals, such as those named in certain executive orders. (Correspondent and payable-through accounts are often maintained by foreign financial institutions in U.S. banks to access the U.S. financial system.)
 
Treasury shall use its vote and voice in international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to oppose the provision of assistance by such institutions to governments that fail to enforce the sanctions provided under this bill.
 
The Export-Import Bank may not guarantee, insure, or extend credit in relation to exports to entities sanctioned under this bill.
 
Treasury shall support increasing use of the IMF administrative budget for technical assistance to help IMF members fight money laundering and funding for terrorism. 
 
Various sanctions and restrictions under this bill shall be suspended if the President certifies to Congress that (1) North Korea has committed to suspending its weapons of mass destruction programs and engaging in multilateral talks on limiting such programs, or (2) it is in U.S. national security interests to do so.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
Student Veteran Empowerment Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4085
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2019-07-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Marketing and advertising
State and local government operations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: 

Student Veteran Empowerment Act of 2019

 
This bill amends provisions related to Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits, including by updating how entitlement to such assistance is treated when an individual transfers fewer than 12 credits from a course or program of education that is discontinued.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
Protection for Veterans’ Burn Pit Exposure Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4086
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2019-07-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Environmental health
Fires
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Solid waste and recycling
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: 

Protection for Veterans' Burn Pit Exposure Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make a determination, after receipt of a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) titled 
Respiratory Health Effects of Airborne Hazards Exposures in the Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations,
 on whether a positive association exists between (1) the exposure of humans to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open air burn pits (areas used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) and other airborne hazards, and (2) the occurrence of a diagnosed illness in humans. 
 
Upon determination of a positive association, the VA must prescribe regulations providing that (1) a presumption of service-connection is warranted for certain illnesses manifesting in certain time frames, and (2) covered veterans shall be presumed to have been exposed to toxic airborne chemicals caused by open burn pits unless conclusive evidence proves otherwise. Covered veterans are veterans who were deployed on or after September 11, 2001, in support of a contingency operation and based at a location where an open burn pit was used. 
 
If the VA determines a presumption of service-connection is not warranted, a notice must be published and include an explanation of the basis for the determination. The bill also requires the VA to remove previous presumptions if evidence indicates such presumption is not warranted.
 
The Department of Defense must provide NASEM with access to information it requests for the study on 
Respiratory Health Effects of Airborne Hazards Exposures in the Southwest Asia Theater of Military Operations
.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed 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: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed 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: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
CLEANUP Act

Bill: 116-hr-4087
Sponsor: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Introduced: 2019-07-26 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Motor fuels
Oil and gas
Pollution liability
Solid waste and recycling

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: 

CERCLA Liability Expansion and Accountability for Negligent and Unjust Pollution Act or the CLEANUP Act

 
This bill includes petroleum products under the definition of 
hazardous substances
 for purposes of Superfund, the program that directs and funds the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Additionally, the release of a petroleum product shall be considered as a 
release
 under Superfund if liability for such release is established by any other federal law.
 
Per the bill, a petroleum product is petroleum or oil of any kind, in any form, or any fraction thereof, and includes fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
Second Chance for Students Act

Bill: 116-hr-4089
Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
Introduced: 2019-07-26 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Higher education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: 

Second Chance for Students Act

 
This bill modifies federal student aid eligibility for a student who is convicted of a drug offense involving marijuana possession.
 
Under current law, a drug offense conviction involving the sale or possession of a controlled substance triggers a suspension of federal student aid eligibility for a specified period of time. This bill allows a student who is convicted of a drug offense involving marijuana possession, without the intent to distribute, to resume or retain federal student aid eligibility while completing a drug rehabilitation program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
Do Your Job Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4090
Sponsor: Rep. Rooney, Francis [R-FL-19]
Introduced: 2019-07-26 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee leave
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Labor-management relations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: 

Do Your Job Act of 2019

 
This bill eliminates the use of official time by federal employees. Official time is paid time off from assigned duties to perform labor-management relations activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-26
text: Introduced in House
Safe from the Start Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4092
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health technology, devices, supplies
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Mental health
Multilateral development programs
Natural disasters
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Sex offenses
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Women's health
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Safe from the Start Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Department of State to direct U.S. foreign assistance to address humanitarian crises in a manner that aims to prevent and respond to gender-based violence at the onset of an emergency. 
 
Specifically, the State Department shall focus on (1) preventing gender-based violence, (2) protecting survivors of humanitarian crises from the onset of the emergency, (3) promoting standards and activities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and (4) advancing and empowering survivors and at-risk individuals. Activities shall include improving access to post-sexual-assault medical and mental health services and ensuring such services are available to hard-to-reach populations. The State Department may provide support to local and international organizations to achieve its goals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1010)
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
National Oceans and Coastal Security Improvements Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4093
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Air quality
Aquatic ecology
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Economic performance and conditions
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Great Lakes
Infrastructure development
Lakes and rivers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Natural disasters
Seashores and lakeshores
Small business
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Tax-exempt organizations
Travel and tourism
Water quality
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

National Oceans and Coastal Security Improvements Act of 2019 

 
This bill revises the National Ocean and Coastal Security Fund. (The fund supports programs and activities to protect, conserve, and restore ocean and coastal resources and coastal infrastructure.)
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
revises the maximum amounts that may be used to provide grants from the fund;
 
details new eligible uses for the fund's grant program, including for restoration, protection, or maintenance of living ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and their habitats; 
 
requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to award grants from the fund to eligible coastal states based on a specified formula; and
 
specifies additional requirements for coastal states to be eligible to receive funding from the fund.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
action_date: 2019-08-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
Fire Station Infrastructure Safety Act

Bill: 116-hr-4094
Sponsor: Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Building construction
Congressional oversight
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Fire Station Infrastructure Safety Act

 
This bill directs the U.S. Fire Administration to submit to Congress a report regarding the age and condition of fire stations in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
Family Care Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4095
Sponsor: Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Family Care Act of 2019

 
This bill revises eligibility requirements for the child tax credit to allow such credit for permanently and totally disabled individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
Improving Oversight of Women Veterans’ Care Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4096
Sponsor: Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Sex and reproductive health
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit an annual report on women veterans' access to gender-specific services under arrangements entered into by the VA with non-VA medical providers for the provision of hospital care or medical services.
 
The bill also requires the VA to establish a policy under which (1) the environment of care standards and inspections at VA medical centers include specified elements, and (2) no medical center is eligible for a five-star rating unless it meets the environment of care standards.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-08-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
Afghan Women’s Inclusion in Negotiations Act

Bill: 116-hr-4097
Sponsor: Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan
Asia
Census and government statistics
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Political movements and philosophies
Reconstruction and stabilization
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Women's education
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Afghan Women's Inclusion in Negotiations Act

 
This bill requires the Department of State to report on the participation of Afghan women in the Afghan peace process and a strategy for U.S. post-conflict engagement in Afghanistan.
 
Specifically, the State Department must report on (1) the participation of Afghan women in negotiations and dialogue related to the Afghan peace process and the protection of their rights and gains; and (2) the actions of the State Department to consult with and train local women-led civil society organizations and to advocate for their inclusion and participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post-conflict reconciliation.
 
The State Department must also develop a strategy for U.S. post-conflict engagement in Afghanistan to support the implementation of commitments for women and girls' inclusion and empowerment, as well as to protect and promote basic human rights. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-4098
Sponsor: Rep. Rooney, Francis [R-FL-19]
Introduced: 2019-07-30 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Educational guidance
Employment and training programs
Financial literacy
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Licensing and registrations
Right of privacy
School administration
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Student records
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Unemployment
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: 

Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019

 
This bill revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education.
 
Specifically, the bill makes postsecondary education courses and programs (e.g., apprenticeship programs) that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree eligible for federal student aid funding if the programs and courses are accredited by a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Department of Education. 
 
The bill also requires institutions to publish certain enrollment and financial aid information, such as (1) the percentage of former financial aid recipients who are employed at various intervals following graduation, and (2) the average amount of total federal student loan debt accrued upon graduation. The Government Accountability Office must compile and study all such information published by institutions and submit a report containing the results.
 
In addition, the bill consolidates federal student loans into one student loan program and eliminates loan forgiveness for borrowers.
 
Lastly, the bill requires an institution that receives federal student aid funding to pay a default rate fine that is based on the default rate of loans made to its students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Introduced in House