hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
COVID–19 Benefits for Active Duty Servicemembers, the Reserve Components, and their Survivors Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4287
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2020-07-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Disability assistance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: 

COVID-19 Benefits for Active Duty Servicemembers, the Reserve Components, and their Survivors Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, a presumption of service-connection if COVID-19 symptoms manifest within a specified time period in individuals serving in the military or reserves during qualified periods of duty (i.e., active duty, training duty, or full-time National Guard duty). For individuals who become disabled or die as a result of COVID-19, it shall be presumed the individual became disabled or died during a qualified period of duty.
 
An individual who was disabled or died due to COVID-19 and was on training duty or full-time National Guard duty shall be furnished death or disability benefits as if the individual were a veteran, without regard to whether their duty period would constitute active military service.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act

Bill: 116-s-4288
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2020-07-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Federal-Indian relations
Forests, forestry, trees
Historic sites and heritage areas
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Montana
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: 

Badger-Two Medicine Protection Act

 
This bill establishes the Badger-Two Medicine Cultural Heritage Area in Montana. 
 
The Department of Agriculture must develop a comprehensive plan for the long-term protection and management of the Cultural Heritage Area as an amendment to the land and resource management plan for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Introduced in Senate
COVID–19 Emergency Telehealth Impact Reporting Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4289
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2020-07-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicare
Mental health
Minority health
Racial and ethnic relations
Right of privacy
Rural conditions and development
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: 

COVID-19 Emergency Telehealth Impact Reporting Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to analyze the impact of expanded Medicare telehealth services that were authorized through emergency waivers related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. 
 
In developing this analysis, HHS must seek input from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, and other stakeholders. 
 
Additionally, the final report of the analysis must include conclusions about the impact of telehealth on health care delivery and estimates for Medicare spending on telehealth during the COVID-19 emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Building Businesses Back Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4290
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Building Businesses Back Act of 2020

 
This bill allows taxpayers an election to increase the amount of their general business tax credit for taxable years ending in 2019 or 2020.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
DEPLOY Broadband Act

Bill: 116-s-4291
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Developing Economic Prosperity and Linking Our Youth through Broadband Act or the DEPLOY Broadband Act

 
This bill provides $6.5 billion to the Federal Communications Commission for the deployment of broadband-capable infrastructure in unserved areas, and it establishes a minimum set-aside of 10% from the proceeds of certain spectrum auctions for broadband build-out in unserved or underserved areas. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Saving American History Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4292
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
News media and reporting
Racial and ethnic relations
Teaching, teachers, curricula
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Saving American History Act of 2020

 
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds by an elementary or secondary school to teach the 1619 Project or by a local educational agency (LEA) to support its teaching in public schools. (The 1619 Project is an initiative that addresses the beginning of slavery in the United States.)
 
Additionally, an elementary or secondary school that teaches this project or an LEA that supports its teaching in public schools is ineligible to receive federal funds for professional development.
 
Further, the Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services must reduce federal funds in a prorated amount to an elementary or secondary school that teaches this project or an LEA that supports its teaching in public schools. However, federal funding shall not be reduced for programs for low-income students (e.g., free or reduced-price lunch) or students with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
MIDDLE Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4293
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Maintaining Important Distance During Lengthy Epidemics Act of 2020 or the MIDDLE Act of 2020

 
This bill prohibits air carriers, during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency, from (1) permitting adjacent seats to another occupied seat to be filled on a passenger aircraft, (2) passing along the cost of any seat switch undertaken by such air carriers in order to comply with the prohibitions, and (3) permitting a passenger or crewmember to board a passenger aircraft if the passenger or crewmember is not wearing a mask.
 
The Federal Aviation Administration must issue guidance for appropriate exceptions to the prohibitions based on federal public health guidance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Coronavirus CDFI Funding Act

Bill: 116-s-4294
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Appropriations
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Coronavirus CDFI Funding Act

 
This bill provides $1 billion in FY2020 supplemental appropriations to the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund for providing financial and technical assistance. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Health Emergency Pass-Through Payment Fairness Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4295
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug therapy
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Public Health Emergency Pass-Through Payment Fairness Act of 2020

 
This bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to extend pass-through payments and categories for certain Medicare drugs and devices during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act

Bill: 116-s-4296
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act

 
This bill authorizes the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, subject to certain limitations, to waive matching funds requirements applicable to certain grants for reducing substance use among youth. Before waiving these requirements, the program must determine that a grantee is unable to raise funds because of the COVID-19 (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019) emergency.
 
Currently, the Office of National Drug Control Policy administers this program, and community coalitions that receive the grants must match a specified percentage of the federal award amount with nonfederal funds, including in-kind contributions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
AMORE Act

Bill: 116-s-4297
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Addressing Missed-savings Opportunities for Retirement due to an Epidemic Act or the AMORE Act

 
This bill allows a participant in a tax-preferred pension plan or individual retirement plan to make additional contributions to such plans for any taxable year beginning in 2021 or 2022 in an amount not exceeding the participant's unused 2020 contribution amount. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
RAMP–UP Act

Bill: 116-s-4298
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Industrial facilities
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants Act or the RAMP-UP Act 

 
This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department of Agriculture to provide grants to meat and poultry processing facilities for assistance with costs incurred in making improvements to such facilities and carrying out other planning activities necessary to be subject to inspection and allow for interstate shipment of their products.
 
Each grant shall not exceed $100,000.
 
Grant recipients must provide matching nonfederal funds in an amount equal to the amount of a grant, except for grants awarded in FY2020 or FY2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
STEP Act

Bill: 116-s-4299
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Economic development
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marketing and advertising
Transportation safety and security
Travel and tourism
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Sustaining Tourism Enterprises During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act or the STEP Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Commerce to provide grants to certain tourism promotion entities and event venues to address the economic impacts of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Eligible recipients are entities that (1) perform tourism promotion responsibilities; (2) host, organize, own, operate, or staff an event venue, a convention, or a trade show; or (3) provide certain services to events and tourism locations. Grant funds may be used for specified costs associated with tourism marketing and promotion activities designed to assist economic recovery in communities impacted by a decline in travel, tourism, and events due to COVID-19.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 to require the Secretary of Defense to carry out the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.

Bill: 116-s-4300
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Asia
Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Military command and structure
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Military readiness
Pacific Ocean
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. The initiative shall only take actions to (1) increase the lethality of the joint force in the Indo-Pacific region; (2) enhance the defense and posture of the joint force; (3) strengthen alliances and partnerships; and (4) carry out a program of exercises, experimentation, and innovation for the joint force.
 
DOD shall report a plan to Congress to expend in FY2021 and FY2022 certain minimum amounts to implement the initiative. 
 
The bill also repeals authorization for DOD to carry out an earlier program known as the Indo-Pacific Stability Initiative.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
U.S. Military Right to Carry Act

Bill: 116-s-4301
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Military personnel and dependents
Postal service

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

U.S. Military Right to Carry Act

 
This bill requires a state that receives funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to have implemented (1) a law or policy authorizing members of the Armed Forces who are outside of their state of residence under orders to renew a permit to carry a concealed firearm through the mail, and (2) a law or policy that treats members of the Armed Forces on active duty in the state as residents of the state for purposes of issuing a permit to carry a concealed firearm in the state. The Department of Justice must reduce by 5% the amount that a state would otherwise receive under the grant program if the state fails to comply with either requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
VICTORY Act

Bill: 116-s-4302
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Corporation for National and Community Service
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
National and community service
Puerto Rico
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Volunteers in Contract Tracing or Recovery Act or the VICTORY Act 

 
This bill allows national service entities to modify existing grant programs to carry out activities to respond to a national emergency, including the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Retention Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4303
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Workforce Retention Act of 2020

 
 This bill extends temporary funding for short-time compensation (STC) programs through December 22, 2022, and establishes state requirements for permanent, federally-financed STC programs. (STC, also known as work sharing, is a program within the federal-state unemployment system that provides pro-rated unemployment compensation to workers whose hours have been reduced in lieu of a layoff.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4474-4475)
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
PAUSE Act

Bill: 116-s-4304
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Nuclear weapons
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Russia
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Preventing Actions Undermining Security without Endorsement Act or the PAUSE Act

 
This bill prohibits the termination or withdrawal of the United States from certain international agreements (e.g., the New START Treaty or the Constitution of the World Health Organization) without (1) a detailed justification for, and specified certifications related to, the termination or withdrawal; and (2) a joint resolution approving the action.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4305
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Cemeteries and funerals
Consumer credit
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Higher education
Housing finance and home ownership
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2020
 
 
This bill amends federal bankruptcy law to allow a medically distressed debtor to exempt, from the property of the estate in bankruptcy, up to $250,000 of the debtor's aggregate interest in (1) specified real or personal property that the debtor or debtor's dependent uses as a residence, (2) a cooperative that owns such property, or (3) a burial plot for the debtor or debtor's dependent.
 
With respect to a medically distressed debtor, the bill waives certain administrative and procedural requirements.
 
In addition, the bill allows a medically distressed debtor to discharge in bankruptcy debts for certain educational loans. 
 
A debtor who seeks relief as a medically distressed debtor must attest in writing, under penalty of perjury, that the debtor's medical expenses are genuine and were not specifically incurred to bring the debtor within the meaning of a medically distressed debtor under this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Marshall Plan for Coal Country Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4306
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2020-07-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Coal
Congressional oversight
Economic development
Electric power generation and transmission
Employee benefits and pensions
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care coverage and access
Housing and community development funding
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax credits
Labor standards
Land use and conservation
Medicare
Mining
Pollution liability
Small business
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Water quality
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: 

Marshall Plan for Coal Country Act of 2020

 
This bill addresses provisions related to coal mining and coal communities, including by (1) providing Medicare benefits for individuals who lost their job (other than a discharge for cause, voluntary departure, or retirement) at a coal mine or coal power plant; and (2) expanding and revising the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to provide support for economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed mining communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining carried out before August 3, 1977.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-07-23
text: Introduced in Senate