hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Fulfillment Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4889
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2020-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: 

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Fulfillment Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the Department of the Interior to convey specified surface estate to certain Alaska Native village corporations, allows the reversion of municipal land to village corporations, and permits the Alaska Native residents of certain Alaska Native villages to organize as Alaska Native urban corporations and to receive certain settlement land. In addition, the bill excludes certain settlement trust payments to an Alaska Native or descendant of an Alaska Native who is 65 years of age or older for purposes of determining the individual's eligibility for need-based federal programs (e.g., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-382.
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4890
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2020-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Community life and organization
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Housing and community development funding
Intergovernmental relations
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Nuclear power
Public participation and lobbying
Radioactive wastes and releases
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: 

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2020

 
This bill (1) provides a mechanism for states, tribal and local governments to play a role in the development of post-shutdown decommissioning activities regarding the shutdown of a nuclear facility; and (2) establishes a grant program to support community advisory boards that aim to foster communication between a licensee involved in decommissioning activities and members of a community that may be affected by such activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill: 116-s-4891
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2020-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Federal-Indian relations
Historical and cultural resources
Indian claims
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Land transfers
Minority education
Minority health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: 

Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

 
This bill permits the Alaska Native residents of certain Alaska Native villages to organize as Alaska Native urban corporations and to receive certain settlement land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 54, United States Code, to provide that State law shall apply to the use of motor vehicles on roads within a System unit.

Bill: 116-s-4892
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2020-11-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Motor vehicles
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Roads and highways
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: 
This bill makes the law of the state in which a National Park System unit is located applicable to the use of motor vehicles (including off-highway vehicles) on roads within a system unit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-11-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Election Integrity Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4893
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2020-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Postal service
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: 

Protect Election Integrity Act of 2020

 
This bill requires states to establish certain election measures. It also prohibits ballot harvesting in federal elections.
 
Specifically, the bill requires each state, in order to receive certain election assistance funds, to
 
 
prohibit the knowing collection and transmission of a ballot that was mailed to another person (commonly referred to as ballot harvesting), with exceptions;
 
permit poll watching by at least two appointed campaign representatives per campaign;
 
require absentee and mail-in ballots to be counted and recorded immediately upon receipt without disclosing any results until after the closure of polling places on election day;
 
require continuous counting of ballots after the closure of polling places on election day;
 
install video surveillance of ballot drop boxes;
 
require each supervisor of elections to make publicly available a report outlining preparations for the upcoming general election; and
 
require an audit of municipal voting systems. 
 
 
Finally, the bill generally prohibits ballot harvesting in federal elections, which is the process of collecting vote-by-mail ballots from voters and returning them to the polling place or election office. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
DOC Access Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-4894
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2020-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Dental care
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Hearing, speech, and vision care
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: 

Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act of 2019 or the DOC Access Act
 
of 2019

 
This bill prohibits private health insurance plans from setting rates for items and services, except for dental cleanings, provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan does not pay a substantial amount.
 
Additionally, an agreement between a plan and such a doctor for limited scope dental or vision benefits may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension. Plans also may not restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers. 
 
Such doctors may elect to waive the application of the payment amount and choice of laboratories provisions of this bill.
 
The bill establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by a violation of this bill.
 
The bill does not supersede state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Votes Act

Bill: 116-s-4895
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2020-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Election Assistance Commission
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Postal service
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: 

Securing America's Future Elections and Votes Act or the SAFE Votes Act

 
This bill establishes a bipartisan advisory committee within the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to study the integrity and administration of the November 2020 general election. The committee must also make recommendations to the EAC and Congress on best practices for administering federal elections, including best practices to prevent improper voting and increase the security of vote-by-mail ballots. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhanced Protection from Unmanned Aircraft Attacks Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4896
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2020-11-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Military facilities and property
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Public contracts and procurement
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: 

Enhanced Protection from Unmanned Aircraft Attacks Act of 2020

 
This bill allows the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and Energy to contract with other entities in order to protect U.S. facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft. The Federal Acquisition Regulation must be updated accordingly within 180 days of the date of enactment of the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-11-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title VI of the Social Security Act to extend the period during which States, Indian Tribes, and local governments may use Coronavirus Relief Fund payments.

Bill: 116-s-4898
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2020-11-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: 
This bill extends through September 30, 2021, the period during which states, Indian tribes, and local governments may incur costs that may be covered by Coronavirus Relief Fund payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Sister City Transparency Act

Bill: 116-s-4899
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2020-11-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Cultural exchanges and relations
Economic performance and conditions
Espionage and treason
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Rule of law and government transparency
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Subversive activities
Trade secrets and economic espionage
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: 

Sister City Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study the activities of sister city partnerships involving foreign communities in countries that received a score of 45 or less on Transparency International's 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index. A sister city partnership is a formal agreement between a U.S. community and a foreign community that is recognized by Sister Cities International and that is operating within the United States.
 
Among other elements, the required study must (1) identify oversight practices that U.S communities implement to mitigate the risks of foreign espionage and economic coercion within sister city partnerships, (2) assess the extent to which U.S. communities ensure transparency regarding sister city partnership contracts and activities, and (3) review the range of activities conducted within sister city partnerships. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

Bill: 116-s-4900
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2020-11-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Neurological disorders
Sex offenses
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: 

Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly implement a five-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing specified counseling and services as part of the Transition Assistance Program for members of the Armed Forces as a means of reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans.
 
Specifically, the pilot program would involve a three-hour counseling module and the provision of contact information for a counseling or similar facility in the locality where the veteran intends to reside. Additionally, the participating veterans must submit medical records in connection with their service in the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they intend to file a claim for benefits for a service-connected disability.
 
Under the program, a social worker or behavioral health coordinator from the VA must contact the veteran within 90 days after the member is discharged or released from service to schedule a follow-up appointment.
 
At least 10 DOD Transition Assistance Centers must be jointly selected to carry out the pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4901
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-11-16 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: 

Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act of 2020

 
This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to contract with a nongovernmental entity to conduct a study on (1) the activities of China's government and China's industrial entities within international standards bodies, and (2) how such actions affect the development and setting of international standards for emerging technologies.
 The entity shall report the study to Congress.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2020-11-16
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the "Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse".

Bill: 116-s-4902
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2020-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Members of Congress
Senate
Utah

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: 
This bill designates the U.S. courthouse at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse.

action_date: 2020-11-17
text: 
This bill designates the U.S. courthouse at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse.

action_date: 2020-12-08
text: 
This bill designates the U.S. courthouse at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse.

action_date: 2020-12-21
text: 
This bill designates the U.S. courthouse at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-21
text: Became Public Law No: 116-245.
action_date: 2020-12-21
text: Became Public Law No: 116-245.
action_date: 2020-12-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2020-12-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2020-12-11
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2020-12-11
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6987)
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4902.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6987-6988)
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Mr. DeFazio moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7024-7025; text: CR S7025)
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7024-7025; text: CR S7025)
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 116-245
Reigniting Opportunity for Innovators Act

Bill: 116-s-4903
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2020-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: 

Reigniting Opportunity for Innovators Act

 
This bill makes qualified founders and full-time employees of small business start-ups eligible to defer payments on their Federal Direct Loans for up to three years.
 
If the start-up is located in an economically distressed area, qualified founders and employees are also eligible for loan cancellation of up to $20,000.
 
The bill also excludes from an individual's gross income, for tax purposes, the amount of such canceled student loan debt.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-4904
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Assault and harassment offenses
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Evidence and witnesses
Genetics
Law enforcement administration and funding
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: 

Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors Act of 2020

 
This bill requires state victim compensation programs, as a condition of receiving certain grants, to waive deadlines to file for compensation in cases where a victim failed to meet the deadline due to delays in testing biological material collected as evidence related to a sexual offense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Chisholm National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act

Bill: 116-s-4905
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2020-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Kansas
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: 

Chisholm National Historic Trail and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act

 
This bill designates (1) the Chisholm National Historic Trail, and (2) the Western National Historic Trail. The Department of the Interior must administer the trails as a single administrative unit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish a portal and database to receive and maintain information regarding blocked railroad-highway grade crossings and to require the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the requirements of the railway-highway crossings program.

Bill: 116-s-4906
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2020-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Railroads
Roads and highways
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: 
This bill provides statutory authority for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to establish and maintain a portal and corresponding database through which it shall receive information on blocked railroad-highway grade crossings as a three-year pilot program.
 
The FRA must use information from the database (1) to assist in identifying the locations and potential impacts of frequent and long-duration blocked railroad-highway grade crossings; (2) as a basis for outreach to communities, emergency responders, and railroads; and (3) to support collaboration in the prevention of incidents at railroad-highway grade crossings.
 
Additionally, the Department of Transportation must evaluate the requirements of its railway-highway crossing program to determine whether
 
 
 the program provides states sufficient flexibility to adequately address current and emerging grade-crossing safety issues, 
 
the structure of the program provides sufficient incentive and resources to states and local agencies to make changes at grade crossings that are most effective at reducing deaths and injuries,
 
there are appropriate tools and resources to support states in using data-driven programs to determine the most cost-effective use of program funds, and
 
any statutory changes are necessary to improve the effectiveness of the program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2020-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate