hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
SAND Act

Bill: 116-s-2460
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Public contracts and procurement
Seashores and lakeshores

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Sand Acquisition, Nourishment, and Development Act or the SAND Act

 
This bill allows the Department of the Army to acquire fill material for beach erosion and nourishment purposes from non-domestic sources even if such materials are available from domestic sources. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2461
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Arctic and polar regions
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2019
 
This bill designates approximately 1,559,538 acres of land within Alaska in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Low-Income Solar Energy Act

Bill: 116-s-2462
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative and renewable resources
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Electric power generation and transmission
Employment and training programs
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing
Public utilities and utility rates
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Low-Income Solar Energy Act

 
This bill expands access to solar energy for low-income households, including by expanding the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, and directing the Department of Energy to establish a solar financing program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
E-Cigarette Tax Parity Act

Bill: 116-s-2463
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

E-Cigarette Tax Parity Act

 
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the taxation of electronic cigarettes and alternative nicotine products at rates applicable to other tobacco products. An &quot;alternative nicotine product&quot; is defined as any product containing nicotine which is suitable for and likely to be offered to, or purchased by, a consumer for the inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or consumption of nicotine, but does not include tobacco, processed tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, or roll-your-own tobacco, or any product approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Nationwide Injunction Abuse Prevention Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2464
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Federal district courts
Judicial procedure and administration
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Nationwide Injunction Abuse Prevention Act of 2019

 
This bill limits the authority of federal district courts to issue injunctions. 
 
Specifically, it prohibits a district court from issuing an injunction unless the injunction applies only to one of the following: 
 
 
the parties to the case before that district court, or 
 
the judicial district in which the injunction is issued. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Cormorant Relief Act

Bill: 116-s-2465
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aquaculture
Birds
Department of the Interior
Government information and archives
Hunting and fishing
Licensing and registrations
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Cormorant Relief Act

 
This bill provides statutory authority for certain regulations that allow for the taking of double-crested cormorants (birds) to protect fish at aquaculture facilities and to protect public resources (e.g., fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Justice Act

Bill: 116-s-2466
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Alaska
Appropriations
Arizona
Building construction
California
Child care and development
Colorado
Congressional oversight
Ecology
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental health
Food assistance and relief
Hawaii
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Hunting and fishing
Idaho
Income tax exclusion
Infrastructure development
Kansas
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public participation and lobbying
Public utilities and utility rates
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Rural conditions and development
Solid waste and recycling
South Dakota
State and local finance
Texas
Utah
Washington State
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Water Justice Act

 
This bill addresses affordable access to clean water by establishing, expanding, or extending various programs or requirements related to drinking water infrastructure, water pollution control, water supply, water recycling, water efficiency, or conservation programs.
 
Specifically, the bill provides $50 billion in FY2020 supplemental appropriations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for programs that reduce contaminants of concern in drinking water, such as grant programs for lead testing or remediation efforts in schools, child care programs, or high-risk communities. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules. 
 
Each year, the EPA must obligate specified amounts of funding for several water infrastructure programs, including state revolving fund programs and grant programs for managing or controlling water pollution. 
 
The EPA must also establish a grant program to help communities that serve environmentally at-risk households and low-income households afford the costs for remediating contaminated drinking water. Further, the Department of Health and Human Services may make grants to states to assist low-income households in meeting their needs for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services.
 
In addition, the EPA must promulgate an interim national primary drinking water regulation for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, which may have adverse human health effects.
 
Finally, the bill establishes or reauthorizes a variety of programs that provide financial support for water supply projects, water recycling or reuse projects, rural water systems, water efficiency improvements, or conservation programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Transit to Trails Act

Bill: 116-s-2467
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Government information and archives
Infrastructure development
Monuments and memorials
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Public transit
Rural conditions and development
Transportation programs funding
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Transit to Trails Act 

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Transit to Trails Grant Program to award grants to certain governmental and private entities for projects that increase transportation access to public lands, waters, parkland, or monuments for critically underserved communities.
 
Among other things, the bill requires
 
 
DOT to develop transportation planning procedures for projects conducted under the program that are consistent with metropolitan and statewide planning processes, 
 
grant recipients to contribute matching funds equal to not less than 100% of the grant amount, 
 
grant awards to be at least $25,000 and not more than $500,000, and 
 
publicized schedules and routes for transportation systems that are developed after the receipt of a grant under the program.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Workers' Right to Training Act

Bill: 116-s-2468
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-09-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Civil actions and liability
Commuting
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Industrial policy and productivity
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Legal fees and court costs
Licensing and registrations
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Workers' Right to Training Act

 
This bill requires employers implementing new technology that is expected to result in the loss of, or changes to, employment positions to notify affected employees about the new technology, negotiate with affected employees about how the new technology can incorporate their skills and roles, and provide affected employees with relevant on-the-job training.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Introduced in Senate
METHANE Act

Bill: 116-s-2469
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental technology
Oil and gas
Pipelines

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 

Methane Emissions from Transmission Harm American Neighborhoods and the Environment Act or the
 
METHANE Act

 
This bill requires operators of distribution pipelines to use advanced leak detection technology to detect and repair leaking pipelines, including high sensitivity methane detectors mounted on a vehicle or aircraft that is equipped with global positioning system technology.
 
The bill also requires operators to report to the Department of Transportation any event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline facility that results in an unintentional estimated gas loss of 50,000 cubic feet or more.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2471
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Performance measurement
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 

Degrees Not Debt Act of 2019

 
This bill sets forth provisions to increase the availability of need-based federal student aid and require an institution of higher education (IHE) to disclose performance indicators.
 
The bill repeals the alternative minimum tax exemption and the increased estate and gift tax exemption and uses the tax revenue to increase need-based federal student aid. Specifically, the bill increases (1) the maximum amount of the federal Pell Grant, and (2) the income threshold that triggers an automatic zero for an expected family contribution.
 
In addition, the bill eliminates Pell Grant funding for an institution of higher education in a state that does not maintain its funding levels for IHEs.
 
 Finally, an IHE must disclose performance indicators (e.g., graduation rates and employment outcomes).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act

Bill: 116-s-2473
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Caribbean area
Latin America
Manufacturing
Tariffs

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 

Extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act 

 
This bill extends preferential duty treatment related to certain apparel items through FY2030.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the effective date for inclusion of certain members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2475
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 
This bill modifies the effective date on which certain active duty service members are included under the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program. This program allows colleges and universities to voluntarily enter into agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover costs that are not covered by existing educational assistance amounts. 
 
The bill includes under the program active duty service members who are pursuing a program of education on a more than half-time basis starting on August 1, 2020, instead of the previous effective date of August 1, 2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Hurricane Dorian Charitable Giving Act

Bill: 116-s-2476
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Disaster relief and insurance
Income tax deductions
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 

Hurricane Dorian Charitable Giving Act

 
This bill suspends limitations on the tax deduction for charitable contributions in the case of cash contributions made for relief efforts related to Hurricane Dorian. Such contributions must be made after August 23, 2019, and before January 1, 2020, for such relief efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
National Commission on Scleroderma and Fibrotic Diseases Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2477
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 

National Commission on Scleroderma and Fibrotic Diseases Act of 

2019

 
This bill temporarily establishes a National Commission on Fibrotic Diseases within the National Institutes of Health that must recommend improvements regarding fibrosis and fibrotic disease research.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Bahamas Temporary Protected Status Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2478
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Bahamas
Caribbean area
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Natural disasters
Travel and tourism

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: 

Bahamas Temporary Protected Status Act of 2019 

 
This bill designates the Bahamas as a temporary protected status (TPS) country for 18 months from the enactment of this bill. (Qualified nationals of a TPS-designated country shall have work authorization and may not be removed from the United States while the designation is in effect.)
 
A Bahamian national shall qualify for temporary protected status if the individual (1) has been continuously physically present in the United States since the bill's enactment, (2) meets certain admissibility and eligibility requirements generally required for such status, and (3) registers with the Department of Homeland Security. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide clarification regarding the common or usual name for bison and compliance with section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-2479
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2019-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-16
text: 
This bill prohibits the sale of food that contains water buffalo and is labeled as 
buffalo
 unless the specific term used in the labeling is 
water buffalo
.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
PILT Reauthorization Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2480
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-09-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Forests, forestry, trees
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Property tax
State and local finance
State and local taxation
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-16
text: 

PILT Reauthorization Act of 2019

 
This bill extends the payment in lieu of taxes program through FY2029. &quot;Payments in Lieu of Taxes&quot; (PILT) are federal payments to local governments that help offset losses in property taxes due to the existence of nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-09-16
text: Introduced in Senate
End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act

Bill: 116-s-2481
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2019-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Africa
Argentina
Asia
Brazil
Child health
China
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug therapy
Food assistance and relief
Foreign aid and international relief
HIV/AIDS
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
India
Indonesia
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mexico
Middle East
Multilateral development programs
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Nutrition and diet
Pest management
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
United Nations
Water quality
Water use and supply
Women's health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-17
text: 

End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act

 
This bill expands programs to address neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which are infections caused by pathogens, including viruses, microbes, and helminths (parasitic worms), that disproportionately impact individuals living in extreme poverty, especially in developing countries. Examples include dengue, leprosy, and rabies.
 
The bill sets forth certain priorities for the NTDs Program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including the coordination of program activities with other USAID development sectors regarding (1) education; (2) food security; and (3) water, sanitation, and hygiene.
 
The bill also directs the Department of State and the President to encourage foreign governments and international entities to address NTDs.
 
Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must take a series of actions relating to NTDs, including promoting initiatives in international forums and establishing a panel to address worm infections. 
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may award grants to support centers of excellence for research, training, and treatment regarding NTDs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2019-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect American Values Act

Bill: 116-s-2482
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-09-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Department of Homeland Security
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Poverty and welfare assistance
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-17
text: 

Protect American Values Act

 
This bill prohibits using federal funds to implement the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule 
Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds
, published August 14, 2019, which expands the definition of a public charge for immigration purposes. 
 
(An alien who is a public charge may be denied certain immigration benefits, such as lawful permanent residence. Currently, a public charge is generally interpreted as an individual who is primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. The DHS rule would define a public charge to mean an individual who receives more than 12 months' worth of designated public benefits in a 36-month period.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2019-09-17
text: Introduced in Senate