hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments for Co­ro­na­vi­rus Patients Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3545
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: 

Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments for Coronavirus Patients Act of 

2020

 
This bill establishes a reciprocal marketing approval process that allows for the sale of a drug, biological product, or medical device that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if the product is approved for sale in another country for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and there is an unmet need relative to certain diseases.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the product's sponsor to demonstrate, among other things, that 
 
 
the product has been approved for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 or another disease of epidemic potential,
 
the approval is in one of the specified countries,
 
the FDA and listed countries have not withdrawn approval because of safety or effectiveness concerns, and
 
there is a public health or unmet medical need for the product.
 
 
The FDA may only decline approval if the FDA determines that the product is not safe or effective. The FDA must make such a determination not later than 30 days after receiving a request. 
 
Congress may pass a joint resolution to grant reciprocal marketing approval of a product that the FDA declines to approve through the reciprocal process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Pandemic Healthcare Access Act

Bill: 116-s-3546
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: 

Pandemic Healthcare Access Act

 
This bill preserves the eligibility of health savings account (HSA) participants covered by any health plan during the coronavirus emergency period. The 
coronavirus emergency period
 is the period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the later of (1) the last day on which a presidential declaration of emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) is in effect, or (2) the last day on which a presidential declaration of national emergency under the National Emergencies Act with respect to the coronavirus is in effect. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Creating Capacity for Communities in Need Act

Bill: 116-s-3547
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-03-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Business ethics
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health facilities and institutions
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Licensing and registrations
Medicaid
Medical ethics
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: 

Creating Capacity for Communities in Need Act

 
This bill provides for an exception, during the national emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), to provisions under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law) that prohibit physician-owned hospitals from expanding facility capacity. 
 
Specifically, the bill excludes from such restrictions any increase in operating rooms, procedure rooms, or beds for which a hospital is licensed or begins construction during the period of March 13, 2020, through the last day of the national emergency. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Save America's Main Street Act

Bill: 116-s-3549
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Disability assistance
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment taxes
Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Railroads
Small business
Social security and elderly assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax-exempt organizations
Transportation employees
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 

Save America's Main Street Act

 
This bill allows (1) certain small businesses ($1 million or less in gross receipts and not more than 50 full time employees) a tax credit for the lesser of 30% of their gross receipts or $75,000 for the first taxable year beginning in 2020, (2) deferral of estimated tax payments for such businesses, and (3) certain small business employers a payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid to their employees unable to work due to COVID-19 (i.e., the coronavirus disease 2019).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Municipal Bonds Emergency Relief Act

Bill: 116-s-3550
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 

Municipal Bonds Emergency Relief Act 

 
This bill allows the Federal Reserve Board in unusual and exigent circumstances to authorize Federal Reserve banks to buy and sell municipal bonds and other specified financial instruments. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3551
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Appropriations
Business investment and capital
Credit and credit markets
Government lending and loan guarantees
Manufacturing
Small business
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 

Small Business Access to Capital Act of 2020

 
This bill reauthorizes for an additional eight years the State Small Business Credit Initiative.
 
The initative assists participating states in providing collateral financial support to, and other innovative credit access and guarantee initiatives for, small businesses and manufacturers. 
 
The bill prescribes allocations of federal funds to participating states, and it authorizes the Department of the Treasury to award up to $2 billion in two tranches (portions), according to specified criteria, for participating states to (1) make federal contributions to an approved state program, or (2) use as collateral for a qualifying loan or swap funding facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide payments to cattle producers to offset losses due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-3552
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Livestock

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 
This bill requires the Farm Service Agency to provide payments to producers that sold feeder cattle or live cattle during any month in calendar year 2020 to offset losses due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Specifically, payments must be provided (1) in the case of feeder cattle, if the average national sale price per hundredweight for feeder cattle for that month is less than $150; and (2) in the case of live cattle, if the average national sale price per hundredweight for live cattle for that month is less than $121.
 
A producer may receive payments for not more than 10,000 head of cattle in calendar year 2020. Additionally, a producer must have owned the feeder cattle or live cattle for not less than 30 days before the date on which the cattle were sold.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to modify the schedule for estimated tax payments for 2020.

Bill: 116-s-3553
Sponsor: Sen. Perdue, David [R-GA]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 
This bill changes the schedule for estimated tax payments for taxable years beginning in 2020. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Trade Adjustment Assistance For Workers Reauthorization Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3555
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Evidence and witnesses
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits
State and local government operations
Tariffs
Temporary and part-time employment
Trade adjustment assistance
Trade restrictions
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 

Trade Adjustment Assistance For Workers Reauthorization Act of 2020

 
This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2027 the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program.
 
Specifically, the bill provides trade adjustment assistance for workers, including staffed workers and teleworkers, who experience an employment loss because of supply chain disruptions or weak demand during a public health emergency. Such assistance also extends to workers similarly affected by retaliatory tariff increases.
 
The bill authorizes the Department of Labor to reimburse workers for certain out-of-pocket training expenses. Labor must take necessary action to apprise eligible workers of available benefits, and affected workers must be provided with information about registered apprenticeship programs and other on-the-job training opportunities in their area.
 
The bill extends the duration of income support for workers enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program, associate's degree program, or other qualified training program, and it authorizes benefits to be paid to certain workers whose annual income is below a specified threshold.
 
Employees shall not be considered to have experienced an employment loss due to a plant closing or mass layoff if such closing or layoff is the result of the relocation or consolidation of the employer's business and, prior to such closing or layoff, the employer offers to transfer the employees to certain other sites of employment. If such loss of employment is caused by conditions justifying trade adjustment assistance, the employer must notify its employees of the availability of such assistance.
 
The bill also extends the tax credit for health insurance costs through 2026 and increases the percentage of such credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Bill: 116-s-3556
Sponsor: Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT]
Introduced: 2020-03-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Student aid and college costs
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: 

COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

 
This bill allows students who graduate from institutions of higher education in 2020 to defer payments on their federal student loans for up to three years.
 The Department of Education (ED) may extend deferment eligibility to students who graduate in 2021 and 2022, if ED determines that the anticipated economic impact of the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19 or another coronavirus with pandemic potential) on these graduates necessitates an extension. ED must consider certain factors, such as recent unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when determining whether to extend deferment eligibility to these graduates.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-03-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate required minimum distributions under tax-favored retirement plans.

Bill: 116-s-3557
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2020-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: 
This bill terminates required minimum distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans after 2019. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to prevent the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority from enforcing a certain rule of that Authority.

Bill: 116-s-3558
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2020-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: 
This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to prevent the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority from enforcing that authority's rule requiring member brokers and dealers to annually inspect their offices for compliance with securities laws and regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3559
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2020-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Department of Health and Human Services
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicare
Rural conditions and development
Small business
Surgery and anesthesia
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: 

Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes grant programs and other forms of financial assistance for health care providers in response to the national emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). 
 
Specifically, the bill establishes (1) a grant program to provide emergency assistance to critical access hospitals, certain rural hospitals, and providers participating in Medicare; (2) a grant program to provide emergency assistance to health care practices and ambulatory surgery centers for staff salaries; and (3) a loan program to provide low-interest loans to health care practices and ambulatory surgery centers. 
 
The bill also temporarily increases reimbursements to rural hospitals under the Medicare swing-bed program. (The program allows rural hospitals to use beds, as needed, for either acute care or skilled nursing facility care.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business and Consumer Emergency Credit Act

Bill: 116-s-3560
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Consumer credit
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Small Business and Consumer Emergency Credit Act 

 
This bill applies certain military consumer credit protections to all consumers, tax-exempt charitable organizations, and small businesses for credit extended during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period. Specifically, the bill caps the interest rate on an extension of consumer credit at 36%. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-12
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Telework Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3561
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Commuting
Computers and information technology
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Emergency Telework Act of 2020

 
This bill requires each federal agency (executive, legislative, and judicial) to allow eligible employees to telework full-time during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). An employee is considered eligible if the employee has not received specified disciplinary action and is otherwise determined eligible by the agency. 
 
In the event the public health emergency is renewed, the bill's requirements continue to apply if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), determines the requirements would reduce the spread of COVID-19. If the requirements no longer apply, agencies may still allow high-risk employees or employees at certain work sites to telework full-time during the renewal period. 
 
Additionally, OPM must, in coordination with HHS, develop an expansive telework policy for use in future outbreaks of infectious diseases. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act

Bill: 116-s-3562
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child care and development
Department of Health and Human Services
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Family services
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Mental health
Preschool education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act

 
 This bill provides FY2020 supplemental appropriations for states to provide child care services and administer Head Start programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3563
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Food assistance and relief
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Food Assistance for Kids and Families During COVID-19 Act of 2020

 
This bill modifies food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
The bill modifies the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require USDA to (1) notify retailers of the existing opportunities through which they can deliver groceries to SNAP participants; and (2) authorize public-private partnerships between itself, authorized SNAP retailers, and community-based organizations to support grocery delivery during the national emergency regarding COVID-19.
 
The bill provides funding for USDA to support grocery delivery for SNAP participants who are seniors, immunocompromised individuals, or other individuals who are unable to travel safely to a grocery store. 
 
Additionally, the bill (1) extends the certification period under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for infants to two years, instead of the current one year; and (2) authorizes states to increase the certification time under WIC for breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women to two years postpartum.
 
The bill also allows any federal agency charged with the administration of a federal assistance program to modify or waive administrative conditions during an emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Treatment for COVID Act

Bill: 116-s-3564
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2020-03-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: 

Ensuring Treatment for COVID Act

 
This bill requires state Medicaid programs to cover treatment for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). State Medicaid programs must also cover COVID-19 testing and treatment for uninsured individuals. (Currently, state Medicaid programs are required to cover COVID-19 testing for enrollees and have the option to cover testing for uninsured individuals.) Coverage must be provided with no cost-sharing. 
 
Additionally, state Medicaid programs may not impose cost-sharing for COVID-19 vaccines. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-03-22
text: Introduced in Senate