hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7359
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government trust funds
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Radio spectrum allocation
Rural conditions and development
Small business
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act of 2020

 
This bill establishes the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund from which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shall offer additional funding to certain terrestrial telecommunications carriers for specified broadband projects.
 
Specifically, the FCC shall make one-time funding offers from the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund to certain terrestrial telecommunications carriers that receive support from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund is a mechanism through which the FCC finances high-speed broadband networks in unserved rural areas.
 
Recipients of amounts from the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Fund shall use such funds to (1) begin construction of a broadband network, (2) make broadband available from the network deployed using Rural Digital Opportunity Fund support, and (3) meet all build-out obligations pursuant to receiving amounts from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act

Bill: 116-hr-7360
Sponsor: Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Infrastructure development
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Wireless Resiliency and Flexible Investment Act

 
This bill provides statutory authority for the 60-day time frame for a state or local government that receives a complete eligible facilities request to approve such request. Further, the bill makes other changes related to eligible facilities requests, including expanding the definition of such requests to include any requests for the modification of an existing wireless tower, base station, or eligible support structure that involves the placement, modification, or construction of equipment that improves the resiliency of the communications network and provides a direct benefit to public safety.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7361
Sponsor: Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Europe
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign property
Germany
Insurance industry and regulation
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Russia
Sanctions
Turkey
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Protecting Europe's Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020

 
This bill expands existing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in certain activities relating to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream energy pipelines. 
 
Current law generally imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that knowingly took actions such as selling or leasing vessels that engaged in pipe laying related to the pipelines. Under this bill, the President shall also impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in other specified activities, such as (1) providing underwriting services or insurance for such vessels, or (2) installing welding equipment for such vessels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
WIRELESS Leadership Act

Bill: 116-hr-7362
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Infrastructure development
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Judicial review and appeals
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Winning the International Race for Economic Leadership and Expanding Service to Support Leadership Act or the WIRELESS Leadership Act

 
This bill limits the authority of, and imposes deadlines on, state and local governments regarding decisions about the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
CONNECT Act

Bill: 116-hr-7363
Sponsor: Rep. Long, Billy [R-MO-7]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Emergency communications systems
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Communities Overregulating Networks Need Economic Competition Today Act or the CONNECT Act

 
This bill prohibits a state or political subdivision thereof from providing or selling broadband internet access service. Such provision or sale may continue if there is no more than one other commercial provider of broadband internet access that provides competition in a particular area. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
CABLE Leadership Act

Bill: 116-hr-7364
Sponsor: Rep. Long, Billy [R-MO-7]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Government information and archives
Infrastructure development
State and local government operations
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Cable Access for Broadband and Local Economic Leadership Act or the CABLE Leadership Act

 
This bill establishes deadlines for a cable franchising authority to act on a complete request for a new franchise and on a complete non-emergency request for authorization to modify or upgrade a cable system or facility.
 
The bill also (1) deems such requests granted on the day after these deadlines expire if the franchising authority has not granted or denied the request by such date, and (2) outlines when such requests shall be considered complete. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Green Buses for Every Community Act

Bill: 116-hr-7365
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Housing and community development funding
Public transit
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Green Buses for Every Community Act

 
This bill requires at least 10% of funding made available in a fiscal year for the low or no emissions competitive grant program for buses and bus facilities to be distributed to projects serving predominantly low-income communities. The bill defines a 
low-income community 
as any population census tract if (1) the poverty rate for such tract is at least 20%; or (2) the tract is not located within a metropolitan area and the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80% of statewide median family income, or the tract is located within a metropolitan area and the median family income does not exceed the 80% or the metropolitan area median family income.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Restoring America’s Leadership in Innovation Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7366
Sponsor: Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Art, artists, authorship
Department of Commerce
Intellectual property
Judicial procedure and administration
Judicial review and appeals
Property rights
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Restoring America's Leadership in Innovation Act of 2020 

 
This bill revises several aspects of patent law. 
 
The bill changes the U.S. patent system back to a first-to-invent system, in which the first inventor to conceive of an invention is entitled to a patent. Currently, the first person to file an application that meets all the necessary requirements is entitled to the patent. 
 
Several types of administrative patent challenge proceedings are abolished, as well as the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) body that decides those proceedings.
 
The bill relaxes the standard for what constitutes patent-eligible subject matter. The only ineligible inventions shall be those that exist in nature independent or prior to human activity or that exist solely in the human mind. 
 
The bill also makes it easier for a patent owner that has won an infringement case in court to secure a permanent injunction against the infringing defendant. Specifically, there shall be a presumption that further infringement would cause irreparable harm to the prevailing patent owner, and the burden shall be on the infringer to prove otherwise. (Currently, a prevailing patent owner seeking a permanent injunction must prove, among other things, that further infringement would cause irreparable harm.)
 
The bill limits what types of publications shall be treated as prior art that could be used to make an invention be considered to be anticipated or obvious (and therefore not patentable).
 
The bill authorizes the PTO to keep and spend all the fees that it collects.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act

Bill: 116-hr-7367
Sponsor: Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Infrastructure development
Land use and conservation
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Facilitating the Deployment of Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act or the Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act

 
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to submit a report every 60 days describing whether the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture have established online portals for the acceptance, processing, and disposal of a Form 299, as well as any barriers to the establishment of such portals. Form 299 is the application form for the right to install, construct, modify, or maintain a communications facility on federal real property. Both agencies shall notify the NTIA not later than three business days after establishing their online portals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-08-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2020-07-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Brandon Act

Bill: 116-hr-7368
Sponsor: Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Defense
Health information and medical records
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Brandon Act

 
This bill modifies the regulatory requirement for the referral of a member of the Armed Forces for a mental health evaluation. It requires that commanding officers or supervisors make referrals as soon as practicable and that the referral process protect the confidentiality of the member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-07-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3045-3046)
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Cable Transparency Act

Bill: 116-hr-7369
Sponsor: Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Government information and archives
State and local government operations
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Cable Transparency Act

 
This bill modifies the term and termination of cable franchises.
 
Specifically, the bill provides that a cable franchise shall continue without any requirement for an operator to renew such franchise until the date the franchise is revoked or terminated. Under current law, a cable operator must submit a proposal for renewal of the franchise to the franchising authority.
 
The bill prohibits generally (1) a franchising authority from revoking a franchise, (2) a cable operator from terminating a franchise, or (3) the revocation or termination of a franchise by operation of law. However, a cable operator may terminate a franchise by submitting a written request to the franchising authority for the revocation of such franchise, and a franchise authority may revoke a franchise if it finds that the cable operator has knowingly and willfully failed to meet a material requirement of the franchise.
 
Further, during a franchise period, a cable operator may obtain the elimination or modification of a franchise requirement by submitting a request for such elimination or modification to the franchise authority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7370
Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Labor-management relations
Securities
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2020

 
This bill modifies provisions related to Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which typically involves the reorganization of a debtor company's assets and debts. Specifically, the bill (1) expands available claims and priorities for employees and retirees, and (2) places additional restrictions on the compensation of executives and other high level employees. 
 
With respect to employee and retiree recoveries and losses, the bill 
 
 
increases the maximum value and age of specified wage and benefit claims entitled to priority payment; 
 
allows certain claims for losses related to defined contribution plans, if the employer or plan sponsor has committed fraud or otherwise breached its fiduciary duty; 
 
allows, as an administrative expense of the estate, severance pay owed to employees and contributions to an employee benefit plan; 
 
establishes certain restrictions regarding the rejection or amendment of a collective bargaining agreement; 
 
revises specified procedures related to the reduction or denial of retiree benefits; 
 
requires a court, in approving a sale of business assets, to consider the extent to which a bidder has offered to maintain existing jobs and assume benefit obligations; and 
 
allows claims related to pension losses.
 
 
With respect to executive compensation, the bill 
 
 
establishes specified limitations related to executive compensation enhancements,
 
prohibits executives from receiving certain retiree benefits if such benefits were reduced or eliminated for other employees or retirees, and 
 
 revises other requirements related to court approval of such compensation.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-09-29
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 10.
action_date: 2020-09-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-09-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Rebuilding Main Street Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7371
Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment taxes
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Small business
State and local finance
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
Tax-exempt organizations
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Rebuilding Main Street Act of 2020

 
 This bill extends federal pandemic unemployment compensation and establishes the Rebuilding Main Street Grant Program to cover certain costs of eligible employers who continue operations with reduced work hours.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Improving College Affordability for our Guard and Reserve Act

Bill: 116-hr-7372
Sponsor: Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Higher education
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Improving College Affordability for our Guard and Reserve Act

 
This bill authorizes all members of the Armed Forces&mdash;including reservists or those in the National Guard and regardless of their duty status&mdash;to claim independent student status when applying for federal financial aid. Currently, active duty service members and veterans of the Armed Forces may claim such independent student status. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act

Bill: 116-hr-7373
Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2020-06-25 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Historic sites and heritage areas
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: 

Wildfire Wireless Resiliency Act 

 
This bill excludes certain communications facility replacement projects from specified review requirements.
 
Specifically, the bill excludes from specified environmental and historic preservation review a project that replaces a communications facility damaged by a major disaster or a wildfire and that could reasonably be considered as necessary (1) for recovery from such disaster or emergency, or (2) to prevent or mitigate future disasters or emergencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-06-25
text: Introduced in House