hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2551
Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Accidents
Aquatic ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Great Lakes
Lakes and rivers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Oil and gas
Seashores and lakeshores

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2019 

 
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to update at least once every seven years its environmental sensitivity index products for each coastal area of the Great Lakes. An environmental sensitivity index product is a map or similar tool that is utilized to identify sensitive shoreline resources prior to an oil spill event.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
PLACE Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2552
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Protecting Local Access to Care for Everyone Act of 2019 or the PLACE Act of 2019

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to treat certain clinical services that are furnished by an excepted off-campus outpatient department of a provider (i.e., a department that would be considered an off-campus outpatient department but for certain statutory exceptions) during a specified period as though such services were provided on-campus for purposes of Medicare payment. (In November 2018, the CMS issued regulations that applied a lower Medicare payment rate for such services.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2553
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Securities
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Postal Service Financial Improvement Act of 201

9

 
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to invest part of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund in market-based index funds and establishes a Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund Investment Committee to advise Treasury on investments made from the fund.
 
Specifically, Treasury shall (1) invest a specified percentage of the fund, using one or more qualified professional asset managers, in index funds modeled after those established for Thrift Savings Fund investments; and (2) ensure that the investment replicates the performance of the longest-term target date asset allocation investment fund established by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.
 
The 
specified percentage
 to be invested is defined as 25% of the currently available portions of the fund as are not immediately required for payments from the fund, except that the committee may specify a higher percentage, not to exceed 30%, not earlier than five years after this bill's enactment and as appropriate thereafter. 
 
Treasury shall annually engage an independent qualified public accountant to audit the financial statements of such investments and shall submit an annual management report that includes
 
 
 statements of financial position, operations, and cash flows;
 
 a statement on internal accounting and administrative control systems;
 
 the report resulting from the audit; and
 
 any other comments and information necessary to inform Congress about the operations and financial condition of the investments.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Know Your Vets Act

Bill: 116-hr-2554
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Military personnel and dependents
Personnel records
State and local government operations
Veterans' organizations and recognition

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Know Your Vets Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure that a separating or retiring member of the Armed Forces may elect to have DOD form DD-214 transmitted to the appropriate county veterans service officers (i.e., county, local, or tribal employees who assist veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs interactions). DOD must also maintain a database of such officers.
 
Form DD-214 contains a member's record of service and information that may be used for veteran's benefits, retirement, employment, and veteran's organization membership.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Never Forgotten Korean War POW Act

Bill: 116-hr-2555
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Asia
Conflicts and wars
Military personnel and dependents
North Korea
South Korea

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Never Forgotten Korean War POW Act

 
This bill provides for recognition of the entire period spent in a captured or missing-in-action status during the Korean War for purposes of receipt of combat pay.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Disabled Veterans Red Tape Reduction Act

Bill: 116-hr-2556
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Health personnel
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Disabled Veterans Red Tape Reduction Act

 
This bill reauthorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide for medical disability evaluations by contract physicians who are not VA employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

Bill: 116-hr-2557
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health personnel
Medical education
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Get Veterans a Doctor Now Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer a contingent physician's appointment to a person who, upon completion of a post-graduate training program, completes a residency program within two years after the VA offer.
 
Eligibility requirements for a VA physician's appointment, including a contingency appointment, are revised to require completion of a residency program rather than an internship.
 At least annually, the VA must ensure that a recruiter or other similar official of each Veterans Integrated Service Network (regional VA health care administrative areas) visits each allopathic and osteopathic teaching institution with a graduate medical education program within the network to recruit individuals for the Veterans Health Administration.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
To define the dollar as a fixed weight of gold.

Bill: 116-hr-2558
Sponsor: Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Currency
Government information and archives
Monetary policy

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to define the dollar in terms of a fixed weight of gold, based on that day's closing market price of gold. The Federal Reserve Banks shall make Federal Reserve notes exchangeable with gold at the statutory gold definition of the dollar.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2559
Sponsor: Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Metals
Strategic materials and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report on the gold reserves of the United States every five years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Putting First Responders First Act

Bill: 116-hr-2560
Sponsor: Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Employee benefits and pensions
First responders and emergency personnel
Income tax exclusion
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Putting First Responders First Act 

 
This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to allow first responders to exclude from gross income certain service-connected disability payments received as part of a pension or annuity. The bill applies to law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Brunei Human Rights Act

Bill: 116-hr-2561
Sponsor: Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Brunei
Congressional oversight
Firearms and explosives
Foreign aid and international relief
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Human rights
Law enforcement officers
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Sanctions
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Brunei Human Rights Act

 
This bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on any Brunei government officials responsible for implementing certain provisions in Brunei's penal code in a way that constitutes a gross violation of human rights. (Brunei has passed laws that call for the death penalty for offenses such as adultery and consensual same-sex relations.)
 
The Department of State shall report annually to Congress on foreign countries that enforce laws targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals; women; children; religious minorities; or other vulnerable populations. The State Department shall also report annually to Congress on its efforts to assist refugees from Brunei seeking asylum in other countries.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall report annually to Congress on the number of Brunei nationals seeking asylum in the United States and the outcome of such requests.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-05-07
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: 2019-05-07
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: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act

Bill: 116-hr-2562
Sponsor: Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Area studies and international education
Business education
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Education programs funding
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Higher education
Minority education
Policy sciences

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Advancing International and Foreign Language Education Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and otherwise revises international education programs. These programs provide grants to institutions of higher education and related entities to (1) enhance instruction in international and foreign language studies, and (2) promote international business skills and education. 
 
First, the bill reauthorizes programs related to international and foreign language studies. Specifically, it extends (1) the Graduate and Undergraduate Language and Area Centers and Programs, which include the National Resource Centers program; (2) the Language Resource Centers; (3) the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs; and (4) the American Overseas Research Centers.
 
Next, the bill revises the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships program to permit graduate students to receive a stipend for the beginning, intermediate, or advanced study of a foreign language related to the student's area of specialization.
 
Further, the bill replaces the existing Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access program with an international research and innovation program.
 
Additionally, the bill reauthorizes programs related to international business skills and education. Specifically, it reauthorizes the Centers for International Business Education program. It also reauthorizes the Education and Training program and otherwise makes changes to the program, including by (1) renaming the program; and (2) mandating certain program activities, such as the incorporation of specified programs and studies into professional education and technical training curricula.
 
Finally, the bill permits the Department of Education to prioritize grant applications from minority-serving institutions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2563
Sponsor: Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Government information and archives
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Right of privacy
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 
 
2019

 
This bill removes drug conviction questions from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
 
It also requires the Department of Education to issue guidance and recommendations for institutions of higher education to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admission applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Medicare Enrollment Protection Act

Bill: 116-hr-2564
Sponsor: Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Medicare Enrollment Protection Act

 
This bill creates a special Medicare enrollment period for individuals enrolled in, or transitioning out of, continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)&#8212;a federal law that allows an individual to maintain health coverage following loss of coverage due to termination of employment or another qualifying event.
 
The bill exempts such individuals from certain monthly premium increases associated with delaying Medicare coverage.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-09-09
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-09-09
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise the Safer Choice Standard to provide for a Safer Choice label for pots, pans, and cooking utensils that do not contain PFAS, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-2566
Sponsor: Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Environmental regulatory procedures
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Marketing and advertising
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise the Safer Choice Standard of the Safer Choice Program. Specifically, the EPA must identify the requirements that specified products (e.g., pots, pans, or cooking utensils) must meet in order to be labeled with a Safer Choice label, including a requirement that such products do not contain certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2019-09-26
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-05-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
Speak Up to Protect Every Abused Kid Act

Bill: 116-hr-2567
Sponsor: Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7]
Introduced: 2019-05-07 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Domestic violence and child abuse
Government studies and investigations
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: 

Speak Up to Protect Every Abused Kid Act

 
This bill establishes and modifies certain requirements related to mandatory reporting of suspected and known incidents of child abuse. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants for campaigns to educate the public and for training about (1) state child abuse or neglect laws, and (2) the responsibility to report suspected incidents of such abuse or neglect.
 
 Further, for a state to be eligible for various grants supporting child abuse or neglect treatment and prevention programs, the state must provide assurances that it has mandatory reporting requirements in place for specified individuals who provide services involving children (e.g., health care providers, school personnel, child care employees, and volunteers). States must (1) provide training to these individuals about reporting abuse, and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the state's reporting requirements.
 
 The bill also revises reporting requirements for child abuse or neglect treatment and prevention grants to include data about changes in the rates of child abuse reporting and child abuse fatalities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-07
text: Introduced in House