hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BAH Calculation Improvement Act

Bill: 117-s-4564
Sponsor: Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

BAH Calculation Improvement Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense to submit to Congress a report on the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services that includes elements related to the calculation of such allowance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the copayment requirement for recipients of Department of Veterans Affairs payments or allowances for beneficiary travel, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-4565
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 
This bill repeals the copayment requirement for individuals who receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) payments or allowances for beneficiary travel to or from a VA facility in connection with vocational rehabilitation, required counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Regional Clean Energy Innovation Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4566
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Regional Clean Energy Innovation Act of 2022

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish the Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program to enhance the country's economic, environmental, and energy security and accelerate the pace of innovation of diverse clean energy technologies through clean energy innovation partnerships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
EAGLE Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4567
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment Act of 2022 or the EAGLE Act of 2022

 
This bill modifies requirements related to employment-based visas and addresses related issues.
 
The bill increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15% and eliminates the per-country cap for employment-based immigrant visas. 
 
The bill establishes transition rules for employment-based visas such as (1) reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled and other workers) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas, and (2) allotting a number of visas for professional nurses and physical therapists. 
 
The bill imposes additional requirements on an employer seeking an H-1B visa, such as prohibiting (1) an employer from advertising that a position is only open to H-1B applicants or that H-1B applicants are preferred, and (2) certain employers from having more than half of their employees as nonimmigrant visa workers.
 
The Department of Labor shall create a publicly available website where an employer seeking an H-1B visa must post certain information about the open position. 
 
The bill also expands Labor's authority to review and investigate H-1B applications for fraud or misrepresentations.
 
The bill also allows certain aliens to obtain lawful permanent resident status if the alien (1) is in the United States as a nonimmigrant, (2) has an approved immigrant visa petition, and (3) has waited at least two years for a visa. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4568
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act of 2022

 
This bill allows a tax credit through 2032 equal to $1 times the number of gallons of renewable natural gas or gasoline gallon equivalent of nonliquid renewable natural gas for use as a fuel in a motor vehicle or motorboat or for use as a fuel in aviation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Turn OFF THE TAP Act

Bill: 117-s-4569
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Turn Off Federal Funding of Threatening Entities that Thwart American Prosperity Act or the Turn OFF THE TAP Act

 This bill prohibits federal contracts with or provision of federal funds to designated entities. Designated entities include those subject to specified U.S. sanctions, entities that have a relationship with China's military-industrial complex, and entities that produce communications equipment or services that pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

Bill: 117-s-4570
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

 
This bill provides for criminal penalties for certain conduct that interferes with U.S. border control measures.
 
Specifically, a person who knowingly transmits the location or activities of law enforcement with the intent to further a crime related to immigration, customs, or controlled substances may be imprisoned for a maximum of 10 years. A person who knowingly damages or destroys a device deployed to control the border or port of entry may be imprisoned for a maximum of 10 years.
 
Additionally, the bill provides for enhanced punishment for carrying or using a firearm in connection with certain criminal immigration violations such as assisting a non-U.S. national (
alien
 under federal law) who is inadmissible due to a felony conviction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to reaffirm that the President of the United States lacks the authority to stop oil and gas leasing on Federal public land.

Bill: 117-s-4571
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 
This bill specifies that the President may not cancel, delay or otherwise pause quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales that are proscribed under current law. If a sale is canceled, delayed, or otherwise paused due to Executive Order 14008 (titled 
Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad 
and signed on January 27, 2021), the Department of the Interior must conduct a replacement sale within two calendar years of the cancelation, delay, or pause.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Non-Intrusive Inspection Expansion Act

Bill: 117-s-4572
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Non-Intrusive Inspection Expansion Act

 
This bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to increase its use of nonintrusive inspection systems for passenger and commercial vehicles at land ports of entry.

action_date: 2022-12-05
text: 

Non-Intrusive Inspection Expansion Act

 
This bill requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to increase its use of nonintrusive inspection systems for passenger and commercial vehicles at land ports of entry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 576.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with amendments. With written report No. 117-220.
action_date: 2022-12-05
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with amendments. With written report No. 117-220.
action_date: 2022-08-03
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act

Bill: 117-s-4574
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act

 
This bill makes various changes related to federal elections. Among other elements, the bill (1) reauthorizes through FY2027 the Election Assistance Commission, (2) increases penalties related to crimes against federally protected voting activities, and (3) requires the U.S. Postal Service to take certain actions related to federal election mail.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3545-3546)
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Right to Try Clarification Act

Bill: 117-s-4575
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Right to Try Clarification Act

 
This bill specifies that investigational drugs that are provided directly to individuals from manufacturers without the need for federal regulatory approval (i.e., via the Right to Try pathway) are exempt from restrictions that would otherwise apply under the Controlled Substances Act (e.g., restrictions on the use or possession of schedule I controlled substances).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Act

Bill: 117-s-4576
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2022-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: 

Norman Y. Mineta Japanese American Confinement Education Act

 
 This bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grant program, which supports the preservation of U.S. confinement sites that were used to detain Japanese Americans during World War II (i.e., internment camps). It also establishes a program within JACS to provide grants to Japanese American nonprofits to educate individuals about the historical significance of these events. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4578
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Summer Meals and Learning Act of 20

22

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to state library administrative agencies to enable them to award subgrants to eligible local educational agencies for summer early reading programs held at schools with a summer lunch site. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

Bill: 117-s-4579
Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Arizona
California
Colorado
Hydrology and hydrography
Lakes and rivers
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Water storage
Water use and supply
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Colorado River Basin Conservation Act

 
This bill reauthorizes the Department of the Interior to fund or participate in pilot projects to increase Colorado River System water in Lake Mead and the Colorado River Storage Project reservoirs through FY2026. 
 
 Interior administers these pilot projects to address the effects of drought conditions on the Colorado River Basin, which includes the Upper Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and Lower Basin states (Arizona, California, and Nevada). 
 
The bill also requires Interior to submit an updated report to Congress by the end of FY2027 on the effectiveness of the pilot projects and a recommendation on whether to continue the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-01
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

Bill: 117-s-4580
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each of its medical centers contains a hygienic lactation space that is not a bathroom and meets other specifications (e.g., must be easy to locate). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Second Chance at Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act

Bill: 117-s-4581
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Second Chance at Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Among other changes, the bill (1) allows a borrower who obtained an eligible Federal Direct Loan and has been employed full-time in public service (beginning on or after January 1, 1994) for 10 years or more to receive loan forgiveness under the PSLF program; (2) provides additional relevant definitions, including to specify that full-time employment is at least 30 hours a week; and (3) allows an eligible teacher to use the same teaching service to qualify for both the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program and the PSLF program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
AIM Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4582
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Crimes against property
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Firearms and explosives
Freedom of information
Historical and cultural resources
Judicial review and appeals
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2022 or the AIM Act

 
This bill removes limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws.
 
Specifically, the bill removes provisions that
 
 
limit the use of firearms tracing data; 
 
prohibit consolidating or centralizing records maintained by federal firearm licensees, or FFLs (e.g., gun dealers); 
 
prohibit imposing a requirement that gun dealers conduct a physical inventory; 
 
require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours; 
 
limit the disclosure of data under the Freedom of Information Act; 
 
 prohibit the ATF from altering the definition of a curio or relic firearm; 
 
 prohibit the denial of a federal firearms license due to lack of business activity; 
 
 prohibit transferring the ATF's functions, missions, or activities to other agencies or departments; 
 
 prohibit the electronic retrieval of information gathered from firearm transaction records of FFLs that go out of business; and 
 
 prohibit the ATF from denying an application to import certain shotguns. 
 
 
Additionally, the bill
 
 
raises the liability standard for denying or revoking a federal firearms license from a willful violation to a knowing violation of federal firearms laws or regulations, and 
 
removes the de novo standard of judicial review for appealing the denial or revocation of a federal firearms license. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act

Bill: 117-s-4583
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act

 
This bill revises methods for calculating various aspects of Social Security benefits, eliminates the cap on compensation subject to Social Security taxes, and extends eligibility for Social Security benefits during the month of a beneficiary's death.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Canyon’s Law

Bill: 117-s-4584
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Armed Forces and National Security
Blood and blood diseases
Child safety and welfare
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Land use and conservation
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Canyon's Law

 
This bill prohibits the preparing, placing, installing, setting, deploying, or otherwise using an M-44 device on public land. An M-44 device is defined as a device designed to propel sodium cyanide when triggered by an animal, including any device that may be commonly known as an M-44 ejector device or an M-44 predator control device.
 
No later than 30 days after the enactment of this bill, any federal, state, or county agency that has prepared, placed, installed, set, or deployed an M-44 device on public land shall remove each such device from such land. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
EPA Transparency for Agriculture Products Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4585
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

EPA Transparency for Agriculture Products Act of 2022

 
This bill modifies the rulemaking process of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to pesticide registration, revises the EPA's Science Advisory Panel to require additional nominees, and requires review of certain panel decisions or advice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Our Children's Schools Act

Bill: 117-s-4586
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Protect Our Children's Schools Act

 
This bill requires certain unobligated federal COVID-19 relief funds to be made available to local educational agencies for keeping elementary and secondary schools physically secure.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 117-s-4587
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Berell Ferencz in recognition of his service to the United States and the international community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials and his lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and the rule of law.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Investing in American Defense Technologies Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4588
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Investing in American Defense Technologies Act of 2022

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement a five-year pilot program to accelerate the development of advanced technology for national security by creating incentives for trusted private capital to invest in domestic small businesses or nontraditional businesses that are developing technology that DOD considers necessary to support the modernization of DOD and national security priorities. DOD must brief Congress on the implementation and outcomes of the pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Family and Community Inflation Relief Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4589
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2022-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Family and Community Inflation Relief Act of 2022

 
This bill provides for an inflation adjustment to the amount of (1) the child tax credit, (2) the tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services, (3) the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning tax credits, and (4) the tax deduction for interest on education loans. 
 
The bill grants the Internal Revenue Service authority to adjust the standard mileage rate for the use of an automobile for charitable purposes (such rate may not be less than the rate used for purposes of the medical expense deduction). It also extends for one year the suspension of the tax deduction for state and local taxes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate