hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Build America's Libraries Act

Bill: 117-s-127
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Air quality
Building construction
Buy American requirements
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Energy efficiency and conservation
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Libraries and archives
Lighting, heating, cooling
Metals
State and local government operations
Water use and supply
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Build America's Libraries Act

 
This bill establishes and provides funds through FY2024 for the Build America's Libraries Fund, from which the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) must allocate funding to states and, through them, need-based grants to libraries to make long-term improvements to library facilities. The IMLS must also award grants to Indian tribes and organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians.
 
Specifically, the bill requires each state that receives an allocation, and each library that receives a grant, to carry out certain activities to improve library facilities. These activities include constructing and renovating library facilities, investing in infrastructure projects to improve internet access and connectivity, improving indoor air quality, and making facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities.
 
The bill also outlines administrative and oversight provisions, including by requiring library projects to use iron and steel products that are produced in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S201)
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-128
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Primary Care Enhancement Act of 2021

 
This bill allows a medical expense tax deduction for direct primary care service arrangements and provides that participation in such arrangements does not disqualify patients from making tax deductible contributions to health savings accounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
First Responder Fair RETIRE Act

Bill: 117-s-129
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Congressional officers and employees
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Department of State
Department of Transportation
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Disability and paralysis
Employee hiring
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Law enforcement officers
Supreme Court
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

First Responder Fair Return for Employees on Their Initial Retirement Earned Act of 2021 or the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act

 
This bill allows disabled federal first responders (e.g., law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, and firefighters) to continue receiving federal retirement benefits in the same manner as though they had not been disabled.
 
Under current law, federal first responders are subject to a mandatory retirement age of 57. To facilitate this earlier retirement, federal first responders are required to pay a greater percentage of their salary towards retirement. Additionally, their annuity amount is calculated at a higher rate than other federal employees.
 
This bill allows a federal first responder to remain in the accelerated retirement system if they are placed in another civil service position outside of that system after returning to work from a work-related injury or illness. Further, if such an employee is separated from service before they are entitled to receive an annuity, they may receive a refund of their accelerated contributions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act

Bill: 117-s-130
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: District of Columbia
Intergovernmental relations
Military command and structure
National Guard and reserves
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act 
 
 
This bill makes the Mayor of the District of Columbia, rather than the President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the District of Columbia.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Skills Investment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-131
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax deferral
Student aid and college costs
Vocational and technical education
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Skills Investment Act of 2021

 
This bill expands tax-favored Coverdell education savings accounts to allow the accounts to be used for educational or skill development expenses such as training services, career and technical education activities, career services, youth workforce investment activities, and adult education and literacy activities. 
 
The bill also 
 
 
renames the accounts 
Coverdell lifelong learning accounts
, 
 
 increases contribution limits, 
 
 modifies the age-based contribution restrictions, 
 
 allows a tax credit for a portion of an employer's contributions to an employee's account, and
 
allows beneficiaries to deduct contributions made by or on behalf of the beneficiary. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Skills Renewal Act

Bill: 117-s-132
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Computers and information technology
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Unemployment
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Skills Renewal Act

 
This bill allows a refundable tax credit for qualified training services received by certain individuals who are unemployed in 2020 due to the coronavius (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) pandemic.The bill defines 
qualified training service 
as a course or program of study identified by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for a state, or as a course or program of study relating to computer science, technology, or another high need area, such as a coding boot camp, that has been precertified by the Department of Labor. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-133
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2021

 
 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide states and tribal entities with grants to increase access to licensed child care services.
 
 The grants may be used to develop and expand the child care workforce or child care facilities in locations with insufficient available child care. Specifically, grants cover 50% of the cost of programs to support the education and training of caregivers or projects to build, expand, or renovate child care facilities in these areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining assistance program for unemployed veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-134
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Housing and community development funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Labor market
National Guard and reserves
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Unemployment
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 
This bill addresses the employment and retraining of veterans, specifically during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.
 
The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program under which the VA must provide up to 12 months of nontransferable retraining assistance (including a housing stipend) to up to 35,000 eligible veterans for the pursuit of a specified program of education. Under the bill, an eligible veteran is an individual who, among other requirements, is unemployed due to COVID-19. Veterans who receive retraining assistance may only use such assistance to pursue specified programs, including those designed to provide training for high-demand occupations.
 
The bill requires the Department of Labor to conduct outreach to veterans participating in the program to notify them of employment placement services and facilitate employment placement. Additionally, the VA must enter into a memorandum of understanding with one or more qualified nonprofit organizations to facilitate the employment of veterans participating in the program.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the retraining assistance program.
 
The program will terminate 21 months after the date of the enactment of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Coronavirus Mental Health and Addiction Assistance Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-135
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Mental health
Unemployment
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Coronavirus Mental Health and Addiction Assistance Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to establish a network of entities that provide mental health and substance use disorder programs during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Eligible entities include tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and partnerships of two or more eligible entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Vote at Home Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-136
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Licensing and registrations
Motor vehicles
Postal service
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Vote at Home Act of 2021

 
This bill expands voting by mail in federal elections and provides for automatic voter registration through state motor vehicle authorities. 
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits states from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of individuals to cast ballots by mail in federal elections, except states may impose a deadline for returning a ballot.
 
Further, states must mail ballots to individuals registered to vote in a federal election not later than two weeks before the election.
 
In addition, the U.S. Postal Service must carry ballots for federal elections expeditiously and free of postage.
 
Finally, the bill provides for automatic voter registration of individuals through state motor vehicle authorities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act

Bill: 117-s-137
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Abortion
Foreign aid and international relief
International organizations and cooperation
Multilateral development programs
Public participation and lobbying
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Women's health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act

 
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for purposes outside the United States related to abortion.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits funding to certain foreign or domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish or develop items intended to procure abortions, or provide financial support for an entity that conducts such activities.
 
Current U.S. policy prohibits the provision of federal funds to a foreign nongovernmental organization unless it agrees to not perform or actively promote abortions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act

Bill: 117-s-138
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act

 
This bill exempts federal wildland firefighters in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture from certain premium pay limitations for work relating to wildfire emergencies.
 
The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2020.

action_date: 2022-06-09
text: 

Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act

 
This bill exempts federal wildland firefighters, fire management response officials, and accompanying incident meteorologists and management teams in the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the National Weather Service from certain premium pay limitations for work relating to wildfire emergencies.
 
The bill applies to premium pay for 2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-06-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 401.
action_date: 2022-06-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-119.
action_date: 2022-06-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-119.
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S201-202)
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Defund Planned Parenthood Act

Bill: 117-s-139
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Family planning and birth control
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax-exempt organizations
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 
 
Defund Planned Parenthood Act
 
This bill prohibits federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its affiliates.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
End Taxpayer Subsidies for Drug Ads Act

Bill: 117-s-141
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business expenses
Income tax deductions
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

End Taxpayer Subsidies for Drug Ads Act

 
This bill prohibits a tax deduction for expenses relating to direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. 
 

Direct-to-consumer advertising
 is any dissemination, by or on behalf of a sponsor of a prescription drug product, of an advertisement that is in regard to the drug product and primarily targeted to the general public. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

Bill: 117-s-142
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Abortion
Foreign aid and international relief
Health promotion and preventive care
International organizations and cooperation
Public participation and lobbying
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act

 
This bill establishes that a foreign nongovernmental organization shall not be disqualified from receiving certain U.S. international development assistance solely because the organization provides medical services using non-U.S. government funds if the medical services are legal in both the United States and the country in which they are being provided. Such foreign organizations shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy or lobbying activities, other than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations. 
 
Current U.S. policy prohibits various foreign assistance from going to a foreign nongovernmental organization unless it agrees to not perform or actively promote abortions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a memorial service in honor of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick for his courage and sacrifice at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-143
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Cemeteries and funerals
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional tributes
Crime victims
Crimes against property
Employee benefits and pensions
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government trust funds
Law enforcement officers
Members of Congress
Monuments and memorials
Protest and dissent
Subversive activities
Terrorism
Transportation costs
U.S. Capitol
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 
This bill authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda on February 3, 2021, for a memorial service honoring Officer Brian Sicknick of the U.S. Capitol Police.
 
The memorial service shall include Officer Sicknick's lying in honor in the rotunda, and the Architect of the Capitol shall place a plaque in honor of Officer Sicknick near the Capitol steps. The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate must make arrangements for funeral services in the Capitol for Officer Sicknick, including payments for travel expenses of immediate family members and the attendance of Members of Congress.
 
The bill also requires that any funds received by the Capitol Police Board in response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, be deposited into the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
USPS Fairness Act

Bill: 117-s-145
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2021-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: 

USPS Fairness Act

 
This bill repeals the requirement that the U.S. Postal Service annually prepay future retirement health benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate