hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3545
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2022 
 
This bill modifies the appointment procedures and term of service for the Director of the Bureau of Prisons. 
Currently, the director is appointed by the Attorney General. This bill requires the director to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
 
The bill also limits the director to a single term of 10 years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S445)
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
SNOOP Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3546
Sponsor: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments Act of 2022 or the SNOOP Act of 2022

 
This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A 
third party settlement organization
 is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network.
 
This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
African American History Act

Bill: 117-s-3547
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Internet, web applications, social media
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Preschool education
Racial and ethnic relations
Smithsonian Institution
Teaching, teachers, curricula
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

African American History Act

 
This bill authorizes the National Museum of African American History and Culture to carry out educational programs and related activities.
 
Such activities include 
 
 
developing and making available accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to promote the understanding of African American history; and
 
expanding the collection acquisition and collection access processes, including conservation and digitization.
 
 
The museum may also develop and maintain on its website content designated for educators, students, and families to improve their awareness and understanding of African American history.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Hearing Benefits Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3548
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability assistance
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Veterans Hearing Benefits Act of 2022

 
This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for hearing-related issues in certain veterans for purposes of wartime disability compensation. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
 
Per the bill, certain veterans with diagnosed hearing loss, tinnitus, or both shall be presumed to have incurred or aggravated such conditions during active military, naval, or air service.
 
This bill applies to veterans who (1) served in combat, or (2) were assigned to a military occupational specialty that likely exposed them to a sufficiently high level of acoustic trauma.
 
The bill also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to adjust the schedule of rating disabilities to establish a minimum disability rating for a veteran who requires a hearing aid because of a service-connected disability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-13
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Agricultural Right to Repair Act

Bill: 117-s-3549
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Agricultural Right to Repair Act

 
This bill requires original manufacturers of electronics-enabled agricultural equipment to provide (on fair and reasonable terms) owners or independent repair shops with the documentation, parts, software, and tools needed to diagnose, maintain, or repair such equipment.
 
If an original manufacturer stops providing required items, any related copyrights or patents held by that manufacturer shall be placed in the public domain. Furthermore, the bill allows individuals, in specified circumstances, to circumvent copyright protections to facilitate diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of electronics-enabled agricultural equipment.
 
The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Ethics Reform Act

Bill: 117-s-3550
Sponsor: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Ethics Reform Act

 
This bill establishes a number of ethics requirements for members of Congress and the President and Vice President. 
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
prohibits members of Congress from buying or selling individual securities other than widely held investment funds; 
 
prohibits former members of Congress from engaging in certain compensated lobbying activities; 
 
requires the Internal Revenue Service to disclose tax return information of candidates for President and Vice President; and
 
prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet, and their immediate family members from raising funds from certain foreign entities.
 
 
The bill also prohibits contributions or donations by foreign nationals in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act

Bill: 117-s-3551
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Community life and organization
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Public-private cooperation
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to carry out a pilot program to make available to the public, either directly or through partner organizations, data on visits to recreation destinations at 
 
 
a federal land management unit; and
 
recreation sites managed by any other federal agency, a state agency, or a local agency located near the federal land management unit. 
 
 
In carrying out the program, Interior and the Forest Service must partner with gateway communities, state and local outdoor recreation and tourism agencies, local and tribal governments, data and technology companies, and other relevant stakeholders. The term
 gateway community
 means a community that serves as an entry point or is adjacent to a recreation destination (including a recreation destination on federal land) at which there is consistently high seasonal or year-round visitation.
 
Also, under the pilot program, Interior and the Forest Service shall make available to the public information about lesser-known recreation sites (including recreation sites managed by any other federal agency, a state agency, or a local agency) located near a federal land management unit, in an effort to spread widely visitation among recreational sites. 
 
 Interior and the Forest Service shall collaborate with state and local governments, tribal governments, housing authorities, applicable trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, to, among other things, improve the understanding of the economic impacts of visits to recreation destinations on gateway communities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3552
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2022-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: 

Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022

 
This bill addresses funding for areas of persistent poverty.
 
Specifically, the bill requires
 
 
the Bureau of the Census to publish a list of all areas of persistent poverty and annually update the list; 
 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop and implement guidance and measures to increase the share of federal investments targeted to areas of persistent poverty and other areas with high and persistent poverty, and to report annually to Congress; and
 
the Government Accountability Office to report on the measures implemented by the OMB under this bill, including an assessment regarding the impact of the measures on increasing federal funds spent in the affected areas.
 

action_date: 2022-09-13
text: 

Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022

 
This bill addresses funding for areas of persistent poverty.
 
Specifically, the bill requires
 
 
the Bureau of the Census to publish a list of all areas of persistent poverty and annually update the list; 
 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop and implement guidance and measures to increase the share of federal investments targeted to areas of persistent poverty and to report annually to Congress; 
 
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the measures implemented by the OMB under this bill, including an assessment regarding the impact of increasing federal investments spent in areas of persistent poverty; and
 
GAO to submit at least two subsequent reports within 10 years of this bill's enactment.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 487.
action_date: 2022-09-13
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. 117-148.
action_date: 2022-09-13
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. 117-148.
action_date: 2022-05-25
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Agility in Manufacturing Preparedness Act

Bill: 117-s-3553
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Manufacturing
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research administration and funding
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Agility in Manufacturing Preparedness Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to seek to contract with the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals to assess and make recommendations concerning U.S. capabilities for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and related matters. HHS must coordinate with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority on this contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Kids in Classes Act

Bill: 117-s-3554
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Labor-management relations
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Kids in Classes Act

 
This bill prohibits a state educational agency from receiving specified federal education funds unless funds are provided directly to a parent or guardian of an eligible child for certain qualified educational expenses (e.g., educational materials, tutoring, or private school tuition). 
Eligible child 
refers to a child who attends a public elementary or secondary school and such school (1) receives specified federal education funds; and (2) does not provide, for more than three days during a school year and for reasons related to a public health emergency or collective bargaining action, in-person instruction for all students who wish to attend.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
OSHA ETS Clarification Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3555
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

OSHA ETS Clarification Act of 2022

 
This bill limits the scope of the Department of Labor's authority to issue emergency temporary standards concerning safety and health to dangers or hazards specific to the workplace.
 
Currently, Labor may issue an emergency standard upon determining that (1) employees are exposed to a new danger or hazard, and (2) the emergency standard is necessary to protect employees.
 
Under this bill, Labor must also determine that the danger or hazard arises exclusively from or is specific to the workplace covered by the emergency standard.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
LICENSE Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3556
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Employment and training programs
Licensing and registrations
Motor carriers

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently Act of 2022 or the LICENSE Act of 2022

 
This bill provides statutory authority for waivers of training, testing, and other requirements for commercial driver's licenses that were issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
SURS Extension Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3557
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Small Practice, Underserved, and Rural Support Program Extension Act of 2022 or the SURS Extension Act

 
This bill reauthorizes funds through FY2027 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to contract with specified entities (e.g., quality improvement organizations) to provide technical assistance regarding the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment models under Medicare, specifically for health professionals in practices with 15 or fewer professionals. (MIPS is an incentive program under Medicare that allows health professionals to receive payment adjustments based on certain performance measures.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Values in Arms Export Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3558
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Values in Arms Export Act of 2022

 
This bill restricts transferring defense articles and services to countries that violate human rights, imposes such restrictions on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and addresses related issues.
 
The bill establishes the Human Rights and Law of War Oversight Board. The board's duties shall include (1) reviewing countries that receive U.S. defense articles for strict adherence to human rights and the law of armed conflict principles, and (2) ensuring that such principles are appropriately considered in arms transfers.
 
The President, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the board, or Congress may designate a country (except for certain exempted countries such as NATO member countries) as a country of concern. Such a designation shall last for three years, during which the country shall be barred from receiving the defense articles that led to the designation. 
 
The bill also imposes additional restrictions on a designated country that fails to improve its adherence to human rights principles. The Department of the Treasury must impose sanctions on the appropriate government officials of a country subject to such additional restrictions. 
 
The bill designates Saudi Arabia and the UAE as countries of concern. 
 
Before certain defense articles transfers, the President must provide Congress an assessment of the risk of the defense articles being used to violate human rights. 
 
The bill also requires various government agencies to monitor and report information concerning human rights violations involving U.S. defense articles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair College Admissions for Students Act

Bill: 117-s-3559
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Fair College Admissions for Students Act

 
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student-aid programs from giving preferential treatment in the admissions process to applicants based on their relationships to donors or alumni of the IHE. The Department of Education may waive the prohibition against preferential treatment based on relationships to alumni for certain IHEs (e.g., historically Black colleges and universities or other minority-serving institutions) that demonstrate that the use of such preferential treatment is in the best interest of students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
PLACE Act

Bill: 117-s-3560
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Promoting Local Arts and Creative Economy Workforce Act of 2022 or the PLACE Act

 
This bill establishes or modifies various programs that support opportunities for education or job training in a creative industry or occupation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3561
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Housing Temperature Safety Act of 2022

 
This bill requires owners of certain federally assisted rental dwelling units to install temperature sensors in those units within a year after the bill is enacted. The bill also requires those owners to record the temperature in those units at least six times each day and to report that information to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Minority Depository Institution and Community Bank Deposit Access Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3562
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Minority Depository Institution and Community Bank Deposit Access Act of 2022

 
This bill specifies that certain custodial deposits at eligible institutions shall not be considered to be brokered deposits, which are subject to additional regulatory requirements, including those related to liquidity. The bill generally defines a
 custodial deposit
 as a deposit made by a certain entity serving as an agent, trustee, or custodian at an insured depository institution for the purpose of providing deposit insurance for the benefit of a third party. Among other requirements, the bill provides that an eligible institution includes small depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and minority depository institutions.
 
 Additionally, the bill specifies that only low-income credit unions and minority depository institutions that are federally insured credit unions are eligible for certain community development revolving loans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Countering CCP Drones Act

Bill: 117-s-3563
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2022-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Asia
China
Computers and information technology
Foreign and international corporations
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Subversive activities

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: 

Countering CCP Drones Act

 
This bill requires the inclusion of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (a Chinese drone maker commonly known as DJI Technologies) on a list of communications equipment or services determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. Current law prohibits the use of federal funding available through specified FCC programs for purchasing or maintaining listed equipment or services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2022-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate