hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-370
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Government information and archives
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Industrial facilities
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Livestock
Meat
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Small business
State and local government operations
Vocational and technical education
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2021

 
This bill revises provisions related to meat and poultry processing establishments, including smaller establishments (i.e., those with between 10 and 500 employees) and very small establishments (i.e., those with fewer than 10 employees or annual sales of less than $2.5 million).
 
For example, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish a searchable database of peer-reviewed validation studies for use in developing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plans for smaller and very small establishments.
 
The bill increases the maximum federal cost share from 50% to 65% that USDA may provide to assist states in creating meat and poultry inspection programs.
 
Additionally, USDA must conduct outreach with states that have meat and poultry inspection programs, but that do not have Cooperative Interstate Shipment programs. The Cooperative Interstate Shipment program allows state-inspected facilities to operate as federally-inspected facilities and ship their products in interstate commerce and internationally.
 
USDA must also award competitive grants for activities to adapt production, processing, distribution, and sales systems to respond to and recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including activities that support (1) the health and safety of meat and poultry plant employees, suppliers, and customers; (2) increased processing capacity; and (3) the resilience of the small meat and poultry processing sector.
 
Further, the bill establishes grant programs to (1) establish or expand career training programs at community colleges, vocational schools, and universities related to meat and poultry processing; and (2) support smaller and very small establishments by offsetting the cost of training new meat and poultry processors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act

Bill: 117-s-371
Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Arizona
Federal-Indian relations
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to take the approximately 55.3 acres of land of the Blackwater Trading Post in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, if the community conveys to Interior all of its interest in the land. The land is made part of the community's reservation. 
 
Further, the bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust. 

action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Blackwater Trading Post Land Transfer Act

 
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to take the approximately 55.3 acres of land of the Blackwater Trading Post in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, if the community conveys to Interior all of its interest in the land. The land is made part of the community's reservation. 
 
Further, the bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 22.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 117-6.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 117-6.
action_date: 2021-03-10
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Quality Care for Our Veterans Act

Bill: 117-s-372
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health personnel
Hospital care
Licensing and registrations
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Ensuring Quality Care for 

O

ur Veterans Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a nonfederal organization to conduct a quality management review of hospital care or medical services furnished by each Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provider whose license was terminated by a state licensing board based upon care or services provided in a non-VHA facility.
 
If a review determines that the standard of care was not met, the VA shall notify the individual who received such care or services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
BENEFIT Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-373
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health information and medical records
Product development and innovation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Better Empowerment Now to Enhance Framework and Improve Treatments Act of 2021 or the BENEFIT Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider relevant patient-focused drug development data, such as data from patient preference studies and patient-reported outcome data, in the risk-benefit assessment framework used in the process for approving new drugs.
 
After a new drug application has been approved, the FDA's public statement about how it used patient experience data shall include a description of how such data was considered in the risk-benefit assessment framework. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-374
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Business records
Congressional oversight
Corporate finance and management
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Minority employment
Racial and ethnic relations
Securities
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2021

 
This bill requires certain issuers of securities to disclose the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of their boards of directors and executive officers, as well as the status of any of those directors and officers as a veteran. It also requires the disclosure of any plan to promote racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among these groups.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission must establish a Diversity Advisory Group to report on strategies to increase gender, racial, and ethnic diversity among board members.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
PRRADA

Bill: 117-s-375
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Bankruptcy
Caribbean area
Debt collection
Finance and Financial Sector
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Lawyers and legal services
Legal fees and court costs
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2021 or PRRADA

 
This bill requires professionals employed in debt adjustment cases involving Puerto Rico to file verified statements disclosing their connections with the debtor, creditors, and other interested parties before seeking compensation for their services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe RIDE Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-376
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Government studies and investigations
Motor vehicles
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Safe Recall Information Distributed Equitably Act of 2021 or the
 
Safe RIDE Act of 2021

 
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study motor vehicle recalls and the reasons why vehicle owners do not have repairs performed for vehicles subject to such recalls. It also directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study how vehicle recall notices can (1) more effectively reach vehicle owners, (2) be made easier for consumers to understand, and (3) incentivize vehicle owners to complete the repairs described in such notices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Living Donor Protection Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-377
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability assistance
Employee leave
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Life, casualty, property insurance
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Living Donor Protection Act of 

2021

 
This bill prohibits certain insurance carriers from discriminating against, and provides other protections for, living organ donors.
 
Specifically, carriers may not deny, cancel, or otherwise impose conditions on policies for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance based on an individual's status as a living organ donor.
 
The bill also expressly specifies that recovery from organ-donation surgery constitutes a serious health condition that entitles eligible employees to job-protected medical leave.
 
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services must update educational materials on live organ donation to include information about the benefits of live organ donation and about access to insurance for living organ donors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Pennsylvania National Heritage Areas Reauthorization Act

Bill: 117-s-378
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Appropriations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Pennsylvania

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Pennsylvania National Heritage Areas Reauthorization Act
 

This bill reauthorizes in Pennsylvania through FY2036 
 
 
the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area,
 
the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area,
 
the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, 
 
the Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area, and 
 
the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
 
 
The bill eliminates the limitation on the total amount that may be appropriated for
 
 
the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area,
 
 the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area, 
 
 the Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area, and 
 
the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Health Savings Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-380
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bankruptcy
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Hospital care
Income tax deductions
Indian social and development programs
Inflation and prices
Medicaid
Medicare
Military medicine
Minority health
Nutrition and diet
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Prescription drugs
Religion
Sales and excise taxes
Sports and recreation facilities
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax treatment of families

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Health Savings Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies the requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs) to
 
 
rename high deductible health plans as HSA-qualified health plans; 
 
allow spouses who have both attained age 55 to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA; 
 
make Medicare Part A (hospital insurance benefits) beneficiaries eligible to participate in an HSA;
 
allow individuals eligible for hospital care or medical services under a program of the Indian Health Service or a tribal organization to participate in an HSA; 
 
allow members of a health care sharing ministry to participate in an HSA; 
 
allow individuals who receive primary care services in exchange for a fixed periodic fee or payment, or who receive health care benefits from an on-site medical clinic of an employer, to participate in an HSA; 
 
include amounts paid for prescription and over-the-counter medicines or drugs as 
qualified medical expenses
 for which distributions from an HSA or other tax-preferred savings accounts may be used; 
 
 increase the limits on HSA contributions to match the sum of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket expenses permitted under a high deductible health plan; and 
 
allow HSA distributions to be used to purchase health insurance coverage.
 
 
The bill also (1) exempts HSAs from creditor claims in bankruptcy, and (2) reauthorizes Medicaid health opportunity accounts. 
 
The bill allows a medical care tax deduction for (1) exercise equipment, physical fitness programs, and membership at a fitness facility; (2) nutritional and dietary supplements; and (3) periodic fees paid to a primary care physician and amounts paid for pre-paid primary care services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
PROKID Act

Bill: 117-s-382
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Adoption and foster care
Advisory bodies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Census and government statistics
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Domestic violence and child abuse
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Federal officials
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Intergovernmental relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Protection of Kids in Immigrant Detention Act or PROKID Act

 
This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsperson for Immigrant Children in Government Custody within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
 
The office shall ensure that if government detention of an immigrant child is necessary, that child is held in the least restrictive setting. The office shall also advocate for (1) the quick and safe release of such a detained child, and (2) a child who was detained with family to be released concurrently with a parent or legal guardian.
 
The office's duties shall include (1) monitoring facilities with immigrant children held in government custody to ensure compliance with applicable laws and standards, (2) investigating claims of mistreatment and complaints against foster care providers, (3) reviewing contested decisions about the placement of an immigrant child, and (4) reviewing data from HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) relating to such children. 
 
The office may also offer individual case assistance to such a detained child who requires expedited processing or elevated attention. The office may also issue subpoenas with HHS approval.
 
DHS and HHS must ensure that the office has the ability to conduct investigative and monitoring activities, including by providing unobstructed access to any detention facility with immigrant children. 
 
The office and DHS shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to coordinate oversight between DHS and HHS. 
 
The bill also establishes an expert advisory committee to assist the office and an interagency working group to identify and discuss concerns related to detained immigrant children.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
POST Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-383
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2021 or the POST Act of 2021

 
This bill requires a for-profit institution of higher education (IHE), in order to participate in federal student-aid programs, to derive at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds. Current law requires a for-profit IHE to derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds.
 
The bill also expands the definition of 
federal funds
 to include GI education benefits, with an exception for the monthly housing stipend provided under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S824)
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate
21st Century Entrepreneurship Act

Bill: 117-s-384
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-02-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Elementary and secondary education
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: 

21st Century Entrepreneurship Act

 
This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop a curriculum for volunteers with the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) to teach underrepresented students (e.g., minority students, English learners, and children with disabilities) about entrepreneurship.
 
The SBA shall develop and implement a strategy to encourage partnerships between the SCORE program and community learning centers to teach this curriculum and, in developing the curriculum, collaborate with education specialists and groups with experience serving underrepresented children.
 
The SBA must submit a biennial report on partnerships between the SCORE program and community learning centers, the use of funds by the program, the number of students reached through the entrepreneurship curriculum, and plans for improving the curriculum.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2021-02-23
text: Introduced in Senate