hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to establish the Federal Rainy Day Fund to control emergency spending.

Bill: 117-s-3008
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-10-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Disaster relief and insurance
Executive agency funding and structure
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Legislative rules and procedure
Senate

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: 
This bill establishes a Federal Rainy Day Fund to fund emergency spending. Under the bill, an 
emergency 
 is any occasion or instance for which federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property, public health, and safety; or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.
 
The bill authorizes annual appropriations to the fund that are equal to 2% of the amount of the previous year's nonemergency discretionary spending. 
 
In addition, the bill modifies or establishes various budget enforcement procedures to address spending from the fund. For example, the bill 
 
 
establishes a point of order to prohibit the fund from being used for nonemergency spending,
 
establishes a point of order against provisions that provide emergency spending from the general fund of the Treasury when unobligated funds are available in the rainy day fund, and 
 
repeals a provision that currently requires adjustments to discretionary spending limits to accommodate emergency spending. 
 
 
Finally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the relationship between emergency, disaster, and wildfire spending, including any recommendations to modify the spending that qualifies as emergency spending. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 149.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Let States Cut Taxes Act

Bill: 117-s-3009
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-10-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local finance
State and local government operations
State and local taxation
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: 

Let States Cut Taxes Act

 
This bill removes a prohibition on states and territories using COVID-19 relief funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to offset a reduction in revenue resulting from a reduction in taxes or a delay in the imposition of a tax or tax increase.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 150.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Maximizing America’s Prosperity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3010
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-10-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Economic performance and conditions
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: 

Maximizing America's Prosperity Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes annual spending limits that are equal to specified percentages of potential gross domestic product (GDP). Potential GDP generally refers to the GDP that would occur if the economy were at full employment without inflation. The spending limits apply to all budget authority and outlays of the federal government excluding net interest.
 
The bill establishes procedures for enforcing the spending limits, including requirements for sequestration (i.e., automatic spending cuts) and for the President's budget and congressional budget resolutions to comply with the limits. 
 
The bill also requires at least 1% of total discretionary spending for each year to be reserved for emergencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 151.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act

Bill: 117-s-3012
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-10-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International Affairs
Medical research
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: 

Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act

 
 This bill prohibits the award of federal research grants to institutions of higher education or research institutes that conduct gain-of-function research. 
Gain-of-function research 
refers to any research that (1) may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in an organism; or (2) involves the enhancement of potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous pathogens.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Save Our Ser­vice­mem­bers Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3013
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Save Our Servicemembers Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness within the Department of Defense (DOD) to evaluate and standardize DOD's suicide prevention efforts.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Defense Suicide Prevention Office to collaborate with each military department to (1) develop and implement a process to ensure that individual nonclinical suicide prevention efforts are assessed for effectiveness, and (2) develop consistent suicide-related definitions for use throughout DOD. The bill also requires the use of such suicide-related definitions in any updated policies of DOD or each military department.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
National Science, Innovation, and Technology Strategy Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3015
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

National Science, Innovation, and Technology Strategy Act of 2021

 

 
This bill requires a national science and technology strategy and a technology review. 
 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) shall submit to Congress a comprehensive national science and technology strategy of the United States to meet national research and development objectives for the following four-year period.
 
No later than one year after the enactment of this bill and every four years afterwards, the OSTP shall complete an interagency review of the science and technology enterprise of the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Military FATIGUES Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3016
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Inflation and prices
Military personnel and dependents
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Military Forces Assuring that Treatment of Items by Gender are Uniform and Equal across the Services Act of 2021 or the Military FATIGUES Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness within the Department of Defense to establish consistent criteria for determining which uniform or clothing items across the military departments are considered uniquely military for purposes of calculating the standard cash clothing replacement allowance for members of the armed forces.
 
The office must review the established criteria every five years and recommend adjustments to enlisted clothing allowances if they are insufficient to pay for uniquely military items.
 
Additionally, the office must periodically review
 
 
uniform clothing plans of the military departments to identify data and requirements necessary to facilitate cost discussions and recommend adjustments,
 
items in the military departments' calculations of the enlisted standard cash clothing replacement allowances to develop a standard by which to identify significant cost differences that need addressing,
 
plans of the military departments for changing uniform items to determine if the changes will result in significant out-of-pocket cost differences among the departments or among genders, and
 
initial officer clothing allowances to identify requirements needed to facilitate cost discussions and adjustment recommendations.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act

Bill: 117-s-3017
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act

 
This bill modifies and expands the provision of dental care by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including by expanding care to include all veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, implementing a program of education to promote dental health, and implementing a student loan reimbursement program for qualified dentists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons who agree to accept positions within the VA's dental workforce.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3018
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health care coverage and access
Medicare
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 

2021

 
This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. 

Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code for particular communities.

Bill: 117-s-3019
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service, by 270 days after its enactment, to designate a single, unique ZIP code for each of
 
 
Ocoee, Florida;
 
Miami Lakes, Florida; 
 
 Oakland, Florida; and
 
 Estero, Florida. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans State Eligibility Standardization Act

Bill: 117-s-3020
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Veterans State Eligibility Standardization Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make modifications related to areas of residence and variable income thresholds for purposes of determining whether veterans qualify for treatment as low-income families for enrollment in the VA health care system.
 
The bill also requires the VA to ensure that all veterans who enroll in the VA health care system remain eligible to continue receiving health care furnished by the VA, subject to cost-sharing requirements that apply under current law. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
COMFORT Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3021
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Health personnel
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Comforting Our Military Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act of 2021 or the COMFORT Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy within the Department of Defense (DOD) to coordinate programs and activities for the provision of nonmedical counseling services to military families through the DOD Military and Family Life Counseling Program. Under the bill, 
nonmedical counseling services
 means mental health care services that are nonclinical, short-term, and solution-focused to address topics related to personal growth, development, and positive functioning.
 
The bill authorizes mental health professionals to provide non-medical counseling services regardless of where the provider or recipient is located so long as the provision of service is within the scope of the authorized duties of the provider. For purposes of the bill, 
mental health professionals
 include licensed or certified mental health professionals or members of the uniformed services, civilian DOD employees, or DOD contractors.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Wall Street Looting Act

Bill: 117-s-3022
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bankruptcy
Capital gains tax
Civil actions and liability
Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Marketing and advertising
Real estate business
Securities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Self-employed
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Stop Wall Street Looting Act

 
This bill generally revises provisions related to the regulation of private equity funds. Among other things, the bill 
 
 
increases financial and legal liability for these funds in the event of certain violations of law, 
 
gives employee compensation higher priority in bankruptcies, and 
 
generally prohibits the payment of dividends for two years from an acquired asset firm to a private equity fund. 
 
 
 The bill modifies the tax treatment of carried interest&#8212;compensation that is typically received by a partner of a private equity fund and is based on a share of the fund's profits. (Under current law, carried interest is taxed as investment income rather than at ordinary income tax rates.) Among other things, the bill treats as ordinary income the net capital gain with respect to a private equity fund. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-08
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-3023
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations
Arms control and nonproliferation
Army Corps of Engineers
Aviation and airports
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Chemical and biological weapons
Congressional oversight
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health facilities and institutions
Illinois
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Iraq
Middle East
Military education and training
Military facilities and property
Military medicine
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Military procurement, research, weapons development
National Guard and reserves
Nuclear weapons
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Solid waste and recycling
Syria
Terrorism
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 
This bill provides FY2022 appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD). It also provides additional FY2022 appropriations for the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
 
Within the DOD budget, the bill provides appropriations for
 
 
Military Personnel; 
 
Operation and Maintenance; 
 
 Procurement; 
 
 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation; and 
 
 Revolving and Management Funds. 
 
 
The bill provides appropriations for Other Department of Defense Programs, including 
 
 
 the Defense Health Program, 
 
Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction, 
 
 Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, and 
 
 the Office of the Inspector General. 
 
 
The bill provides appropriations for Related Agencies, including (1) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund, and (2) the Intelligence Community Management Account. 
 
The bill also provides additional FY2022 appropriations for
 
 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
 
the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board,
 
Military Construction, 
 
Family Housing Construction for the Army, and
 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
 
 
Within the Department of Energy, the bill provides additional FY2022 appropriations for (1) the National Nuclear Security Administration, and (2) Environmental and Other Defense Activities. 
 
The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations acts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
State Justice Improvement Act

Bill: 117-s-3024
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

State Justice Improvement Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 the State Justice Institute, a nonprofit corporation established by federal law, and authorizes the institute to award grants for the development and implementation of best policies and practices for the constitutional and equitable enforcement of fines and fees.
 
 Specifically, the institute may award these grants to state and local courts, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other specified entities. The policies and practices must incorporate guidance that courts should, among other things, consider alternatives to incarceration for defendants who are unable to pay fines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Campus Free Speech Restoration Act

Bill: 117-s-3026
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: 

Campus Free Speech Restoration Act

 
This bill addresses expressive activities (e.g., peacefully assembling, distributing literature, or carrying signs) on college campuses.
 
First, the bill generally prohibits a public institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student-aid programs from restricting noncommercial expressive activities in a generally accessible outdoor area on campus.
 
Further, the bill prohibits a public IHE from receiving federal funds if the Department of Education determines that the public IHE (1) maintains a policy that infringes upon the expressive rights of students; or (2) maintains or enforces time, place, or manner restrictions on expressive activities in a generally accessible outdoor area on campus, except in limited circumstances. 
 
In addition, the bill prohibits retaliation against an individual because the individual reported or complained about restrictions on expressive activities or participated in an investigation or hearing. 
 
The bill also requires a private IHE that receives federal funds to provide students with its policies related to expressive rights.
 
The bill also establishes a framework for investigating complaints and for IHEs to regain eligibility for federal funds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 66 Meserole Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, as the "Joseph R. Lentol Post Office".

Bill: 117-s-3027
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-10-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 66 Meserole Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, as the "Joseph R. Lentol Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-20
text: Introduced in Senate