hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Korean War Divided Families Reunification Act

Bill: 117-s-2688
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 
 
Korean War
 
Divided Families Reunification Act
 
This bill directs the Department of State to periodically report to Congress on its consultations with South Korea on potential opportunities to reunite Korean Americans with family in North Korea. The State Department's Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues shall periodically report to Congress on its consultations with representatives of Korean Americans with family in North Korea on reunification efforts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6282)
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2689
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act of 2021

 
This bill allows states to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided to foster care children in qualified residential treatment programs (i.e., programs with trauma-informed treatment models that address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding Access to Affordable Credit for Small Businesses Act

Bill: 117-s-2690
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Expanding Access to Affordable Credit for Small Businesses Act

 
This bill establishes rules related to the authorization of lending institutions and other entities (including small business lending companies, non-federally regulated lenders, and non-depository lending institutions) to make loans under the 7(a) Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Under the 7(a) Program, the SBA provides business loans and loan guarantees to small business borrowers who cannot obtain credit elsewhere on reasonable terms and conditions.
 
Specifically, the SBA must ensure that these lending institutions and other entities (1) provide an independent audit that examines adherence to all applicable federal laws and regulations regarding anti-money laundering, counterterrorist financing, sanctions, and financial crimes; and (2) implement a compliance program that is designed to conform with relevant anti-money laundering laws and regulations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening the Vaccines for Children Program Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2691
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Immunology and vaccination
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
Medical research
Minority health
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Strengthening the Vaccines for Children Program Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies vaccination programs and coverage for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
 
Specifically, the bill expands and otherwise modifies the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free vaccinations to individuals 18 years of age or younger who are uninsured or underinsured (i.e., with limited or no insurance for vaccines), are eligible for Medicaid, or are American Indians or Alaskan Natives. The bill expands the program to include children enrolled in CHIP. The Government Accountability Office must report on the related effects of the bill's changes.
 
The bill also expands coverage under Medicaid to include vaccine counseling and educational services for children. It also temporarily increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for states that conduct culturally appropriate outreach regarding the benefits of vaccinations for children.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6282)
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2692
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies the limitation on reimbursement for emergency treatment of amounts a veteran owes to a third party or owes under a health plan contract. Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse copayments of $100 or more and excludes deductibles and coinsurance from the limitation.
 
This modification must apply with respect to any reimbursement claim for emergency treatment furnished on or after February 1, 2010, including claims submitted by a member of the certified class seeking relief in 
Wolfe v. McDonough
. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2694
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Nursing
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes reporting, staffing, and other quality control requirements for Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities.
 
For example, the bill requires facilities to have registered professional nurses available 24-7 and to provide infection control services overseen by infection preventionists at least 40 hours per week. It also establishes civil penalties for facilities that submit inaccurate reports relating to staffing data and prohibits facilities from entering into pre-dispute arbitration agreements.
 
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must conduct additional quality control and oversight, including (1) auditing facility cost reports; (2) reviewing the quality and effectiveness of compliance surveys; and (3) establishing on-site educational programming for facilities that fail to meet applicable standards. The CMS must also establish minimum staff-to-resident ratios for nursing staff, as it determines appropriate. 
 
The bill also establishes a demonstration program to evaluate the impact of certain changes to facility design, staffing, and care coordination on the health outcomes of residents in skilled nursing facilities. Among other requirements, selected facilities must serve between 5 and 14 residents, offer private rooms, and have resident and family councils.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Justice Safety Valve Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2695
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Justice Safety Valve Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes a court to impose a sentence below the mandatory minimum if it determines, after considering certain factors, that the mandatory minimum sentence is greater than necessary. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Vaccine Passport and Voter ID Harmonization Act

Bill: 117-s-2696
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health information and medical records
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Vaccine Passport and Voter ID Harmonization Act

 
This bill requires a state or jurisdiction that requires a vaccine passport or other documentation with respect to a COVID-19 vaccine to also require voter identification for federal elections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Due Process Continuity of Care Act

Bill: 117-s-2697
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Health care coverage and access
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
Performance measurement
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Due Process Continuity of Care Act

 
This bill allows an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending disposition of charges (i.e., pretrial detainees) to receive Medicaid benefits at the option of the state. The bill also provides funds for state planning grants to support the provision of such benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop CATASTROPHES Act

Bill: 117-s-2698
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Stop Causing Alarming Tree, Air, and Soil Trauma Resulting from Obstructive Progressives' and Hypocritical Environmentalists' Schemes Act or the Stop CATASTROPHES Act

 
This bill categorically excludes certain forest management activities from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. The activities are those that are carried out by the Department of Agriculture on National Forest System Lands or the Department of the Interior on public lands where the primary purpose is to improve or restore such lands or reduce the risk of wildfire on such lands.
 
To be excluded, the area of the forest management activity may not exceed 10,000 acres.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
American Cybersecurity Literacy Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2699
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

American Cybersecurity Literacy Act

 
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop and conduct a cybersecurity literacy campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of best practices to reduce cybersecurity risks.

action_date: 2021-12-17
text: 

American Cybersecurity Literacy Act

 
This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop and conduct a cybersecurity literacy campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of best practices to reduce cybersecurity risks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 221.
action_date: 2021-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
HERO Act

Bill: 117-s-2700
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act or the HERO Act

 
This bill establishes and authorizes behavioral health programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, 9-1-1 operators, and other public safety officers.
 
Specifically, the Fire Administration within the Federal Emergency Management Agency must develop resources for educating mental health care providers about treating firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.
 
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop best practices and resources for identifying, preventing, and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders in public safety officers. HHS must work with relevant federal departments to incorporate these resources into federal training programs for public safety officers.
 
The bill also authorizes HHS to set up a public safety officer suicide-reporting system and a grant program for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2701
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes the Office for Access to Justice within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to advise on matters relating to justice for low-income and other underrepresented people in the criminal and civil justice systems. Additionally, DOJ must establish a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to raise the awareness of executive branch agencies of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance federal objectives, including those related to employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, health services, and public safety.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2702
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses the voting rights of Native American and Alaska Native voters and voting access on tribal lands.
 
The bill includes provisions
 
 
expanding the types of facilities that can be used as voter registration agencies; 
 
increasing polling site accessibility, including by expanding early in-person voting and providing ballot drop boxes; 
 
providing enforcement power to citizens and attorneys general; 
 
requiring approval for actions like moving a polling place; 
 
validating certain tribal identification for voting or registering to vote; 
 
permitting voters to designate another individual to return a ballot on their behalf; and 
 
expanding requirements for bilingual voting accessibility. 
 
 
In addition, the bill establishes a Native American voting task force grant program for the purpose of increasing voter outreach, education, registration, turnout, and accessibility for Native American communities.
 
The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on (1) the prevalence of nontraditional or nonexistent mailing addresses among Indians, members of tribes, and individuals residing on Indian lands; and (2) the alternatives for removing barriers to voter registration, receipt of voter information and materials, and receipt of ballots.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Flood Insurance Continuing Education and Training Act

Bill: 117-s-2703
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Flood Insurance Continuing Education and Training Act

 
This bill requires insurance agents selling flood insurance policies to complete a continuing education course every two years. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Surcharge Relief Act

Bill: 117-s-2704
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Small Business Surcharge Relief Act

 
This bill partially exempts small businesses and nonprofit organizations from the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HFIAA) surcharge. The bill limits application of the HFIAA surcharge to two buildings on the same property, exempting additional buildings. The business or organization must certify that the savings will be used for flood mitigation on the property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2705
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Tribal Wildlife Corridors Act of 

2021

 
This bill authorizes tribal wildlife corridors.
 
Specifically, the bill permits an Indian tribe to nominate a corridor within the land of such tribe as a tribal wildlife corridor. The Department of the Interior must establish criteria for determining whether such a corridor qualifies as a tribal wildlife corridor, including criteria for restoring historical habitat. 
 
Interior must provide tribes with technical assistance to establish, manage, or expand a tribal wildlife corridor. Such assistance must include support with accessing wildlife data and working with voluntary private landowners to access programs for facilitating connectivity on nonfederal land.
 
Additionally, Interior must (1) establish a program to award grants to tribes to increase connectivity through tribal wildlife corridors, and (2) consult with tribes to determine whether a tribal wildlife corridor may be expanded into public lands or otherwise benefit connectivity between public lands and such corridor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
DIVERSE Trials Act

Bill: 117-s-2706
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical education
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Minority employment
Minority health
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Diversifying Investigations Via Equitable Research Studies for Everyone Trials Act or the DIVERSE Trials Act

 
This bill requires activities to increase diversity in clinical trials. It also expands reporting by laboratories that test for and diagnose COVID-19 and requires a study on data collection and data sharing during public health emergencies.
 
Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must issue guidance on decentralized clinical trials to promote meaningful demographic and geographic diversity in patient engagement, enrollment, and participation. Decentralized clinical trials include those executed through telemedicine or other digital technologies to allow for the remote collection and assessment of clinical trial data. The FDA may also work with foreign regulators to harmonize international regulations governing decentralized clinical trials and the use of digital health technology.
 
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may support community education, outreach, and recruitment activities for clinical trials of treatments for conditions that disproportionately impact populations underrepresented in clinical trials.
 
The bill also specifies that drug or device manufacturers may provide, subject to some limits, free digital health technologies and other remuneration to patients in approved clinical trials without violating laws that address fraud and abuse in federal programs.
 
Furthermore, laboratories that test for and diagnose COVID-19 must report additional demographic data, including information about social determinants of health. HHS must also contract with the National Academy of Medicine to study and propose a design for an interoperable platform to facilitate data sharing during public health emergencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate
Livestock Disaster Relief Act

Bill: 117-s-2707
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2021-08-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: 

Livestock Disaster Relief Act

 
This bill modifies the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP), with a particular focus on addressing the needs of agricultural producers during droughts. (The Department of Agriculture carries out these programs to assist agricultural producers affected by natural disasters.)
 
The changes include increasing the number of months a producer may receive LFP assistance and allowing transportation costs for feed and water as covered losses under ELAP.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-08-10
text: Introduced in Senate