hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
EMPLEO Act

Bill: 117-s-841
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Caribbean area
Employment taxes
Labor standards
Puerto Rico
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
U.S. territories and protectorates
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Economic Mobility for Productive Livelihoods and Expanding Opportunity Act of 2021 or the EMPLEO Act

 
This bill permits employers to participate in a wage subsidy program for eligible Puerto Rican employees. Eligible employees must be (1) U.S. citizens, (2) have Social Security numbers, and (3) certify their residency in Puerto Rico and intent to remain residents for at least the next six months.
 
 Employers who opt in must pay their eligible employees a minimum wage of $5. The Department of the Treasury then subsidizes those wages in an amount equal to 50% of the difference between $10 and the hourly wages the employees receive from their employers. For example, if a participating employer pays their eligible employees $5 hourly, the subsidy would equal $2.50 for an effective hourly wage of $7.50. Participating employers may elect advance payment of the aggregate subsidy amounts that exceed the employer's aggregate payroll taxes for the applicable period based on estimates the employer provides to Treasury.
 
The bill treats employers who make such wage subsidy payments to eligible Puerto Rico employees as having paid payroll taxes in an amount equal to such payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that the 2021 Recovery Rebates are not provided to illegal immigrants.

Bill: 117-s-842
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 
This bill prohibits aliens who are not lawfully present in the United States from receiving 2021 recovery rebates. It also modifies identification requirements for nonimmigrant workers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
CREATE Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-843
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality
Budget process
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Forests, forestry, trees
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise Act of 2021 or the CREATE Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes the Committee on Large-Scale Carbon Management within the National Science and Technology Council to plan and oversee efforts to (1) remove carbon dioxide from the air, ocean, and land; and (2) store such carbon.
 
The committee must develop a strategic plan for federal research, development, and demonstration of technological carbon dioxide removal and storage.
 
In addition, the committee must establish working groups to carry out a Carbon Removal Initiative that pursues such research, development, and demonstration across several federal agencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
PHIT Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-844
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax deductions
Physical fitness and lifestyle

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2021 or the PHIT Act of 2021

 
This bill allows a medical care tax deduction for up to $1,000 ($2,000 for a joint return or a head of household) of qualified sports and fitness expenses per year. The bill defines 
qualified sports and fitness expenses
 as amounts paid exclusively for participating in a physical activity, including (1) fitness facility memberships, (2) physical exercise or activity programs, or (3) equipment for a physical exercise or activity program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1647-1648)
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employee Access to Information Act

Bill: 117-s-845
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employment discrimination and employee rights
Freedom of information
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Federal Employee Access to Information Act

 
This bill prohibits personnel retaliation against federal employees and applicants for employment who file requests under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act or who seek related administrative or judicial actions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-846
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Law enforcement administration and funding
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2021 

 
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent disclosing information from applications to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), except to implement the program. Application information may be shared only to identify or prevent fraudulent claims, for particularized national security purposes relating to the applicant, or to investigate or prosecute a felony not related to immigration status.
 
The bill also prohibits DHS from referring any individual with deferred action status to ICE, CBP, the Department of Justice, or any law enforcement agency.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Loan Tax Elimination Act

Bill: 117-s-847
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Student aid and college costs
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Student Loan Tax Elimination Act

 
This bill eliminates the origination fee on federal student loans. Origination fees are the fees lenders charge for processing new loan applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Supply Chain Vulnerability Assessment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-849
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Economic performance and conditions
Government studies and investigations
Health technology, devices, supplies
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Supply Chain Vulnerability Assessment Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency to jointly report to Congress on vulnerabilities in supply chains that are critical to U.S. national security, economic security, or public health. The report shall also contain recommendations for addressing those vulnerabilities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Real Time Transparency Act

Bill: 117-s-850
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional elections
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Real Time Transparency Act

 
This bill revises the notification requirement for campaign contributions of $1,000 or more. Specifically, the bill applies this requirement to (1) any political committee, not just a candidate's principal campaign committee; and (2) cumulative contributions of $1,000 or more during a calendar year, instead of only single contributions that are received by a committee less than 20 days but more than 48 hours before the day of an election. Only the Federal Election Commission (FEC) must be notified within 48 hours of receiving these contributions, instead of the FEC and others. 
 
Any amount transferred by a joint fundraising committee established by a candidate's authorized committee to any other authorized committee of that candidate shall be treated as a contribution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Ellie’s Law

Bill: 117-s-852
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Ellie Helton, Lisa Colagrossi, Kristen Shafer Englert, Teresa Anne Lawrence, and Jennifer Sedney Focused Research Act or Ellie's Law

 
This bill authorizes appropriations for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to conduct or support research on unruptured brain aneurysms in a patient population diversified by age, sex, and race.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
WIC Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-853
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Food assistance and relief
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Wise Investment in Children Act of 2021 or the
 
WIC Act of 20

21

 
This bill expands eligibility for children to receive benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
 
The bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to grant a waiver to a state, on request, that waives certification deadline requirements under the program if such state demonstrates there are unusual technological barriers to implementation, operational costs are not affordable within the nutrition services and administration grant of the state, or it is in the best interest of the program.
 
If a waiver is granted, the bill 
 
 
 extends eligibility for the program until the period that ends on the earlier of the sixth birthday of a child or when the child enters kindergarten;
 
extends the certification period under the program for infants to up to two years, instead of the current one year; and 
 
increases the certification time under the program for postpartum women to a period of up to two years. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Rights Protection Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-855
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Water Rights Protection Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture from
 
 
conditioning the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement (permit) on the transfer of any water right to the United States or on any impairment of title granted or otherwise recognized under state law by federal or state action;
 
requiring any water user (including a federally recognized Indian tribe) to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition of the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of such a permit; or 
 
conditioning or withholding the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of such a permit on limiting the date, time, quantity, location of diversion or pumping, or place of use of a state water right beyond any limitations under state water law, or on the modification of the terms and conditions of groundwater withdrawal, guidance and reporting procedures, or conservation and source protection measures established by a state. 
 
 
In developing any rule or similar federal action relating to the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, such departments (1) shall recognize the longstanding water use authority of the states and coordinate with the states to ensure that any federal action is consistent with applicable state water law, and (2) shall not adversely affect the authority of a state in permitting the beneficial use of water or adjudicating water rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Senior Security Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-856
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Aging
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Financial literacy
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

National Senior Investor Initiative Act of 2021 or the Senior Security Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes the Senior Investor Taskforce within the Securities and Exchange Commission. The taskforce must report on topics relating to investors over the age of 65, including industry trends and serious issues impacting such investors, and make recommendations for legislative or regulatory actions to address problems encountered by senior investors. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on the financial exploitation of senior citizens. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
PLUM Act

Bill: 117-s-857
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Books and print media
Congressional agencies
Congressional oversight
Digital media
Federal officials
Government Operations and Politics
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Personnel records
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Periodically Listing Updates to Management Act or the PLUM Act 

 
This bill replaces the congressional publication entitled 
United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions
, commonly known as the 
PLUM Book
, with an online public directory.
 
The PLUM Book contains personnel information for federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment, including heads of agencies and policy executives. The book is used to identify presidentially appointed positions and is published every four years (after each presidential election) by certain congressional committees.
 
The bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to publish the information contained in the PLUM Book on a public website in a format that is easily searchable and that otherwise meets certain data standards. Agencies must upload updated information to the website on a monthly basis; OPM must verify the accuracy of the information twice a year in coordination with the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. 
 
The bill terminates publication of the PLUM Book in its current form on January 1, 2024.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Visa Overstays Act

Bill: 117-s-858
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Preventing Visa Overstays Act

 
This bill provides for criminal penalties for an alien who stays in the United States after the expiration of the alien's visa. Such an alien shall be criminally fined, imprisoned for up to one year, or both.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Visa Lottery Repeal Act

Bill: 117-s-859
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Visa Lottery Repeal Act

 
This bill eliminates the diversity immigrant visa program, which makes available a limited number of visas for aliens from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-860
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Hong Kong
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
News media and reporting
Protest and dissent
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021 

 
This bill authorizes and establishes programs to promote internet freedom in Hong Kong and contains other related provisions. 
 
The Department of State may establish an interagency working group to develop a strategy to bolster internet resiliency and access in Hong Kong. The State Department shall also establish within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor a Hong Kong internet freedom program. (The bureau has existing programs to promote internet freedom globally through technology development, digital safety, policy advocacy, and research.)
 
The Open Technology Fund may establish a Hong Kong internet freedom program. (The fund, an independent nonprofit organization that receives U.S. government funding, was originally a part of Radio Free Asia.) 
 
The bureau and the fund may award grants to qualifying private organizations to promote technology and tools in Hong Kong that promote online information access, enhance digital security, and circumvent internet blocking and other online censorship.
 
The State Department shall report to Congress a classified strategy to (1) increase the availability of firewall circumvention technology in Hong Kong; and (2) support the preservation of an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet in Hong Kong.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-861
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-03-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Environmental health
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Medical research
State and local government operations
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: 

Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act of 2021

 
This bill requires interagency coordination to respond to zoonotic diseases through a One Health Program. A One Health Program recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
 
Specifically, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Agriculture must develop a framework to coordinate federal activities to reduce hazards to human and animal health under the One Health Program. These departments must work with other federal entities on the framework, including the Department of Commerce.
 
This framework must establish goals, identify activities necessary to achieve those goals, and recommend legislation or other actions to advance One Health efforts.
 
Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must evaluate this framework and its implementation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-18
text: Introduced in Senate