hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Visa Security Act

Bill: 117-s-417
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Hong Kong
Human rights
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Pacific Ocean
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Taiwan
Tibet
Trade secrets and economic espionage
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Visa Security Act

 
This bill limits the validity period of B-1 (business visitor) and B-2 (tourist) visas issued to Chinese nationals until the Department of State makes certain certifications to Congress regarding the Chinese government.
 
Specifically, the State Department may not issue such a visa with a validity period of more than one year unless it certifies to Congress that the Chinese government has taken certain actions, including (1) stopping its campaign of economic and industrial espionage against the United States; (2) ending its provocative and coercive behavior towards Taiwan; (3) withdrawing its national security law in Hong Kong and upholding its obligations to respect Hong Kong's autonomy; and (4) ending its systematic oppression of minority ethnic groups in China, including the Uyghurs and Tibetans. (Currently, such visas may be valid for up to 10 years.)
 
These restrictions shall not apply to visa applicants from Taiwan or certain applicants from Hong Kong, generally those Hong Kong residents that the State Department has no reason to believe are acting on behalf of the Chinese government. 
 
(Taiwan is self-governing but the Chinese government considers it a part of China, while Hong Kong is a part of China but is supposed to have a largely separate legal and economic system.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
E-Verify Act

Bill: 117-s-418
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Foreign labor
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

E-Verify Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop an electronic employment eligibility verification system modeled after and to replace E-Verify, which allows employers and recruiters to verify the immigration status of new hires and employees. The bill also requires all employers to use this new system and addresses other related issues. Currently, only some employers, such as federal contractors, are required to use E-Verify.
 
The bill phases in the mandatory use of the system with different deadlines for various types of employers to start using the system. Generally, all employers must use the system within four years of the system's implementation. An employer who takes an employment-related action based on good faith reliance on the system shall not be liable in a civil or criminal case based on that action.
 
DHS shall (1) develop various tools, including a photo checking tool for employers and a tool for an individuals to verify their own status; (2) establish procedures to allow individuals to stop the system from using identifying information belonging to that individual or that individual's child; (3) establish procedures to allow individuals to file complaints about violations relating to the employment of unauthorized aliens; and (4) provide grants to states that allow DHS to access driver's license information to use with the system. 
 
The bill also increases civil and criminal penalties related to employing unauthorized aliens. Employers convicted of hiring unauthorized aliens may be debarred from receiving federal contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
CONTRACT Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-419
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Department of Transportation
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2021 or the CONTRACT Act of 

2021

 
This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity.
 
Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the Social Security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period.
 
The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement. 

action_date: 2022-12-15
text: 

Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2021 or the CONTRACT Act of 

2021

 
This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity.
 
Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the Social Security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period.
 
The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 651.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 117-260.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 117-260.
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-420
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Judicial review and appeals
Labor-management relations
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Wages and earnings
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 20

21

 
This bill expands various labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace.
 
Among other things, it revises the definitions of 
employee
, 
supervisor
, and
 employer
 to broaden the scope of individuals covered by the fair labor standards; permits labor organizations to encourage participation of union members in strikes initiated by employees represented by a different labor organization (i.e., secondary strikes); and prohibits employers from bringing claims against unions that conduct such secondary strikes.
 
The bill also allows collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the bargaining unit to contribute fees to the labor organization for the cost of such representation, notwithstanding a state law to the contrary; and expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of, or discrimination against, workers who participate in strikes.
 
The bill makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership and prohibits employers from entering into agreements with employees under which employees waive the right to pursue or a join collective or class-action litigation.
 
Finally, the bill addresses the procedures for union representation elections, modifies the protections against unfair labor practices that result in serious economic harm, and establishes penalties and permits injunctive relief against entities that fail to comply with National Labor Relations Board orders. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-06-22
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2022-03-16
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-421
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Minority health
Oregon
Washington State
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2021

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2024, and expands, the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to connect, expand, or repair existing public water systems that are on Indian reservations or off-reservation sites that serve tribes in the Columbia River Basin or its adjacent coastal river basins. Currently, only projects that are on Indian reservations in the Upper Missouri River Basin or the Upper Rio Grande Basin are eligible for the program.

action_date: 2021-04-28
text: 

Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2021

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2024, and expands, the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to connect, expand, or repair existing public water systems that are on Indian reservations or off-reservation sites that serve tribes in the Columbia River Basin or its adjacent coastal river basins. Currently, only projects that are on Indian reservations in the Upper Missouri River Basin or the Upper Rio Grande Basin are eligible for the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 51.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 117-17.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 117-17.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Senate Shared Employee Act

Bill: 117-s-422
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Congressional committees
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Members of Congress
Senate
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Senate Shared Employee Act

 
This bill authorizes Senators and Senate committees, leadership offices, and other offices to share employees, and it establishes certain rules to govern this procedure.

action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Senate Shared Employee Act

 
This bill authorizes Senators and Senate committees, leadership offices, and other offices to share employees, and it establishes certain rules to govern this procedure.

action_date: 2021-04-16
text: 

Senate Shared Employee Act

 
This bill authorizes Senators and Senate committees, leadership offices, and other offices to share employees, and it establishes certain rules to govern this procedure.

action_date: 2021-04-23
text: 

Senate Shared Employee Act

 
This bill authorizes Senators and Senate committees, leadership offices, and other offices to share employees, and it establishes certain rules to govern this procedure.
 
These rules include (1) requiring the office that authorizes any travel for official business to pay for the cost of the travel, and (2) setting the basic rate of pay for an individual serving in more than one of certain qualifying positions to be the total basic pay received by the individual from all such positions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-23
text: Became Public Law No: 117-10.
action_date: 2021-04-23
text: Became Public Law No: 117-10.
action_date: 2021-04-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-04-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H1873-1874)
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H1873-1874)
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Ms. Scanlon asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
action_date: 2021-04-16
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H1873-1874)
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S868-869; text: CR S868-869)
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S868-869; text: CR S868-869)
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 117-10
Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act

Bill: 117-s-423
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Air quality
Atmospheric science and weather
Child health
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental education
Environmental health
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Infrastructure development
Lighting, heating, cooling
Medical education
Minority health
Natural disasters
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Racial and ethnic relations
Research administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act

 
This bill establishes grants and directs other activities to address health risks associated with climate change, particularly for members of racial and ethnic minority groups, pregnant or postpartum individuals, and children younger than age three.
 
Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program to award grants to partnerships of community-based organizations and other entities to identify and address climate-change-related risks to these individuals at a county level.
 
HHS must also establish a program to award grants to health professional schools and training programs to integrate training on identifying risks associated with climate change for patients, with a focus on those intending to become pregnant, in curricula and continuing education programs.
 
In addition, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) must establish the Consortium on Birth and Climate Change Research. The consortium must coordinate research on climate-change-related risks conducted and supported by various NIH institutes and offices.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must also develop a strategy to identify areas where there is a high risk of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes due to climate change.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
International Human Rights Defense Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-424
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
HIV/AIDS
Hate crimes
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Military education and training
Public contracts and procurement
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Violent crime
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes in the Department of State a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex) Peoples who shall serve as the principal State Department advisor regarding human rights for LGBTQI people and represent the United States in diplomatic matters relevant to the human rights of LGBTQI people.
 
The special envoy shall periodically provide Congress with a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI people. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development may provide assistance to prevent and respond to such activities against LGBTQI people. 
 
The bill also requires that annual country reports on human rights practices include information on criminalization, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Complete Streets Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-425
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Access Board
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Air quality
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Pedestrians and bicycling
Performance measurement
Public transit
Regional and metropolitan planning
Roads and highways
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Complete Streets Act of 2021

 
This bill directs each state to establish a competitive program to provide technical assistance and grants for the design and construction of complete streets to make transit routes safer and more accessible.
 
Specifically, the bill directs
 
 
the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish benchmarks and guidance by which states can implement complete streets programs and eligible entities can carry out complete streets policies and principles;
 
eligible entities seeking technical assistance or funds for a complete streets program to adopt policies using complete streets principles that are approved by the state or metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) with jurisdiction over such entites;
 
states and MPOs to certify that their complete street policies meet the minimum requirements set out by DOT;
 
states to set aside 5% of their federal highway money to implement a complete streets program; and
 
states and MPOs to adopt design standards for federal surface transportation projects that provide for the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the surface transportation network, including motorized and non-motorized users, in all phases of project planning, development, and operation.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Inspector General Access Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-426
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Lawyers and legal services

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Inspector General Access Act of 2021

 
This bill transfers responsibility for investigating certain allegations of misconduct from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Professional Responsibility to the DOJ Office of the Inspector General. Specifically, the bill transfers responsibility for allegations relating to a DOJ attorney's authority to investigate, litigate, or provide legal advice.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-21
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S864)
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate
PROMISE Act

Bill: 117-s-427
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-02-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Consumer affairs
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: 

Promoting Responsibility Over Moderation In the Social-media Environment Act or the PROMISE Act

 
 This bill requires interactive computer services (e.g., social media companies) to establish and publicly disclose policies for moderating content on their services. This includes the categories of information that are not permitted on the service, the process by which information posted on the service is moderated, and how the service provider notifies users that information has been moderated.
 
These moderation policies are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-02-24
text: Introduced in Senate