hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BE GONE Act

Bill: 117-s-2945
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-10-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: 

Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants or the BE GONE Act

 
This bill expands, for immigration purposes, the definition of 
aggravated felony
 to include sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence. (Under current law, a conviction for an aggravated felony is grounds for deportation and may bar an individual from other immigration-related benefits.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Re-using Equipment for Environmental Fortification Act

Bill: 117-s-2946
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-10-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: 

Re-using Equipment for Environmental Fortification Act or the REEF Act

 
This bill requires the Department of the Navy to notify Congress when a vessel that is a viable candidate for artificial reefing (intentionally sinking a vessel to promote marine life) is to be stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. Specifically, the Navy must provide such notice not later than 90 days before the viable candidate is to be stricken from the register.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Flood Risk Transparency for Homebuyers Act

Bill: 117-s-2947
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-10-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: 

Flood Risk Transparency for Homebuyers Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to disclose certain flood hazards to prospective buyers when listing a one-to-four-unit residential property for sale. The requirement applies to every such HUD-owned property located in a special flood hazard area and requires HUD to disclose (1) the estimated monthly cost to insure the property under the National Flood Insurance Program in the zip code where the property is located and (2) whether the property is a 
severe repetitive loss 
 property.
 
A one-to-four-unit residential property is considered a severe repetitive loss property under existing law if the property is covered by flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program and has incurred flood-related damage resulting in either (1) four or more separate claim payments each exceeding $5,000, or (2) two or more separate claim payments that cumulatively exceed the value of the property. Severe repetitive loss properties are subject to higher flood insurance rates under the National Flood Insurance Program, but may be eligible for grants to mitigate the flood risk under certain circumstances.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Recreational Lands Self Defense Act

Bill: 117-s-2948
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2021-10-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: 

Recreational Lands Self Defense Act

 This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow an individual to possess a firearm in any area open to the public (other than a federal facility) at a Corps water resources development project as long as the individual's possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to describe the scope of activities subject to a presumption of the applicability of an exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Bill: 117-s-2949
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-10-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: 
This bill revises the environmental review of projects on federal lands to expedite geothermal exploration or development activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Introduced in Senate
FOREST Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2950
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-10-06 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: 

Fostering Overseas Rule of law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act of 2021 or the FOREST Act of 2021

 
This bill restricts certain commodities produced on illegally deforested land from accessing the U.S. market.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits the importation of any product made wholly or in part of a covered commodity produced from illegally deforested land. The bill outlines requirements for import declarations of covered commodities.
 
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must, within 30 days, publish (1) an initial list of covered commodities that consists of palm oil, soybeans, cocoa, cattle, rubber, and wood pulp; and (2) an initial list of covered products that are defined by the bill in accordance with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. These lists must be updated at least on an annual basis.
 
Further, the USTR must identify foreign countries without adequate and effective protection against illegal deforestation caused by the production of commodities that are likely to enter the United States. The USTR must develop an action plan that includes benchmarks for each identified country.
 
Additionally, the bill creates an interagency working group to provide advice and recommendations to the USTR, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other relevant agencies.
 
The bill provides funding to assist foreign governments in combating illegal deforestation.
 
The bill also includes illegal deforestation as a specified unlawful activity under a federal financial crime statute.
 
The bill establishes a federal procurement preference for commodities that are not produced from land subject to deforestation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Introduced in Senate
Aiding Afghan Allies Act

Bill: 117-s-2951
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Aiding Afghan Allies Act

 
This bill allows a tax credit, up to $300 in a taxable year, for charitable contributions made to evacuate individuals from Afghanistan who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents or who are Afghan citizens or nationals who have submitted a petition for special immigrant status.
 
The period for making such contributions begins on August 14, 2021, and ends on September 30, 2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
FDA Modernization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2952
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

FDA Modernization Act of 2021

 
This bill allows an applicant for market approval for a new drug to use methods other than animal testing to establish the drug's safety and effectiveness. Under this bill, these alternative methods may include cell-based assays, organ chips and microphysiological systems, computer modeling, and other human biology-based test methods.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Financial Privacy Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2953
Sponsor: Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Protecting Financial Privacy Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from creating or implementing any new financial account reporting program that would require financial institutions to report data on financial accounts in an information return listing balances, transactions, transfers, or inflows or outflows of any kind, and that was not in effect as of October 1, 2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

Bill: 117-s-2954
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

 
This bill narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for barring or removing an alien from the United States. (Generally, a conviction for certain crimes, such as a crime that carries a term of incarceration of a certain length, may constitute grounds for denying an individual certain immigration benefits.)
 
The bill redefines the term 
conviction
 to exclude convictions that have been dismissed, expunged, deferred, annulled, invalidated, withheld, vacated, or pardoned. The term must also exclude adjudications where a court issued a recommendation against removal, an order of probation without entry of judgment, or a similar disposition.
 
In addition, any reference to a term of imprisonment or sentence must, unless otherwise provided (1) only consider the period of incarceration ordered by a court, and (2) exclude any suspended portion of a sentence. Currently, for immigration purposes, a term of incarceration includes any part of the sentence that was suspended.
 
These provisions pertaining to the definition of 
conviction
 and terms of imprisonment shall apply to convictions and judgments entered either before or after this bill's enactment. 
 
Furthermore, certain crime-based grounds for barring or removing an alien shall not apply if the sentencing court issues a recommendation that the alien not be removed on the basis of the conviction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7001)
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Defense Improved Hiring Act

Bill: 117-s-2955
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Defense
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military facilities and property

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Department of Defense Improved Hiring Act

 
This bill makes permanent the Department of Defense (DOD) direct hire authority for domestic defense industrial base facilities (i.e., any DOD depot, arsenal, or shipyard in the United States), the Major Range and Test Facilities Base, and the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2956
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021

 
This bill sets out programs and otherwise directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to carry out activities to prevent and treat malnutrition globally.
 
In coordination with relevant federal agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, partner countries, and other stakeholders, the USAID may scale up programs for preventing and treating malnutrition globally. This includes focusing on interventions for the populations most susceptible to severe malnutrition (e.g., pregnant and lactating women and children younger than five years of age).
 
The USAID must select countries based on specified malnutrition-related indicators for purposes of targeting malnutrition prevention and treatment programs and update the selection within five years. To support these programs, the USAID must leverage additional private sector resources in priority countries, including by considering opportunities within the Development Finance Corporation's impact framework for supporting improved nutrition outcomes.
 
The USAID must provide Congress with an implementation plan and annual reports concerning its programs for preventing and treating malnutrition.
 
The bill also establishes the Nutrition Leadership Council, comprised of various USAID bureaus and offices, to coordinate agency activities to prevent and treat malnutrition.
 
The bill's provisions terminate seven years after its enactment.
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Data at the Border Act

Bill: 117-s-2957
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Protecting Data at the Border Act

 
This bill limits government access to digital information at the border.
 
A governmental entity may not (1) access the digital contents of electronic equipment of a U.S. person at the border without a warrant, (2) deny such a person's entry into or exit from the United States because the person refused to provide access to digital content on electronic equipment or online account information, (3) delay such a person's entry or exit for more than four hours to determine whether the person will consent to providing access to online information, or (4) seize electronic equipment from a U.S. person without probable cause to believe that such equipment contains information relevant to a felony. 
 
A governmental entity may access the contents of electronic equipment of a U.S. person without a warrant in an emergency. The entity must subsequently apply for a warrant within seven days, and if a warrant is not granted, the seized information must be destroyed and may not be disclosed. 
 
A governmental entity may not make or retain a copy of information accessed under this bill without probable cause to believe that such information relates to a crime.
 
Information seized in violation of this bill (1) must be destroyed, (2) may not be disclosed, and (3) may not be received in evidence in any trial or government proceeding.
 
A governmental entity shall keep a record of each instance in which it obtains access to an individual's digital information at the border.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2958
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Evidence and witnesses
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Organized crime
Performance measurement
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Witness Security and Protection Grant Program Act of 2021

 
 This bill directs the Department of Justice to award competitive matching grants to state, local, and tribal governments to establish or maintain witness protection programs in cases involving (1) a homicide, serious violent felony, or serious drug offense; or (2) gangs or organized crime.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

Bill: 117-s-2960
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

 
This bill directs the National Park Service to establish a program for the National Park System to reduce disposable plastic products and, if applicable, eliminate the sale and distribution of disposable plastic products.
 
Each regional office of the National Park Service must eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic products and the sale and distribution of other disposable plastic products after consideration of several specified factors (e.g., the costs and benefits to overall operations).
 
Each regional office must develop a proactive visitor education strategy to address visitor expectations of water availability and explain the rationale for the program and its implementation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
BLUE Act

Bill: 117-s-2961
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Blocking Lawlessness from Undermining Enforcement Act or the BLUE Act

 
This bill generally prohibits the use of Highway Safety Program or National Priority Safety Program funds for traffic control or enforcement by a state or locality that defunds the police (i.e., reduces its police budget and reallocates the funds to other government agencies).
 
However, states and localities may use such funds for traffic control and enforcement if (1) reducing the police budget is part of an overall budget reduction, or (2) the police chief decides to reallocate a portion of the police budget for mental health programs. Additionally, a state or locality may request an exemption from the prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
COMPETES Act

Bill: 117-s-2962
Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Competitive Onshore Mineral Policy via Eliminating Taxpayer-Enabled Speculation Act or the COMPETES Act

 
This bill revises the process of leasing public land for oil and gas development. For example, it requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to issue all onshore oil and gas leasing through a competitive bidding process.
 
Further, the BLM must ensure the receipt by the United States of fair market value for any land or resources leased and any rights covered by the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
Service Contract Modernization Act

Bill: 117-s-2963
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Inflation and prices
Public contracts and procurement
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

Service Contract Modernization Act

 
This bill increases a threshold used to determine whether an employee of a federal services contractor or subcontractor is entitled to wages and fringe benefits prevailing in the locality where services are performed (or in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement).
 
Under current law, a federal contractor or subcontractor that enters into a service contract in excess of $2,500 must comply with prevailing wage and related requirements. This bill increases that amount by adjusting it for inflation since 1965 and provides for future increases based on inflation.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
National Scenic Trails Parity Act

Bill: 117-s-2964
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York State
North Dakota
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Pennsylvania
Vermont
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

National Scenic Trails Parity Act

 
This bill requires the North Country, Ice Age, and New England national scenic trails to be administered as units of the National Park System. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with data transmission due to increased network usage.

Bill: 117-s-2965
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to analyze current and projected demands for data transmission on rural broadband networks and publish a report of its findings. The analysis must include, for example, estimates of the quantity of data transmitted and certain unrecovered costs to rural broadband providers associated with those transmissions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate
American Energy Worker Opportunity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2966
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-10-07 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 

American Energy Worker Opportunity Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes the Office of American Energy Workers in the Department of the Treasury to provide displaced coal workers with wage replacement, health care premiums, retirement savings contributions, and educational assistance. The bill also provides educational assistance for the children of displaced coal workers and provides an incentive for clean energy employers to hire displaced coal workers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Introduced in Senate