hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
IMAGINE Act

Bill: 117-s-939
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Infrastructure development
Intergovernmental relations
Materials
Pedestrians and bicycling
Performance measurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Solid waste and recycling
State and local government operations
Technology transfer and commercialization
Transportation programs funding
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Innovative Materials for America's Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded Act of 2021 or the IMAGINE Act

 
This bill encourages the use of innovative construction materials and techniques to accelerate the deployment, extend the service life, improve the performance, and reduce the cost of domestic transportation and water infrastructure projects.
 
Among other things, the bill
 
 
establishes an Interagency Innovative Materials Standards Task Force to assess existing standards and test methods for the use of innovative materials in infrastructure, identify key barriers in the standards area that inhibit broader market adoption, and develop new methods and protocols to better evaluate innovative materials;
 
requires the Department of Transportation to enhance the development of innovative materials in the United States by providing awards to entities for establishing and operating new innovative material innovation hubs;
 
directs the Federal Highway Administration to provide grants to states' departments of transportation, tribal governments, public toll authorities, and units of local government for coastal or rural infrastructure bridge projects and value engineering projects to enhance the performance of bridges through the use of innovative materials; and
 
provides grants for the design and installation of water infrastructure projects.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-940
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Public transit
Transportation employees
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act of 202

1

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a national transit frontline workforce training center to meet the needs of the rural and urban transit system frontline workforce through standards-based training relating to relevant maintenance and operations occupations. It must also evaluate, and provide a grant to, a nonprofit organization with demonstrated capacity to develop and provide transit career ladder programs through labor-management partnerships and apprenticeships on a nationwide basis to carry out the duties of the center.
 
The center must develop and carry out training and educational programs for public transportation employees serving in the frontline workforce, including programs relating to (1) developing consensus national training standards for key frontline occupations with demonstrated skill gaps; (2) developing national systems of qualification and apprenticeship for transit maintenance and operations occupations; and (3) establishing local, regional, and statewide transit training partnerships.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
RAPID Act

Bill: 117-s-941
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Public transit
Roads and highways
Transportation programs funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development Act or the RAPID Act

 
This bill revises the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program to (1) require program applicants to obtain investment grade ratings from at least two credit rating agencies, unless the federal credit instrument is less than $150 million (currently, less than $75 million), in which case one rating will suffice; (2) require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement an expedited decision time line for public agency borrowers seeking secured loans; and (3) require DOT to publish status reports on program applications on the TIFIA website.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
No Junk Plans Act

Bill: 117-s-942
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Labor
Department of the Treasury
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

No Junk Plans Act

 
 This bill nullifies a rule by the Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans.
 
Short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans are plans that may only offer coverage for a limited amount of time under law and that are exempt from the market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (e.g., coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions). The rule increases the maximum authorized duration of such plans from less than 3 months (including renewals) to an initial maximum duration of less than 12 months (with a total duration of up to 36 months, including renewals). The rule took effect October 2, 2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Parris Island Protection Act

Bill: 117-s-943
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Defense spending
Military education and training
Military facilities and property
South Carolina

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Parris Island Protection Act

 
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to close or realign Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, in South Carolina, or to conduct any planning or other activity related to such closure or realignment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
State Funding for Internet Expansion Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-944
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computer security and identity theft
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Infrastructure development
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Libraries and archives
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

State Funding for Internet Expansion Act of 2021 or the State Fix Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a freestanding program that expands broadband access in unserved areas and underserved areas and for unserved anchor institutions (e.g., elementary schools, libraries, and museums) by using reverse auctions. The program must be separate from any universal service program and may not base the eligibility of a funding recipient on their eligibility or ineligibility for other telecommunications programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Impact Aid Infrastructure Act

Bill: 117-s-945
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Building construction
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Impact Aid Infrastructure Act

 
This bill authorizes additional Impact Aid construction grants for FY2022. These grants provide infrastructure assistance to local educational agencies that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property or to those that have experienced increased expenditures due to enrollment of federally connected children (e.g., children living on Indian lands or military bases).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1769)
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to modify the treatment of certain bargain-price options to purchase at less than fair market value, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-946
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 
This bill specifies that a bargain-price purchase option (i.e., the option to purchase property at less than fair market value) in a lease agreement for a federal building may be exercised only to the extent the option is specifically provided for in subsequent acts of Congress. The bill applies to lease agreements that are entered into on or after January 1, 2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Accountability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-947
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Building construction
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Housing and community development funding
Housing industry and standards
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public contracts and procurement
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Housing Accountability Act of 2021 

 
This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement that a property owner receiving low-income housing assistance payments for an existing public housing unit must maintain decent, safe, and sanitary conditions for the housing structure.
 
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must survey tenants of these structures semiannually to identify problems with the structures or with management. A structure must be referred to HUD for remediation if consistent or persistent problems are identified. HUD may impose penalties on an owner of a structure that violates this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to protect American small businesses, gig workers, and freelancers by repealing the burdensome American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 transactions reporting threshold.

Bill: 117-s-948
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 
This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A 
third party settlement organization
 is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. 
 
This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to foster efficient markets and increase competition and transparency among packers that purchase livestock from producers.

Bill: 117-s-949
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Livestock
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 
This bill establishes that a minimum of 50% of a covered packer's weekly volume of livestock slaughter must be purchased through spot market sales from nonaffiliated producers. (The term 
covered packer
 applies to a packer that is required to report to the Department of Agriculture each reporting day information on the price and quantity of livestock purchased by such packer and does not include a packer that owns only one livestock processing plant.)
 
A spot market sale is a purchase and sale of livestock by a packer from a producer under (1) an agreement that specifies a firm base price that may be equated with a fixed dollar amount on the date the agreement is entered into, (2) which the livestock are slaughtered not more than 14 days after the date on which the agreement is entered into, and (3) circumstances in which a reasonable competitive bidding opportunity exists on the date on which the agreement is entered into.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1769-1770)
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
No Budget, No Pay Act

Bill: 117-s-950
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

No Budget, No Pay Act

 
This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid in a fiscal year until both chambers approve the budget resolution and pass all regular appropriations bills for that fiscal year. Retroactive pay is prohibited for such a period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
PAWS Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-951
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Mammals
Mental health
Neurological disorders
Service animals
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2021 or the PAWS Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a grant program for the purpose of pairing service dogs with eligible veterans. Organizations that receive grants shall provide veterinary health insurance coverage, hardware, and travel expenses for each service dog and veteran participating in the program.
 
Eligible veterans are those who (1) are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) have been evaluated and treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but remain diagnosed with PTSD, (3) may benefit from a service dog, and (4) agree to successfully complete training provided by an eligible organization. Veterans are required to see a VA health care provider at least once every 180 days to determine whether the veteran continues to benefit from a service dog. 
 
Eligible organizations are nonprofit organizations that
 
 
are accredited by a widely recognized accreditation organization,
 
meet publicly available standards set forth by the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans,
 
have expertise in the needs of veterans with PTSD,
 
agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee the benefits of the program,
 
agree to reaccept or replace a service dog provided to a veteran, and
 
submit an application to the VA.
 
 
Any improvement in PTSD symptoms as a result of the provision of a service dog shall not affect the veteran's eligibility for any other VA benefits.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on the grant program.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-952
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Afghanistan
Air quality
Asia
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability assistance
Environmental health
Fires
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Iraq
Medical research
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Neurological disorders
Sex and reproductive health
Solid waste and recycling
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases associated with exposure to burn pits (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) and other toxins by veterans who were awarded specified medals on or after August 2, 1990. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
 
Under the bill, if the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives a written petition to add a disease to the list, the VA must request a determination by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with respect to whether there is a positive association between the exposure of humans to a covered toxin and the occurrence of the disease in humans. 
 
The bill makes disability or death of certain employees from specified diseases compensable as a work injury. Specifically, such employees are those who were employees of the Department of State, the Department of Defense, or an element of the intelligence community on or after August 2, 1990, and carried out job responsibilities for at least 30 days during a contingency operation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Water for Conservation and Farming Act

Bill: 117-s-953
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-03-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Aquatic ecology
Birds
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Dams and canals
Ecology
Farmland
Fishes
Government trust funds
Hunting and fishing
Lakes and rivers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Outdoor recreation
Water resources funding
Water storage
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: 

Water for Conservation and Farming Act

 
This bill establishes a funding source for certain water resources development projects in western states. The bill also reauthorizes and expands existing water resources development programs, as well as establishes new programs.
 
Specifically, the bill establishes the Bureau of Reclamation Infrastructure Fund to fund water-related programs, including water reclamation and reuse projects, dam safety projects, and the WaterSMART program (which provides assistance to eligible government entities to increase water supply). Each year from FY2031-FY2061, the Department of the Treasury must deposit $300 million of revenues into this fund that would otherwise be deposited into the Reclamation Fund (which currently funds irrigation works in western states).
 
The bill also expands the allowable uses for grants under the WaterSMART program.
 
Next, the bill revises the Reclamation Climate Change and Water program (which assesses the impact of climate change on water supplies) by requiring Reclamation to develop a strategy to address sustaining native biodiversity during periods of drought.
 
The bill also reauthorizes through FY2028 the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation program (which funds fish passage projects in certain areas that drain into the Pacific Ocean).
 
Finally, the bill establishes new programs directed at western states to
 
 
provide assistance to agricultural producers to create and maintain waterbird and shorebird habitats,
 
award grants to eligible government entities and nonprofit conservation organizations for habitat restoration projects that improve watershed health, and
 
prepare plans to sustain the survival of critically important fisheries during periods of drought.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-05-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Introduced in Senate