hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Onward to Opportunity Act

Bill: 117-s-3161
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Licensing and registrations
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Performance measurement
Public-private cooperation
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: 

Onward to Opportunity Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense to implement a pilot program to provide grants for eligible entities to supplement the Transition Assistance Program by providing job opportunities for industry-recognized certifications, job placement assistance, and related employment services.
 
Eligible entities are those that (1) follow a job training and placement model; (2) have a well-developed and rigorous practice of program measurement and evaluation; (3) have established partnerships with entities to provide the necessary services; and (4) have online training capability to reach rural veterans, reduce costs, and comply with new conditions forced by COVID-19.
 
The program must be implemented at five military installations in the United States with successful economic opportunity program models.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
National Guard Emergency Response Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3162
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-11-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: 

National Guard Emergency Response Act of 2021

 
This bill allows the relevant adjutant general to authorize a member of the National Guard who is performing active Guard and Reserve duty to perform additional duties in response to a state-declared emergency or disaster, provided that the adjutant general determines the member performing such duties will derive a benefit that satisfies or complements training requirements for the wartime mission or other training objectives of the member's unit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: Introduced in Senate
RURAL Exams Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3163
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Reform and Update Rural Access to Local Exams Act of 2021 or the RURAL Exams Act of 2021

 
This bill updates policies and procedures related to covered medical disability examinations provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its contractors. Under the bill, covered medical disability examinations are those that are required for purposes of adjudicating specified VA benefits.
 
First, the bill requires the VA to begin collecting data to improve veterans' access to covered medical disability examinations.
 
The VA must study rural veterans' access to covered medical disability examinations and submit a plan to improve access. 
 
Additionally, the VA must ensure that contracts for the provision of covered medical disability examinations by contractors include specified elements. Specifically, such contracts must (1) include financial incentives to encourage timeliness in medical disability examination appointments for rural or housebound veterans, (2) include financial disincentives to encourage timeliness, and (3) require contractors to cooperate with inspections.
 
Finally, the VA must establish a program of periodic inspections of sites, locations, and facilities where medical disability examinations are provided by VA contractors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-15
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Private Prison Information Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3164
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Private Prison Information Act of 2021

 
 This bill specifies that a record related to a nonfederal prison, correctional, or detention facility must be considered a federal agency record for purposes of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
 
A nonfederal prison, correctional, or detention facility must disclose information under FOIA unless the information is exempt from disclosure or the disclosure is prohibited by law.
 
The term 
nonfederal prison, correctional, or detention facility
 means (1) a private prison, correctional, or detention facility; or (2) a state or local prison, jail, or other correctional or detention facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections (ZOMBIE) Act

Bill: 117-s-3165
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections (ZOMBIE) Act

 
This bill establishes certain requirements for disbursing unused funds after a federal election. The bill also requires former candidates serving as registered lobbyists or foreign agents to comply with disbursement requirements.
 
Specifically, the bill requires each authorized committee or leadership political action committee (PAC) of a candidate to disburse all unused funds within a specified time period beginning after an election or before the candidate registers as a lobbyist or foreign agent, unless the candidate files to run for office again before the disbursement period begins. 
 
A committee or PAC disbursing unspent funds shall first pay any obligations incurred. If funds are left over, the committee or PAC may only disburse the remaining funds for the following purposes: (1) returning funds to donors; and (2) making contributions to nonprofit organizations. The bill generally prohibits disbursements to relatives of the candidate or certain nonprofit organizations related to the candidate.
 
A former candidate must, in order to register as a lobbyist or foreign agent, comply with the disbursement requirements outlined by this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3166
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Dental care
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health promotion and preventive care
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Medicaid Dental Benefit Act
 
of 2021

 
This bill requires state Medicaid programs to cover dental and oral health services for adults. It also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for such services.
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must develop oral health quality and equity measures and conduct outreach relating to such coverage. Additionally, the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission must report on specified information relating to adult oral health care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7793-7794)
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Fossil Free Finance Act

Bill: 117-s-3167
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Fossil Free Finance Act 

 
This bill requires large bank holding companies to set forth plans to reduce and ultimately eliminate the financing of activities that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Specifically, the bill prohibits the financing of (1) new or expanded fossil fuel projects by 2023, (2) thermal coal by 2025, and (3) all fossil fuel projects by 2030. 
 
Further, the Financial Stability Oversight Council must consider the activities of certain bank holding companies and nonbank financial companies that contribute to emissions as part of the prudential supervision process. 
 
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must report on financed emissions in the financial system, the estimated emissions to meet science-based emissions targets, and recommendations for addressing regulatory gaps in reducing such emissions that cannot be addressed by the board.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3169
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits food packaging that contains intentionally added PFAS (i.e., a perfluoroalkyl substance or a polyfluoroalkyl substance that is man-made with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
No Forced Vaccination for COVID–19 Act

Bill: 117-s-3170
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

No Forced Vaccination for COVID-19 Act

 
This bill prohibits any executive agency from implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate unless specifically authorized by Congress. This includes a mandate that requires an individual to either receive the COVID-19 vaccine or undergo periodic COVID-19 testing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Teacher, Principal, and Leader Residency Access Act

Bill: 117-s-3171
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Teacher, Principal, and Leader Residency Access Act

 
This bill expands the federal work-study programs at institutions of higher education (IHEs) to include work-study programs that compensate students serving in a residency program at the IHE. 
R

esidency program
 refers to a school-based educator preparation program in which a prospective teacher, principal, or school leader (1) works for one academic year with a mentor teacher, principal, or other school leader; (2) receives concurrent instruction from the IHE; (3) acquires effective teaching or school leader skills; and (4) attains certification or licensure prior to completion of the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign Agents Registration Modernization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3172
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Foreign Agents Registration Modernization Act of 2021 

 
This bill modifies requirements related to the electronic database that contains the registrations that an agent of a foreign principal must file with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
 
Specifically, DOJ must establish and maintain the free and publicly accessible National Foreign Agents Database, which must make such foreign agent registrations searchable, sortable, and downloadable. The database must also make filed registrations and supplements immediately available for public inspection. (Currently, DOJ is required maintain a database with these features, but only to the extent that the features are technically practicable.)
 
The database must also meet federal standards for making digital information accessible to individuals with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Claiming Losses After Disasters Act

Bill: 117-s-3173
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health care coverage and access
Medicare
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Claiming Losses After Disasters Act

 
This bill revises the tax deduction for personal casualty losses arising from major federally-declared disasters. It replaces the current requirement that such losses exceed 10% of a disaster victim's adjusted gross income before a deduction can be claimed with a minimum threshold of $500 in losses per disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act

Bill: 117-s-3174
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act

 
This bill addresses Department of Defense (DOD) supply chain risk management, specifically risk management related to pharmaceuticals.
 
The bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment within DOD to develop and issue implementing guidance for risk management for DOD supply chains for materiel (e.g., pharmaceuticals) and identify supply chain information gaps regarding reliance on foreign suppliers of drugs.
 
After such guidance is issued, the Defense Health Agency must develop and publish implementing guidance for risk management for DOD's supply chain for pharmaceuticals and establish a working group to assess risks to the pharmaceutical supply chain, identify the pharmaceuticals most critical to beneficiary care at military treatment facilities, and establish policies for allocating scarce pharmaceutical resources.
 
Finally, the Defense Logistics Agency must modify Defense Logistics Agency Instructions 5025.03 and 3110.01 to require Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support to coordinate annually with customers in the military departments to test responsiveness of the agency's contingency contracts for pharmaceuticals and to include the results of the testing in the annual Warstopper Program reports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Advancing American Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3175
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Advancing American Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of establishing data libraries for developing and enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities to ensure that DOD is able to procure optimal artificial intelligence and machine learning software capabilities.
 
DOD must brief the congressional defense committees on the implementation of this pilot program.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3176
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021

 
This bill allows certain individuals to sue and recover damages for harm from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. 
 
This action is available only to individuals who were exposed to contaminated water for at least 30 days.
 
The bill prohibits the U.S. government from asserting specified immunity from litigation in response to such a lawsuit.
 
The bill also prohibits an individual who brings such an action from bringing a separate tort action against the United States based on the same harm.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act

Bill: 117-s-3177
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act

 
This bill prohibits the application of, and repeals authority for, administrative offsets to Social Security, railroad retirement, and black lung benefits. (An administrative offset is the withholding of funds payable by or held by the United States to satisfy a debt.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7794; text: CR S7794)
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to express the sense of Congress on interoperability with Taiwan.

Bill: 117-s-3178
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 
This bill states that the United States should seek to support (1) improving Taiwan's asymmetric defense capabilities; (2) bolstering deterrence to preserve peace, security, and stability across the Taiwan Strait; (3) and deepening defense capability interoperability with Taiwan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S7794)
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Rachel Booth Act

Bill: 117-s-3180
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Rachel Booth Act

 
This bill provides eligibility for transitional compensation to dependents of members of the Armed Forces in situations where a member (1) has been convicted of a dependent-abuse offense in a civilian court but has been separated from duty for an offense other than the abuse offense, or (2) has been accused but not convicted of such an offense but has been determined to have committed the offense by a commander and required to forfeit pay and allowances pursuant to an offense other than the abuse offense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Enforcement Act

Bill: 117-s-3181
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Enforcement Ac
t
 
This bill establishes statutory prohibitions, investigatory mechanisms, and enforcement provisions regarding the receipt from a foreign or domestic government of profits, gains, advantages, or payments (i.e., emoluments) by U.S. officeholders.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits any U.S. officeholder from accepting, directly or indirectly, emoluments from a foreign government without consent of Congress. The prohibition is enforceable through a civil action filed by the House of Representatives or Senate.
 
Additionally, the bill prohibits the President from accepting emoluments from a domestic government other than compensation for his or her services as President. 
 
Both foreign and domestic emolument prohibitions are enforceable through administrative fines and civil actions by the Office of Government Ethics. The Office of Special Counsel must investigate violations of the bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Shelters Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3182
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2021-11-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: 

Safe Shelters Act of 2021

 
This bill imposes certain requirements on applicants for Office of Refugee Resettlement grants to open or fund shelter facilities for unaccompanied alien children.
 
Specifically an applicant for such a grant must (1) disclose in the application any adverse action (generally an adverse criminal or regulatory action relating to a government contract or the care of children) taken against the applicant in the five-year period before the application, and (2) be licensed under state law to operate the facility in question.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must seek to collaborate with state regulatory agencies to review state databases for information about adverse actions taken against such applicants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Introduced in Senate