hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Energy Sector Innovation Credit Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2475
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Business expenses
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy prices
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Income tax credits
Industrial facilities
Nuclear power
Product development and innovation
Research and development
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local government operations
Tax-exempt organizations
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Energy Sector Innovation Credit Act of 2021

 
This bill adds new tax credits for investment in qualified emerging technology energy property and for the production of electricity from emerging energy technology. The bill defines
 qualified emerging energy property
 as property that is constructed, reconstructed, erected, or acquired by the taxpayer and is (1) a facility for the production of electricity from emerging energy technology, (2) carbon capture equipment, or (3) energy storage technology. 
 
The bill also adds a new tax credit for the production of electricity from clean hydrogen. The bill defines
 clean hydrogen
 as hydrogen that is produced through a production method for which the rate of the greenhouse gas emission is greater than zero and not greater that 2,500g CO2-e per kilogram of hydrogen produced, or is equal to or less than zero.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2476
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality
Child health
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Employment and training programs
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Environmental technology
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
Minority health
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to implement a pilot program to award, on a competitive basis, grants or contracts to state, local, and tribal air agencies to carry out specified projects for hyperlocal air quality monitoring systems in environmental justice communities (i.e., communities with significant representation of communities of color, low income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities that experience, or are at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects).
 
A project carried out using a grant or contract awarded under the pilot program may not exceed five years in duration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-13
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
FAMILIES Act

Bill: 117-s-2477
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Adult day care
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime victims
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Domestic violence and child abuse
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Food assistance and relief
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Higher education
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement administration and funding
Lawyers and legal services
Low- and moderate-income housing
Mental health
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Finding Alternatives to Mass Incarceration: Lives Improved by Ending Separation Act of 2021 or the FAMILIES Act

 
This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to divert certain defendants who are parents or caregivers away from prison and probation and into a comprehensive support services program. 
 
At the federal level, the bill establishes and provides funds for the comprehensive support services program, or FAMILIES Program. The bill authorizes federal courts to sentence a parent or caregiver to participation in the FAMILIES Program as a condition of supervised release or instead of probation or prison.
 
At the state level, the bill funds grants for states to replicate successful state parenting sentencing alternatives programs that have the potential to keep parents out of prison.
 
The bill also provides funds for a study on the effects of incarceration on children of incarcerated parents and for training district court judges to carry out the FAMILIES Program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act

Bill: 117-s-2478
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act

 
This bill revises the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to provide for partial loan cancellation based on the length of public service employment. 
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to cancel 15%, 15%, 20%, 20%, and 30% of the amount a borrower owes after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years of public service employment, respectively, on Federal Direct Loans made after the bill's enactment. Under the current PSLF program, ED must cancel the balance of interest and principal due on a borrower's Federal Direct Loans after the borrower makes 120 monthly loan payments while employed in a public service job.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

Bill: 117-s-2479
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act

 
This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
 
For purposes of this policy, the bill defines 
Palestinian refugee
 as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country.
 
The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or engaged in the dissemination of anti-American, anti-Israel, or anti-Semitic ideologies. Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is subject to comprehensive financial audits by an independent auditing firm and is unaffiliated with any financial institutions that the United States considers to be complicit in money laundering or terror financing.
 
The bill also requires the State Department to implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their activities and efforts regarding the UNRWA with U.S. policy objectives, including the phase out of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees in countries other than Israel and in territories not controlled by Israel. The State Department must report to Congress on this plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Tourism District Protection Act

Bill: 117-s-2480
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Tourism District Protection Act

 
This bill allows state and local governments to use criminal justice and law enforcement grant program funds to address crime in tourist areas. 
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
creates a preference for grants under the Community Oriented Policing Services program for applicants from states that will use grants to address increased crime in tourist areas, 
 
 allows grants under the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program to support state and local efforts to respond to a significant increase in crime in tourist areas, and 
 
requires (currently, permits) up to 5% of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to be awarded for certain specified purposes and includes as an eligible purpose addressing significant increases in crime in tourist areas. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2481
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies the tax credit allowed to eligible small businesses for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals to increase (1) the maximum allowable amount of such credit to $20,500, and (2) the limitation on the gross receipts of such businesses to $2.5 million for purposes of determining eligibility for the credit. 
 
The bill directs the Department of Justice (DOD) to carry out an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Mediation Program to facilitate voluntary mediation to resolve disputes arising under the ADA and to provide training for mediators.
 
DOD must report to Congress on its ADA Information Line (a toll-free line to provide information and materials to the public about ADA requirements).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Reauthorization Act

Bill: 117-s-2482
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Historic sites and heritage areas
Lakes and rivers
New York State
Vermont

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership Reauthorization Act

 
This bill extends through FY2036 the authority of the Department of the Interior to provide any assistance to the Champlain Valley National Heritage Area Partnership in Vermont and New York. 
 
The bill eliminates the ceiling on the total amount that may be appropriated for the partnership.
 
Finally, the bill decreases to 25% the amount of the nonfederal share of partnership activities carried out using federal funds. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Conservation Reserve Program Flexibility Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2484
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Conservation Reserve Program Flexibility Act of 2021 or CRP Flexibility Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to permit emergency haying during the primary nesting season to respond to drought or other emergencies. (Under current law, emergency haying is only permitted outside of the primary nesting season.) 
 
Under CRP, the Department of Agriculture provides annual payments to agricultural producers to take highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land out of production and install resource-conserving practices. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S5106)
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Territory Economic Development Tax Credit Act

Bill: 117-s-2485
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Caribbean area
Corporate finance and management
Employee benefits and pensions
Foreign and international corporations
Income tax credits
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Territory Economic Development Tax Credit Act

 
This bill establishes a new tax credit for wages and tangible investments made by U.S. domestic corporations with branches operating in U.S. territories. It requires that 80% of credible income must be derived from a territory during a 3-year period, and 75% must come from an active trade or business in a territory. The credit is equal to 40% of eligible wages and benefits paid or provided to employees in the territory, subject to certain limitations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Make Taxpayer-Funded Department of Defense Medical Interventions Affordable Act

Bill: 117-s-2486
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Make Taxpayer-Funded Department of Defense Medical Interventions Affordable Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report on its efforts to comply with provisions of a report related to the licensing of federally owned medical interventions. DOD must also compile into a searchable database information relating to federal support provided by DOD for biomedical research and development.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Put the Brakes on Boondoggles Act

Bill: 117-s-2487
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Put the Brakes on Boondoggles Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation from awarding additional financial assistance to transit or rail projects if their overall projected costs exceed the original costs by at least $1 billion and if their projected operational and administrative costs to provide the service exceed revenues generated from ridership over the next decade.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Suicide and Crisis Outreach Prevention Enhancement Act

Bill: 117-s-2488
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Suicide and Crisis Outreach Prevention Enhancement Act

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and otherwise revises the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program by expanding program activities and placing requirements on telecommunications carriers. The program provides free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress through either a nationwide three-digit or toll-free telephone number.
 
Expanded activities include increasing the program's capacity to provide prevention and intervention services, carrying out public awareness and outreach about the program, and collecting data on disparities in accessing the program and among individuals seeking help.
 
Furthermore, telecommunications carriers must transmit any calls made to the program to the caller's local crisis center. They must also transmit the call, if transferred by the local crisis center, to the applicable local emergency service, mental health resource, or similar support. The bill also prohibits telecommunications carriers from deducting minutes from a caller's pre-paid phone plan for calls made to the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Anti-BDS Labeling Act

Bill: 117-s-2489
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Anti-BDS Labeling Act

 
This bill provides statutory authority for the continuation of U.S. policy related to country of origin marking for imported goods that are produced in the West Bank or Gaza. Currently, such goods must carry specified markings that indicate their origin. Further, the bill prohibits the use of any funds made available to the Department of State or to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to rescind or change this policy. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act

Bill: 117-s-2492
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2021-07-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Federal-Indian relations
Forests, forestry, trees
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: 

Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act 

 
This bill revises the Good Neighbor Authority program to modify the treatment of revenue from timber sale contracts under good neighbor agreements with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior. (The Good Neighbor Authority permits USDA and Interior to enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with states, counties, and Indian tribes to perform forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services on federal land managed by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management.)
 
Specifically, the bill (1) requires Indian tribes and counties to retain revenue generated from timber sales under a good neighbor agreement; and (2) allows states, counties, and Indian tribes to use such revenue for authorized restoration projects on nonfederal lands under a good neighbor agreement. (Under current law, only a state is permitted to retain the revenues, and the revenues must be used for restoration projects on federal land.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-07-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Provider Relief Fund Deadline Extension Act

Bill: 117-s-2493
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2021-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: 

Provider Relief Fund Deadline Extension Act

 
This bill extends the period during which health care providers may use payments received from the Provider Relief Fund to cover a variety of costs related to COVID-19.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate
United Nations Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2494
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign aid and international relief
Government information and archives
International organizations and cooperation
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Subversive activities
Taiwan
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: 

United Nations Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021

 
This bill requires various actions related to malign influence operations by other countries in the United Nations (UN), with such operations defined as coordinated actions by a UN member state to foster UN actions or attitudes that further that member state's interests in a manner inconsistent with the UN Charter.
 
The President shall direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN to vote for and promote policies to (1) oppose malign influence operations and UN employees involved in such operations, and (2) support Taiwan's membership or meaningful participation in UN entities. (Taiwan was expelled from the UN in 1971.) 
 
The Department of State shall designate a senior level official to assist in implementing such policies and fulfill other related responsibilities. 
 
The State Department shall also establish an Office of Multilateral Strategy and Personnel within the Bureau of International Organization Affairs to promote the candidacy of U.S. citizens for roles in international organizations, including the UN, and to coordinate support for non-U.S. candidates when appropriate. 
 
The State Department shall increase by at least 50% the number of U.S.-sponsored Junior Professional Officer positions in the UN. 
 
The President shall periodically review evidence and determine if any countries have engaged in malign influence operations that have threatened U.S. interests. The President must designate any such country as a malign global actor and provide an explanation to Congress for why the designation was made.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate