hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act

Bill: 117-s-908
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Medicaid
Medicare
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act

 
This bill makes a series of changes relating to the prices of prescription drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage (MA) prescription drug plans (PDPs).
 
Under current law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may neither negotiate the prices of covered drugs nor establish a formulary. The bill repeals these restrictions and instead specifically requires the CMS to (1) negotiate the prices of covered drugs; and (2) either establish a formulary for covered drugs, or require changes to PDP formularies that take into account CMS negotiations.
 
 If the CMS is unable to negotiate an appropriate price for a drug in accordance with certain criteria, the price must be the lowest of three specified options (e.g., the median price in other countries). The CMS must identify drugs that are subject to negotiation, with priority given to certain categories of drugs based on usage and cost.
 
Additionally, drug manufacturers must issue rebates to the CMS for drugs dispensed to eligible low-income individuals. Subject to civil monetary penalties, a Medicare or MA PDP sponsor must report, both to drug manufacturers and to the CMS, specified information related to the determination and payment of such rebates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-909
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Asia
Business records
Canada
Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Europe
France
Germany
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Inflation and prices
Intellectual property
Japan
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Medical research
Prescription drugs
Research and development
United Kingdom

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes a series of oversight and disclosure requirements relating to the prices of brand-name drugs. 
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review at least annually all brand-name drugs for excessive pricing; HHS must also review prices upon petition. If any such drugs are found to be excessively priced, HHS must (1) void any government-granted exclusivity; (2) issue open, nonexclusive licenses for the drugs; and (3) expedite the review of corresponding applications for generic drugs and biosimilar biological products. HHS must also create a public database with its determinations for each drug.
 
Under the bill, a price is considered excessive if the domestic average manufacturing price exceeds the median price for the drug in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. If a price does not meet this criteria, or if pricing information is unavailable in at least three of the aforementioned countries, the price is still considered excessive if it is higher than reasonable in light of specified factors, including development cost, revenue, and the size of the affected patient population. 
 
The bill also requires drug manufacturers to report specified financial information for brand-name drugs, including research and advertising expenditures. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Banking Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-910
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Asia
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Business records
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Credit and credit markets
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of the Treasury
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Evidence and witnesses
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve System
Financial services and investments
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Insurance industry and regulation
Iran
Judicial procedure and administration
Licensing and registrations
Middle East
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
National Credit Union Administration
North Korea
Organized crime
Syria
Terrorism
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2021 or the SAFE Banking Act of 2021 

 
This bill generally prohibits a federal banking regulator from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to a legitimate cannabis-related business. Prohibited penalties include terminating or limiting the deposit insurance or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a legitimate cannabis-related business and prohibiting or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering financial services to such a business. 
 
 Additionally, proceeds from a transaction involving activities of a legitimate cannabis-related business are not considered proceeds from unlawful activity. Proceeds from unlawful activity are subject to anti-money laundering laws. 
 
Furthermore, a depository institution is not, under federal law, liable or subject to asset forfeiture for providing a loan or other financial services to a legitimate cannabis-related business. 
 
The bill also provides that a federal banking agency may not request or order a depository institution to terminate a customer account unless (1) the agency has a valid reason for doing so, and (2) that reason is not based solely on reputation risk. Valid reasons for terminating an account include threats to national security and involvement in terrorist financing, including state sponsorship of terrorism. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-08
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-911
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Department of Transportation
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act of 20

21

 
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to issue an order requiring installation of a secondary cockpit barrier on commercial passenger aircraft.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-912
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicare
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 

2021

 
This bill specifies that certain deductible, coinsurance, initial coverage limit, and cost-sharing requirements that apply under the Medicare prescription drug benefit shall not apply with respect to vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must provide to Medicare beneficiaries specified information regarding (1) coverage of vaccines for seniors, and (2) access to recommended vaccines without cost-sharing.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1710)
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
COVID–19 Disinformation Research and Reporting Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-913
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medical research
Scientific communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

COVID-19 Disinformation Research and Reporting Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the National Science Foundation to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study disinformation and misinformation about COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) on the internet and social media platforms.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1710-1711)
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Save Oak Flat Act

Bill: 117-s-915
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Forests, forestry, trees
Land transfers
Mining

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Save Oak Flat Act

 
This bill repeals the requirement for the Department of Agriculture to convey the 2,422 acres of Forest Service land located in Tonto National Forest in Pinal County, Arizona, known as Oak Flat, to Resolution Copper Mining, LLC, in exchange for various parcels of land owned by Resolution Copper. 
 
Oak Flat is withdrawn from (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-916
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Appropriations
Buy American requirements
Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Labor-management relations
Metals
Public contracts and procurement
Public participation and lobbying
Public utilities and utility rates
Racial and ethnic relations
Rural conditions and development
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2021

 
This bill provides funding for several programs related to controlling water pollution or protecting drinking water, revises requirements concerning the clean water state revolving fund (SRF) and the drinking water SRF, and creates or reauthorizes several grant programs for water infrastructure. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency must establish a grant program for repairing, replacing, or upgrading septic tanks and drainage fields. In addition, the bill makes permanent a grant program for household water well systems in rural areas. It also increases the amount of appropriations for grant programs, including a program that awards grants to prevent lead from contaminating drinking water fountains in schools and day care facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Short on Competition Act

Bill: 117-s-917
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Prescription drugs
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Short on Competition Act

 
This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide temporary authorization to import certain prescription drugs facing shortages or in a marginally competitive drug market. 
 
 Specifically, the FDA shall authorize importation of an eligible drug that is lifesaving, life-sustaining, or intended to treat or prevent a debilitating condition. To be eligible, a drug must (1) be facing a shortage, (2) require a prescription, (3) have received market authorization in certain foreign countries, and (4) have the same active ingredient as the drug for which there is a shortage in the United States. The drug's manufacturer must also seek FDA approval for the drug as a generic drug.
 
The import authorization shall be for three years or until the shortage no longer applies, whichever occurs first. Importation shall begin within 60 days of the FDA receiving an application that meets all of the applicable requirements. The FDA may deny importation of a drug for reasons related to safety or effectiveness.
 
Drugs in marginally competitive markets must be treated as being in a shortage for the purposes of this bill and for the purposes of expedited inspections and review. A drug is in a marginally competitive market if (1) there are fewer than five holders of approved applications for commercially available brand-name or generic versions of the drug, (2) the drug has been approved for at least 10 years, and (3) the patents on the drug's active ingredients have expired.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Seniors Access to Health Care Act

Bill: 117-s-918
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Immigration status and procedures
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Protecting Seniors Access to Health Care Act

 
This bill modifies funding and eligibility for various benefits and programs, including several established under COVID-19 relief laws.
 
With respect to funding, the bill
 
 
provides supplemental funding for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to reimburse certain health care providers for expenses or lost revenue attributed to COVID-19; and
 
rescinds certain unobligated funds that were provided to the Department of the Treasury for payments to state, tribal, and territorial governments to mitigate fiscal impacts of COVID-19.
 
 
The bill also applies certain modified payment limits to certain rural health clinics that enrolled in, or applied to enroll in, Medicare in calendar year 2020.
 
Furthermore, the bill prohibits individuals who were unlawfully present in the United States on March, 11, 2021, from receiving
 
 
premium subsidies in the event they lose employer-sponsored health insurance due to involuntary termination or a reduction in hours, or 

 
direct payments provided to certain taxpayers to mitigate financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency.

 
The bill also prohibits individuals who were incarcerated on that date from receiving the direct payments.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Data Care Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-919
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Digital media
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal preemption
Health information and medical records
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Right of privacy
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Data Care Act of 20

21

 
This bill imposes various duties on online service providers with respect to their handling of individual-identifying data that can be reasonably linked to a specific user.
 
 Specifically, online service providers have a duty to (1) reasonably secure such data from unauthorized access, (2) refrain from using such data in a way that will result in reasonably foreseeable harm to the end user, and (3) not disclose such data to another party unless that party is also bound by the duties established in this bill. The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission and specified state officials to take enforcement actions with respect to breaches of such duties. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act

Bill: 117-s-920
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Canada
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Prescription drugs
Trade restrictions
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act

 
This bill allows expanded importation of eligible prescription drugs and addresses related issues.
 
Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize the importation of certain eligible prescription drugs from Canada if HHS certifies to Congress that doing so would pose no additional risk to public health and safety and would result in significant cost savings for consumers. The bill removes this certification requirement and requires HHS to issue regulations that permit the importation of qualifying prescription drugs from Canada. After a certain amount of time, HHS may authorize importation from certain other countries if it determines that importation from Canada has resulted in cost savings for consumers and increased access to safe medication.
 
The bill also expands the types of prescription drugs eligible for importation to include, for example, biologics such as insulin. 
 
Furthermore, the bill allows individuals to use an eligible licensed foreign pharmacy to fill a U.S.-issued prescription for a qualifying drug for personal use. Currently, an individual seeking to import a prescription drug generally must acquire a waiver from HHS. 
 
The bill imposes various requirements related to certification of foreign sellers, labeling of imported drugs, and supply chain security. 
 
The bill also (1) prohibits certain acts that discriminate against foreign sellers, such as charging higher prices to foreign sellers than to other sellers in the same country; and (2) imposes criminal penalties for online websites that sell counterfeit drugs or dispense drugs without a required prescription.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate
Eliminate the Digital Divide Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-922
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Appropriations
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Poverty and welfare assistance
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

Eliminate the Digital Divide Act
 
of 2021

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program to provide funding to states for expanding access to broadband service in unserved areas. States must distribute these funds to certain broadband service providers for projects that offer a low-cost broadband service option for low-income subscribers. The bill also provides funding to carry out this program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate