hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3220
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits the use of exotic or wild animals in performances of a traveling animal act, such as a circus, carnival, or parade. The prohibition does not apply to zoos, aquariums, research facilities, wildlife sanctuaries, and other entities. The prohibition also does not apply to domestic animals or farm animals. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
IRS Improper Payments Act

Bill: 117-s-3221
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

IRS Improper Payments Act

 
This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice (DOJ), executive agencies, and inspectors general to take specified steps to reduce improper payments and eliminate waste in federal programs.
 
Specifically, the OMB must (1) establish annual targets for reducing improper payments, (2) issue government-wide guidance on this bill's implementation, and (3) establish various working groups. The OMB must also develop policy recommendations, including potential legislative proposals, designed to reduce improper payments.
 
The Department of the Treasury, in coordination with DOJ and the OMB, must (1) publish information about improper payments under programs identified as having the highest dollar value or majority of improper payments (i.e., high priority programs); and (2) establish a central internet-based method to collect from the public information relating to suspected incidents of waste, fraud, and abuse.
 
Each agency that administers a high priority program shall designate a Senate-confirmed official to be accountable for meeting agency program reduction targets.
 
The bill requires an agency that fails to meet high priority program reduction targets of the agency, or fails to implement the plans for not less than two consecutive years, to submit a report that describes the likely causes of the failure and proposes a remedial plan.
 
The Chief Financial Officers Council must take specified actions.
 
The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council must recommend to the President actions designed to enhance contractor accountability for improper payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights

Bill: 117-s-3222
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights

 
This bill expands protections for passengers in air transportation.
 
Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Transportation to implement regulations relating to
 
 
protections for airline passengers from being required to involuntarily relinquish their seats, unless necessary for safety or security;
 
the elimination of the dollar limitations on compensation to passengers denied boarding due to overbooking;
 
compensation to passengers for delayed or cancelled flights;
 
interline agreements between air carriers and other transportation providers; 
 
training on the rights of passengers;
 
unreasonable air carrier fees; 
 
unrestricted access of consumers to information on schedules, fares, fees, and taxes;
 
accuracy in pricing of tickets and disclosure of lowest fares; and
 
notifications to passengers of their rights and eligibility for refunds.
 
 
The Federal Aviation Administration must (1) prohibit any air carrier from reducing seat size or leg room, and (2) report on the quality of food and potable water on passenger aircraft and the sufficiency of flight crews and aircraft.
 
The bill provides a private right of action for passengers aggrieved by airline actions and increases civil penalties on air carriers for violations of passenger protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Birth Control Act

Bill: 117-s-3223
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Family planning and birth control
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Access to Birth Control Act

 
This bill requires pharmacies to comply with certain rules related to ensuring access to contraceptives.
 
Specifically, pharmacies must provide without delay a customer with any contraceptive or related medication that is in stock. If the contraceptive is not in stock, the pharmacy must immediately inform the customer and either order the contraceptive or refer the customer to a pharmacy that has it in stock. Laws in some states provide pharmacists with the right to refuse to dispense contraceptive-related drugs on religious or conscience grounds.
 
Pharmacies may refuse to provide a contraceptive to a customer (1) if the customer lacks a valid prescription for a prescription contraceptive or is unable to pay for the contraceptive, or (2) based on a pharmacy employee's professional clinical judgment.
 
The bill also establishes a private cause of action and civil monetary penalties for violations of the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Supply Chain Emergency Response Act

Bill: 117-s-3224
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Asia
Atlantic Coast (U.S.)
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
China
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Foreign and international corporations
Gulf of Mexico
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Pacific Ocean
Panama Canal
Political parties and affiliation
Transportation costs
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Supply Chain Emergency Response Act

 
This bill directs the Maritime Administration to establish a program to provide grants to certain owners of cargo vessels to cover toll costs associated with rerouting cargo vessels from ports along the western seaboard of the United States through the Panama Canal to ports along the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern seaboard of the United States. 
 
To receive a grant, an owner of a cargo vessel shall submit documentation that such owner intends to reroute a cargo vessel and has the corresponding docking agreements.
 
The bill allows states and localities to use COVID-19 relief funds for costs related to rerouting cargo vessels.
 
Any marine terminal operator that is located along the western seaboard of the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, may not collect port fees from a recipient of a grant who has rerouted a cargo vessel from such port due to the inability of such port to receive such vessel.
 
Any individual who is a member of the Chinese Communist Party or any company owned, in whole or in part, by the Chinese Communist Party may not receive a grant under this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Respecting Our Frontline Workers Act

Bill: 117-s-3225
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicaid
Medicare
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Respecting Our Frontline Workers Act

 
This bill prohibits federal agencies from requiring the staff of health care facilities or other settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 
 
On November 5, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a rule titled 
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination
. The rule requires health care providers, as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation, to ensure that staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
MODERN WIC Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3226
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2021 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2021

 
This bill makes various changes to allow individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
 
The Department of Agriculture must also report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other tools in the WIC program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act

Bill: 117-s-3227
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act

 
This bill directs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure that various naturalization-related services are available at a U.S. port of entry, embassy, or consulate that is accessible to noncitizen veterans. Specifically, USCIS must ensure that naturalization examinations, biometric collections, and naturalization ceremonies are available at such locations for noncitizen veterans. 
 
Such services must be available to a noncitizen veteran who has been removed from the United States or is inadmissible.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act

Bill: 117-s-3228
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act

 
This bill revises requirements for effective school leadership programs that are funded by Teacher Quality Partnership Grants. Specifically, the bill requires the leadership programs to train early education leaders on skills concerning early childhood development and instruction of children from birth through age eight.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3229
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Civil actions and liability
Contracts and agency
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Livestock
Mammals
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 

Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take various actions to address transparency in pricing and contract terms in the cattle industry.
 
Among these requirements, USDA must (1) establish regional minimum percentages of cattle that meat packers must procure through negotiated purchases or negotiated grid purchases (i.e., transactions where the price is known and negotiated at the time of the transaction), and (2) maintain a publicly available catalog of contracts offered by meat packers to livestock producers for the purchase of fed cattle.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the food safety threat posed by beef imported from Brazil, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-3230
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2021-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a working group to (1) evaluate the food safety threat posed by beef imported from Brazil, and (2) make recommendations regarding whether or not the importation of beef from Brazil should be permitted. The bill also suspends imports of beef from Brazil until the working group submits its recommendations to USDA. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Closing the Warrantless Digital Car Search Loophole Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3231
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Closing the Warrantless Digital Car Search Loophole Act of 2021

 
This bill generally prohibits investigative and law enforcement officers from accessing vehicle data (onboard and telematics data in a noncommercial vehicle, such as navigation data and data captured by onboard sensors or cameras) unless pursuant to a warrant. Vehicle data acquired in violation of this bill is inadmissible as evidence in any trial, hearing, or other legal proceeding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
STURDY Act

Bill: 117-s-3232
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child safety and welfare
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Product safety and quality

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act or the STURDY Act

 This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to revise the safety standards for freestanding clothing storage units such as dressers, bureaus, or chests of drawers. Such standards must include specified testing related to tip overs and new warning requirements for all such products entering the U.S. market.

action_date: 2022-09-27
text: 

Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act or the STURDY Act

 This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to revise the safety standards for freestanding clothing storage units such as dressers, bureaus, or chests of drawers. Such standards must include specified testing related to tip-overs and new warning requirements for all such products entering the U.S. market.

action_date: 2022-09-29
text: 

Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act or the STURDY Act

 This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to revise the safety standards for freestanding clothing storage units such as dressers, bureaus, or chests of drawers. Such standards must include specified testing related to tip-overs and new warning requirements for all such products entering the U.S. market.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-30
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2022-09-30
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2022-09-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6050-6051; text: CR S6050-6051)
action_date: 2022-09-29
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2022-09-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 503.
action_date: 2022-09-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-161.
action_date: 2022-09-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-161.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Cooking Support Act

Bill: 117-s-3233
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Clean Cooking Support Act

 
This bill provides for a way of increasing the number of clean cookstoves and fuels for household, institutional, or commercial use throughout the world.
 
The Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shall jointly establish the Clean Cooking Interagency Working Group to assist with overseeing the planning, management, and coordination of initiatives to increase the number of clean cookstoves and fuels worldwide.
 
The State Department, USAID, the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency shall work with the Clean Cooking Alliance to carry out clean cooking activities that relate to the missions of such departments or agencies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S8453)
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
HBCU National Security Innovation Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3234
Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Congressional oversight
Higher education
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Minority education
Public contracts and procurement
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

HBCU National Security Innovation Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering within the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish activities to better connect historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions to the programs of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
 
DOD must brief the congressional defense committees on activities conducted to expand DIU programs to HBCUs and minority-serving institutions and recommendations for how DOD and the federal government can support such institutions to successfully participate in DIU programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Lending Disclosure Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3235
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Small Business Lending Disclosure Act of 2021 

 
This bill applies specified commercial lending protections to small business lending and extends the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's regulatory authority regarding consumer financial products and services to include small business financing. Among other requirements, lenders offering financial products to small businesses must disclose the terms of the financing upon extending an offer and are prohibited from charging certain additional fees on a refinanced or modified loan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3236
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make changes to the financing of the Universal Service Fund. This fund, which is financed by fees contributed by telecommunications carriers, supports programs to expand the availability of and access to telecommunications services.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the FCC to (1) study the need for expanding the fund's contribution base to ensure fairness and equity in applicable contribution requirements, and (2) reform the fund's contribution system through rulemaking. In carrying out the rulemaking, the FCC must consider the findings and recommendations of its study and the impact of changes on consumers, businesses, and seniors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3237
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-11-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: 

Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2021 

 
This bill revises requirements for the fixed guideway capital investment grant program.
 
Specifically, the bill revises how the Department of Transportation evaluates and rates fixed guideway capital projects under the program to include affordable housing incentives.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Introduced in Senate