hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Discovery Trails Act

Bill: 117-s-4693
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2022-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: California
Colorado
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Land use and conservation
Maryland
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Utah
West Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: 

National Discovery Trails Act

 
 This bill amends the National Trails System Act to include national discovery trails as part of the national trails system. Such trails (1) shall be extended, continuous, interstate trails located to provide for outstanding outdoor recreation and travel and to connect representative examples of America's trails and communities; (2) shall provide for the conservation and enjoyment of significant natural, cultural, and historic resources and be so located as to represent metropolitan, urban, rural, and back country regions of the Nation; and (3) may be designated on federal lands and, with the owner's consent, on nonfederal lands.
 
 The 6,000-mile American Discovery Trail extending from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware, to Point Reyes National Seashore in California, splitting into northern and southern routes near Cincinnati, Ohio, and rejoining at Denver, Colorado, is designated as a national discovery trail. 
 
The bill sets forth requirements for designation of a trail as a national discovery trail. 
 
 The appropriate federal department for each national discovery trail shall (1) administer the trail in cooperation with at least one competent trailwide volunteer-based organization; and (2) submit a comprehensive plan for the trail's protection, management, development, and use. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4694
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2022-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: 

Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 

2022

 
This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish an Addressing Teacher Shortages Program. Through this program, ED shall award grants for local educational agencies to address teacher shortage challenges. 
 
Specifically, grant funds may be used to establish or expand teaching residency programs, teacher mentor programs, specified recruitment and training programs, and other evidence-based strategies to increase teacher retention and support teachers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Western Water Cooperative Committee Act

Bill: 117-s-4695
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2022-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: 

Western Water Cooperative Committee Act 

 
This bill directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a Western Water Cooperative Committee. The committee must make recommendations to avoid or minimize conflicts between corps projects and state water rights and laws. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing Aerial Fire Fighting Support (MAFFS) for the National Guard Act

Bill: 117-s-4696
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2022-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: 

Modernizing Aerial Fire Fighting Support (MAFFS) for the National Guard Act

 
This bill requires the Department of the Air Force to include the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System mission as part of its basing criteria for C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFE Risky Research Act

Bill: 117-s-4697
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2022-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: 

Securing America's Federally-funded Extramural Risky Research Act or the SAFE Risky Research Act

 
This bill prohibits federally funded research on pathogens of pandemic potential or other dangerous biological agents or toxins if the research is carried out by foreign institutions located in countries of concern.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Cybersecurity of Credit Unions Act

Bill: 117-s-4698
Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Introduced: 2022-08-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Banking and financial institutions regulation
National Credit Union Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: 

Improving Cybersecurity of Credit Unions Act 

 
This bill subjects credit union organizations and third-party service providers to examination and regulation by the National Credit Union Administration to the same extent as insured credit unions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-15
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4699
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2022

 
This bill allows a state or federal correctional facility to operate a jamming system to interfere with cellphone signals within inmate housing facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Bill: 117-s-4700
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs from requiring payment from a veteran for any contraceptive item that is required to be covered by health insurance plans without a cost-sharing requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Businesses Cybersecurity Act

Bill: 117-s-4701
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Small Businesses Cybersecurity Act

 
This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to award grants to Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to support the cybersecurity needs of the small businesses served by an SBDC. SBDCs provide counseling and training to small businesses, including working with the SBA to develop and provide informational tools to support business start-ups and existing business expansion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
PPSA Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4702
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Preventing a Patronage System Act of 2022 or the PPSA Act
 
of 2022

 
This bill prohibits executive agency positions in the competitive service from being placed in the excepted service, unless such positions are placed in Schedules A through E as in effect on September 30, 2020. The bill also prohibits positions in the excepted service from being placed in any schedule other than the aforementioned schedules.
 
On October 21, 2020, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled 
Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service
. The order placed executive agency positions that are of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, and that are not normally subject to change as a result of a presidential transition, under a new schedule in the excepted service (Schedule F) instead of the competitive service. The order also required any such positions in the excepted service to be reclassified to Schedule F. The order was revoked by President Joe Biden on January 22, 2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Act

Bill: 117-s-4703
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Securing America's Land from Foreign Interference Act

 
This bill requires the President to take actions as necessary to prohibit members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (or foreign individuals or entities acting on behalf of the CCP) from purchasing real estate located in the United States.
 
The bill also modifies an existing civil penalty for failing to satisfy a reporting requirement relating to a foreign individual or entity that acquires or transfers an interest in U.S. agricultural land. Under this bill, the civil penalty for failing to report the required information to the Department of Agriculture must be at least 10% of the fair market value of the relevant interest in agricultural land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Patent Examination and Quality Improvement Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4704
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Patent Examination and Quality Improvement Act of 2022

 
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on how to improve the patent examination process and the quality of issued patents. Within a year after the report is submitted to Congress, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office must develop guidance for its patent examiners that take into consideration the report&rsquo;s findings and recommendations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to relocate a memorial honoring the 9 Air Force crew members who lost their lives in an airplane crash in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests during a training mission on August 31, 1982.

Bill: 117-s-4705
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to relocate a memorial in North Carolina honoring the nine Air Force crew members who lost their lives in an airplane crash in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests during a training mission on August 31, 1982, with the consent of the owner of the private land where the memorial is currently located.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4706
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act of 2022 

 
This bill sets an 18-year term limit for Supreme Court Justices. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Buckeye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4707
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Geography and mapping
Government studies and investigations
Ohio
Parks, recreation areas, trails

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Buckeye National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study Act of 2022

 

 
This bill requires the study of the feasibility of designating the Buckeye Trail as a national scenic trail. The Buckeye Trail is a system of trails creating a loop extending approximately 1,454 miles from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, through the farmland of northwest Ohio, the hills of Appalachia, the Black Hand sandstone cliffs of the Hocking Hills region, and the Bluegrass region of southwest Ohio. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for wigs as durable medical equipment under the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-4708
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 
This bill includes medically necessary cranial prostheses (e.g., wigs) as covered durable medical equipment under the Medicare program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4709
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2022

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to revise its regulations to allow certain packers to hold an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a market agency selling livestock on a commission basis. The bill applies to packers that have a cumulative slaughter capacity of (1) less than 2,000 animal per day or 700,000 animals per year with respect to cattle or sheep, and (2) less than 10,000 animals per day or 3 million animals per year with respect to hogs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior.

Bill: 117-s-4710
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 
This bill includes phosphate and potash on a list of mineral commodities that are critical to the U.S. economy and national security.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
First Responders’ Equipment Access Act

Bill: 117-s-4711
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

First Responders' Equipment Access Act

 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to revise regulations to exempt from emission standards engines and equipment of certain marine vessels that are owned by emergency response or public safety agencies with responsibility for domestic response or homeland security activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read the second time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act

Bill: 117-s-4712
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Occupational Therapy Mental Health Parity Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct outreach on Medicare coverage of occupational therapy services to treat substance use or mental health disorders. The CMS must also issue guidance on the availability of such services under Medicaid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to specify additional sources from which a radio station licensee must obtain information to enable the licensee to announce that a foreign governmental entity has paid for a broadcast.

Bill: 117-s-4713
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 
This bill requires radio station licensees to obtain information from additional sources designated by the Federal Communications Commission when verifying (for purposes of announcing) if a foreign governmental entity paid for or furnished radio programming. The bill also specifies when licensees must obtain information and sets out related recordkeeping requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Sanctioning Supporters of Slave Labor Act

Bill: 117-s-4714
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Sanctioning Supporters of Slave Labor Act

 
This bill expands existing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses (e.g., such as torture or forced labor) against members of Muslim minority groups or other persons in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. 
 
Specifically, this bill requires sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that knowingly (1) provide significant goods, services, or technology to the parties subject to the existing sanctions for human rights abuses in Xinjiang; or (2) engage in a significant transaction relating to such human rights abuses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Trooper Werner Foerster and Frank Connor Justice Act

Bill: 117-s-4715
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Trooper Werner Foerster and Frank Connor Justice Act

 
This bill directs the Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Justice, to raise the issue of fugitives from the United States receiving safe haven in Cuba as part of bilateral conversations with Cuba.
 
The bill prohibits amounts in the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account from being used in Cuba until Cuba meets conditions related to fugitives and economic activity.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Secret Service Transparency and Accountability Act

Bill: 117-s-4716
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Secret Service Transparency and Accountability Act

 
This bill requires each office of the inspector general to offer a briefing to Congress of the contents of each of the office's semiannual reports. 
 
The bill also prohibits the Secretary of Homeland Security from delegating the Secretary's authority to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General from conducting investigations or audits, accessing information, or issuing subpoenas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4717
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act of 2022

 
This bill provides for activities to control invasive species on federal lands and waters. 
 
The Department of the Interior may inspect and decontaminate watercraft entering and leaving federal land and water located within a river basin that contains a Bureau of Reclamation water project.
 
The Bureau of Reclamation shall establish a competitive grant program to provide grants to partners to conduct inspections and decontamination of watercraft in reservoirs operated and maintained by Reclamation, including to purchase, establish, operate, or maintain a watercraft inspection and decontamination station. In carrying out the grant program, Reclamation shall coordinate with (1) states with Reclamation projects, (2) affected Indian tribes, and (3) the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Australia-United States Submarine Officer Pipeline Act

Bill: 117-s-4718
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2022-08-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: 

Australia-United States Submarine Officer Pipeline Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense to carry out an exchange program for Australian submarine officers. Under this program, two such officers shall be selected each year to receive training and, after completing such training, be assigned to duty on an operational U.S. submarine at sea. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2022-08-02
text: Introduced in Senate