hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BLAST Act

Bill: 117-hr-1412
Sponsor: Rep. Hollingsworth, Trey [R-IN-9]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Members of Congress
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act or the BLAST Act

 
This bill revises the post-employment lobbying ban on former Members and elected officers of Congress. 
 
Specifically, it imposes a permanent ban on lobbying contacts by a former Senator (currently, a two-year ban), a former Member of the House of Representatives (currently, a one-year ban), or a former elected officer of the House or Senate (currently, a one-year ban).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1413
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Poverty and welfare assistance
Retail and wholesale trades
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021

 
This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to make the online redemption of benefits, including the acceptance of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, more widely available by requiring the implementation of online SNAP purchasing in every state and providing funding for an online redemption portal and a technical assistance center.
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award on a competitive basis one or more contracts to develop an EBT Online Redemption Portal to (1) allow program participants to use online or mobile electronic benefits transactions to purchase program foods from, and make online payments to, authorized program retailers under SNAP; and (2) facilitate food purchase delivery for program participants using such electronic benefits transactions. 
 
The Food and Nutrition Service of USDA must award competitive grants or enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities to establish a SNAP Online Purchasing Technical Assistance Center to provide state agencies, authorized program retailers, and program participants information on and technical assistance with accepting SNAP benefits through online transactions and use of the portal. In providing technical assistance, the center must give priority to entities that are small and limited-resource retailers.
 
The bill provides funding for both the online redemption portal and the technical assistance center. 
 
USDA must maintain on its website a publicly available listing, organized and searchable by region, locality, and state, of all approved retail food stores accepting benefits from recipients of SNAP, including through online transactions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act

Bill: 117-hr-1414
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Civil actions and liability
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals
Supreme Court

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act

 
This bill revises provisions regarding the Federal Election Commission (FEC), including to change FEC membership.
 
Specifically, the bill reduces the number of appointed members of the FEC from six to five and permits no more than two members to be affiliated with the same political party. Further, it removes the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House as ex officio members.
 
Next, the bill establishes the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel to recommend to the President individuals for nomination to the FEC. The President shall appoint the FEC chair, subject to Senate confirmation.
 
The bill distributes the FEC's powers between the chair and the other FEC members. Further, it requires the FEC to ensure that its forms allow for the use of an accent mark as part of an individual's identification.
 
The bill modifies the process for (1) the FEC to initiate an investigation, and (2) a party aggrieved by the FEC's dismissal of the party's complaint or the FEC's failure to take action on the party's complaint to seek judicial review in federal court. Additionally, individuals who submit written comments regarding requests for advisory opinions must be given an opportunity to appear at FEC hearings on those requests.
 
The bill also permanently extends the FEC's administrative penalty authority.
 
Finally, the bill provides statutory authority for limitations on ex parte communications as applied to FEC members and employees. It also specifies that FEC attorneys may represent the FEC before the Supreme Court. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act

Bill: 117-hr-1415
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Ecology
Historical and cultural resources
Indian lands and resources rights
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to award competitive grants to Indian tribes to further achievement of tribal coastal zone objectives.
 
Specifically, these tribal coastal zone objectives include 
 
 
protecting, restoring, or preserving areas in the zone that hold important ecological, cultural, or sacred significance for the tribes or traditional, historic, and aesthetic values essential to the tribes;
 
preparing and implementing a special area management plan and technical planning for important coastal areas; and
 
implementing any coastal or shoreline stabilization measure for the purpose of public safety, public access, or cultural or historical preservation.


action_date: 2022-11-16
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to award competitive grants to Indian tribes to further achievement of tribal coastal zone objectives.
 
Specifically, these tribal coastal zone objectives include 
 
 
protecting, restoring, or preserving areas in the zone that hold important ecological, cultural, or sacred significance for the tribes or traditional, historic, and aesthetic values essential to the tribes;
 
preparing and implementing a special area management plan and technical planning for important coastal areas; and
 
implementing any coastal or shoreline stabilization measure for the purpose of public safety, public access, or cultural or historical preservation.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 405.
action_date: 2022-11-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-564.
action_date: 2022-11-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 117-564.
action_date: 2022-01-19
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 16.
action_date: 2022-01-19
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-01-19
text: Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Discharged.
action_date: 2022-01-19
text: Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Discharged.
action_date: 2021-06-22
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2021-04-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
action_date: 2021-04-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Tribal Adoption Parity Act

Bill: 117-hr-1416
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Child safety and welfare
Disability and paralysis
Income tax credits
Indian social and development programs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

 Tribal Adoption Parity Act
 
 
This bill allows Indian tribal governments to determine whether a child has special needs for the purposes of the adoption tax credit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1417
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Athletes
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Genetics
Higher education
School athletics
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses protections related to sex and sex-segregated spaces. 
Sex
 is defined as sex determined solely by a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
 
The bill prohibits construing the provisions of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 in a manner that would require forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated spaces (such as bathrooms) and of sex-segregated athletic or academic programs by educational institutions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Family Friendly Schools Act

Bill: 117-hr-1418
Sponsor: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Family services
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Family Friendly Schools Act

 
This bill establishes a pilot program to implement policies at elementary schools that align the school day with the work day. It also establishes a grant program as a supplement to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to support programs and activities during summer recess.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award five-year grants to local educational agencies for establishing policies at 500 elementary schools that align the school day with the work day. ED must report to Congress at the three-year mark and at the conclusion of the five-year grant period on best practices and recommendations for aligning school and work schedules, and for strengthening partnerships between schools and community resources.
 
In addition, the bill requires ED to carry out a supplemental grant program to establish or expand community learning center summer programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Protect Against Unlawful Lobbying (PAUL) Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1419
Sponsor: Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Department of Justice
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Protect Against Unlawful Lobbying (PAUL) Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish a separate unit for the investigation and enforcement of provisions requiring registration of foreign agents. It provides DOJ with the authority to impose civil monetary penalties for violations and requires foreign agents to disclose transactions involving things of financial value conferred on officeholders by foreign principals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 37, United States Code, to authorize the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services in the Virgin Islands.

Bill: 117-hr-1420
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military personnel and dependents
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 
This bill adjusts the housing allowance for uniformed service members in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
 
Specifically, the Department of Defense must provide to a service member serving in the U.S. Virgin Islands the basic housing allowance, rather than the overseas housing allowance. 
 
Currently, a service member on duty in the U.S. Virgin Islands receives the overseas housing allowance, which is limited to cost reimbursement. By contrast, service members in the 50 states and the District of Columbia receive the basic housing allowance, which offers a fixed amount for each locality and grade/rank. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Territories College Access Act

Bill: 117-hr-1421
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: American Samoa
Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Employment and training programs
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Guam
Higher education
Northern Mariana Islands
Performance measurement
Student aid and college costs
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Territories College Access Act

 
This bill establishes a grant program to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees for students who are residents of an outlying area (i.e., American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the Virgin Islands) and who attend a public institution of higher education located in a state, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.
 
A student on whose behalf a grant is made must maintain full-time employment within the outlying area for at least two years. Further, a student who completes less than the required two years of employment must repay the grant, or the grant must be treated as a loan that is subject to repayment.
 
Lastly, the Government Accountability Office must report on the program's effectiveness in expanding educational opportunities for these students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
To permit each of the territories of the United States to provide and furnish statues honoring their citizens for placement in Statuary Hall in the same manner as statues honoring citizens of the States are provided for placement in Statuary Hall.

Bill: 117-hr-1422
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: American Samoa
Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Guam
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
U.S. Capitol
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 
This bill authorizes the President to invite each U.S. territory to provide and furnish no more than two statues for placement in National Statuary Hall. These statues may be of U.S. citizens or persons who, though not citizens of the United States, owe permanent allegiance to the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
To amend title 1, United States Code, to provide for a definition of the term "State" and to include territories therein, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-hr-1423
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 
This bill provides that, in determining the meaning of any federal statute or any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies, the term 
state
 shall include any U.S. territory, unless the statute, rule, regulation, or interpretation explicitly excludes the territories from the definition of the term or otherwise precludes their inclusion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
St. Croix National Heritage Area Act

Bill: 117-hr-1424
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Historic sites and heritage areas
Historical and cultural resources
Income tax deductions
Land use and conservation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Taxation
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

St. Croix National Heritage Area Act

 
This bill establishes the St. Croix National Heritage Area in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. 
 
The bill designates the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office as the local coordinating entity.
 
The preservation office shall prepare and submit a management plan for the heritage area for the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of its resources.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2021-04-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the limitation on the cover over of distilled spirits taxes to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Bill: 117-hr-1425
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alcoholic beverages
Caribbean area
Intergovernmental relations
Puerto Rico
Sales and excise taxes
State and local finance
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 
This bill repeals the limitation on the amount of distilled spirits excise taxes covered over (paid) to the treasuries of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
Territorial Economic Recovery Act

Bill: 117-hr-1426
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: American Samoa
Guam
Income tax exclusion
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Taxation of foreign income
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 

Territorial Economic Recovery Act

 
This bill restores the favorable tax treatment of investment in U.S. territories and possessions. It treats such investment as domestic rather than foreign investment and requires investors to have an active trade or business in a U.S. territory or possession with a certain percentage of income derived from such territory or possession. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that certain bona fide residents of the Virgin Islands who are shareholders of corporations organized under the laws of the Virgin Islands are not treated as United States persons for purposes of determining certain inclusions in gross income with respect to such corporations.

Bill: 117-hr-1427
Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2021-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax rates
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: 
This bill sets forth a tax rule with respect to certain bona fide residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands who are shareholders of corporations organized under the laws of the Virgin Islands. It provides that such residents shall not be treated as U.S. persons for purposes of determining inclusions in gross income with respect to such corporations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-26
text: Introduced in House