hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Equal Health Care for All Act

Bill: 117-s-3073
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-10-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and health-based discrimination
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Licensing and registrations
Medicaid
Medicare
Minority health
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: 

Equal Health Care for All Act

 
This bill prohibits discrimination in health care based on race, religion, and other characteristics. It also revises reporting requirements, adds equity-related measures to certain Medicare programs, and makes other changes to reduce health disparities.
 
To enforce the prohibition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish an administrative process to resolve complaints about inequitable health care. HHS must investigate these complaints and mediate agreements to resolve issues. In the event of noncompliance with a mediated agreement, an aggrieved individual may bring a civil action.
 
Health care providers must also report data in formats that allow disaggregation by demographic factors. HHS must issue proposed regulations to carry out this requirement within 90 days.
 
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must include measures related to equitable health care in the Medicare value-based purchasing program for hospitals. This program provides incentive payments based on quality of care. The CMS may also exclude providers that furnish inequitable health care from its programs.
 
In addition, the bill establishes the Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor implementation of the bill and establishes a grant program for hospitals to promote equitable health care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3074
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-10-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Personnel records
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: 

Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2021

 
This bill reestablishes the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, which is administered by the Department of Labor and allows employers to self-report federal minimum wage and overtime violations as an alternative to litigation.
 
Employers may apply to the program by submitting certain information from a self-audit that includes calculations of any unpaid minimum or overtime wages. Labor must verify the calculations and, if the application is approved, supervise a settlement with affected employees that provides payment of any unpaid wages. Employees who accept a settlement under the program waive their private right of action to recover the unpaid wages provided under the settlement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Ban Conflicted Trading at the Fed Act

Bill: 117-s-3076
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-10-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: 

Ban Conflicted Trading at the Fed Act 

 
This bill imposes investment restrictions on certain Federal Reserve employees. 
 
Specifically, members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and presidents or vice presidents of a Federal Reserve bank are prohibited from (1) purchasing or selling a specified investment, including an investment in a security, a commodity, virtual currency, or a future; or (2) entering into a transaction that creates a net short position in a security. (A short position is an investment strategy employed when an investor anticipates a short term decrease in the investment's price.) Investments held prior to taking office may not be bought or sold, except for approved placement in a blind trust or divestiture during a specified time period. 
 
Further, Federal Reserve bank presidents, vice presidents, and directors must make annual and periodic financial and transaction disclosures. 
 
Finally, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must issue rules within 90 days of enactment requiring Federal Reserve board members, presidents, vice presidents, and senior staff (1) to provide 45 days advance notice of investment transactions, and (2) to hold investments for at least 1 year from the date of transaction.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Preserving Family Farms Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3077
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-10-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Farmland
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: 

Preserving Family Farms Act of 2021

 
This bill increases to $11.7 million (currently, $750,000) the limitation on the special use valuation for farmland or other trades or businesses for estate tax purposes. The increased amount is adjusted for inflation for estates of decedents dying after 2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Continued State Flexibility to Assist Older Foster Youth Act

Bill: 117-s-3078
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2021-10-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: 

Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act

 
This bill temporarily extends certain flexibilities for states to assist older youth in foster care during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
This includes expanding through FY2022 eligibility for services until a child reaches age 27 and suspending until December 31, 2021, certain education and training requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Keeping Our COVID–19 Heroes Employed Act

Bill: 117-s-3079
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-10-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Public contracts and procurement
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: 

Keeping Our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act

 
This bill exempts essential workers from COVID-19 vaccination requirements imposed by the federal government and contractors, public entities that received federal COVID-19 relief funds, and private entities that received any federal funds.
 
An
 essential worker
 is an individual who was deemed to be essential or exempted from response measures during the COVID-19 pandemic by a state, tribe, or territory.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3080
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Cancer Drug Parity Act of 20

21

 
This bill requires group health plans that cover anticancer medications administered by a health care provider to provide no less favorable cost sharing for patient-administered anticancer medications. This requirement applies to medications that are (1) approved by the Food and Drug Administration; (2) medically necessary for the cancer treatment; and (3) clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, extent site, and duration.
 
To comply with this requirement, plans may not, with respect to anticancer medications (1) change or replace benefits to increase out-of-pocket costs, (2) reclassify benefits to increase costs, or (3) apply more restrictive limitations to orally administered medications than to intravenously administered or injected medications. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Tax Free Education Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3081
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Tax Free Education Act of 2021

 
This bill permits tax-free distributions of up to $5,250 from 401(k) plans for qualified higher and elementary and secondary education expenses and penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for student loan expenses.
 
The bill also excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, distributions up to $5,250 from employer-sponsored student loan and tuition payment plans. It repeals the limitation on the deduction of interest on student loans and increases from $15,000 to $25,000 (adjusted for inflation) the maximum contribution amounts for certain tax-preferred retirement plans. 
 
The bill allows employees an election to treat contributions to a 401(k) plan as Roth contributions (thus exempting withdrawals from such plans from tax at retirement).
 
Finally, the bill allows individual taxpayers a new tax deduction for their qualified higher and elementary and secondary education expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act

Bill: 117-s-3082
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act

 
This bill prohibits all pre-dispute arbitration agreements and pre-dispute joint-action waivers with respect to consumer and civil rights disputes between Amtrak and its customers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Support Our Military Working Dogs Act

Bill: 117-s-3083
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Charitable contributions
Conflicts and wars
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Mammals
Medical research
Military medicine
Public contracts and procurement
Service animals
User charges and fees
Veterans' organizations and recognition
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Support Our Military Working Dogs Act

 
This bill addresses provisions regarding the care and study of military working dogs.
 
First, the bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to accept donations for the purpose of providing long-term care for retired military working dogs that have been adopted.
 
The bill authorizes DOD to enter into a multi-year agreement with a veterans service organization or nonprofit entity to solicit, accept, and transfer funds to provide long-term care for adopted military working dogs.
 
The bill prohibits charging a fee for the adoption of a military animal.
 
The bill updates the duties of the Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate. Specifically, the bill requires the directorate to develop a comprehensive trauma care registry with respect to military working dogs. Additionally, the directorate must inform and advise the conduct of research on the leading causes of morbidity and mortality of military working dogs in combat.
 
Finally, DOD must establish a personnel management plan for veterinary care.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3084
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Contracts and agency
Internet, web applications, social media
Military personnel and dependents
Military readiness
Telecommunication rates and fees
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes a servicemember to terminate specified contracts (e.g., contracts for commercial mobile service or internet service) that are entered into in relation to military orders for a permanent change of station if the member then receives a stop movement order in response to a local, national, or global emergency which prevents the member from using the services provided under the contract.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
HARMON Oklahoma Act

Bill: 117-s-3085
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medicare
Oklahoma
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Helping Account for Rural Medical Outpatient Needs in Oklahoma Act or the HARMON Oklahoma Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue to allow Harmon Memorial Hospital in Hollis, Oklahoma, to retain its designation as a critical access hospital and to seek designation as a rural emergency hospital under Medicare after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, as specified in a prior letter sent to the hospital. The bill also requires the CMS to issue final regulations implementing the newly created Medicare rural emergency hospital program by November 1, 2022.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
GAS PRICE Act

Bill: 117-s-3086
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Give Americans Stability at Pumps as Rising Inflation Causes Emergencies Act or the GAS PRICE Act

 
This bill requires the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to report on any policy, regulation, or executive order with an effective date of January 20, 2021, or later that the EIA determines has increased or may increase energy prices in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Vaccine Access Improvement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3087
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Vaccine Access Improvement Act of 2021

 
This bill adds vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for routine administration to children or in pregnant women to the list of taxable vaccines for purposes of the vaccine excise tax. The CDC must notify the Department of the Treasury and specified congressional committees of the designation of such vaccines as taxable vaccines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Five Freedoms for America’s Children Act

Bill: 117-s-3088
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Five Freedoms for America's Children Act

 
This bill establishes and modifies programs concerning children's health, financial security, education, nutrition, and welfare. Among other changes, the bill (1) provides for the automatic enrollment of all children under the age of 19 in Medicaid; (2) establishes savings accounts, and provides for annual deposits of federal funds into these accounts, for children of income-eligible parents; (3) provides mandatory funding for the Head Start Program; (4) facilitates the participation of income-eligible children in school-based nutrition programs through certain automatic certifications; and (5) establishes grant programs to address institutional and systemic child abuse.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Food Security is National Security Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3089
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Food Security is National Security Act of 2021

 
This bill places the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Further, the bill requires CFIUS to consider the potential effects of a proposed or pending transaction on the security of the U.S. food and agriculture systems, including any effects on the availability of, access to, or safety and quality of food.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to address the participation of Taiwan in the Inter-American Development Bank.

Bill: 117-s-3090
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Caribbean area
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Multilateral development programs
Taiwan

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of State to initiate a U.S. plan to endorse Taiwan's membership in the Inter-American Development Bank as a nonborrowing member. (The bank's nonborrowing members, such as the United States, provide capital and have voting representation in the bank's board of governors and board of executive directors.)
 
The State Department may also instruct the U.S. governor at the bank to work with the board of governors to admit Taiwan as a nonborrowing member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act

Bill: 117-s-3091
Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act

 
This bill allows a new tax credit for the production and sale of certain solar equipment produced and sold in a taxpayer's trade or business.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Equity and Fairness Act

Bill: 117-s-3093
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Disaster Equity and Fairness Act

 
This bill makes changes in the provision of federal disaster assistance to underserved communities and other specified recipients.
 

Underserved community
 means populations sharing a particular characteristic and geographic communities that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.
 
Specifically, the bill increases the federal cost share to a local government or Indian tribal government in connection with a second or subsequent major disaster during any three-year period.
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide assistance to a state, local government, or Indian tribal government to reimburse the cost of coordinating food delivery, production, and distribution in the event of a major disaster.
 
FEMA must provide direct technical assistance to eligible entities for applications and prioritize specified categories of communities, including underserved communities, those that have demonstrated a compelling need, and those that are exposed to increased hazards or vulnerabilities.
 
The bill increases the federal cost share for a recipient (1) that will use the assistance in, or for the benefit of persons who are members of, an undeserved community; or (2) who is in, or who is a member of, an underserved community.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3094
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-10-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: 

Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor, in administering homeless veterans reintegration programs, to (1) consider grant applications from entities in all states (to the maximum extent practicable), and (2) conduct an outreach and education program in states where no entity has been awarded a grant to ensure communities are aware of homeless veterans reintegration programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-15
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-10-27
text: Introduced in Senate