hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Non-Opioid Directive Act

Bill: 117-s-1292
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug therapy
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Prescription drugs
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Non-Opioid Directive Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a non-opioid pain management directive. This is a form that an individual may use to inform health care providers of the individual's choice to avoid opioid medications for pain management. The bill also sets out requirements for the execution, use, and revocation of these forms.
 
HHS must make the form available on its website, and health insurers must make it available to their plan enrollees. Insurers must also share an enrollee's choice about opioid treatment with health care providers during pre-authorization processes.
 
The bill allows health care providers to override a patient's form in specified circumstances. It also extends liability protections for providers who reasonably and in good faith administer or prescribe an opioid to a patient with an executed form in place.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Ending the Fentanyl Crisis Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1293
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Postal service
Trade restrictions
U.S. Sentencing Commission

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Ending the Fentanyl Crisis Act of 2021

 
 This bill modifies the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, imports, exports, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl.
 
Specifically, the bill reduces from 400 to 20 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 100 to 5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for high-level first-time or repeat offenders. It also reduces from 40 to 2 grams the fentanyl quantity and from 10 to 0.5 grams the fentanyl analogue quantity that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for low-level first-time or repeat offenders.
 
Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to increase the availability of chemical screening devices and dedicate the appropriate number of personnel to interdict fentanyl and other substances that are unlawfully imported into the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
TRUST Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1295
Sponsor: Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Budget process
Congressional oversight
Government trust funds
Legislative rules and procedure

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Time to Rescue United States Trusts Act of 2021 or the TRUST Act of 2021 

 
This bill establishes congressional rescue committees to develop recommendations and legislation to improve critical social contract programs. 
 
A 
critical social contract program
 is a federal program 
 
 
 for which a federal trust fund is established (e.g., Social Security, Medicare, and federal highway programs), 
 
 with outlays of at least $20 billion during the year preceding the year in which this bill is enacted, and 
 
 for which the amount of dedicated federal funds and federal trust fund balances will be inadequate to meet the total amount of outlays of the program that would otherwise be made. 
 
 
Each rescue committee may develop recommendations and legislation to improve the program for which it was established, including by (1) increasing the duration of positive balances of the federal trust fund established for the program, and (2) providing for the solvency of the federal trust fund established for the program during a 75-year period. 
 
Congress must use specified expedited legislative procedures to consider legislation that is approved and submitted by the rescue committees. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

Bill: 117-s-1296
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Neurological disorders
Sex offenses
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly implement a five-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing specified counseling and services as part of the Transition Assistance Program for members of the Armed Forces as a means of reducing the incidence of suicide among veterans.
 
Specifically, the pilot program would involve a three-hour counseling module and the provision of contact information for a counseling or similar facility in the locality where the veteran intends to reside. Additionally, the participating veterans must submit medical records in connection with their service in the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they intend to file a claim for benefits for a service-connected disability.
 
Under the program, a social worker or behavioral health coordinator from the VA must contact the veteran within 90 days after the member is discharged or released from service to schedule a follow-up appointment.
 
At least 10 DOD Transition Assistance Centers must be jointly selected to carry out the pilot program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
STEM RESTART Act

Bill: 117-s-1297
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Higher education
Minority employment
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Small business
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

STEM Restoring Employment Skills through Targeted Assistance, Re-entry, and Training Act or the STEM RESTART Act

 
This bill establishes a new national program to support mid-career workers in reentering the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce, including workers from underrepresented or rural populations, by awarding grants to certain small- and medium-sized businesses to assist such workers in reentering the workforce at positions above entry level.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Energy for America Act

Bill: 117-s-1298
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air quality
Alaska
Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Business investment and capital
Capital gains tax
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Cooperative and condominium housing
Electric power generation and transmission
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Foreign and international corporations
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Industrial facilities
Inflation and prices
Labor standards
Lighting, heating, cooling
Motor fuels
Nuclear power
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public utilities and utility rates
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Securities
Taxation of foreign income
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Clean Energy for America Act

 
This bill provides tax incentives for investment in clean electricity, clean transportation, clean fuel production, energy efficiency, and sets forth workforce development requirements for the energy sector. 
 
The bill also terminates certain fossil fuel provisions and requires contractors on federal energy projects to ensure that not less than 15% of total labor hours be performed by qualified apprentices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Buildings Renewal Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1299
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Building construction
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Health facilities and institutions
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Law enforcement administration and funding
Libraries and archives
Research administration and funding
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Public Buildings Renewal Act of 2021

 
This bill allows tax-exempt financing of certain government-owned buildings by expanding the definition of 
exempt facility bond
 to include bonds used for qualified government buildings. 
 
A qualified government building is a government-owned building or facility that consists of one or more of the following
 
 
an elementary or secondary school;
 
a facility of a state college or university used for educational purposes;
 
a public library;
 
a court;
 
a hospital or health care facility; 
 
a laboratory or research facility used by a governmental unit; 
 
a public safety facility; or
 
an office for government employees.
 
 
The bill excludes buildings or facilities that include specified recreational equipment or are used for the primary purpose of providing retail food and beverage services, recreation, or entertainment.
 
The bill establishes (1) a $5 billion limit on the amount of tax-exempt financing which may be provided for government buildings, and (2) procedures for allocating and applying for the financing. 
 
The bill exempts the bonds for government buildings from the volume cap on private activity bonds. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1300
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Capital gains tax
Department of the Treasury
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Income tax deferral
Securities
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2021

 
This bill expands tax incentives and federal assistance for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) that are sponsored by S corporations. 
 
The bill extends to all domestic corporations, including S corporations, provisions allowing deferral of tax on gain from the sale of employer securities to an ESOP. 
 
 The Department of the Treasury must establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations.
 
The bill defines an 
ESOP business concern
 and allows such a concern to continue to qualify as a small business for the purposes of programs under the Small Business Act. An 
ESOP business concern
 is a business concern that was a small business concern eligible for a loan, preference, or other program under the Small Business Act before more than 49% of the business concern was acquired by an ESOP.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Social Security Fairness Act

Bill: 117-s-1302
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Social security and elderly assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Social Security Fairness Act

 
This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.
 
The bill eliminates the 
government pension offset
, which in various instances reduces Social Security survivors' benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.
 
The bill also eliminates the 
windfall elimination provision
, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.
 
These changes are effective for benefits payable after December 2021.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1304
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adult education and literacy
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Labor-management relations
National and community service
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Vocational and technical education
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act of 2021

 
This bill creates a federal program to generate job opportunities for full-time students and certain workers who have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks.
 
Specifically, the Department of Labor must establish and administer a jobs initiative for eligible workers (i.e., individuals who are at least 18 years of age, are authorized to be employed in the United States, have not been employed or are full-time students for at least 27 weeks, and are currently seeking or have been seeking employment for at least 4 weeks), carried out through local boards or community-based organizations.
 
Labor shall award grants to local boards and community-based organizations to carry out jobs programs, including any added costs related to them in order to achieve economic development and job growth. Grant recipients must serve (1) high-poverty areas; or (2) areas for which the prime working-age employment-to-population ratio has been low, relative to that ratio for the United States for at least three years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Advanced Coursework Equity Act

Bill: 117-s-1305
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational guidance
Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government Operations and Politics
Higher education
Minority education
School administration
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Advanced Coursework Equity Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish three grant programs to increase enrollment and performance of underrepresented students in advanced courses and programs. Local educational agencies receiving grants or subgrants must use such funds for certain activities, such as conducting community engagement, expanding enrollment of underrepresented students in advanced courses, and providing direct services (e.g., tutoring) to underrepresented students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Make PPE in America Act

Bill: 117-s-1306
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Manufacturing
Public contracts and procurement
Strategic materials and reserves
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Make PPE in America Act

 
This bill requires procurement contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be long-term and for domestically manufactured PPE.
 
Specifically, contracts entered into by the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Defense, Education, or Veterans Affairs for the procurement of PPE must be for a duration of at least three years, including a base period and all option periods, to incentivize investment in the production of PPE, and materials and components of PPE, in the United States.
 
The bill provides exceptions (1) where a nonavailability determination has been made, (2) where a sufficient quantity of a satisfactory quality cannot be procured as and when needed at U.S. market prices, and (3) where the department certifies every 120 days that it is necessary to procure PPE under alternate procedures to respond to the immediate needs of a public health emergency.
 
Such departments may transfer to the Strategic National Stockpile any excess PPE acquired under a contract.

action_date: 2022-12-19
text: 

Make PPE in America Act

 
This bill requires certain federal procurement contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be long-term (at least two years in duration) and for domestically manufactured PPE, with certain exceptions such as for nonavailability. The bill also addresses related issues, such as authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to transfer excess PPE or medically necessary equipment to the Department of Health and Human Services during public health emergencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 668.
action_date: 2022-12-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-269.
action_date: 2022-12-19
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-269.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veteran Affairs Provider Accountability Act

Bill: 117-s-1307
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employee hiring
Employee performance
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Licensing and registrations
Medical ethics
Personnel records
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

Department of Veteran Affairs Provider Accountability Act

 
This bill prescribes oversight requirements for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding health care professionals at VA medical centers.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the VA to ensure each VA medical center consistently compiles, verifies, and reviews specified documentation for each VA health care professional (including contractors).
 
The VA shall ensure that specified health care professionals hold an active Drug Enforcement Administration registration. 
 
Each VA medical center must implement (1) monitoring of the performance and quality of the health care delivered by each health care professional at the center, and (2) reviews of such care if an individual notifies the VA of any potential concerns relating to a failure to meet generally accepted standards of clinical practice.
 
The bill imposes notification requirements in situations where the VA substantiates a concern relating to the clinical competency of, or quality of care delivered by, a current or former VA health care professional. 
 
The VA is prohibited from entering into a settlement agreement relating to an adverse action against a VA health care professional if such agreement includes terms that require the VA to conceal certain information from the employee's personnel file. Such prohibition does not apply to adverse actions determined to be prohibited personnel practices.
 
The VA must provide mandatory training, at least biannually, to employees who are responsible for specified tasks (e.g., those who are responsible for compiling, validating, or reviewing the credentials of VA health care professionals).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate
American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1308
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-04-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax credits
Infrastructure development
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

American Infrastructure Bonds Act of 2021

 
This bill allows the issuer of an American infrastructure bond a tax credit for 28% of the interest payable under such bond.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Introduced in Senate