hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2403
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Lawyers and legal services
Licensing and registrations
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Multilateral development programs
News media and reporting
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Protest and dissent
Racial and ethnic relations
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
Turkey
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: 

Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2021 

 
This bill directs the Department of State to provide assistance to civil society organizations in Turkey that (1) work to secure the release of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners in Turkey, or (2) provide support and post-incarceration assistance for such prisoners. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2404
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-07-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Appropriations
Atmospheric science and weather
Aviation and airports
Budget process
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Disaster relief and insurance
Ecology
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive agency funding and structure
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Land use and conservation
Military education and training
Military operations and strategy
Motor vehicles
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Research and development
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Transportation safety and security
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: 

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes activities to address wildfires.
 
The bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior to establish spatial fire management plans before the end of FY2024.
 
The bill establishes 
 
 
accounts in the Treasury for addressing wildfires,
 
a program to train and certify citizens who wish to be able to volunteer to assist USDA or Interior during a wildland fire incident,
 
 a program to award grants to eligible states or units of local government to acquire slip-on tank and pump units for a surge capacity of resources for fire suppression, 
 
the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related invasive species, and 
 
the Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board.
 
 
The bill also 

 
 requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to reimburse a state or federal agency for the costs of wildfire suppression as a result of a fire caused by DOD activity,
 
 requires the Joint Fire Science Program to work with unmanned aircraft test ranges to carry out research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications, 
 
 requires federal and state disaster preparedness programs to include postdisaster assistance, and
 
authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide funding to a state agency to establish and operate a website to provide information relating to postfire recovery funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted by a wildland fire.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-15
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-10-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-07-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act

Bill: 117-s-2405
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Emergency communications systems
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care coverage and access
Indian social and development programs
Mental health
Performance measurement
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide grants to states to implement programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and their families to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about veterans' benefits and programs.
 
Specifically, the VA may provide grants to states to (1) implement or enhance outreach activities or activities to assist in the development and submittal of claims for veterans, or (2) increase the number of county or tribal veterans service officers in the state.
 
The VA must prioritize awarding grants in areas with a critical shortage of county or tribal veterans service officers, areas with high rates of suicide among veterans, and areas with high rates of referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2406
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the level of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain PFAS, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. 
 
The EPA must publish a maximum contaminant level (MCL) and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for PFAS that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (commonly referred to as PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (commonly referred to PFOS). The MCL and regulation must be protective of the health of subpopulations that may be at greater risk than the general population of adverse health effects from exposure to PFAS in drinking water.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2407
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Cyber Incident Notification Act of 2021

 
This bill requires federal agencies and certain entities to report cybersecurity intrusion incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and addresses related issues.
 
Within 24 hours of a confirmed intrusion (or potential intrusion), the targeted agency or entity must report the intrusion to CISA. 
 
CISA must promulgate rules relating to the bill, including the information that must be included in each incident report and the entities that must comply with the reporting requirements. At minimum, the covered entities must include federal contractors and owners or operators of critical infrastructure. Similarly, such rules must at minimum require federal agencies and covered entities to report all intrusions involving a nation-state, advanced persistent threat cyber actor, or transnational organized crime group. 
 
If a covered entity fails to meet the bill's requirements, CISA may assess a civil penalty of up to 0.5% of the entity's gross revenue for each day the violation lasts. If the violating entity has federal contracts, the General Services Administration may impose additional penalties, including removal from the Federal Contracting Schedule. 
 
A violation by a federal agency must be referred to that agency's office of the inspector general, which must treat the case as a matter of urgent concern. 
 
CISA, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence must provide periodic reports to Congress concerning the current cyber threat picture facing federal agencies and covered entities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2408
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2021

 
 This bill prohibits the award of federal funds to an institution of higher education (IHE) that hosts or is affiliated with a school-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to its students or to employees of the IHE or the site. An IHE that hosts or is affiliated with a site must, in order to remain eligible for federal funds, annually certify that the site does not provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2409
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2021

 
 This bill establishes restrictions on businesses that relocate call centers or redirect customer service calls to locations outside the United States.
 
 Specifically, a business must notify the Department of Labor that it intends to move its customer service call center overseas and Labor must maintain a publicly available list of such businesses. Subject to narrow exceptions, a business appearing on such list is ineligible to receive federal grants or guaranteed loans for five years after the business is added to the list. Further, agencies must condition the awarding of government contracts on the requirement that any call center activity pursuant to the contract must be performed in the United States.
 
 Additionally, the bill requires call center employees to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each call initiated or received, unless all employees of the business participating in the communication are located in the United States, among other exceptions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2410
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2021

 
This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion.
 
Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level.
 
The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2411
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Stop COVID-19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies provisions requiring health insurance plans to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing services at no cost, without prior authorization, and without medical management requirements. This includes the rates at which insurance plans must reimburse providers of such tests.
 
 The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to survey and report on the cash prices of testing services and the compliance of providers with the requirement to publish the prices of tests.
 
Additionally, HHS, jointly with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Labor, must issue guidance clarifying the process for submitting claims for testing services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2412
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings Act of 

2021
 
or the PALS Act

 
This bill makes a series of changes relating to health insurance coverage of screening mammography. 
 
Specifically, the bill requires that any provision of law referring to current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with respect to breast cancer screening mammography be administered as if (1) the provision referred to USPSTF recommendations last issued before 2009; and (2) those recommendations applied to any screening mammography modality, including any digital modality of such a procedure. This requirement shall also apply to the Veterans Health Administration's policy on mammography screening for veterans.
 
In addition, the bill preserves Medicare coverage for screening mammography, without a requirement for coinsurance, and expands the definition of screening mammography to include any digital modality of such a procedure. Further, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may not decrease the frequency with which screening mammography may be paid by Medicare for a woman over 39 years of age.
 
In 2009, the USPSTF updated its guidelines to recommend against routine screening mammography for women between 40 to 49 years of age and to recommend biennial, instead of annual, screening mammography for most women between 50 to 74 years of age. In 2015, through the appropriations process, a three-year moratorium was placed on implementing the guidelines; the moratorium was subsequently renewed until January 1, 2023.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5020)
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting Positive Outcomes After Release Act

Bill: 117-s-2413
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Supporting Positive Outcomes After Release Act

 
This bill expands certain requirements relating to the eligibility of inmates of public institutions for Medicaid.
 
Currently, state Medicaid programs (1) may suspend, but not terminate, a juvenile's Medicaid eligibility while the juvenile is an inmate; and (2) must restore coverage or determine a juvenile's eligibility, as applicable, upon the juvenile's release. The bill extends these provisions to all inmates of public institutions, regardless of age.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
REVIVE the CCC Act

Bill: 117-s-2414
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Restore Environmental Vitality and Improve Volatile Economy by the Civilian Conservation Corps Act or the REVIVE the CCC Act

 
This bill permits AmeriCorps to establish the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to address unemployment and environmental conservation and requires the Department of Agriculture to establish an agricultural workforce development program to incentivize apprenticeships in agriculture.
 
 The CCC must make grants to local host entities to allow those entities to select applicants to participate in conservation-related service projects. Local entities eligible for grants include, among others, state and local offices, nonprofit organizations, sponsors of apprenticeship programs, and individual farmers. A prospective CCC member must apply for placement with an approved local host for a service position hosted by that local entity. Applicants selected are considered CCC members but are not considered employees of the local host.
 
 The local host must provide CCC members with an allowance of $15 per hour of service and must provide a basic healthcare plan to full-time members. A CCC member who completes a term of service with a local host may be eligible to receive an award of up to $5,000 from AmeriCorps towards the costs of an apprenticeship program. These awards and allowances are not considered income for purposes of federal income taxation.
 
The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to establish an agricultural workforce development program to encourage agricultural businesses to employ apprentices by reimbursing up to 50% of apprenticeship costs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Long-Term Care Affordability Act

Bill: 117-s-2415
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Long-Term Care Affordability Act

 
This bill allows the use of tax-exempt retirement plan distributions to pay for long-term health care insurance. Specifically, it excludes such distributions from the gross income of an insured individual up to $2,500 for per individual in a taxable year.
 It also imposes reporting requirements on plans and insured individuals and requires a description of long-term care insurance arrangements and facts sheets for employers and workers.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
New Opportunities for Value that Extend Lives Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2416
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Manufacturing
Medicare
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

New Opportunities for Value that Extend Lives Act of 2021 or the NOVEL Act of 

2021

 
 This bill establishes a process for expediting the assignment of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes to medical products that have been designated as a breakthrough product or regenerative advanced therapy by the Food and Drug Administration; it also establishes a process for determining coverage under Medicare of such breakthrough products that have been assigned HCPCS codes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2417
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2021

 
This bill allows for the reporting of certain positive consumer-credit information to consumer reporting agencies. Specifically, a person or the Department of Housing and Urban Development may report information related to a consumer's performance in making payments either under a lease agreement for a dwelling or pursuant to a contract for a utility or telecommunications service. However, information about a consumer's usage of any utility or telecommunications service may be reported only to the extent that the information relates to payment by the consumer for such service or other terms of the provision of that service. Furthermore, an energy-utility firm may not report a consumer's outstanding balance as late if the firm and the consumer have entered into a payment plan and the consumer is meeting the obligations of that plan.
 
Specified provisions that establish civil liability with respect to furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies shall not apply to any violation of the bill.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on the consumer impact of such reporting.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Flood Insurance Rate Map Interagency Technology Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2418
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-07-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: 

Flood Insurance Rate Map Interagency Technology Act of 2021 or the FIRM IT Act of 2021 

 
This bill modifies technical requirements for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rate maps (community maps delineating flood hazard areas, flood elevations, and flood risk zones that are applicable to flood insurance rate determination). Specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must consult with the Department of Defense, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to obtain information relevant to NFIP rate maps. FEMA may include this data, as well as specified property survey information, in NFIP rate maps. The format of NFIP rate maps must conform to specified data and protocols. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Introduced in Senate