hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Debt-Free College Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1263
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational guidance
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Minority education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Debt-Free College Act
 
of 

2021

 
This bill establishes measures to cover the unmet financial need of students who are enrolled at certain institutions of higher education (IHEs). 
Unmet financial need
 refers to the difference between a student's cost of attendance and the student's expected family contribution, plus any federal, state, and local sources of grant aid. In addition, the bill makes certain Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status) eligible for federal financial aid.
 
First, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award grants for state-federal partnerships with a goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-state public IHEs. 
Eligible student
 refers to an individual who (1) is enrolled or is eligible to enroll in an in-state public IHE, (2) completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or demonstrates eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant through institutional financial-aid eligibility forms, and (3) demonstrates satisfactory academic progress.
 
Next, the bill requires ED to award grants to historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to cover the unmet financial need of enrolled students. 
 
ED must establish an office to administer grants and provide oversight.
 
In addition, the bill makes Dreamer students who entered the United States before the age of 16 and who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal student aid.


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
Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act

Bill: 117-s-1264
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Atmospheric science and weather
Civil actions and liability
Disaster relief and insurance
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Hunting and fishing
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Livestock
Natural disasters
Outdoor recreation
Water use and supply
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act

 
This bill makes vacant grazing allotments temporarily available to holders of grazing permits or leases after a natural disaster.

The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall make available to the holder of a grazing permit or lease issued by either Interior or USDA the temporary use of a vacant grazing allotment if one or more grazing allotments covered by the grazing permit or lease of the holder are temporarily unusable because of resource conditions from unforeseen natural events or disasters (including an extreme weather event, drought, wildfire, infestation, or blight).
 
The bill allows investment of amounts in the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The bill allocates income generated by that investment to rangeland improvement projects and enhancing, expanding, or improving access to public lands or National Forest System land to benefit hunting and recreation activities.
 
The bill increases the maximum duration of grazing permits and leases from 10 years to 20 years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-06-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act

Bill: 117-s-1265
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Civil actions and liability
Computers and information technology
Consumer affairs
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Right of privacy
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act

 
This bill generally prohibits law enforcement and intelligence agencies from obtaining U.S. customer or subscriber records or any illegitimately obtained information from a third party in exchange for anything of value (e.g., purchasing such information). Records or information obtained in violation of this bill are inadmissible as evidence in any trial, hearing, or other legal proceeding.


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
Hydrogen Utilization and Sustainability Act

Bill: 117-s-1266
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Electric power generation and transmission
Income tax credits

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Hydrogen Utilization and Sustainability Act

 
This bill expands the tax credit for producing electricity from renewable resources to include qualified hydrogen. The bill defines 
qualified hydrogen
 as hydrogen fuel certified as having a carbon intensity of not greater than 75 grams of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per kilowatt hour of electricity produced, as determined based on a lifecycle analysis.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act

Bill: 117-s-1267
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Census and government statistics
Congressional districts and representation
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act

 
This bill extends certain deadlines for the 2020 decennial census.
 
Specifically, the Department of Commerce must (1) complete the tabulation of total population by states, report the tabulation to the President, and make the tabulation public, by May 1, 2021; and (2) complete tabulations of population expeditiously, taking into account the deadlines of each state for legislative apportionment or districting, and report the tabulations by October 1, 2021.


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
PARK IT Act

Bill: 117-s-1268
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Protecting Americans from the Risks of Keyless Ignition Technology Act or the PARK IT Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to finalize regulations relating to automatic shutoff systems for motor vehicles and standards to prevent the movement of vehicles in specific situations.
 
Specifically, DOT must require manufacturers to install technology in each motor vehicle (not including a battery electric vehicle) with a keyless ignition device and an internal combustion engine to automatically shut off the vehicle after the vehicle has idled for a period necessary to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, it must be installed in each motor vehicle with a keyless ignition device and automatic transmission to prevent movement (i.e., rollaway) of the vehicle if (1) the transmission of the vehicle is not in the park setting, (2) the vehicle does not exceed the speed determined by DOT, (3) the door for the operator of the vehicle is open, (4) the seat belt of the operator of the vehicle is unbuckled, and (5) the service brake of the vehicle is not engaged.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the effects of special recreation permits on environmental justice communities, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-1269
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Minority health
Motor vehicles
Outdoor recreation
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 
This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the use of special recreation permits by recreation service providers serving environmental justice communities. 
 
The bill defines an 

environmental justice community

 as a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects than other communities.
 
Interior and USDA (1) shall contact all existing or prospective special recreation service providers to request a voluntary estimate of the number of user days used by, or, in the case of a prospective recreation service provider, expected to be used by, individuals from environmental justice communities; (2) shall request from recreation service providers and interested members of the public any other information required for the report; and (3) shall not use participation or the provision of information to Interior and USDA by a recreation service provider as a condition of a special recreation permit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-02
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Healthy Food for Young Children Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1270
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adult day care
Advisory bodies
Child care and development
Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Access to Healthy Food for Young Children Act of 2021

 
This bill revises several provisions related to the Child and Adult Care Food Program. These revisions include
 
 
increasing reimbursement rates;
 
requiring reimbursements to be adjusted annually to reflect the Consumer Price Index for food away from home, rather than the Consumer Price Index for food at home used under current law;
 
providing for an additional meal service to be served in child care settings with eight or more hours between the first meal service and the beginning of the fourth meal service;
 
expanding geographical eligibility for tier I family or group day care homes; and
 
requiring the Department of Agriculture to establish an advisory committee to examine the feasibility of reducing unnecessary or duplicative paperwork for those participating or seeking to participate in the program.
 
 
The bill also provides funding to (1) provide nutrition training and technical assistance under the program, and (2) increase the participation of children from underserved communities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1271
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality
Buy American requirements
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Electric power generation and transmission
Elementary and secondary education
Environmental health
Government lending and loan guarantees
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Labor standards
Manufacturing
Minority education
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Public contracts and procurement
Public utilities and utility rates
Public-private cooperation
Securities
Solid waste and recycling
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2021

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the Clean School Bus Program. Under the revised program, the Environmental Protection Agency must provide financial assistance to replace existing school buses with clean school buses that do not emit specified pollutants, including greenhouse gases.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S2124)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
SIMPLE Plan Modernization Act

Bill: 117-s-1272
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Income tax deferral
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

SIMPLE Plan Modernization Act 

 
This bill modifies the requirements for SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), which are tax-favored retirement accounts that small businesses may provide to employees. The bill increases the contribution limits for certain SIMPLE IRAs and modifies the requirements for replacing SIMPLE IRAs with 401(k) plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2125-2126; text: CR S2125-2126)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Spouses Retirement Security Act

Bill: 117-s-1273
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Military personnel and dependents
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Military Spouses Retirement Security Act

 
This bill allows a tax credit for certain small businesses that include military spouses in their retirement plans. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2126)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1274
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business records
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
State and local taxation
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits the wages or other remuneration earned by an employee who is a resident of a taxing jurisdiction (i.e., states, localities, the District of Columbia, territories or possessions) and performs employment duties in more than one taxing jurisdiction from being subject to income tax in any other taxing jurisdiction other than (1) the taxing jurisdiction of the employee's residence, and (2) the taxing jurisdiction within which the employee is present and performing employment duties for more than 30 days during the calendar year in which the wages or remuneration are earned. The 30-day requirement is extended to 90 days in 2020 and 2021 for employees performing duties outside the taxing jurisdiction of their residence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The bill exempts employers from income tax withholding and information reporting requirements for employees not subject to income tax in the taxing jurisdiction. For purposes of determining penalties related to withholding and information reporting requirements, an employer may rely on an employee's annual determination of the time expected to be spent in the taxing jurisdiction in the absence of the employer's actual knowledge of fraud or collusion between the employer and employee to evade tax.
 
For the purposes of this bill, the term 
employee
 excludes professional athletes, professional entertainers, production employees who perform services in connection with certain film, television, or other commercial video productions, and public figures who are persons of prominence who perform services for wages or other remuneration on a per-event basis. 
 
The bill also sets forth a rule for the classification of wages earned by employees working remotely.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S2124-2125)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

Bill: 117-s-1276
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Ecology
Federal-Indian relations
Fishes
Forests, forestry, trees
Freedom of information
Government information and archives
Historical and cultural resources
Idaho
Indian lands and resources rights
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Livestock
Montana
Oregon
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Roads and highways
Washington State
Water quality
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act
 
 
This bill designates specified National Forest System lands, National Park System lands, and public lands in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming as wilderness and as components or additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. 
 
 The bill also designates specified federal lands as biological connecting corridors and as special corridor management areas. 
 
The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall accept the donation of valid existing permits or leases authorizing grazing on specified public lands or National Forest System lands.
 
The bill designates segments of specified rivers and creeks in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
 
 The bill designates specified areas as wildland recovery areas. USDA shall develop a wildland recovery plan for each recovery area. 
 
A panel of independent scientists shall study roadless lands greater than 1,000 acres that are within the National Forest System in the Wild Rockies bioregion in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, or Wyoming, but not designated as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, for their role in maintaining biological diversity. The bill prohibits road construction, timber harvest, oil or gas leasing, mining, or other development that impairs the natural and roadless qualities of the land. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Introduced in Senate
Lethal Means Safety Training Act

Bill: 117-s-1277
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-04-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Medical education
Mental health
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: 

Lethal Means Safety Training Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention training course at least once a year to ensure it is culturally appropriate and uses best practices identified by subject matter experts (e.g., veterans service organizations). 
 
The bill requires certain VA employees and care providers to take the most recently updated version of the training course within 90 days after the person is hired, agrees to furnish care, or receives support and at least annually thereafter. Specifically, the bill requires the following categories of VA employees or care providers to take the training course: 
 
 
employees of the Veterans Health Administration or Veterans Benefits Administration who regularly interact with veterans,
 
compensation and pension examiners,
 
employees of Vet Centers or vocational rehabilitation facilities,
 
employees of Veterans Community Care Providers who provide care to veterans, and
 
caregivers receiving support under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers or the Program of General Caregiver Support Services.
 
 
The VA must publish the training course on a publicly available VA website. Additionally, the VA must publish a report on its website that includes the percentage of individuals in each category who have completed such training.


Legislative actions:
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