hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Veterans Legal Support Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1564
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Department of Veterans Affairs
Education programs funding
Executive agency funding and structure
Lawyers and legal services
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Veterans Legal Support Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide support, including financial support, to one or more university law school programs to provide veterans with legal assistance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Supporting STEM Learning Opportunities Act

Bill: 117-s-1565
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Preschool education
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Supporting STEM Learning Opportunities Act

 
This bill establishes a grant program to promote hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for prekindergarten, elementary, and secondary school students.
 
Specifically, the National Science Foundation must provide grants to eligible nonprofit programs to (1) support hands-on learning opportunities in STEM education, including through after-school activities and innovative learning opportunities (e.g., robotics competitions); and (2) evaluate the impact of these programs on STEM learning and disseminate the evaluation results.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Interactions Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1566
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Aging
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Employment and training programs
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Mental health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Safe Interactions Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to nonprofit disability organizations to develop training programs for law enforcement officers who may encounter individuals with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1567
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Indian social and development programs
Labor-management relations
Medicaid
Medical education
Medicare
Military medicine
Minority health
Nursing
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of
 
2021

 
This bill requires hospitals to implement and submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a staffing plan that complies with specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit. Hospitals must post a notice regarding nurse-to-patient ratios in each unit and maintain records of actual ratios for each shift in each unit. The bill also requires hospitals to follow certain procedures regarding how ratios are determined and other staff are prohibited from performing nurse functions unless specifically authorized within a state's scope of practice rules, among other requirements.
 
HHS must adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs attributable to compliance with these ratios.
 
Nurses may object to, or refuse to participate in, an assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if they are not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing their nurse's license. Hospitals may not (1) take adverse actions against a nurse based on the nurse's reasonable refusal to accept an assignment; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS may impose civil monetary penalties on hospitals violating the ratio requirements and must publish the names of such hospitals.
 
The bill provides stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program and expands the nurse retention grant program to include nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
TRAIN Act

Bill: 117-s-1568
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allied health services
Education programs funding
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Medical education
Medicare
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Technical Reset to Advance the Instruction of Nurses Act or the TRAIN Act

 
This bill modifies the methodology and application of Medicare Advantage nursing and allied health education payments for hospitals. Specifically, for 2010-2019, the bill eliminates the annual cap on total payments and excludes any resulting increase from factoring into calculations for graduate medical education payments for such hospitals. (The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently issued guidance providing for the recalculation and correction of certain payments to account for the annual payment cap.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Food Security Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1569
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Housing supply and affordability
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Student aid and college costs
Student records

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Student Food Security Act of 2021

 
This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and establishes programs to address food insecurity among college students.
 
Specifically, the bill permanently modifies the eligibility requirements to allow additional college students to receive SNAP benefits, and it establishes a demonstration program to allow college students to use SNAP benefits on college campuses instead of meal plans. The bill also advances implementation of certain data-sharing agreements and notifications to help students who apply for federal financial aid to also apply for and receive other federal means-tested benefits (e.g., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income).
 
In addition, the bill (1) requires questions about food and housing insecurity to be incorporated into the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, and (2) establishes a grant program to support research and address incidences of food and housing insecurity among college students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
HELP Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1570
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Aging
Child care and development
Community life and organization
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and paralysis
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency communications systems
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Family services
Government information and archives
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Housing and community development funding
Indian social and development programs
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Law enforcement administration and funding
Mental health
Performance measurement
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Human-Services Emergency Logistic Program Act of 2021 or the HELP Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allot funding to states, tribal nations, and territories to improve the 2-1-1 and 9-8-8 telecommunication systems. The 2-1-1 system provides callers with information and referrals with respect to health and human services and other provider agencies, and the 9-8-8 system provides callers with mental health or suicide crisis support and resources through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
 
The funds must be used solely for making the call systems available to all individuals in the service area, enhancing community information and referrals with respect to human services, or both. As a condition of this funding, recipients must appoint a lead entity to manage activities to improve the call systems. Recipients must also establish a Human Services State Oversight Council to provide the lead entity with guidance and oversight related to the call systems.
 
In addition, HHS must establish a Human Services National Board, comprised of federal and non-federal representatives, to manage the allocation of funds and evaluate the call systems.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemember Parental Leave Equity Act

Bill: 117-s-1571
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adoption and foster care
Congressional oversight
Department of Defense
Employee leave
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Physical fitness and lifestyle
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Servicemember Parental Leave Equity Act

 
This bill modifies Department of Defense parental leave provisions for members of the Armed Forces.
 
Specifically, the bill increases parental leave for primary caregivers to 18 weeks (currently 12) following the birth of a child and to 12 weeks (currently 6) following the adoption of a child. The bill increases parental leave for a secondary caregiver from 21 days to 12 weeks in connection with the birth or adoption of a child.
 
Primary or secondary caregivers of a long-term foster child are authorized to take up to 12 weeks of leave in connection with such placement.
 
Parental leave for a primary or secondary caregiver for a birth, adoption, or foster child placement may be taken in more than one increment. For primary caregivers, the leave must be utilized within one year of the event.
 
The bill authorizes up to 12 weeks of leave to certain service members who would have been secondary caregivers but for a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death.
 
The following activities required of an active-duty member within a 12-month postpartum period must have the approval of a health care provider and be at the election of the member or in the interest of national security: (1) an order of temporary duty overnight travel or to participate in physically demanding field training exercises, (2) meeting of body composition standards, or (3) passing a physical fitness test.
 
 The bill also reduces the service commitment required for participation in the Career Intermission Program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Child Care Expansion Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1572
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Government studies and investigations
Military facilities and property
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Military Child Care Expansion Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies and implements policies to update child care facilities and administration at the Department of Defense (DOD). 
 
Specifically, the bill removes certain requirements for members of the Armed Forces to receive funding for an in-home child care provider under the DOD pilot program that provides financial assistance to such members who pay for in-home child care. The bill also allows DOD to expand the pilot program to additional locations (currently it is authorized for five).
 
DOD must establish a three-year pilot program to expand access to child care for members of the Armed Forces by entering into agreements with public or private child care facilities or development centers.
 
Under the bill, DOD must determine the (1) root causes contributing to poor or failing facility conditions at its child development centers, and (2) total cost to improve the conditions of such centers. The Government Accountability Office must review the determinations and make recommendations on how to improve DOD child development center conditions.
 
Lastly, DOD must utilize its existing authority to carry out minor military construction projects to construct child development centers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1573
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for failing to obtain medical attention for an individual in federal custody who displays medical distress.
 
Specifically, the bill requires federal law enforcement officers and the Bureau of Prisons' personnel to provide or obtain immediate medical attention for an individual in federal custody who displays medical distress. It criminalizes the negligent failure to obtain or provide such medical attention that results in unnecessary pain, injury, or death. 
 
A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1574
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug therapy
Health facilities and institutions
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Nursing
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: 

Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 

2021

 
This bill establishes a statutory definition for 
long-term care pharmacy
 under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. 
 
Currently, there is no statutory definition. Regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) define a long-term care pharmacy as a pharmacy that is owned by or under contract with a long-term care facility to provide prescription drugs to the facility's residents. Additional requirements are set out in CMS guidance relating to the Medicare prescription drug benefit; pharmacies are also subject to regulations and guidance from other agencies (e.g., packaging requirements from the Food and Drug Administration).
 

 
The bill defines a long-term care pharmacy as a state-licensed pharmacy that is able to provide enhanced pharmacy and clinical services to individuals who have certain comorbid and medically complex chronic conditions and who reside in skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, or any other applicable setting (as determined by the CMS). The term 
enhanced pharmacy and clinical services
 includes medication dispensed in special packaging, drug utilization review, and 24-7 availability of medication delivery and on-call pharmacists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
IMPROVE Addiction Care Act

Bill: 117-s-1575
Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA]
Introduced: 2021-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Medicaid
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: 

Improving Medicaid Programs' Response to Overdose Victims and Enhancing Addiction Care Act or the IMPROVE Addiction Care Act

 
This bill establishes additional requirements for state Medicaid drug-use review programs with respect to individuals who experience opioid-related overdoses. 
 
Specifically, programs must include protocols that (1) connect individuals who have experienced an opioid-related overdose within a certain period to appropriate treatment; (2) notify providers who prescribe opioids about subsequent fatal overdoses; (3) ensure providers are notified about an individual's history of opioid-use disorder, overdoses, or poisonings; and (4) educate providers about proper prescribing practices for these individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Safe Temperature Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1576
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Housing and community development funding
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Housing industry and standards
Lighting, heating, cooling
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: 

Safe Temperature Act of 2021

 
This bill allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development to require units in public housing, supportive housing for the elderly, and dwellings receiving low-income housing choice voucher assistance to maintain a temperature level ranging from 71 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
SMART Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1577
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Elementary and secondary education
Food assistance and relief
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: 

Summer Meals Alternative Relief and Transportation Act of 2021 or the SMART Act of 2021

 
This bill expands the Summer Food Service Program, which provides meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session, to include a home-delivery option in certain states. 
 
Qualifying states must have areas in which meals are inaccessible at program sites and in which electronic benefit transfer funds are not able to be fully used (e.g., due to the distance of eligible retailers). The Department of Agriculture must borrow from similar demonstration projects in its administration of the expanded program (e.g., the Meals-To-You Demonstration Project).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1578
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Medical education
Mental health
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: 

Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act
 
of 2021

 
This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a loan repayment program for mental health professionals who work in designated workforce-shortage areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing the Misuse of Tear Gas Act

Bill: 117-s-1579
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2021-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Chemical and biological weapons
Civil disturbances
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Protest and dissent
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: 

Preventing the Misuse of Tear Gas Act

 
This bill establishes a framework to limit the use of riot control agents (e.g., tear gas) by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.
 
Specifically, it requires federal law enforcement agencies to maintain policies that (1) permit their use only to stop violent activities, and (2) minimize the impact of their use on those not participating in the violent activity. State and local law enforcement agencies must maintain similar policies and procedures as a condition of receiving funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program and the Community Oriented Policing Services program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate