hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Environmental Justice Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2630
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Civil actions and liability
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Disaster relief and insurance
Due process and equal protection
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Government information and archives
Indian lands and resources rights
Infrastructure development
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Medical research
Mining
Minority health
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public participation and lobbying
Racial and ethnic relations
Research administration and funding
Soil pollution
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Environmental Justice Act of 2021

 
This bill requires agencies to address and mitigate the disproportionate impact of environmental and human health hazards on communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income communities resulting from agencies' programs and policies. The bill also requires agencies to address cumulative impacts of pollution in permitting decisions and expands the types of legal actions available to individuals regarding charges of federal discriminatory practices.
 
Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for a variety of existing programs, executive orders, federal guidance, and committees concerning environmental justice, including
 
 
Executive Order 12898;
 
a guidance issued in 1997 by the Council on Environmental Quality titled 
Environmental Justice Guidance Under the National Environmental Policy Act
;
 
a guidance issued in 2016 by the Environmental Protection Agency titled 
EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes: Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights
;
 
the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; 
 
the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program; and 
 
the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program.
 
 
In addition, the bill requires agencies renewing or issuing specified permits under the Clean Water Act or the Clean Air Act to consider the cumulative impacts of pollution.
 
The bill also allows individuals to bring actions under the Civil Rights Act against entities that receive federal assistance and engage in discriminatory practices that have a disparate impact. Currently, individuals must request that federal agencies bring such actions on their behalf.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
SOAR Act

Bill: 117-s-2631
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business education
Business investment and capital
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Disability and paralysis
Government information and archives
Indian social and development programs
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women in business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Startup Opportunity Accelerator Act of 2021 or the SOAR Act

 
This bill requires the Small Business Administration to develop and implement a program to award cash grants of at least $1,000,000 to organizations that support new small businesses. These awards may be used for construction costs, space acquisition, and programmatic purposes, but they may not be used to provide capital or professional services to small businesses directly or through the subaward of funds.
 
 The organization must have the support of new small businesses as a primary purpose and be often classified as an accelerator. The term 
accelerator
 means an organization that (1) supports new businesses with a focus on technology, research, and development; (2) frequently provides, but is not exclusively designed to provide, seed investment in exchange for a small amount of equity; (3) works with a startup for a predetermined amount of time; (4) provides mentorship and instruction to scale businesses; or (5) offers startup capital or the opportunity to raise capital from outside investors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-09-22
text: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
GOLD Act

Bill: 117-s-2632
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Asia
Athletes
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Europe
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Japan
Olympic games
Organized crime
Russia

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Guarantee Oversight and Litigation on Doping Act or the GOLD Act

 
This bill expands federal enforcement for criminal offenses related to international doping fraud conspiracies.
 
Specifically, the bill makes the offenses predicate offenses (i.e., underlying offenses) for prosecutions under the federal money laundering statute and the federal racketeering statute. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to award grants to certain entities for purposes of carrying out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal communities, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-2633
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Air quality
Aquatic ecology
Atmospheric science and weather
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Higher education
Historical and cultural resources
Infrastructure development
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Military facilities and property
Poverty and welfare assistance
Research administration and funding
Seashores and lakeshores
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Water quality
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish grant programs to support living shoreline projects and research on nature-based infrastructure.
 
NOAA must award grants to state or local governments, nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes to (1) implement climate-resilient living shoreline projects; and (2) encourage innovation in the use of natural materials to protect coastal communities, habitats, and natural system functions.
 
A grant to carry out a living shoreline project may be used only to 
 
 
 carry out the project, including administration, design, permitting, entry into negotiated indirect cost rate agreements, and construction; 
 
 monitor, collect, and report data on the performance of the project, in accordance with the standard NOAA develops; or
 
 incentivize landowners to engage in such projects.
 
 
NOAA shall award competitive research grants to eligible entities, including U.S. territories, to carry out projects focused on developing and assessing the effectiveness of innovative approaches to nature-based infrastructure for specified climate-related purposes. NOAA shall award grants to such entities for projects that focus on, among other things
 
 
assessing the effectiveness of installed nature-based infrastructure, or
 
novel approaches to nature-based infrastructure and living shorelines.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2634
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act of 
 
2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to issue guidance and recommendations for institutions of higher education to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admission applications.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Passport Backlog Elimination Act

Bill: 117-s-2635
Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Visas and passports
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Passport Backlog Elimination Act

 
This bill requires the Department of State to submit and implement a plan containing specified actionable strategies to eliminate the backlog of passport applications that is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
AG RESEARCH Act

Bill: 117-s-2636
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

AuGmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-edge and Helpful Act or the
 
AG RESEARCH Act 

 
This bill provides funding for maintenance at agricultural research facilities.
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must (1) revise its review process for evaluating proposals for agricultural research facilities to include consulting with representatives of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) peer review panels; and (2) establish a grant program within NIFA to provide agricultural research facilities with a federal share of the cost for the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of the research facilities or the equipment necessary for agricultural research.
 
Additionally, USDA must use specified Commodity Credit Corporation funds to provide direct payments to research facilities of the Agricultural Research Service for addressing deferred maintenance. USDA must give priority to the most critical structures in accordance with the Agricultural Research Service Capital Investment Strategy (April 2012).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Establishment of Community Solar Programs Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2637
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Establishment of Community Solar Programs Act of 2021

 
This bill requires states and certain nonregulated electric utilities to consider standards concerning the deployment of community solar projects.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Strengthening Infrastructure Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2638
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Families

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Family Strengthening Infrastructure Act of 2021

 
This bill provides additional funding through FY2031 for state and community-based child abuse prevention and treatment programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
State Public Option Act

Bill: 117-s-2639
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

State Public Option Act

 
This bill allows residents who are not already eligible for Medicaid and not concurrently enrolled in other health insurance coverage to buy into a state Medicaid plan beginning January 1, 2022, at the option of the state. State Medicaid programs may set premiums and cost-sharing requirements for such coverage in accordance with specified limitations.
 
The bill also (1) provides the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place; and (2) requires state Medicaid programs to cover comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Disease X Act

Bill: 117-s-2640
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Drug therapy
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Manufacturing
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Disease X Act

 
This bill establishes a program to develop vaccines, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures for unknown viral threats.
 
Specifically, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority must carry out the program in consultation with the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise, which coordinates efforts related to medical countermeasures within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and in cooperation with interagency partners. Additionally, the program must prioritize equity and accessibility in the development of the medical countermeasures.
 
The bill also allows HHS to support domestic research, development, and manufacturing of medical countermeasures under the program through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2641
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allied health services
Health personnel
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Radiation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 

2021

 
This bill provides for Medicare coverage of services that are furnished by a certified radiologist assistant under the supervision of a radiologist. Payment must be made to the supervising radiologist.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Safeguarding American Tourism Act

Bill: 117-s-2642
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Safeguarding American Tourism Act

 
This bill allows foreign vessels that have 800 or more passenger berths to transport passengers between U.S. ports and places. (Under current law, such vessels generally must be built in the United States and owned and crewed by U.S. citizens.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Open America's Ports Act

Bill: 117-s-2643
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Foreign labor
Immigration status and procedures
Licensing and registrations
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Transportation employees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Open America's Ports Act

 
This bill allows foreign vessels to transport passengers between U.S. ports and places. (Under current law, such vessels generally must be built in the United States and owned and crewed by U.S. citizens.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
GRAD VA Educational Assistance Parity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2644
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Higher education
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Assistance Parity Act of 2021 or the GRAD VA Educational Assistance Parity Act of 2021

 
This bill expands eligibility for Post-9/11 educational assistance to members of the National Guard who perform full-time National Guard duty or full-time service in the National Guard when performing active duty.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-15
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-11-17
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2645
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems Act of 2021 or the REDUCE Act of 2021

 
This bill imposes an excise tax on any taxable virgin plastic resin.
 
The bill establishes a Plastic Waste Reduction Fund to carry out reduction and recycling activities, plastic waste and marine debris reduction, detection, monitoring, and cleanup activities, and address environmental justice and pollution impacts from plastic products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Relief Medicaid Act

Bill: 117-s-2646
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Disaster Relief Medicaid Act

 
This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements relating to Medicaid coverage of individuals affected by a federally declared major disaster.
 
In particular, the bill provides for specific disaster relief coverage under Medicaid for individuals who meet specified income eligibility standards and, during the seven-day period preceding the disaster, were either residents of the impacted area or were employed in the impacted area (and subsequently lost employment). Coverage is effective for two years after the date of the disaster declaration.
 
State Medicaid programs must provide disaster relief coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the state's Medicaid coverage and the Medicaid coverage of the individual's home state, as applicable. The bill applies a 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) to such coverage and related administrative expenses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 117-s-2647
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act 

 
This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Harlem Hellfighters, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act

Bill: 117-s-2648
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Historic sites and heritage areas

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act

 
This bill extends through FY2036 the authority of the Department of the Interior to provide any assistance for the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area in Alaska.
 
The bill also removes the limitation on the total amount that may be appropriated for the heritage area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate
BETTER Kidney Care Act

Bill: 117-s-2649
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-08-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: 

Bringing Enhanced Treatments and Therapies to ESRD Recipients Kidney Care Act
 
or the BETTER Kidney Care Act

 
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
 
Under the program, renal dialysis facilities, kidney disease specialists, physician practices, and other health care practitioners may form an organization that partners with certain health care entities to provide integrated care to beneficiaries with ESRD. Such care must include all covered Medicare benefits as well as transition services for transplantations, palliative care, and hospice. Each organization must have a minimum number or percentage of participating beneficiaries (350 or 60% of beneficiaries served at the organization's facilities) and must also comply with certain fiscal, governance, and quality of care requirements.
 
Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study certain data that is reported to the CMS regarding pediatric dialysis care, as well as the effects of race-based corrections to a specified kidney function test on referrals of ESRD patients for transplant evaluations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-08-05
text: Introduced in Senate