hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Coast Guard Readiness Act

Bill: 117-s-1647
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alliances
Coast guard
Collective security
Europe
Marine and inland water transportation
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: 

Enhancing Coast Guard Readiness Act

 
This bill provides an exception to the restriction on construction of U.S. Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards.
 
Specifically, the bill allows Coast Guard vessels to be constructed in foreign shipyards that are located in NATO countries if the cost of construction is less than the cost would be if such construction occurred in a domestic shipyard.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the construction of naval vessels in shipyards in North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries.

Bill: 117-s-1648
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Alliances
Collective security
Europe
Marine and inland water transportation
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: 
This bill authorizes the construction of a naval vessel in a foreign shipyard if the shipyard is located within the boundaries of a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the cost of construction of such vessel in such shipyard will be less than the cost of construction of the vessel in a domestic shipyard.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Probation Officer Protection Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1649
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2021-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Law enforcement officers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: 

Probation Officer Protection Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes a probation officer to arrest a person other than the probationer without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe the person forcibly assaulted or obstructed a probation officer engaged in the performance of official duties.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Protect Our Heroes Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1650
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2021-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Assault and harassment offenses
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Protection of officials
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: 

Protect Our Heroes Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes new criminal offenses for killing or assaulting (or attempting to kill or assault or conspiring to kill) a current or former judicial officer or public safety officer in circumstances that affect interstate commerce while the officer is engaged in official duties or on account of past performance of official duties.
 
A violation is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a prison term, a fine, or both.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Hizballah in Latin America Accountability Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1651
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Caribbean area
Colombia
Congressional oversight
Cuba
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Foreign and international banking
Foreign property
Free trade and trade barriers
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Latin America
Lebanon
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Nicaragua
Nuclear weapons
Paraguay
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism
Venezuela
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: 

Hizballah in Latin America Accountability Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes requirements related to activities of Hizballah in Latin America and the Caribbean.
 
Specifically, the President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign persons determined to have knowingly engaged in significant transactions with, or provided material support to, Hizballah in a Latin American or Caribbean country.
 
The Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Department of State, must report on illicit activities of Hizballah in Latin America and the Caribbean. This report must include (1) an estimate of how much of Hizbollah's budget derives from such activities, (2) an assessment of interagency efforts and progress in countering such activities, and (3) an identification of financial institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean known to be operating on behalf of or with ties to Hizballah.
 
The Department of Homeland Security must seek to improve (1) data sharing among trade transparency units with respect to operations against malign actors among Latin American and Caribbean countries, and (2) cooperation with federal agencies with respect to trade transparency units. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate
Paying a Fair Share Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1652
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Employment taxes
Income tax deductions
Income tax rates
Inflation and prices
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Tax reform and tax simplification

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Paying a Fair Share Act of 2021

 
 This bill requires an individual taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $1 million (high-income taxpayer) to pay a minimum tax rate of 30% of the excess of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income over the taxpayer's modified charitable contribution deduction for the taxable year (tentative fair share tax). The amount of the tax is the excess (if any) of the tentative fair share tax over the excess of (1) the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) amount, and the payroll tax for the taxable year; over (2) certain tax credits. 
 
The bill provides for a phase-in of such tax and requires an inflation adjustment to the $1 million income threshold for taxable years beginning after 2021.
 
The bill also expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact tax reform that repeals unfair and unnecessary tax loopholes and expenditures, simplifies the tax system, and makes sure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay a fair share of taxes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
SMART Act

Bill: 117-s-1653
Sponsor: Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Legislative rules and procedure
Tax reform and tax simplification
Transfer and inheritance taxes

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Simplified, Manageable, And Responsible Tax Act or the SMART Act

 
This bill replaces the marginal income tax rates in the Internal Revenue Code with a single rate of 17% on individual taxable income. 
 
The bill redefines 
taxable income
 to mean the amount by which wages, retirement distributions, and unemployment compensation exceed the standard deduction. It also
 
 
increases the basic standard deduction, 
 
includes an additional standard deduction for dependents, and 
 
includes the taxable income of each dependent child under the age of 14 in an individual's taxable income. 

 
The bill revises the tax on corporations to (1) replace it with a tax on every person engaged in a business activity equal to 17% of the business taxable income of such person; and (2) make the person engaged in the business activity liable for the tax, whether or not such person is an individual, a partnership, or a corporation. 
 
The bill imposes on employers a 17% tax on the value of excludable compensation provided during the year to employees. 
 
With respect to pension rules, the bill (1) repeals rules relating to non-discrimination, contribution limits, and restrictions on distributions; and (2) revises rules relating to transfers of excess pension assets. 
 
The bill also repeals
 
 
the alternative minimum tax; 
 
all income tax credits; 
 
estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes; and 
 
income tax provisions, except certain provisions relating to retirement distributions and tax-exempt organizations. 

 
The bill prohibits Congress from considering legislation to make specified changes to tax policy unless Congress waives or suspends the prohibition with a three-fifths vote.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include certain over-the-counter dietary supplement products as qualified medical expenses.

Bill: 117-s-1654
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 
This bill expands the tax deduction for qualified medical expenses to include dietary supplement products. The bill defines 
dietary supplement products
 as nutritional products with labelling relating to their effects on bodily functions. The bill also allows payments from certain tax-preferred spending and reimbursement accounts for dietary supplement products.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Interstate Transport Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1655
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Contracts and agency
Intergovernmental relations
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Protecting Interstate Transport Act of 2021

 
This bill limits state authority over intrastate transportation by prohibiting states from regulating certain commercial motor vehicle service contracts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1656
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Department of the Treasury
Economic performance and conditions
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Legal fees and court costs
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax-exempt organizations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Small Business Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies various tax enforcement procedures and requirements that affect small businesses and other taxpayers. 
 
The bill modifies requirements regarding
 
 
 awarding costs and fees to small businesses for administrative and court proceedings, 
 
 the amounts of damages and penalties that are allowed for violating various tax laws, 
 
 dispute resolution and appeal procedures, 
 
 enforcing liens against principal residences, 
 
 terminating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees for misconduct, 
 
 reviews by the Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and 
 
 the release of an IRS levy due to economic hardship for business taxpayers. 
 
 
The bill also
 
 
 allows a tax deduction for a portion of a taxpayer's expenses for certain audits,
 
 prohibits ex parte communications between officers in the IRS Independent Office of Appeals and other IRS employees with respect to matters pending before the officers,
 
 establishes a 10-year term for the National Taxpayer Advocate, and 
 
 repeals the requirement to submit a partial payment with an offer-in-compromise to settle a tax liability.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act

Bill: 117-s-1658
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Child health
Civil actions and liability
Employee leave
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Small business
Women's employment
Women's health
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act or the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act 

 
This bill extends protections for a working mother who expresses breast milk for the employee's nursing child to cover salaried employees and other types of workers not covered under existing law. Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the nursing mother is also working.

action_date: 2021-05-27
text: 

Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act or the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act 

 
This bill expands workplace protections for employees with a need to express breast milk. Specifically, it expands the requirement that employers provide certain accommodations for such an employee to cover salaried employees and other types of workers not covered under existing law. Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the employee is also working.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 65.
action_date: 2021-05-27
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-05-27
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-05-25
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Highway Cost Allocation Study Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1659
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Motor vehicles
Roads and highways
Transportation costs
Transportation programs funding
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Highway Cost Allocation Study Act of 2021 

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to carry out a highway cost allocation study to determine the direct costs of highway use by various types of users.
 
In carrying out the study, DOT must (1) ensure that the study examines only direct federal costs of highway use, (2) capture the various driving conditions in different geographic areas of the United States, and (3) distinguish between costs directly occasioned by a single highway user class and costs occasioned by all highway user classes.
 
Once the study is completed, DOT must develop recommendations for a set of revenue options to fully cover the costs occasioned by highway users, including recommendations for changes to existing revenue streams and new revenue streams based on user fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
HEAL for Immigrant Families Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1660
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Income tax credits
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Women and Families Act of 2021 or the HEAL Immigrant Women and Families Act of 20

21

 
This bill extends Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage to individuals lawfully present in the United States who otherwise meet eligibility requirements. Individuals granted federally authorized presence also are required to maintain minimum essential health insurance coverage and are eligible for health insurance exchanges, reduced cost sharing, premium subsidies, and premium tax credits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
National Fab Lab Network Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1661
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Digital media
Manufacturing
Product development and innovation
Public-private cooperation
Research and development
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

National Fab Lab Network Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes the National Fab Lab Network as a nonprofit corporation.
 
A fab lab is a digital fabrication facility with the capabilities necessary to create form and function from digital designs. The bill requires the National Fab Lab Network to (1) endeavor to establish at least one fab lab in each congressional district and additional labs according to local demand, (2) link fab labs into a national network and promote their further expansion across the country, (3) serve as a training and operating resource for fab labs and their leaders and mentors, (4) maintain a national registry of fab labs, (5) provide standards and protocols for connecting fab labs, and (6) assist fab labs in producing fab labs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act

Bill: 117-s-1663
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alcoholic beverages
Civil actions and liability
Government liability
Postal service
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: 

United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act

 
This bill authorizes the mailing of alcoholic beverages by certain entities in accordance with the delivery requirements otherwise applicable to a privately carried shipment. 

The authorization applies to an entity (including a winery, brewery, beverage distilled spirits plant, or other wholesaler, distributer, importer, or retailer of alcoholic beverages) that has registered with, obtained a permit from, or obtained approval of an application from the Department of the Treasury.
 
The bill directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to prescribe regulations (1) requiring direct delivery to a duly authorized agent at a postal facility or to the addressee, who must be at least 21 years of age and present a valid, government-issued photo identification at the time of delivery; (2) prohibiting such alcoholic beverages from being for resale or any other commercial purpose; and (3) requiring such entity to certify that the mailing is not in violation of applicable laws or regulations and to provide other information as directed by the USPS.
 
A state, local, or tribal government may bring a civil action against the USPS in U.S. district court for a violation of a law of the state, locality, or tribe regarding the sale, mailing, transportation, or importation of alcoholic beverages. The USPS shall be liable to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances but shall not be liable for interest prior to judgment or for punitive damages.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1664
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Veterans Affairs
Disability assistance
Employment and training programs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Mental health
Neurological disorders
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: 

Department of Veterans Affairs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update an ongoing national training program for claims processors who review compensation claims for service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Such claims processors will be required to participate in the training at least once a year starting in their second year of being a VA claims processor.
 
The training program must be standardized at regional offices of the VBA and include instruction on stressor development and verification.
 
The VBA must establish a formal process to annually analyze training needs based on identified processing error trends. Additionally, the VBA must establish a formal process to conduct annual studies to help guide the national training program for claims processors.
 
Finally, the VBA must evaluate the guidance relating to PTSD to determine if updates are warranted to provide claims processors with better resources regarding best practices for claims processing, including specific guidance regarding development of claims involving compensation for service-connected PTSD.
 


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: 2021-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate