hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
STOP COVID–19 Act

Bill: 117-s-302
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Department of Health and Human Services
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Licensing and registrations
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Performance measurement
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: 

Set Testing and Objectives Plan for COVID-19 Act or the STOP COVID-19 Act

 
This bill establishes two grant programs to support public health measures to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
First, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to local health departments for testing, contact tracing, and other activities to reduce the spread of COVID-19. A recipient of one of these grants must meet specific standards for testing and contact tracing. If a grantee remains unable to meet those standards after two months, it must return a portion of the grant funding.
 
HHS may use unobligated funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for these grants. The authority to make these grants terminates when that funding is expended or 180 days after this bill's enactment, whichever is earlier.
 
Second, HHS must award grants to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts in states and territories. A recipient of one of these grants must publicly report information about its vaccine efforts, develop a unified system to register its residents for vaccines, and administer at least 95% of its vaccine allotment each month. If a grantee fails to use the required percentage of its vaccines, it must return a portion of the grant funding.
 
HHS may use specified COVID-19 relief funding for these grants. The authority to make these grants terminates when that funding is expended or December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Essential Transportation Employee Safety Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-303
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Department of Transportation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marine and inland water transportation
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Motor carriers
Motor vehicles
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Railroads
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: 

Essential Transportation Employee Safety Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the efforts of state and local governments to prioritize COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) testing of transportation workers who are categorized as essential critical infrastructure workers. 
Essential critical infrastructure employees
 include those who work in industries such as medical and health care, telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, food and agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, water and wastewater, law enforcement, and public works.
 
Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, DOT must require (1) the owners and operators of equipment or facilities used by passenger or freight transportation employers to implement personal protective equipment and disinfection and sanitization procedures; and (2) an air carrier to submit to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a proposal to permit pilots to wear masks or protective face coverings in the flight deck, including a safety risk assessment with respect to such proposal.
 
The bill sets forth requirements for owners or operators who cannot acquire necessary personal protective equipment due to market unavailability.
 
For the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency, the FAA must (1) provide certain employees, including air traffic controllers and airway transportation systems specialists, with personal protective and sanitizing equipment; (2) ensure that air traffic control facilities are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized frequently; and (3) ensure its contractors provide their employees with personal protective equipment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
End Diaper Need Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-304
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Child care and development
Child health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability assistance
Family services
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Income tax deductions
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: 

End Diaper Need Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes and expands programs to provide low-income families and other vulnerable groups with access to diapers and related supplies.
 
Specifically, it provides additional funding for FY2022-FY2025 to meet the diapering needs of certain low-income families and adults through the Social Services Block Grant Program. This grant program provides a flexible funding stream to states and territories to support social services for vulnerable children, adults, and families. The bill exempts these funds from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, across-the-board reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.
 
In particular, these funds must be used to meet the diapering needs of
 
 
low-income families with one or more infants, toddlers, or medically complex children (i.e., children who are age three or older and diagnosed with a serious condition such as bowel or bladder incontinence); and
 
low-income adults and adults with disabilities who rely on diapers and other adult incontinence materials.
 
 
Additionally, the bill permits states to use Medicaid funds to provide medically necessary diapers and supplies to low-income families with one or more medically complex children.
 
It also allows individuals to buy medically necessary diapers and supplies with funds from health savings accounts and other tax-advantaged accounts for health care expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S7158-7159)
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act

Bill: 117-s-305
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil disturbances
Historic sites and heritage areas
Illinois
Monuments and memorials
Racial and ethnic relations
U.S. history
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: 

Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act

 
This bill establishes the Springfield Race Riot National Monument in Illinois as a unit of the National Park System to preserve, protect, and interpret the resources associated with the Springfield Race Riot of 1908 and its role in the forming of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-09-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
SECURE Act

Bill: 117-s-306
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Foreign labor
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Right of privacy
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: 

Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act or the SECURE Act

 
This bill allows qualified nationals of a country that has or had a temporary protected status designation to obtain permanent resident status.
 
Such an alien qualifies for permanent residence if the alien 
 
 
 had temporary protected status, qualified for such status on certain dates, or was present in the United States due to having been granted deferred enforced departure status that extended past a certain date; 
 
has been continuously present in the United States for three years before applying for adjustment or before being removed after a certain date; 
 
is not inadmissible or deportable for certain reasons; and 
 
passes applicable background checks.
 
 
The continuous presence requirement may be waived in certain instances. 
 
A spouse, domestic partner, child, or unmarried child of a qualifying alien may also obtain permanent resident status under the bill upon meeting certain requirements.
 
An alien with a pending application shall receive work authorization and be eligible for travel authorization.
 
An alien may not be removed if the alien (1) has a pending application, or (2) is prima facie eligible for permanent resident status under this bill and intends to apply. 
 
Information from applications may not be used or shared for immigration enforcement, with limited exceptions such as for identifying fraudulent claims. 
 
The Department of Homeland Security must report to Congress when terminating a country's temporary protected status designation with an explanation justifying the termination.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make grants for travel promotion, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-307
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2021-02-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Economic development
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marketing and advertising
Transportation safety and security
Travel and tourism
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: 
This bill expands the purposes for which the Department of Commerce is authorized to make economic adjustment grants to include travel promotion, and it authorizes Commerce to cover up to 100% of the cost of a travel promotion project.
 
Further, the bill authorizes the appropriation of $2.25 billion to make these grants to cover costs associated with promoting safe and healthy travel practices and economic recovery in communities impacted by a decline in travel and tourism as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2021-02-08
text: Introduced in Senate
PPE in America Act

Bill: 117-s-308
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health facilities and institutions
Health technology, devices, supplies
Manufacturing
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Public contracts and procurement
Strategic materials and reserves
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Protecting Providers Everywhere in America Act or the PPE in America Act

 
This bill makes temporary changes to the management of the inventory of diagnostic testing supplies and personal protective equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile.
 
Through FY2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must source a certain amount of those products from domestic manufacturers.
 
Additionally, HHS must periodically assess and take steps to manage the inventory of those products. This includes, as appropriate, transfers or sales to federal agencies and health care facilities.
 
The bill also provides HHS with additional authorities to manage the inventory. For example, HHS may enter into arrangements with manufacturers to establish revolving stockpiles to mitigate the risk of products expiring.
 
HHS must report on its efforts to maintain the stockpile's inventory of testing supplies and personal protective equipment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-309
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2021

 
This bill removes the presumption of pretrial detention for an individual who is charged with a federal drug offense for which the maximum term of imprisonment is 10 years or more.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
PPP Access for Rural Hospitals Act

Bill: 117-s-310
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Business expenses
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Disaster relief and insurance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Hospital care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Public contracts and procurement
Rural conditions and development
Small business
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

PPP Access for Rural Hospitals Act

 
This bill includes within the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), certain rural hospitals or hospitals serving low-income patients that are designated as critical care hospitals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Stopping Doctor Shortages Act

Bill: 117-s-311
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Higher education
Hospital care
Medical education
Student aid and college costs
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Stopping Doctor Shortages Act

 
This bill makes certain full-time health care practitioners eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Specifically, the bill extends program eligibility to health care practitioners who work at a nonprofit or public hospital or facility but are prohibited under state law from being directly employed by the hospital or facility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S708)
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-313
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Poverty and welfare assistance
Retail and wholesale trades
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021

 
This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to make the online redemption of benefits, including the acceptance of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, more widely available by requiring the implementation of online SNAP purchasing in every state and providing funding for an online redemption portal and a technical assistance center.
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award on a competitive basis one or more contracts to develop an EBT Online Redemption Portal to (1) allow program participants to use online or mobile electronic benefits transactions to purchase program foods from, and make online payments to, authorized program retailers under SNAP; and (2) facilitate food purchase delivery for program participants using such electronic benefits transactions. 
 
The Food and Nutrition Service of USDA must award competitive grants or enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities to establish a SNAP Online Purchasing Technical Assistance Center to provide state agencies, authorized program retailers, and program participants information on and technical assistance with accepting SNAP benefits through online transactions and use of the portal. In providing technical assistance, the center must give priority to entities that are small and limited-resource retailers.
 
The bill provides funding for both the online redemption portal and the technical assistance center. 
 
USDA must maintain on its website a publicly available listing, organized and searchable by region, locality, and state, of all approved retail food stores accepting benefits from recipients of SNAP, including through online transactions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents Act

Bill: 117-s-315
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Adult education and literacy
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Employee hiring
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Home and outpatient care
Judicial review and appeals
Labor-management relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Neurological disorders
Nursing
Prescription drugs
State and local government operations
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents Act 

 
This bill establishes several requirements for Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities, including with respect to minimum staffing levels, protections for whistleblowers and residents, and training for nurses. 
 
Specifically, the bill establishes minimum nurse-resident ratios for day, evening, and night shifts and prohibits facilities from retaliating against residents or staff who file complaints or cooperate in investigations; violators are subject to civil penalties. Facilities must also train nurses on their emergency procedures and on residents' rights.
 
The bill also requires specific consent procedures in relation to the administration of certain psychotropic drugs and prohibits the use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements in such facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents and Workers During COVID–19 Act

Bill: 117-s-317
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Nursing
State and local government operations
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents and Workers During COVID-19 Act 

 
This bill modifies several requirements for Medicare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and Medicaid nursing facilities (NFs) during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
Specifically, SNFs and NFs must comply with specified quality of care, worker safety, and transparency requirements, subject to civil penalties. Requirements include (1) testing residents and employees for COVID-19 weekly or before shifts, respectively, and reporting any lack of available testing kits on a daily basis; (2) providing at least two weeks of paid sick leave to each employee; and (3) reporting the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, including demographic information, on a daily basis.
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must also distribute funds to allow states to establish strike teams that may be deployed to SNFs and NFs within 72 hours of three or more COVID-19 diagnoses to help separate those who have been exposed, supervise testing, and ensure enforcement of whistleblower protections, among other needs. Teams must include members of the National Guard, public health officials, medical experts, and representatives of residents and workers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate
Presidential Pardon Transparency Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-318
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-02-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: 

Presidential Pardon Transparency Act of 2021

 
This bill requires certain information about presidential pardons and reprieves to be made public.
 
Specifically, the President must publish the issue date, recipient, and full text of each pardon or reprieve granted.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-12
text: Introduced in Senate