hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act

Bill: 117-s-71
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Federal preemption
Foreign labor
Government information and archives
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Public contracts and procurement
Rural conditions and development
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: 

Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act

 
This bill expands the E-Verify program by requiring all employers to use it and permanently reauthorizes the program. Currently, E-Verify use is voluntary for most employers, although some states mandate its use.
 
All employers shall use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all recruited, referred, or hired individuals, including current employees who were never verified under the program. Failure to use E-Verify shall create a rebuttable presumption that the employer is violating immigration law. 
 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall generate weekly reports about individuals who have received a final nonconfirmation of employment eligibility. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall use the report to enforce immigration laws.
 
DHS shall establish a program to help certain small businesses verify employee eligibility. DHS shall also update E-Verify's design to help prevent and detect fraud and identity theft.
 
The bill increases civil and criminal penalties for hiring unauthorized aliens. DHS shall debar repeat offenders and those criminally convicted from holding federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements.
 
The Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, and DHS shall jointly establish a program to share information to help identify unauthorized aliens.
 
The bill establishes the Employer Compliance Inspection Center within Homeland Security Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The center's duties include processing I-9 employment eligibility verification forms and ensuring compliance with employment eligibility laws. 
 
DHS shall report to Congress on ways to simplify procedures relating to I-9 forms and on whether the I-9 process should be eliminated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers Act

Bill: 117-s-72
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Special education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: 

Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers Act or the Keep Our PACT Act 

 
This bill provides funding through FY2031 for grant programs operated by local educational agencies to provide supplementary educational and related services to low-achieving students and other students who attend elementary and secondary schools with relatively high concentrations of students from low-income families. Additionally, the bill permanently reauthorizes the grant program to assist states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate
CHOICE Act

Bill: 117-s-74
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Appropriations
Congressional oversight
Department of Education
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Military personnel and dependents
Religion
Special education
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act or the
 
CHOICE Act

 
This bill expands school choice programs for elementary and secondary school students.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to support the design and implementation of state programs that allow the parent of a child with a disability to choose the appropriate public or private school for their child. It also outlines the requirements for program eligibility.
 
Further, if the state has established a program that allows parents to use public or private funds to assist with the cost of their child attending a private school, then the state may supplement those funds with federal special education funds. 
 
Additionally, the Department of Defense must carry out a five-year pilot program to award scholarships to enable military dependent students who live on military installations to attend the public or private elementary or secondary schools their parents choose.
 
The bill also requires ED to return to the Treasury specified amounts made available for salaries and expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act

Bill: 117-s-75
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Birth defects
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Disability and health-based discrimination
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act

 
 This bill creates new federal crimes related to the performance of an abortion on an unborn child who has Down syndrome.
 
It subjects a violator to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.
 
It also authorizes civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief.
 
A woman who undergoes such an abortion may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
POWER Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-76
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Coal
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Metals
Mining
Oil and gas
Strategic materials and reserves

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Protecting Our Wealth of Energy Resources Act of 2021 or the POWER Act
 
of 2021

 
This bill requires the President and federal agencies to obtain the approval of Congress before prohibiting or substantially delaying certain new energy or mineral leases or permits on federal lands, including oil and gas leases, coal leases, hard rock leases, or critical minerals leases.
 
In addition, the President and agencies must obtain the approval of Congress before withdrawing certain federal lands from mineral and geothermal leasing activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-77
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Cell biology and embryology
Immunology and vaccination
Medical research
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 

2021

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from conducting or supporting any research that involves the use of human fetal tissue from an induced abortion.
 
The bill also prohibits soliciting or acquiring a donation of human fetal tissue from an induced abortion, other than for purposes of an autopsy or burial.
 
The bill applies requirements on the research of transplantation of fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes to research on fetal tissue in general.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-78
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Support And Value Expectant Moms and Babies Act of 2021 or the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved.
 
Under the bill, an already-approved drug intended to terminate a pregnancy may be dispensed to a patient only with a prescription. Furthermore, the FDA may not approve any labeling change that would authorize (1) using the drug after 70 days of gestation, or (2) dispensing the drug by any means other than in-person administration by the prescribing health care practitioner. 
 
The FDA must also impose additional restrictions on such already-approved drugs, including by (1) requiring the prescribing health care practitioner to receive a special certification, (2) prohibiting the practitioner to also act as the dispensing pharmacist, and (3) requiring the practitioner to have the ability to provide surgical intervention to the patient. 
 
The bill also rescinds any investigational use exemption already granted to such a drug if the bill would have prohibited the FDA from granting the exemption. (Currently, the FDA may grant an exemption to certain market approval requirements if a drug is intended solely for use in safety and effectiveness investigations.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
EQUAL Act

Bill: 117-s-79
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act or the EQUAL Act

 
This bill eliminates the federal sentencing disparity between drug offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine. 
 
Currently, different threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine (e.g., 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine) trigger the same statutory criminal penalties.
 
This bill eliminates the lower quantity thresholds for crack cocaine offenses. Under the bill, the same threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine trigger the same statutory criminal penalties. 
 
The change applies to future cases and cases pending on the date of enactment. With respect to past cases, the bill authorizes resentencing of a defendant who was convicted or sentenced for a crack cocaine offense before the date of enactment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Sarah's Law

Bill: 117-s-80
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Crime victims
Criminal justice information and records
Detention of persons
Immigration status and procedures
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Sarah's Law

 
This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.
 
 ICE shall make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the identity of any victims of the crimes for which such alien was charged or convicted. ICE shall provide the victim, or a relative or guardian of a deceased victim, with information about such alien, including name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, criminal history, and a description of any related removal efforts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

Bill: 117-s-81
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration
Business records
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Consumer credit
Disability and health-based discrimination
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Genetics
Geography and mapping
Health information and medical records
Housing discrimination
Immigration status and procedures
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Marketing and advertising
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Racial and ethnic relations
Right of privacy
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local government operations
Veterans' medical care
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Public Health Emergency Privacy Act

 
This bill imposes privacy, confidentiality, and security requirements on the use and disclosure of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency health data. This is data that is linked to an individual or device, such as test results.
 
The requirements apply to organizations that collect, use, or disclose emergency health data electronically or that manage websites or applications for contact tracing and other COVID-19 response activities.
 
These organizations must provide notice of privacy and other policies. They must also ensure the accuracy of, prevent discrimination based on, and limit disclosure of the data. If an organization collects data from at least 100,000 individuals, it must publicly report additional information about how it uses and discloses the data.
 
Furthermore, the bill prohibits the use of emergency health data for commercial advertising or in ways that restrict access to opportunities, services, and other accommodations.
 
It also prohibits government entities and organizations from using this data to infringe on the right to vote. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the civil rights impact of the collection, use, and disclosure of health data.
 
The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, states, and a private right of action. It further specifies that certain dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration, are unenforceable with respect to disputes arising under the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-83
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes requirements for physicians who perform abortions and abortion clinics.
 
Specifically, the bill requires a physician who performs an abortion (1) to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital; and (2) at the time of the abortion, to notify the patient of the hospital location where the patient can receive follow-up care if complications arise.
 
A physician who fails to comply is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both. A woman who undergoes an abortion may not be prosecuted.
 
The bill also requires an abortion clinic, in order to receive federal funds or assistance, to (1) be licensed by the state in which it is located, and (2) be in compliance with federal standards for ambulatory surgical centers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Write the Laws Act

Bill: 117-s-84
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Government information and archives
Legislative rules and procedure
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Write the Laws Act

 
This bill prohibits an act of Congress from containing any delegation of legislative powers, whether to any component within the legislative branch, the President or any other member of the executive branch, the judicial branch, any agency or quasi-public agency, any state or state instrumentality, or any other organization or individual.
 
The Government Accountability Office must identify to Congress all statutes enacted before 90 days after this bill's enactment that contain any delegation of legislative power.
 
Any act of Congress, presidential directive, adjudicative decision, rule, or regulation that is enacted 90 days or more after this bill's enactment and is noncompliant with this bill shall have no force or effect.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing Access to Lower Taxes by ensuring Deductibility Act

Bill: 117-s-85
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Property tax
Sales and excise taxes
State and local taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Securing Access to Lower Taxes by ensuring Deductibility Act or the SALT Deductibility Act

 
This bill repeals the temporary restrictions in taxable years 2018 through 2025 on the deductibility of state and local taxes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S200)
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
PRENDA

Bill: 117-s-86
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Right of privacy
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act or PRENDA
 
 
This bill creates new federal crimes related to the performance of sex-selection abortions (i.e., abortions based on the sex or gender of an unborn child).
 
It subjects a violator to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.
 
It also authorizes civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief.
 
A woman who undergoes a sex-selection abortion may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Life in Crisis Act

Bill: 117-s-87
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Protecting Life in Crisis Act

 
This bill specifies that federal funds allocated for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) response efforts may not, in general, be used for abortions. Current law generally prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions through language included in appropriations bills, such as the Hyde Amendment.
 
The bill also restricts the use of federal tax credits or other federal funding for health insurance coverage if the coverage includes abortions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

Bill: 117-s-88
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Congressional oversight
Family planning and birth control
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. To receive a grant, an entity must certify it will refrain from those activities during the grant period.
 
The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness. It also exempts hospitals unless they provide funds to non-hospital entities that provide abortions.
 
HHS must report annually on this prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate
District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act

Bill: 117-s-90
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-01-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: District of Columbia
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: 

District of Columbia Police Home Rule Act

 
This bill restricts the authority of the President to assume control of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department during an emergency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-01-28
text: Introduced in Senate