hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Global Electoral Exchange Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-542
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Global Electoral Exchange Act of 2021

 
This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish a Global Electoral Exchange Program to promote sound election-administration practices around the world. The State Department may award grants to qualified, tax-exempt, U.S.-based organizations that have expertise and experience in relevant topics, such as election-system integrity. Grants may be used to design programs to bring relevant individuals, such as election administrators and poll workers, together to study and discuss election procedures.
 
The State Department shall periodically report to Congress on the program's activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-543
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Business records
Contracts and agency
Department of Agriculture
Government information and archives
Livestock
Meat
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2021

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish and maintain a library or catalog of each type of contract offered by packers to producers for the purchase of all or part of the production of fed cattle (including cattle that are purchased or committed for delivery).
 Fed cattle
 means a steer or heifer that has been feeding on a ration of roughage and feed concentrates prior to slaughter, including grains, protein meal, grass, and other nutrient-rich feeds.
 
USDA must create and maintain a publicly available library of the types of contracts that are being offered by packers to, and are open to acceptance by, producers for the purchase of fed cattle.
 
Additionally, USDA must also establish (1) regional mandatory minimum thresholds to enhance price discovery and transparency for cattle market participants; and (2) methods for establishing such thresholds, which shall be publicly available. 
 
Further, the bill revises daily reporting requirements for packer processing plants by requiring them to include the number of cattle scheduled to be delivered for slaughter each day for the subsequent 14 days.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to designate one week each year as "Buddy Check Week" for the purpose of outreach and education concerning peer wellness checks for veterans, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-544
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commemorative events and holidays
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Health promotion and preventive care
Mental health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Telephone and wireless communication
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate one week each year as Buddy Check Week for the purposes of organizing outreach events and educating veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks. The VA shall ensure that the Veterans Crisis Line has a plan for handling the potential increase in calls that may occur during such week.

action_date: 2021-10-07
text: 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate one week each year as Buddy Check Week for the purposes of organizing outreach events and educating veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks. The VA shall ensure that the Veterans Crisis Line has a plan for handling the potential increase in calls that may occur during such week.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-08
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-10-08
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-10-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6993)
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6993)
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6993)
action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6993)
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness Act

Bill: 117-s-545
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Railroads
Transportation employees
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness Act or the REEF Act

 
This bill permanently exempts payments made from the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Account from sequestration. Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.
 
 Currently, this exemption ends 30 days after the termination of the COVID-19 national emergency period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
BLAST Act

Bill: 117-s-546
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Congressional officers and employees
Members of Congress
Public participation and lobbying

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act or the BLAST Act

 
This bill revises the post-employment lobbying ban on former Members and elected officers of Congress. 
 
Specifically, it imposes a permanent ban on lobbying contacts by a former Senator (currently, a two-year ban), a former Member of the House of Representatives (currently, a one-year ban), or a former elected officer of the House or Senate (currently, a one-year ban).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-547
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Appropriations
Business records
Congressional oversight
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Inflation and prices
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021

 
 This bill modifies the funding rules and provides financial assistance for certain pension plans that are underfunded or insolvent. 
 
 First, the bill expands the authority of, and provides funding for, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to provide special partition assistance to a multiemployer pension plan that is insolvent or at risk of insolvency. The bill expands eligibility for partition assistance, provides funding for a plan to reach a projected funded ratio of 80% over a 30-year period, and does not require a plan to repay such assistance.
 
The bill further permits a multiemployer pension plan to elect to retain its funding zone status from the previous year for either (1) the first plan year beginning during the period from March 1, 2020, through February 28, 2021; or (2) the next succeeding plan year, as designated by the plan sponsor. A plan may also extend by five years the funding improvement or rehabilitation period if the plan is designated as in endangered or critical status for a plan year beginning in 2020 or 2021. A plan in critical and declining status may not suspend payment of plan benefits.
 
Additionally, the bill adjusts the minimum funding standards for a multiemployer pension plan to account for investment losses and other losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and modifies the PBGC guarantee formula to increase the maximum potential benefits under a multiemployer pension plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Tanana Tribal Council located in Tanana, Alaska, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-549
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Land transfers
Minority health
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to convey specified property in Tanana, Alaska, to the Tanana Tribal Council for use in connection with health and social services programs. 
 
The conveyance shall not require any consideration from, or impose any obligation, term, or condition on, the council or allow for any U.S. reversionary interest in the property. 
 
The council shall not be liable for any environmental contamination that occurred before the conveyance.

action_date: 2021-04-14
text: 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to convey specified property in Tanana, Alaska, to the Tanana Tribal Council for use in connection with health and social services programs. 
 
The conveyance shall not require any consideration from, or impose any obligation, term, or condition on, the council or allow for any U.S. reversionary interest in the property. 
 
The council shall not be liable for any environmental contamination that occurred before the conveyance.

action_date: 2021-05-26
text: 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to convey specified property in Tanana, Alaska, to the Tanana Tribal Council for use in connection with health and social services programs. 
 
The conveyance shall not require any consideration from, or impose any obligation, term, or condition on, the council or allow for any U.S. reversionary interest in the property. 
 
The council shall not be liable for any environmental contamination that occurred before the conveyance.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-05-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3490; text: CR S3490-3491)
action_date: 2021-05-26
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3490; text: CR S3490-3491)
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 42.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 117-14.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz without amendment. With written report No. 117-14.
action_date: 2021-03-10
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Recovery Startup Assistance Act

Bill: 117-s-551
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment taxes
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Small business
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Recovery Startup Assistance Act

 
This bill expands the employee retention tax credit to include recovery startup businesses. The bill defines 
recovery startup business
 as any employer that began a trade or business after February 15, 2020, had less than 50 full-time employees, and did not have gross receipts in excess of $25,000 in the preceding five-year period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Global Learning Loss Assessment Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-552
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-03-02 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Educational facilities and institutions
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Multilateral development programs
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rural conditions and development
Special education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: 

Global Learning Loss Assessment Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to report on the impact of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on the agency's basic education programs.
 
This report shall include (1) an assessment of the global learning loss that will result from protracted school closures; (2) evaluations of the effectiveness, cost, accessibility, and reach of the most commonly used forms of distance learning in low-resource contexts; and (3) a description of the tools and resources needed for the USAID to support continued distance learning, safe school reopening, remedial and accelerated learning, and reenrollment campaigns.

action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Global Learning Loss Assessment Act of 2022 

 
This bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development to report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agency's basic education programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 454.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-07-19
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-03-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Government Spectrum Valuation Act

Bill: 117-s-553
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Budget process
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Radio spectrum allocation
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 

Government Spectrum Valuation Act 

 
This bill requires estimation of the value of federal electromagnetic spectrum.
 
Specifically, the bill requires (1) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and the Office of Management and Budget, to estimate the value of spectrum assigned or allocated to each federal agency; and (2) each agency to report, in its annual budget and financial statement, the estimated value of the spectrum that has been assigned or allocated to it.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-554
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Hawaii
Land use and conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 
This bill directs the Forest Service to conduct a study to (1) determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Forest System in the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai in the state of Hawaii; and (2) identify available land within the study area that could be included in such unit.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1027)
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal minimum wage for employers with at least $1,000,000,000 in annual revenue, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-555
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Labor standards
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 
This bill requires employers with annual revenue of at least $1 billion to increase the minimum wage for their employees over a 5-year period. The requirement does not apply to tipped employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-556
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Firearms and explosives
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 

Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes the Advisory Council to Support Victims of Gun Violence. 
 
Among other things, the advisory council must assess the needs of victims of gun violence and disseminate information about helpful resources. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate
Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-557
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Congressional oversight
Ecology
Government studies and investigations
Horticulture and plants
Land use and conservation
Natural disasters
Pest management
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 

Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act of 2021

 
This bill establishes a pilot program for native plant species and a study on the cost-effectiveness of using native plant materials to carry out land management activities on federal lands. 
 
The National Park Service (NPS) shall establish a pilot program in at least two NPS regions to promote the use of native plant materials. 
 
The NPS shall conduct a study to determine the cost-effectiveness of using native plant materials in land management activities on federal lands under the jurisdiction of the NPS or other federal land management agencies. 

action_date: 2022-10-18
text: 

Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes a pilot program for native plant species. 
 
The National Park Service (NPS) shall establish a pilot program to prioritize the use of native plant species within geographically diverse units of the National Park System and public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
 
The Department of the Interior shall, in carrying out the pilot program, coordinate activities with
 
 
the National Seed Strategy of the BLM,
 
the Plant Conservation Alliance, and 
 
the Plant Materials Centers of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-10-18
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
action_date: 2022-10-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-179.
action_date: 2022-10-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-179.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1027-1028)
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate