hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-478
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Employee hiring
Federal preemption
Foreign labor
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Housing and community development funding
Immigration status and procedures
Inflation and prices
Labor standards
Licensing and registrations
Motor vehicles
Personnel records
Small business
State and local government operations
Wages and earnings
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2021

 
This bill increases the federal minimum wage, permanently establishes the E-Verify system and requires its use, and contains other related provisions.
 
Specifically, the bill increases the minimum wage to $10 per hour, phased in over three years (five years for businesses with fewer than 20 employees), up from $7.25 per hour. The bill also phases in over three years an increase of the minimum wage for new employees less than 20 years old from $4.25 to $6 per hour, and increases the length of time an employee may be paid this lower minimum wage. Both minimum wages shall be adjusted for inflation every two years.
 
All employers shall use E-Verify to electronically verify the employment eligibility of new employees, with phased-in deadlines that generally require all employers to comply within 18 months of this bill's enactment. This bill provides for various requirements related to E-Verify, including requiring employers to examine and verify certain identifying documents belonging to the employee. 
 
The bill increases civil penalties for various violations related to hiring, recruiting, and referring ineligible employees. Repeated violators may be debarred from receiving federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. The bill also increases criminal fines for violators that engage in a pattern or practice of violations.
 
If a state does not provide the Department of Homeland Security access to that state's driver's license and identity card information for E-Verify purposes, that state (and its local government entities) shall be ineligible for certain grants related to public works and economic development.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
LOCAL Infrastructure Act

Bill: 117-s-479
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax exclusion
Securities
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Lifting Our Communities through Advance Liquidity for Infrastructure Act or the LOCAL Infrastructure Act

 
This bill reinstates tax provisions relating to advance refunding bonds. An
 advance refunding bond 
is a tax-exempt bond issued by a state or municipality to refinance or consolidate existing bond obligations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Main Street Tax Certainty Act

Bill: 117-s-480
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Income tax deductions
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Main Street Tax Certainty Act 

 
This bill makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.)
 

Qualified business income
 is defined as the net amount of qualified items of income, gain, deduction and loss with respect to any trade or business, excluding capital gains or losses, dividends, interest income, or income earned outside the U.S.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Democracy Restoration Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-481
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Law enforcement administration and funding
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Democracy Restoration Act of 2021
 
 
This bill addresses the voting rights of individuals convicted of a criminal offense and the restoration of their voting rights.
 
First, the bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. Further, the bill provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, the bill.
 
In addition, it sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights. 
 
Finally, the bill prohibits federal funding of construction or improvement of a place of incarceration unless U.S. citizens incarcerated in that jurisdiction are notified, upon release, of their voting rights.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Taxpayer Research and Coronavirus Knowledge Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-482
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug therapy
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Genetics
Government information and archives
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intellectual property
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Medical research
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Taxpayer Research and Coronavirus Knowledge Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate with specified federal entities to compile a public database of federal contracts, tax benefits, and other support for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) biomedical research and development. HHS must develop the database within one month and update it every two weeks.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Mobility Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-483
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Business ethics
Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Labor-management relations
Trade secrets and economic espionage
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Workforce Mobility Act of 2021

 
This bill prohibits the use of noncompete agreements in the context of commercial enterprises except under certain circumstances. 
 
The first exception is that the seller of the entirety of a business interest may enter an agreement to refrain from engaging in a similar business in the geographic areas where the business being sold has conducted business prior to the agreement. This exception extends to agreements by senior executive officials who have a severance agreement as part of the conditions of sale (i.e., a buyout provision). Second, a partner of an enterprise, in anticipation of the dissolution of the partnership or disassociation of a partner, may enter an agreement to refrain from engaging in a similar business in the geographic areas where the partnership has conducted business prior to the agreement.
 
Commercial enterprises must post notice of this prohibition in the workplace.
 
The Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Labor shall investigate or enforce the provisions of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Moms Matter Act

Bill: 117-s-484
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Mental health
Minority education
Minority employment
Minority health
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Moms Matter Act

 
This bill establishes two grant programs to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups.
 
First, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must award grants for maternal behavioral health services. Eligible grantees include
 
 
state, tribal, and local governments;
 
health care providers; and
 
organizations that serve pregnant and postpartum individuals.
 
 
 
Second, the Department of Health and Human Services may award grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health workforce by establishing or expanding schools and training programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-485
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Community life and organization
Disability and health-based discrimination
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Family relationships
Family services
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Mental health
Performance measurement
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2021

 
This bill directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to certain nonprofits to develop or expand services for individuals with substance use disorders and their families.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
21st Century Conservation Corps Act

Bill: 117-s-487
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Air quality
Appropriations
Birds
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Labor
Department of the Interior
Disaster relief and insurance
Ecology
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Executive agency funding and structure
Fires
Fishes
Floods and storm protection
Forests, forestry, trees
Government trust funds
Indian lands and resources rights
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Poverty and welfare assistance
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Sports and recreation facilities
Urban and suburban affairs and development
User charges and fees
Water quality
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

21st Century Conservation Corps Act

 
This bill provides funding for FY2021 to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Commerce primarily for federal land management and other conservation purposes.
 
The funding provided by this bill is designated as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
 
The bill also
 
 
establishes the Outfitters and Guides Relief Fund;
 
expands the Every Kid Outdoors Program to include fifth and sixth grade students and home-schooled learners 11 and 12 years of age, who shall be provided free access to federal lands and waters under the program;
 
establishes the Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Program;
 
establishes the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps program to support youth and workforce development programs;
 
provides for the temporary waiver of ski area permit and rental fees;
 
provides for the temporary waiver of outdoor recreation land use permit fees;
 
provides for the use of the Reforestation Trust Fund for the reforestation of certain National Forest System lands, Bureau of Land Management lands, and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands;
 
establishes the Reforest America Grant Program; and
 
extends through FY2030 and revises the Conservation Stewardship Program, including to provide additional funding for conservation activities related to climate stewardship practices.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-488
Sponsor: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Congressional oversight
Iran
Legislative rules and procedure
Licensing and registrations
Middle East
Nuclear weapons
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Trade restrictions
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021

 
This bill restricts the President's authority to unilaterally undertake certain actions with respect to Iran and increases congressional oversight of those actions.
 
Specifically, the President must report to Congress before terminating or waiving sanctions related to Iran or taking a licensing action that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy with respect to Iran.
 
Each report must (1) describe the proposed action and its rationale, and (2) indicate whether or not the action is intended to significantly alter foreign policy concerning Iran. If the intention is to alter that policy, the report must provide additional information about the policy objectives and anticipated effects of the action.
 
After the President submits a report, the bill provides Congress with a 30-day period to review it; this period is extended to 60 days for reports submitted between July 10 and September 7. During this period, Congress may enact a joint resolution approving or disapproving the action.
 
During the review period, the President may not take the action unless Congress passes a joint resolution of approval; if Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval, the bill prohibits the President from taking the action.
 
The bill also outlines procedures for the introduction and consideration of these types of joint resolutions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Employees and Retirees with Delinquent Tax Debt Initiative (FERDI) Act

Bill: 117-s-489
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Department of the Treasury
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Military personnel and dependents
National Guard and reserves
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Personnel records
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Federal Employees and Retirees with Delinquent Tax Debt Initiative (FERDI) Act

 
This bill disqualifies individuals with delinquent tax debt from federal employment and requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to regularly publish a report on the tax liabilities of federal employees.
 
Specifically, the bill disqualifies both applicants and current employees with seriously delinquent tax debt from federal employment. The bill defines 
seriously delinquent tax debt
 as a federal tax liability that has been assessed by the Department of the Treasury and that may be collected via levy or court proceeding, with specified exceptions. Agencies must provide for appropriate review of public records to determine if there are any liens against applicants or current employees, and may take certain personnel actions against employees who willfully fail to file taxes or understate their liability. 
 
The bill also directs the IRS to submit to specified congressional committees and make public online an annual report on current and retired federal civilian and military employees who have delinquent tax debt or an unfiled tax return for the most recent fiscal year. (The IRS currently investigates and reports on similar information through its Federal Employee/Retiree Delinquency Initiative, or FERDI).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-490
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Business records
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Disability and paralysis
Employment taxes
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Public contracts and procurement
Right of privacy
State and local government operations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Technology assessment
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: 

Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of Labor to study and report on the technology needs of federal and state unemployment compensation programs. Based on this study, Labor must develop, operate, and maintain a modular set of technology capabilities to modernize the delivery of unemployment compensation.
 
Before the deployment of the technology capabilities to all states, Labor must select at least four states to participate in a pilot program to test the technology capabilities and demonstrate that they meet requirements.
 
The bill establishes accessibility requirements for filing online unemployment compensation claims. In addition, it prohibits the technology capabilities from relying solely on a high-risk automated decision system to (1) deny a claim for unemployment compensation, (2) reduce the amount of unemployment compensation for which a claimant is eligible, or (3) deny a claimant's right to appeal an unemployment compensation decision.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate
York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-491
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2021-03-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Lakes and rivers
Land transfers
Land use and conservation
Maine
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: 

York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021

 
This bill designates specified segments of the main stem and the tributaries of the York River in Maine as a recreational river.
 
The Department of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to provide for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the river segments. 
 
No land or interest in land within the watersheds of the river segments may be acquired by condemnation. 

action_date: 2021-12-16
text: 

York River Wild and Scenic River Act of 2021

 
This bill designates specified segments of the main stem and the tributaries of the York River in Maine as a recreational river.
 
The Department of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to provide for the long-term protection, preservation, and enhancement of the river segments. 
 
No land or interest in land within the watersheds of the river segments may be acquired by condemnation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-16
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 200.
action_date: 2021-12-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. With written report No. 117-50.
action_date: 2021-12-16
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. With written report No. 117-50.
action_date: 2021-11-18
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-03-01
text: Introduced in Senate