hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Executive Branch Comprehensive Ethics Enforcement Act

Bill: 117-s-1546
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Justice
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Office of Government Ethics
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Executive Branch Comprehensive Ethics Enforcement Act

 
This bill expands the duties and authorities of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE).
 
Among other things, the bill authorizes the OGE to
 
 
issue subpoenas during investigations; and
 
order corrective actions (e.g., divestiture) and issue administrative remedies (e.g., suspension or demotion).
 
 
Additionally, the OGE shall be the central repository of all laws, rules, and regulations relating to conflicts of interest and other ethics issues, recusals, waivers, and exemptions of such laws, rules, and regulations. The OGE shall make available to the public all financial disclosure reports and records relating to conflicts of interest and other ethics issues that are determined to be public information.
 
The OGE must provide ethics education and training to all designated and alternate designated agency ethics officials, who must register with, and report to, the OGE and their appointing authority.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Ivory Tower Tax Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1547
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment and training programs
Higher education
Sales and excise taxes
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Ivory Tower Tax Act of 2021

 
This bill imposes on each specified applicable educational institution an excise tax of 1% of the aggregate fair market value of its assets as of the end of the preceding taxable year. The bill defines 
specified applicable educational institution
 as any applicable educational institution, other than a religious institution, whose assets have an aggregate fair market of at least $2.5 billion at the end of the preceding taxable year.
 
The bill also imposes a 30% tax on undistributed excess endowment amounts of an educational institution, unless the failure to distribute such amounts is due to an incorrect valuation of assets that was not willful and was due to reasonable cause.
 
The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to transfer revenues generated by this bill to the Department of Labor to expand apprenticeship opportunities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
ENACT Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1548
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Medical research
Minority education
Minority employment
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Equity in Neuroscience and Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Act of 2021 or the ENACT Act of 2021

 
This bill sets out activities and requirements to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in research and clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. 
 
Specifically, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) must establish and provide technical assistance to Alzheimer's research centers located in areas with higher concentrations of minority groups. These centers must
 
 
establish diagnostic and treatment clinics designed to serve minority, rural, and other underserved populations;
 
operate clinical trials; and
 
carry out public outreach to encourage members of minority populations to participate in clinical trials and research.
 
 
Additionally, the NIA must disseminate information to members of minority populations about participating in clinical trials and take other actions to enhance diversity with respect to the Alzheimer's research that it conducts or supports.
 
The bill also directs the NIA to increase diversity among Alzheimer's researchers by encouraging the participation of individuals who are from groups that are underrepresented in clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a review of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration preference for domestic suppliers.

Bill: 117-s-1549
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Buy American requirements
Congressional oversight
Foreign and international corporations
Government studies and investigations
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Public contracts and procurement
Space flight and exploration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to undertake a comprehensive review of the domestic supplier preferences of NASA and the obligations of NASA under the federal acquisition regulations to ensure compliance, particularly with respect to federal acquisition regulations provisions that apply to foreign-based subcontractors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Foreign Service Families Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1550
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Commuting
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employee hiring
Family relationships
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Higher education
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Lease and rental services
Licensing and registrations
Motor vehicles
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Foreign Service Families Act of 2021

 
This bill increases access to career and educational opportunities for eligible family members of foreign service employees.
 
Specifically, the Department of State must use additional hiring preferences and apply appropriate hiring standards to eligible family members seeking employment in certain civil service positions overseas. Additionally, the State Department may take other steps to improve job portability and otherwise support employment of eligible family members who work in the federal civil service or private sector jobs. The State Department must also report on the implementation of the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps, a program that expedites hiring and onboarding processes for family members who are eligible for appointment to positions overseas.
 
Furthermore, each federal agency must include in its telework policy the circumstances under which an employee may temporarily work from an approved location overseas.
 
The bill also makes foreign service employees (or their spouses and dependent children) who are domiciled or assigned to a duty station in a given state eligible for in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education in that state. Such individuals retain their eligibility for in-state tuition provided they maintain continuous enrollment even if their domicile or duty station changes. Additionally, the bill entitles members of the Foreign Service who are posted abroad to terminate residential and motor vehicle leases and telephone service contracts without being subject to early termination fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
SCOPE Act

Bill: 117-s-1551
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Transportation
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Stop CO Poisoning Exposures Act or the
 
SCOPE Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to require that automobile manufacturers install technology in each motor vehicle equipped with a keyless ignition device and an internal combustion engine to automatically shut off the motor vehicle after the motor vehicle has idled for a specified period of time to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a report on defense and aerospace manufacturing supply chains.

Bill: 117-s-1552
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Commerce
Congressional oversight
Manufacturing
Military procurement, research, weapons development
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Public contracts and procurement
Space flight and exploration

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 
This bill requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to submit a report on domestic defense and aerospace manufacturing supply chains for its civil space missions and operations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
PEAKER Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1553
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Business investment and capital
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Coal
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental health
Income tax credits
Oil and gas
Poverty and welfare assistance
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Promoting Energy Alternatives is Key to Emission Reductions Act of 2021 or the PEAKER Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses the emissions from peaker plants and provides financial incentives for renewable energy to reduce the need for peaker plants.
 

Peaker plants
 are defined as fossil fuel-fired power plants or units of power plants that are run primarily to meet peak electricity demand. In other words, peaker plants are run where there is above average energy demand, such as during extremely hot or cold weather.
 
The bill establishes an additional investment tax credit for renewable energy generation and battery storage to replace the need for peaker plants in disadvantaged communities.
 
In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a grant program to provide up to $1 billion annually through FY2032 to eligible entities for clean energy projects. Specifically, grants must be awarded to assist eligible entities in carrying out (1) projects associated with the construction, installation, or acquisition of qualifying renewable energy facilities and qualifying energy storage facilities; or (2) community energy proposals or community energy studies to reduce or replace the need for peaker plants. Entities that are eligible to receive grants include state or local governments, nonprofit organizations, community-owned energy generation facilities or energy storage facilities located in disadvantaged communities, community-based energy cooperatives, or certain partnerships.
 
DOE must also assess and report on the location of each peaker plant, the quantity and type of pollution each plant is producing, and related data as specified by the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to make certain irrigation districts eligible for Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program pumping power, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-s-1554
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Missouri River
North Dakota
Public contracts and procurement
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 
This bill makes certain irrigation districts in North Dakota eligible to receive pumping power (i.e., hydropower) from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, subject to the terms and rates established by the Bureau of Reclamation. Under this bill, an irrigation district must enter into a contract with Reclamation to receive such pumping power.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-05-25
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Get Americans Back To Work Act

Bill: 117-s-1555
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations
Unemployment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Get Americans Back To Work Act

 
This bill makes an individual ineligible for federal pandemic unemployment compensation (FPUC) after June 30, 2021. It also reduces the amount of FPUC to $150.00 for weeks of unemployment ending after May 31, 2021, and ending on or before June 30, 2021.
 
Under current law, an individual is eligible for FPUC for weeks of employment ending on or before September 6, 2021 in the amount of $300. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require a report on the feasibility and benefits of establishing a supply chain center of excellence.

Bill: 117-s-1556
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Manufacturing
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Space flight and exploration
Spacecraft and satellites

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to submit to Congress a report on the feasibility and benefits of establishing a supply chain center of excellence in a state in which NASA does not have research center or test facility. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
National Signing Bonus Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1557
Sponsor: Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
State and local government operations
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

National Signing Bonus Act of 2021

 
This bill replaces existing Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments for unemployed individuals with two-time signing bonuses for newly employed individuals.

 
Specifically, the bill allows states to provide up to two direct payments to individuals who are eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation prior to commencing employment with a new employer. The individual must continue employment with the new employer for at least four weeks before July 4, 2021, to be eligible for the first $1,212 payment under the bill and for at least eight weeks before July 4, 2021, to be eligible for the final $1,212 payment.
 
The bill otherwise eliminates federal reimbursement for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Untraceable Firearms Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1558
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Digital media
Firearms and explosives
Manufacturing
Materials
Retail and wholesale trades
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Untraceable Firearms Act of 2021
 
 
This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, and receipt of ghost guns (i.e., guns without serial numbers). 
 
Additionally, the bill revises the federal statutory framework regulating the manufacture, possession, sale, import, shipment, delivery, receipt, and transfer of undetectable firearms. Among the revisions, the bill defines 
undetectable firearm
 as a firearm without a major component wholly made of detectable material. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
2021 ESOP Fairness Act

Bill: 117-s-1559
Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Business records
Employee benefits and pensions
Financial services and investments
Securities

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

2021 ESOP Fairness Act

 
This bill allows certain over-the-counter securities to be treated as publicly traded employer securities for purposes of the diversification requirements for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Helping to Encourage Real Opportunities (HERO) for Youth Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1560
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Income tax credits
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Helping to Encourage Real Opportunities (HERO) for Youth Act of 2021

 
This bill modifies the work opportunity tax credit to (1) change the credit for summer youth employees to a credit for youth employees who will be employed for not more than 20 hours per week during any period between September 16 and April 30 in which the youth employee is attending any secondary school, (2) increase the amount of the credit for youth employees, and (3) expand the credit to include disconnected youth. 
 
The bill defines
 disconnected youth
 to include any individual who (1) is certified as having attained age 16 but not age 25 on the hiring date; and (2) has self-certified as not having regularly attended any secondary, technical, or post-secondary school during the 6-month period preceding the hiring date, has not been regularly employed during such period, and is not readily employable due to a lack of basic skills. The term also includes individuals who have been certified (1) as having attained age 16 but not age 21 on the hiring date, and (2) as eligible foster children in foster care during the 12-month period ending on the hiring date.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S2453-2454)
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Locality Pay Equity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-1561
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Locality Pay Equity Act of 

2021

 
This bill (1) prohibits the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from defining more than one local wage area for prevailing rate employees within a pay locality, except with respect to the pay locality designated as 
Rest of United States
; and (2) requires the OPM to ensure that this bill shall not have the effect of reducing the rate of basic pay for an individual serving as a prevailing rate employee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Creating Pathways for Youth Employment Act

Bill: 117-s-1562
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Community life and organization
Education of the disadvantaged
Employment and training programs
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Indian social and development programs
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Minority employment
Temporary and part-time employment
Unemployment
Wages and earnings
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Creating Pathways for Youth Employment Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Labor to award grants, on a competitive basis, to assist states, local governments, and Indian tribes or community-based organizations in providing subsidized summer and year-round employment opportunities to certain at-risk youth who are not younger than 14 or older than 24, and are unemployed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2454-2457)
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Telecommunications Supply Chain Diversity Promotion Act

Bill: 117-s-1563
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Technology assessment
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: 

Telecommunications Supply Chain Diversity Promotion Act

 
This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish an applied research open network architecture testbed at its Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, which shall develop and demonstrate network architectures and applications, equipment integration, and interoperability at scale.
 
In addition, the NTIA must award grants to private sector entities based in the United States to participate in eligible standards-setting bodies (e.g., the Telecommunications Industry Association).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate