hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
BARK Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2370
Sponsor: Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2023 or the BARK Act of 2023

This bill provides civil and criminal liability protections for the donation of pet food and pet supplies under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. (The act shields persons that donate and distribute food to nonprofit organizations from liability for injuries caused by those donated products, with exceptions.) 

Specifically, the bill limits liability for persons or gleaners arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of food or pet supplies that are donated in good faith by the person or gleaner to a nonprofit organization, state, or local government for direct distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. 
Gleaner 
means a person who harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to a nonprofit organization, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner.

Further, the bill limits liability for a nonprofit organization, state, or local government arising from donated items received from a person or gleaner in good faith for direct distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. 

The bill also specifies that the existing exception that permits a person, gleaner, or nonprofit organization to be held liable for acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or intentional misconduct applies to the liability protections established by this bill. 

Further, the bill expands provisions that protect a person who allows the collection or gleaning of donations on their property from liability arising from certain injuries or deaths to include donations for distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals.
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
ACRE Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2371
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 
 
Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act of 2023 or the ACRE Act of 2023 

 
This bill excludes from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act

Bill: 118-s-2372
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Medicaid
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act

 
This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers for five years without undergoing additional screening requirements, unless the state has an agreement with other states that governs coverage of children with medically complex conditions that is in accordance with specified guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 
 
Among other requirements, a qualifying provider must (1) serve individuals under the age of 21; (2) have previously been screened for Medicare participation or for participation in the Medicaid program of the state in which the provider is located; and (3) have been determined by the CMS or state Medicaid program to pose a limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Lead by Example Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2373
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
No Obamacare for Illegal Aliens Act

Bill: 118-s-2374
Sponsor: Sen. Vance, J. D. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Immigration status and procedures
Medicaid
Sex and reproductive health
Women's health

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-09-05
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office".

Bill: 118-s-2375
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Postal service
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office."

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2376
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2023

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the Helen Keller National Center for Youths and Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind and the Helen Keller National Center Federal Endowment Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2377
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2023

This bill provides for Medicare coverage of certain audiology services. Specifically, the bill expands coverage to include diagnostic and treatment services that are furnished by audiologists and that would otherwise be covered if provided by a physician, including incidental services, regardless of whether such services are provided pursuant to a referral from, or under the supervision of, a physician or other health care practitioner.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Fueling Alternative Transportation with a Carbon Aviation Tax Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2378
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Air quality
Aviation and airports
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Community life and organization
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Government trust funds
Inflation and prices
Low- and moderate-income housing
Motor fuels
Racial and ethnic relations
Research and development
Sales and excise taxes

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
CHANGE Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2379
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health promotion and preventive care
Medicare
Neurological disorders

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End Act of 2023 or the CHANGE Act of 2023

This bill specifies that Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical examinations must include the use of an approved tool from the National Institute of Aging to detect cognitive impairment, as well as associated documentation of the tool that was used and the results.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2380
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Data Integrity Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2381
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3152)
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Farmland Security Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2382
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Farmland Security Act of 2023

This bill authorizes increased civil penalties for violations of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) and increases Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight and research into foreign investment in agricultural land. (AFIDA and the regulations that implemented the act require foreign investors who acquire, transfer, or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report such holdings and transactions to USDA.) 

In general, the bill allows USDA to determine an appropriate civil penalty amount for an AFIDA violation by removing the cap that currently prohibits the civil penalty from exceeding 25% of the fair market value of the interest in the land.

The bill provides an exception for a shell corporation (i.e., a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, trust, or estate that has no or nominal operations). An AFIDA civil penalty for a foreign-owned shell corporation must be 100% of the fair market value of the interest in the agricultural land associated with the violation. The penalty does not apply if the shell corporation remedies a defective filing or failure to file within 60 days of USDA providing notice. 

USDA must conduct annual compliance audits of at least 10% of the reports. Further, USDA must provide state and county-level personnel annual training in identifying agricultural land for which a report must be submitted.

USDA must also annually conduct research and submit a report to Congress on foreign investment in agricultural land, including trends in the purchase of U.S. agricultural land by foreign-owned shell corporations. 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2383
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Air quality
Community life and organization
Emergency communications systems
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Health technology, devices, supplies
Lighting, heating, cooling
Medical research
State and local government operations

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2384
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Keep STEM Talent Act of 2023

 
This bill addresses issues relating to non-U. S. nationals (
aliens
 under federal law) with advanced degrees in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field, including exempting certain such individuals from direct limitations on the number of immigrant visas granted per year.
 
To be exempt from the annual numerical limitations on immigrant visas, the individual must (1) have earned a master's level or higher degree in certain STEM fields while in the United States attending an accredited higher education institution, (2) be employed (or have an offer) to perform work directly related to the degree and earn higher than the median wage for that occupation, and (3) meet certain labor certification requirements. 
 
The bill also allows an individual seeking a nonimmigrant F-1 (student) visa for an advanced STEM degree to obtain the nonimmigrant visa even if the individual seeks lawful permanent resident status. (Generally, an individual may be denied a nonimmigrant visa if the individual actually intends to seek immigrant status, unless dual intent is allowed for that visa.) 
 
Under this bill, to be approved for an F-1 visa for an advanced STEM degree, the applicant must apply for the visa before beginning the advanced degree program. 
 
The bill also requires an individual who is inside the United States and applying for an F-1 visa for an advanced STEM degree to undergo the same vetting (e.g., verifying academic credentials and undergoing background checks) as an individual applying from outside the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S3152)
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2385
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Health programs administration and funding
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Minority health
Rural conditions and development
Solid waste and recycling
State and local finance
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023

This bill expands access to water resources for Native communities (i.e., Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities).

Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Agriculture to make or insure loans and make grants to eligible entities (e.g., Native communities) for technical assistance to develop, use, and control water.

Additionally, the bill allows the Indian Health Service to (1) provide and maintain essential sanitation facilities to community structures (e.g., schools, hospitals, and tribal offices), (2) provide technical assistance, and (3) provide financial assistance to operate and maintain water facilities that serve Native communities.The bill also increases the authorization of appropriations for the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program through FY2028.
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-02-08
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-416.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act

Bill: 118-s-2386
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medicaid
Military medicine
Sex and reproductive health
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2387
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

Bill: 118-s-2388
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act 

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a cybersecurity circuit rider program to provide cybersecurity technical assistance for rural water and wastewater systems.

The program must be structured similarly to the USDA Circuit Rider Program. (Under this program, USDA provides technical assistance to rural water systems that serve areas with populations of 10,000 or fewer people and are experiencing day-to-day operational, financial, or managerial issues.)

Specifically, the cybersecurity circuit rider program must provide technical assistance to rural water or wastewater systems to

provide rapid assessments of the system's current ability or inability to respond to cybersecurity threats and protect cyber infrastructure,

develop reasonable protocols to enhance cybersecurity protection,

provide assistance to address inadequate cyber protection plans, and

document a system's current state of water supply cyber protection. 

 

 

 

 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2389
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Gulf of Mexico
Licensing and registrations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mining
Oil and gas

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Refinery Relief Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2390
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
NFIP Extension Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-2391
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

NFIP Extension Act of 2023

 
This bill reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program through September 30, 2024.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act

Bill: 118-s-2392
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [I-AZ]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Executive agency funding and structure
Social Security Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act

 
This bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide a single point of contact to assist individuals regarding the misuse of a Social Security account number or the loss of a Social Security card in the course of transmission from the SSA to the individual. The single point of contact must track the individual's case to completion and coordinate with other specialized units to resolve case issues as quickly as possible.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
Food and Agriculture Industry Cybersecurity Support Act

Bill: 118-s-2393
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: 

Food and Agriculture Industry Cyberspace Support Act

This bill requires the establishment of a clearinghouse for food and agriculture cyberspace resources and the development of related best practices recommendations.

Specifically, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must establish a publicly available clearinghouse that contains current food and agriculture industry-focused cybersecurity resources.

Further, the NTIA must develop voluntary cybersecurity recommendations relating to the development, maintenance, and operation of the food and agriculture industry. The recommendations must be based on a consolidation of public and private sector best practices and be included in the NTIA clearinghouse. The recommendations must also include, to the greatest extent practicable, materials that address (1) risk-based, cybersecurity-informed engineering; (2) planning for retention or recovery of positive control of systems in the event of a cybersecurity incident; (3) protection against unauthorized access to critical functions of the industry; and (4) plans for how industry businesses should respond to ransomware attacks.

The Government Accountability Office must coordinate with specified federal agencies to conduct a study on actions the federal government has taken or may take to improve cybersecurity in the food and agriculture industry.
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate
GUARD Act

Bill: 118-s-2394
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Families

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate