hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
COOL OFF Act

Bill: 118-hr-667
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Firearms and explosives

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Choosing Our Own Lives Over Fast Firearms Act or the COOL OFF Act

 
This bill establishes a three-day waiting period for certain handgun transfers.
 
Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual unless three business days have elapsed since the licensee initiated a background check. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.
 
Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful for an unlicensed individual to receive a handgun from another unlicensed individual unless at least three business days have elapsed since the recipient most recently offered to take possession of the handgun. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
 
The three-day waiting period does not apply to certain handgun transfers, such as for a loan between spouses for a lawful purpose. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Bill: 118-hr-668
Sponsor: Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

 
This bill withdraws approximately 234,328 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from 
 
 
entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws;
 
location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and 
 
operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
 
 
The area is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.
 
The Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2023-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-669
Sponsor: Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional-executive branch relations
Military command and structure
Military operations and strategy
Nuclear weapons
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023 

 
This bill prohibits using federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress expressly authorizes such a strike pursuant to a declaration of war. A first-use nuclear strike is an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy that did not first launch a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or its allies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-671
Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Employment taxes
Family relationships
Higher education
Social security and elderly assistance
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act of 2023

 
This bill increases certain Social Security taxes and benefits.
 
Under current law, Social Security has a 
taxable earnings base
, which refers to the maximum amount of a worker's earnings that are subject to Social Security payroll taxes (set at $160,200 in 2023). Additionally, the taxable earnings base serves as the maximum amount of earnings used to calculate a worker's Social Security benefits.
 
This bill gradually increases the Social Security payroll tax rate from 6.2% to 6.5% over six years. It also phases out the taxable earnings base, thereby applying the payroll taxes to a greater amount of a worker's earnings, and revises the method to calculate a worker's Social Security benefits to account for earnings in excess of the taxable earnings base.
 
Other changes to benefits include establishing a new method to calculate benefits for lifetime low earners and increasing benefits for certain beneficiaries on account of long-term eligibility. In addition, an eligible child of a retired, disabled, or deceased worker may continue to receive benefits through age 26, provided the child is a full-time student.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Border Security Investment Act

Bill: 118-hr-672
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Border Security Investment Act

 
This bill imposes a fee on remittances sent to certain countries and provides funding for border security activities from the collected amounts.
 
Specifically, the fee shall apply to remittances sent to one of the five countries that had the most citizens or nationals unlawfully enter the United States in the previous fiscal year, as determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The fee must be 37% of the amount sent. 
 
Half of the money collected by the fee must be placed in a trust fund for reimbursing border states for expenses incurred for border security enforcement measures. The other half must be placed in another trust fund for (1) deploying technology and installing physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, and (2) paying the wages and salaries of U.S. Border Patrol agents.
 
If the amount in the trust funds exceeds a certain threshold, the excess money must be used only for deficit reduction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H615)
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Guam Excess Land Return Act

Bill: 118-hr-673
Sponsor: Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Guam Excess Land Return Act

 
This bill allows excess federal lands in Guam to be transferred to the original landowners or their heirs if such prior ownership can be verified in the official records maintained by the government of Guam.
 
The government of Guam must establish a process for such transfers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs .
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Root and Stem Project Authorization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-674
Sponsor: Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Root and Stem Project Authorization Act of 2023

 
This bill authorizes the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conduct certain forest restoration projects.
 
Specifically, the Forest Service or BLM may enter into an agreement for a project on federal land that was developed through a collaborative process that meets local and rural community needs if 
 
 
 the party with whom it enters into an agreement initially provides the Forest Service or BLM with a portion of the funding necessary to complete any analysis deemed necessary under federal law for consideration of the proposed project;
 
the Forest Service or BLM uses the funding to pay a contractor included on a list of contractors that it maintains to conduct the analysis; 
 
upon completion of the analysis, the Forest Service or BLM solicits bids to carry out the project and enters into a contract or agreement under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to carry out the project; and
 
using certain receipts from the project, the Forest Service or BLM repays the initially provided funding.
 
 
For purposes of a civil action relating to such a project, any person that participated in the collaborative process to develop the proposal for the project shall be (1) entitled to intervene, as of right, in any subsequent civil action; and (2) considered to be a full participant in any settlement negotiation relating to the project.
 
The authority to enter into an agreement and the requirement to maintain a list of contractors shall expire on January 1, 2033.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-01-31
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held
action_date: 2023-02-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
action_date: 2023-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Health Freedom and Flexibility Act

Bill: 118-hr-677
Sponsor: Rep. Rosendale Sr., Matthew M. [R-MT-2]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Health Freedom and Flexibility Act

 
This bill revises provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs), including to 
 
 
eliminate the requirement that a participant in an HSA be enrolled in a high deductible health plan; 
 
repeal certain limitations on deductions for contributions to HSAs; 
 
repeal rules relating to eligible individuals who participate in HSAs;
 
repeal the limitation on use of HSAs to purchase health insurance; 
 
include certain medical items as medical expenses for HSA purposes, including menstrual care products, over-the-counter medicines, and medically necessary items;
 
include as HSA-eligible medical expenses, direct primary care, exercise equipment, and dental care items; and 
 
prohibit the use of HSAs to pay for abortions or for insurance that includes coverage for abortions.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Restoring Military Focus Act

Bill: 118-hr-678
Sponsor: Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Department of Defense
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Restoring Military Focus Act

 
This bill eliminates the position of Chief Diversity Officer within the Department of Defense (DOD), as well as the position of Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion within the military departments. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds to establish similar positions to that of Chief Diversity Officer or Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion within DOD.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to waive the matching funds requirement under the specialty crop research initiative, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-hr-679
Sponsor: Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to waive the matching funds requirement for grants under the specialty crop research initiative. Currently, entities that receive grants under the initiative must provide nonfederal matching funds (including funds from an agricultural promotion, research, and information program) equal to not less than the amount of the grant.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Tax Relief for Middle Class Families Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-680
Sponsor: Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: House of Representatives
Legislative rules and procedure
Motor vehicles

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 
 
Tax Relief for Middle Class Families Act of 2023

 
This bill increases from $10,000 to $100,000 the maximum amount of the tax deduction for state and local taxes in taxable years 2018 through 2025.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-681
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency planning and evacuation
Foreign aid and international relief
Multilateral development programs
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2023 

 
This bill reauthorizes a law that requires the implementation of a strategy to promote quality basic education in partner countries by (1) expanding access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized children and vulnerable groups; and (2) improving the quality of basic education and learning outcomes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-05-16
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2024-05-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
PASS Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-683
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural trade
Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Europe
Federal officials
Foreign and international corporations
Iran
Middle East
North Korea
Russia
U.S. and foreign investments

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act of 2023 or the
 
PASS Act of 2023

 
This bill establishes requirements to address the national security risk to the agricultural sector of the United States.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits persons who are acting on behalf of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea from purchasing or investing in U.S. agricultural land and companies. The President may waive this prohibition, on a case-by-case basis, if the President determines that the waiver is vital to U.S. national security interests.
 
The bill also places the Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and requires CFIUS to review certain transactions involving investments by foreign persons in the U.S. agricultural sector. 
 
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture must report on the risks that foreign purchases of U.S. businesses engaged in agriculture pose to the agricultural sector of the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act

Bill: 118-hr-684
Sponsor: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Asia
China
Education programs funding
Higher education
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Protecting Higher Education from Foreign Threats Act

 
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal funds for an award year in which the IHE employs an instructor who, while employed at the IHE and providing direct instruction to students, received funds from the Chinese Community Party. An IHE may regain eligibility for federal funds by demonstrating to the Department of Education that it no longer employs such instructor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Chinese Government COVID–19 Accountability Act

Bill: 118-hr-685
Sponsor: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Chinese Government COVID-19 Accountability Act

 
This bill directs the President to develop and carry out a strategy to get China's government to reimburse the U.S. government for funds made available to address COVID-19.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
Keep Huawei on the Entity List Act

Bill: 118-hr-686
Sponsor: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Asia
China
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Foreign and international corporations
Free trade and trade barriers
Licensing and registrations
Telephone and wireless communication
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

Keep Huawei on the Entity List Act

 
 This bill continues export controls on Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., and it requires the Department of Commerce to designate Honor Device Co. Ltd. for inclusion on the list of entities subject to certain license requirements for exports.
 
 The bill prohibits Commerce from removing Huawei (or its subsidiaries or affiliates) from the entity list unless Commerce certifies that Huawei (1) has not engaged in activities that are contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests and is unlikely to do so in the future; and (2) is not owned, controlled, or influenced by the Communist Party of China.
 
 Commerce must submit a monthly report identifying and describing all license applications to export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) certain items to Huawei or Honor, as well as whether those applications were approved or denied.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
United Nations Human Rights Council Reform Act

Bill: 118-hr-687
Sponsor: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Introduced: 2023-01-31 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: 

United Nations Human Rights Council Reform Act

 
This bill prohibits the United States from making any contributions to the United Nations Commissions of Inquiries that relate to Israel as mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The bill also requires U.S. representatives to the United Nations to seek to (1) eliminate the council's Agenda Item 7 (entitled 
Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
), (2) eliminate secret ballot elections for membership to the council, and (3) institute baseline criteria for council membership.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-31
text: Introduced in House