hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1666
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal and plant health
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Livestock
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: 

 Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023

 
This bill provides additional funding for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) animal disease prevention and management programs and reauthorizes the programs through FY2028.
 
Specifically, the bill reauthorizes and provides additional funding for 
 
 
the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (a nationally coordinated network and partnership of federal, state, and university-associated animal health laboratories that provides animal health diagnostic testing to detect biological threats to the nation's food animals); 
 
the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (which allows APHIS to partner with states, tribes, producer organizations, universities, and others to carry out projects that enhance local, regional, and national capabilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to animal disease outbreaks); and
 
the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (which allows the Department of Agriculture to stockpile animal vaccines and related products to use in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or other high-impact foreign animal diseases). 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
America’s CHILDREN Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1667
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2023-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: 

America's CHILDREN Act of 2023 or the Protecting Children of Long-Term Visa Holders Act of 2023
 

 

This bill provides lawful permanent resident status to certain college graduates who entered the United States as children and addresses other immigration-related issues.
 
Specifically, this bill allows a non-U.S. national (
alien
 under federal law) to apply for lawful permanent resident status if the individual (1) was lawfully present in the United States as a dependent child of an individual admitted for employment, (2) was in the United States with such status for at least eight years, (3) has graduated from an institution of higher education in the United States, and (4) is not deportable or otherwise inadmissible. In addition, the individual must have been lawfully present in the United States for at least 10 years at the time of the application.
 
The bill also modifies various provisions related to calculating an individual's age for immigration purposes and the priority date of certain immigration-related applications. For example, to determine whether an individual is a dependent child for certain immigration petitions, the individual's age at the time a petition is filed shall be the age used for that determination. (Currently, this determination for some petitions is based on the individual's age at the time a visa becomes available, so it is possible for an individual to be a dependent child when filing a petition but become too old to qualify by the time the visa is available.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1708-1709)
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act

Bill: 118-s-1668
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2023-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: 

Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act

 
This bill modifies how the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds and manages the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
 
This network is a public-private partnership that links the professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system. Historically, only one organization has received a contract for managing the network.
 
The bill expressly authorizes HRSA to award multiple grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to support the operation of the network and eliminates a cap on the amount of funding available for supporting the network. The bill also specifies that the network shall be operated through awards that are distinct from awards for supporting the operation of the network's board of directors.
 
Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must review the historical financing of the network, including the use of registration fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate
TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act

Bill: 118-s-1670
Sponsor: Sen. Vance, J. D. [R-OH]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Digital Platform Commission Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1671
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Digital Platform Commission Act of 2023

 
This bill establishes a commission to regulate digital platforms. These are online services that facilitate interactions between users and between users and entities (including online services) that offer goods and services.
 
The bill provides the commission with rulemaking, investigative, and related authorities to regulate access to, competition among, and consumer protections for digital platforms. This includes setting standards for age verification and age-appropriate design. The bill also provides for administrative and judicial enforcement of the regulations.
 
The commission must establish a council of technical experts, representatives of digital platforms, and other experts (e.g., representatives of nonprofit public interest groups and academics) to recommend standards for algorithmic processes and other policies.
 
Additionally, the commission may designate systemically important digital platforms. The bill includes criteria for the commission to use when designating a platform as systemically important (e.g., whether its operations have significant nationwide economic, social, or political impacts).
 
 The bill also requires that the commission receive pre-merger notifications concerning designated platforms. The commission may provide recommendations about such mergers to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and those agencies must give the recommendations substantial weight when reviewing such mergers.
 
The bill also requires the commission and any relevant federal agency to consult each other when investigating or regulating the effects of digital platforms on certain matters, including competition and consumer protection.
 
The President must appoint an independent panel to evaluate the commission after five years and recommend whether to extend the commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Disclose Government Censorship Act

Bill: 118-s-1672
Sponsor: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Disclose Government Censorship Act

 
This bill requires officers and employees of the legislative and executive branches to disclose communications with providers of interactive computer services (e.g., internet service providers) regarding restricting speech.
 
Specifically, executive and legislative branch officers and employees must disclose their communications with a provider or operator of an interactive computer service regarding action to restrict access to material posted by another information content provider. The bill makes exceptions for legitimate law enforcement and national security purposes.
 
The disclosure must be made within seven days of the date on which the communication is made.
 
The bill establishes penalties for violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1673
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2023

 
This bill extends a specialized rate increase for Medicare payment of ground ambulance services in rural areas for an additional three years (until January 1, 2028) and provides for a higher rate increase for services furnished between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2028.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
No START Treaty Act

Bill: 118-s-1674
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

No START Treaty Act

This bill sets requirements for certain nuclear arms agreements with Russia and bars the expenditure of funds to implement the New START Treaty (a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia signed April 8, 2010) or similar future agreements unless such requirements are met. 

The bill prohibits the President from negotiating or entering into a treaty with Russia that would allow Russia to possess an equal or greater number of nuclear warheads or nuclear-capable delivery systems than the United States unless the treaty or agreement

restricts the size of China's nuclear arsenal;

includes measures to ensure that Russia and China are compliant with the terms of the treaty;

includes inspections of Chinese nuclear facilities comparable to those for Russian facilities;

includes current and future Russian strategic nuclear arms not currently limited by the New START Treaty (e.g., intercontinental hypersonic glide vehicles); and

includes current and future non-strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems.

In the absence of a ratified treaty incorporating such provisions, the President is prohibited from reducing the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal or entering into an agreement with Russia or China to limit or reduce U.S. missile defenses.

Beginning one year after the bill's enactment, no funds may be expended to implement the New START Treaty, or any future agreement with Russia that limits the number of U.S. nuclear warheads or nuclear capable delivery systems, unless the above requirements are included or already in effect or a waiver is approved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
SAP Act

Bill: 118-s-1675
Sponsor: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural research
Food industry and services
Forests, forestry, trees

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Supporting All Producers Act or the SAP Act

 
 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to solicit input from maple industry stakeholders with respect to the research and education priorities of the maple industry for the Acer Access and Development Program (Acer). Specifically, the bill amends Acer to require USDA to consider the information provided through consultation with the maple industry when making program grants.
 
The bill also extends the program's authorization through FY2028.
 
The Acer competitive grant program promotes the domestic maple syrup industry through activities associated with research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, and the marketing of maple syrup and maple sap products. Acer also provides grants to encourage owners and operators of privately held land containing species of trees in the genus Acer to initiate or expand maple sugaring activities, or to voluntarily make the land publicly accessible for maple sugaring activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
RTCP Revitalization Act

Bill: 118-s-1676
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Rural conditions and development
Transportation costs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

RTCP Revitalization Act

 
 This bill amends the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) to provide specified funds for the RTCP through FY2029 and each fiscal year thereafter. The RTCP provides reimbursement payments for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (e.g., those in Hawaii and Alaska) for a portion of the cost to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity.
 
The bill also removes a $15 million payment cap for any given fiscal year. Further, USDA may not impose a limitation on the amount of producer payments for any fiscal year that the program funds are equal to or exceed demand.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Democracy Restoration Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1677
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Democracy Restoration Act of 2023

 
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: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
VET–TEC Authorization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1678
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

VET-TEC Authorization Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement through FY2028 a program under which it provides up to 6,000 covered individuals per year the opportunity to enroll in high technology programs of education that provide non-degree training or skills related to computer programming, media application, data processing, or information sciences. A covered individual is a veteran who (1) the VA determines is under the age of 62, served an aggregate of at least 36 months on active duty, and was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (2) will satisfy such requirements in fewer than 180 days after the VA's determination.
 
In administering the program, the VA must provide assistance to covered individuals in amounts equal to those provided to Post-9/11 GI Bill recipients who are pursuing a degree on more than a half-time basis.
 
The VA must seek to enter into contracts with any number of qualified providers of high technology programs of education and pay such providers a specified percentage of the tuition and other fees for each enrolled individual.
 
If a covered individual has remaining entitlement to other VA educational assistance, entitlement under this program must be charged at the rate of one month of that remaining entitlement for each month of assistance under this program.
 
Finally, the bill extends certain loan fee rates through March 31, 2032, under the VA's home loan program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act

Bill: 118-s-1679
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 
 
Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act 

 
This bill postpones certain tax filing deadlines for U.S. nationals and their spouses who are unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad or held hostage abroad. It also allows for reimbursement and abatement of penalties and fines paid by detained individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act

Bill: 118-s-1680
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act

 
This bill prohibits federal funding of, or support for, state databases that list (1) firearms lawfully owned or possessed by individuals, or (2) individuals who lawfully own or possess firearms.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1681
Sponsor: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023

 
This bill extends and expands eligibility for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program. This program compensates individuals who were exposed to radiation while employed in uranium mining operations and subsequently developed qualifying medical conditions.
 
Specifically, the bill extends the fund that supports the program for the four years following the enactment of the bill. (The fund currently terminates on June 7, 2024.) It also transfers to the fund a specified amount of unobligated funding appropriated for the COVID-19 response.
 
In addition, the bill expands eligibility for the program in multiple ways. Current law limits eligibility to individuals who were employed between January 1, 1942, and December 31, 1971, as uranium miners, millers, or ore transporters. The bill expands the program by (1) making those employed through December 31, 1978, and those employed as core drillers eligible; and (2) providing compensation for kidney cancers and other chronic kidney diseases to all individuals eligible for the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Housing Supply Expansion Act

Bill: 118-s-1682
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Building construction
Congressional oversight
Department of Labor
Executive agency funding and structure
Housing supply and affordability
Low- and moderate-income housing
Public housing
Wages and earnings

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S1748-1749)
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
Kids Fly Safe Act

Bill: 118-s-1683
Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Government studies and investigations
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Kids Fly Safe Act

 
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a comprehensive study on child safety in aviation in consultation with Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Transportation Security Administration. The study must evaluate issues that include
 
 
the usage and aircraft compatibility of age-appropriate child safety seats and restraints,
 
procedures for evacuating children safely and efficiently from aircraft,
 
 the extent to which airport terminal design requirements include measures to ensure the general physical safety of children in the terminal and while on airport property, and
 
the extent to which airport and airline policies protect children from contagious diseases or in-flight respiratory issues.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate
FORK Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1684
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2023-05-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: 

Feeding Our Rural Kids Act of 2023 or the FORK Act of 2023

 
This bill amends the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to establish a vehicle summer meal delivery pilot program. (The SFSP is a federally funded, state-administered program that reimburses providers that serve no-cost, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens at summer sites in low-income communities.)
 
 The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award one-year grants of up to $100,000 for service institutions (e.g., school food authorities) to purchase or retrofit vehicles to facilitate the distribution of noncongregate meals as part of the SFSP. USDA must give priority to service institutions with high rates of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches and that serve a high proportion of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. USDA must also ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that service institutions receiving grants are located in diverse geographic areas.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Introduced in Senate