hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act

Bill: 118-s-105
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Higher education
Income tax exclusion
Special education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act

 
This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with elementary or secondary school. The bill also allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow a student from a low-income household to the public school that the student attends or for tax-exempt educational expenses.
 
Under current law, tax-exempt distributions in connection with elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school. The bill allows these distributions to be used additionally for
 
 
curriculum and curricular materials, 
 
books or other instructional materials, 
 
online educational materials, 
 
tutoring or educational classes outside the home, 
 
testing fees, 
 
fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and 
 
educational therapies for students with disabilities.
 
 
Distributions may also be used for tuition and the purposes above in connection with a home school (whether treated as a home school or a private school under state law).
 
In addition, the bill directs state educational agencies to allocate grant funds to ensure the funding follows students to their public school or for other tax-exempt educational expenses outlined by the bill. Each state that carries out these allocations must establish a plan that allows the parent or guardian of an eligible child to apply for grant funds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-107
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2023 

 
This bill exempts traditional large and premium cigars from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation and FDA-assessed user fees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Guidance Clarity Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-108
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Government information and archives

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Guidance Clarity Act of 2023

 
 This bill requires federal agencies to state on the first page of guidance documents that such guidance (1) does not have the force and effect of law, and (2) is intended only to provide clarity to the public about existing legal requirements or agency policies.

action_date: 2023-05-09
text: 

Guidance Clarity Act of 2023

 
 This bill requires federal agencies to state on the first page of guidance documents that such guidance (1) does not have the force and effect of law, and (2) is intended only to provide clarity to the public about existing legal requirements or agency policies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-09
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 58.
action_date: 2023-05-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 118-19.
action_date: 2023-05-09
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters without amendment. With written report No. 118-19.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act

Bill: 118-s-109
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Dental care
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act

 
This bill modifies dental coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Specifically, the bill prohibits lifetime or annual limits on CHIP dental coverage. It also requires states to offer dental-only supplemental coverage under CHIP to children who have other health insurance but are otherwise eligible for CHIP (i.e., wraparound coverage); such coverage is currently at the option of the state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
A PLUS Act

Bill: 118-s-110
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Intergovernmental relations
State and local finance

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act
 
 
This bill creates a framework under which states may receive federal elementary and secondary education funds on a consolidated basis and use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-113
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Business ethics
Business records
Competition and antitrust
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Inflation and prices
Prescription drugs
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 20

2

3

This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report about anticompetitive practices and other trends within the pharmaceutical supply chain that may impact the cost of prescription drugs. The FTC also must provide recommendations to increase transparency in the supply chain and prevent anticompetitive practices.

action_date: 2023-03-01
text: 

Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 20

2

3

This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report about anticompetitive practices and other trends within the pharmaceutical supply chain that may impact the cost of prescription drugs. The FTC also must provide recommendations to increase transparency in the supply chain and prevent anticompetitive practices.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 19.
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-03-01
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Durbin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventive Health Savings Act

Bill: 118-s-114
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Budget deficits and national debt
Budget process
Congressional oversight
Health care costs and insurance
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Preventive Health Savings Act

 
This bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), upon receiving a request from Congress, to determine if proposed legislation would reduce spending outside of the 10-year budget window through the use of preventive health and preventive health services. 
 
If CBO determines that the legislation would result in substantial spending reductions from the use of preventive health and preventive health services, a description and estimate of the spending reductions must be included in CBO projections. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S122)
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-115
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Clean Water Allotment Modernization Act of 2023

 
This bill revises the formula the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses to determine how to distribute funds from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. Under the program, the EPA allocates funding to states for water quality infrastructure projects, such as wastewater systems and stormwater management projects.
 
In FY2024-FY2028, the EPA must provide an initial allotment to each state that is equal to the amount the state received in FY2023. The EPA must also provide an additional allotment to each state that is based on its share of the U.S. population. 
 
In FY2029 and each subsequent fiscal year, the EPA must use an updated allotment formula, which is based on the needs of states as identified in the most recently available clean watersheds needs survey.
 
Beginning in FY2024, the formula must also provide allotments for Indian tribes and territories. In addition, the formula must provide an allotment for EPA's oversight of SRF projects to ensure they use American iron and steel.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
The Hurricanes of 2022 Disaster Relief Rectification Act

Bill: 118-s-116
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

The Hurricanes of 2022 Disaster Relief Rectification Act

 
The bill rescinds certain unobligated disaster relief funds that were provided by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 and provides additional funding to assist states, territories, and federal facilities impacted by Hurricanes Fiona, Ian, or Nicole.
 
The bill also modifies various policies and programs related to disaster assistance, including to 
 
 
allow certain disaster relief funds to be provided as block grants to eligible states and territories, 
 
 require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse local governments and electric cooperatives for certain interest payments for loans related to disasters, 
 
establish a process for states to request waivers of restrictions related to the deployment of FEMA travel trailers or manufactured housing units in flood hazard areas,
 
establish a pilot program under which FEMA may make grants to Florida for elevating structures located in areas that have special flood hazards or in other areas of flood risk, and
 
require the Department of Agriculture to make specified revisions to the regulations for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Handgun Permit to Purchase Act

Bill: 118-s-117
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal justice information and records
Firearms and explosives
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Handgun Permit to Purchase Act

 
This bill authorizes a grant program for states, local governments, and Indian tribes to implement and evaluate handgun purchaser licensing requirements.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
AIM Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-118
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Crimes against property
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Firearms and explosives
Freedom of information
Historical and cultural resources
Judicial review and appeals
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2023 or the AIM Act of 2023

 
This bill removes limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws.
 
Specifically, the bill removes provisions that
 
 
limit the use of firearms tracing data; 
 
prohibit consolidating or centralizing records maintained by federal firearm licensees, or FFLs (e.g., gun dealers); 
 
prohibit imposing a requirement that gun dealers conduct a physical inventory; 
 
require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours; 
 
limit the disclosure of data under the Freedom of Information Act; 
 
 prohibit the ATF from altering the definition of or denying certain import applications for a curio or relic firearm; 
 
 prohibit the denial of a federal firearms license due to lack of business activity; 
 
 prohibit transferring the ATF's functions, missions, or activities to other agencies or departments; 
 
 prohibit the electronic retrieval of information gathered from firearm transaction records of FFLs that go out of business; and 
 
 prohibit the ATF from denying an application to import certain shotguns. 
 
 
Additionally, the bill
 
 
raises the liability standard for denying or revoking a federal firearms license from a willful violation to a knowing violation of federal firearms laws or regulations, and 
 
removes the de novo standard of judicial review for appealing the denial or revocation of a federal firearms license. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
South Florida Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-119
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

South Florida Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2023

 
This bill provides support for ecosystems in South Florida. Under the bill, 
South Florida
 means (1) land and water within the administrative boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District and contiguous near-shore coastal waters, including the Florida Keys; and (2) Florida's Coral Reef and the associated patch reef, hard-bottom, and seagrass resources.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a South Florida Program within the Water Division of its Region 4 Office. Under the program, the EPA must (1) assess trends in water quality, (2) assess data to identify existing or potential water quality problems and the causes of those problems, and (3) award grants to carry out ecosystem and educational programs established by this bill.
 
In addition, the EPA must annually develop and execute interagency agreements or cooperative agreements with federal, state, local, and tribal entities. Those agreements must provide funding for one or more special projects or activities within South Florida on the recommendation of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Educational Choice for Children Act

Bill: 118-s-120
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax credits
Student aid and college costs
Tax-exempt organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Educational Choice for Children Act

 
This bill allows individuals and corporations a new tax credit after 2022 for charitable contributions to tax-exempt organizations that provide scholarships to elementary and secondary school students. Such students must be members of a household with incomes not greater 300% of the area median gross income and be eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school. 
 
The bill excludes from the gross income of taxpayer dependents any scholarship amount for the elementary or secondary education expenses of eligible students. It also prohibits governmental control over scholarship granting organizations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act

Bill: 118-s-121
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act

 
This bill requires the food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), such as the National School Lunch Program, to include training requirements, training opportunities, and other educational resources that address food allergies.
 
Specifically, USDA must develop and publish training modules and other educational materials for food service personnel in schools relating to (1) preventing allergic reactions to food, including making food substitutions available for children with food allergies; (2) identifying symptoms of such reactions; and (3) responding to the reactions. 
 
Further, the bill requires school food service personnel who participate in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program to complete the training and certify their competence in preventing, identifying, and responding to food allergies. USDA must also make the training available to personnel under other child nutrition programs, including the Special Milk Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
 
Additionally, USDA must incorporate food allergy information into its nutrition education materials for participants under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S122-123)
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-122
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative remedies
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
Personnel records
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act of 202

3

 
This bill reestablishes the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, which is administered by the Department of Labor and allows employers to self-report federal minimum wage and overtime compensation violations as an alternative to litigation.
 
Employers may apply to the program by submitting certain information from a self-audit that includes calculations of any unpaid minimum or overtime wages. Labor must verify the calculations and, if the application is approved, supervise a settlement with affected employees that provides payment of any unpaid wages. Employees who accept a settlement under the program waive their private right of action to recover the unpaid wages provided under the settlement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
BAD IRS Activities Act

Bill: 118-s-123
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 
 
Blocking the Adverse and Dramatic Increased Reliance on Surveillance Activities Act or the BAD IRS Activities Act 

 
This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A 
third party settlement organization
 is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. 
 
This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.
 
The bill rescinds unobligated funds for Internal Revenue Service enforcement activities and operations support.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-30
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 8.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate
FAIR Act

Bill: 118-s-124
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2023-01-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: 

Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act or the FAIR Act

 
This bill modifies pay rates for federal employees in 2024. Specifically, the bill increases rates under the statutory pay systems and for prevailing rate employees by 4.7% and increases locality pay by 4%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-26
text: Introduced in Senate