hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
AMERICANS Act

Bill: 118-hr-453
Sponsor: Rep. Bishop, Dan [R-NC-8]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots Act of 2023 or the AMERICANS Act

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from issuing any COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a replacement for the rescinded vaccine mandate of August 24, 2021, unless the mandate is expressly authorized by Congress. The bill also provides that DOD must establish an application process for remedies for members of the Armed Forces who were discharged or subject to adverse action under the rescinded mandate.
 
Any administrative discharge of a member on the sole basis of a failure to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be categorized as an honorable discharge, and DOD is prohibited from taking any adverse action against such a member for that reason.
 
Under the bill, DOD must try to retain unvaccinated members and provide such members with professional development, promotion and leadership opportunities, and consideration equal to that of their peers. 
 
Additionally, DOD may only consider the COVID-19 vaccination status of members in making certain decisions (e.g., deployments in countries where it is the law) and must establish a process to provide exemptions to certain members for such decisions.
 
This bill applies to all members of the Armed Forces, regardless of whether they sought an accommodation to any DOD COVID-19 vaccination policy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-454
Sponsor: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crimes against children
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Domestic violence and child abuse
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Preventing Child Sex Abuse Act of 2023

 
This bill makes changes to the federal law prohibiting child sexual tourism. 
 
First, the bill revises the specific intent required for certain offenses involving interstate or foreign travel to engage in or facilitate illicit sexual conduct. Specifically, this bill requires the government to prove that an individual traveled (or facilitated travel) with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct (currently, with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct). Further, it specifies that the term 
intent
 is to be construed as any intention to engage in illicit sexual conduct at the time of the travel. 
 
Second, the bill establishes new criminal offenses for acts in furtherance of illicit sexual conduct by an officer, director, employee, or agent of an organization through his or her connection to or affiliation with the organization. A violation is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both. 
 
Finally, the bill specifies that the term 
sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense
 does not require interpersonal physical contact. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
To amend the Controlled Substances Act to fix a technical error in the definitions.

Bill: 118-hr-455
Sponsor: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 
This bill makes technical corrections in the definitions section of the Controlled Substances Act. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 576.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-681, Part I.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-681, Part I.
action_date: 2024-06-12
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.
action_date: 2024-06-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2024-05-16
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 0.
action_date: 2024-05-16
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-02-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act

Bill: 118-hr-456
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act

 
This bill limits which orphan drugs may be granted a market exclusivity period by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Generally, an orphan drug is one that is not economically viable because of the rarity of the disease that it treats; the sponsor of an FDA-designated orphan drug may be granted various incentives, such as a seven-year period in which the FDA may not grant market approval to a different sponsor for the same drug to treat the same disease.)
 
Under this bill, if a drug is designated as an orphan drug on the basis that there is no reasonable expectation that the sponsor will recover the costs of developing and distributing the drug from U.S. sales, the drug shall be granted the seven-year exclusivity period only if the sponsor demonstrates that there is no reasonable expectation that it will recover such costs within its first 12 years of U.S. sales of the drug. 
 
When deciding whether an orphan drug meets this requirement, the FDA shall consider the sales of all drugs from the sponsor that are covered by the same orphan drug designation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-457
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Germany
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Human rights
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Oil and gas
Organized crime
Pipelines
Russia
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023 

 
This bill requires the Department of State to address corruption in foreign governments.
 
The State Department must annually publish a ranking of foreign countries based on their government's efforts to eliminate corruption. Corruption, for the purposes of the bill, is the unlawful exercise of entrusted public power for private gain, including by bribery, nepotism, fraud, or embezzlement. 
 
The bill outlines the minimum standards that the State Department must consider when creating the ranking. These considerations include, for example, whether a country has criminalized corruption, adopted measures to prevent corruption, and complied with the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other relevant international agreements. Tier one countries meet the standards; tier two countries make some efforts to meet the standards; tier three countries make 
de minimis
 or no efforts to meet the standards.
 
If a country is ranked in the second or third tier, the State Department must designate an anti-corruption contact at the U.S. diplomatic post in that country to promote good governance and combat corruption.
 
The State Department must report annually to Congress a list of foreign persons (individuals or entities) (1) who have engaged in significant corruption in a tier three country, and (2) upon whom the President has imposed sanctions pursuant to this bill. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
TSA Second Screening Act

Bill: 118-hr-458
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Right of privacy
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

TSA Second Screening Act

 
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration to offer passengers an opportunity to undergo a secondary screening using advanced imaging technology prior to undergoing a physical inspection if an initial screening detects an object of concern.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
SAFER Health Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-459
Sponsor: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computers and information technology
Department of Health and Human Services
Federal preemption
Health care costs and insurance
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Right of privacy
Sex and reproductive health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Secure Access for Essential Reproductive Health Act of 2023 or the SAFER Health Act of 2023

 
This bill prohibits health care providers and insurance plans from disclosing in a legal proceeding an individual's personal health information related to an abortion or pregnancy without the individual's valid authorization.
 
The prohibition applies to federal, state, local, and tribal proceedings, including civil, criminal, administrative, and legislative proceedings. The bill provides limited exceptions such as if the information is necessary to investigate physical harm to the individual.
 
Further, the Department of Health and Human Services must conduct an outreach campaign to inform covered entities and the public about the prohibition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
SPELL Act

Bill: 118-hr-460
Sponsor: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Supporting Providers of English Language Learning Act or the SPELL Act

 
This bill allows elementary and secondary school teachers who teach English learners, bilingual students, or dual language immersion students to receive additional amounts of student loan forgiveness and loan cancellation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act

Bill: 118-hr-461
Sponsor: Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Birth defects
Civil actions and liability
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Disability and health-based discrimination
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act

 
 This bill creates new federal crimes related to the performance of an abortion on an unborn child who has Down syndrome.
 
It subjects a violator to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.
 
It also authorizes civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief.
 
A woman who undergoes such an abortion may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Real Estate Exchange Fairness Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-462
Sponsor: Rescom. González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

 Real Estate Exchange Fairness Act of 2023

 
This bill requires Puerto Rico to be treated as part of the United States for the purpose of determining if an exchange of real property qualifies as a like-kind exchange for tax purposes. (Under current law, real property located in the United States and real property located outside of the United States are not property of a like kind.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act

Bill: 118-hr-463
Sponsor: Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
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: 2023-01-24
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 of an eligible child to apply for grant funds.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Separation of Powers Restoration Act

Bill: 118-hr-464
Sponsor: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Separation of Powers Restoration Act

 
This bill restricts the ability of the President to exercise certain powers, such as declaring a national emergency.
 
Specifically, the bill terminates all powers and authorities possessed by the President, any executive agency, or any federal officer that derive from a declaration of national emergency. It eliminates any statutory grant of authority allowing the President or any other officer or employee of the executive branch to declare a national emergency, specifying that such power is vested solely in Congress.
 
Furthermore, for each presidential order (i.e., executive order, presidential proclamation, presidential directive, or similar presidential or executive branch instructions), the President must include a statement specifying the statutory or constitutional provision that grants the President the authority to issue the order. It also limits the effect of a presidential order to the executive branch, with certain exceptions, such as if the order cites the specific congressional enactment from which it derives its authority. 
The bill provides standing to challenge the validity of presidential orders to (1) certain federal, state, and local officials; and (2) persons adversely affected by the order.
 
This bill also repeals the War Powers Resolution, a joint resolution that outlines procedures for Congress and the President to participate in decisions to send Armed Forces into hostilities. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, 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: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
Protect U.S. Investments Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-465
Sponsor: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Department of Justice
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Government information and archives
Jurisdiction and venue
Sanctions
U.S. and foreign investments
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Protect U.S. Investments Act of 2023

 
This bill expands available protections for U.S. investors from certain prejudicial actions taken by foreign governments. It also expands sanctions for the expropriation (i.e., seizure) of U.S. investments.
 
Currently, the President must suspend assistance to foreign governments that have taken certain prejudicial actions against U.S. investments (known as the Hickenlooper amendment), including those that have taken steps to repudiate or nullify existing contracts or agreements with U.S. nationals (citizens and corporations). This bill specifies that these steps may include failing to meet, confer, or engage in good faith consultations and negotiations with a U.S. national (through their duly authorized representative) within 30 days of being served with a written request for such a consultation or negotiation.
 
Further, the bill provides a U.S. national with the right to petition the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to render an advisory report to the President regarding the alleged treatment of the U.S. investment by the identified foreign country. If the commission fails to render a timely advisory report, the U.S. national may compel the suspension of assistance to that foreign country in any court of competent jurisdiction.
 
The bill prohibits any foreign public official who materially assisted in a prejudicial action against U.S. investments from receiving immigration status, receiving a visa, or being admitted into the United States. Such an official must also be denied remittance by every financial institution located in the United States. These sanctions shall apply until the prejudicial action is rescinded, reversed, permanently enjoined, or fully remediated.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in House