hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
VA Billing Accountability Act

Bill: 118-s-3282
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Debt collection
Hospital care
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: 

VA Billing Accountability Act

 
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the requirement that a veteran make co-payments for medications, hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services in certain situations. Specifically, a veteran may have such co-payments waived if (1) an error committed by the VA or a non-VA facility delayed co-payment notification to the veteran, and (2) the veteran received such notification later than 180 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services.
 
In requiring a veteran to make a co-payment for care or services provided at a VA or a non-VA medical facility, the VA shall notify the veteran not later than 180 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services. If the VA does not provide notification by such date, it may not collect the payment, including through a third-party entity, unless the veteran is provided with (1) information about applying for a waiver and establishing a payment plan with the VA, and (2) an opportunity to make a waiver or establish a payment plan.
 
Finally, the bill requires the VA to review and improve its co-payment billing internal controls and notification procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Warning Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3283
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3284
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care costs and insurance
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: 

Veterans Emergency Care Reimbursement Act of 2023

 
This bill modifies the limitation on reimbursement for emergency treatment of amounts a veteran owes to a third party or owes under a health plan contract. Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse copayments of $100 or more and excludes deductibles and coinsurance from the limitation.
 
This modification must apply with respect to any reimbursement claim for emergency treatment furnished on or after February 1, 2010, including claims submitted by a member of the certified class seeking relief in 
Wolfe v. McDonough
. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the "Charlie Dowd VA Clinic".

Bill: 118-s-3285
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Montana
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: 
This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic or the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.

action_date: 2024-05-02
text:  

This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic or the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.

 
action_date: 2024-07-22
text:  

This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic or the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.

 
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: 
This act designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic or the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 118-76.
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 118-76.
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-07-25
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-07-25
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4648-4649)
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4648-4649)
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3285.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4648-4650)
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2024-05-03
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2024-05-02
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S3367)
action_date: 2024-05-02
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S3367)
action_date: 2024-05-02
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3367)
action_date: 2024-05-02
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3367)
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 118-76
Disclosing Investments in Foreign Adversaries Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3286
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: 

Disclosing Investments in Foreign Adversaries Act of 2023 

This bill requires private fund investment advisers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to annually disclose the total assets of a private fund in countries of concern (i.e., North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran). The SEC must determine whether an asset is in a country of concern for purposes of this bill based on (1) the amount of capital invested in an entity that has a physical presence or employees in that country, or has a plurality of sales from that country; and (2) the proportion of that entity’s total assets and liabilities located in that country.

The SEC must publish a report annually containing a list of investment advisers with private fund assets located in a country of concern.

Further, issuers of securities must report information to the SEC regarding certain large securities transactions that are exempt from registration. This information includes the issuer’s identity, associations with entities in countries of concern, details of the transaction, the beneficial owners of the issuers, and intended use of the proceeds of the transaction.

The SEC must publish a report quarterly on transactions that involve a country of concern. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Supportive Services for National Guard and Reserve Veterans and Families Act

Bill: 118-s-3287
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Safeguarding Department of Veterans Affairs Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3288
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3289
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2023-11-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Alaska
Congressional oversight
Judicial review and appeals
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mining
Oil and gas

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: 

Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023

This bill provides for oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). 

Specifically, the bill nullifies any order or action by the President or the Department of the Interior that places a moratorium on, suspends, or otherwise pauses leasing in ANWR's 1002 Area. It also ratifies and approves all authorizations and permits issued for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The Environmental Protection Agency and other applicable federal departments and agencies must process, reinstate, or continue to maintain such authorizations and permits. 

Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, Interior must accept bids for certain ANWR leases that were canceled and reissue the leases. The bill states that the reissued leases must be considered to meet the requirements of specified existing laws, such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

By December 22, 2024, Interior must also conduct a second lease sale. Further, the bill limits the authority of the President and Interior to cancel future leases issued under the program.

The bill also directs the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw its (1) 
Notice of Availability of the Draft Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
, and (2) proposed rule titled 
Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
. It also nullifies Section 4 of Executive Order 13990 and Secretarial Order 3401.

Finally, the bill limits judicial review of approvals of leases under the program. 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-11-09
text: Introduced in Senate
Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act

Bill: 118-s-3290
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
EAGLE Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3291
Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Introduced: 2023-11-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-13
text: 

Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment Act of 2023 or the EAGLE Act of 2023

 
This bill modifies requirements related to employment-based visas and addresses related issues.
 
The bill increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15% and eliminates the per-country cap for employment-based immigrant visas. 
 
The bill establishes transition rules for employment-based visas such as (1) reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled and other workers) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas, and (2) allotting a number of visas for professional nurses and physical therapists. 
 
The bill imposes additional requirements on an employer seeking an H-1B visa, such as prohibiting (1) an employer from advertising that a position is only open to H-1B applicants or that H-1B applicants are preferred, and (2) certain employers from having more than half of their employees as nonimmigrant visa workers.
 
The Department of Labor shall create a publicly available website where an employer seeking an H-1B visa must post certain information about the open position. 
 
The bill also expands Labor's authority to review and investigate H-1B applications for fraud or misrepresentations.
 
The bill also allows certain non-U.S. nationals (
aliens
 under federal law) to obtain lawful permanent resident status if the individual (1) is in the United States as a nonimmigrant, (2) has an approved immigrant visa petition, and (3) has waited at least two years for a visa. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-11-13
text: Introduced in Senate
IMAGINE Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3292
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

Bill: 118-s-3293
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional leadership
Historical and cultural resources
U.S. Capitol
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act

This bill requires the Architect of the Capitol to create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250 th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried on the west lawn of the Capitol on or before July 4, 2026. Congressional leadership will determine the contents of the time capsule, and the time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3294
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Increasing Access to Military Service Records Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3295
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act

Bill: 118-s-3296
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act 

This bill increases to $12,000 in 2024-2025, the exclusion from employee gross income, for income tax purposes, of employer-paid educational assistance programs. 

The bill also expands the exclusion to include amounts paid for education-related tools and technology (e.g., hand tools, computers, software, licensure fees). 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3297
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Digestive and metabolic diseases
HIV/AIDS
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medicare
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 

2023

 
This bill expands Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services. 
 
Currently, Medicare covers such services for individuals with diabetes or kidney disease under certain circumstances; such services must also be provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional pursuant to a physician referral. The bill extends coverage to individuals with other diseases and conditions, including obesity, eating disorders, cancer, and HIV/AIDS; such services may also be referred by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or (for eating disorders) a clinical psychologist.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5509-5510)
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
HALOS Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3298
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act of 2023 or the HALOS Act of 2023

This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise Regulation D, which exempts certain offerings from SEC registration requirements but prohibits general solicitation or general advertising with respect to such offerings. Specifically, this prohibition shall not apply to events with specified kinds of sponsors—including 
angel investor groups
 unconnected to broker-dealers or investment advisers—where presentations or communications are made by or on behalf of an issuer, if

the advertising does not refer to any specific offering of securities by the issuer;

the sponsor does not provide investment recommendation or advice to attendees, engage in investment negotiations with attendees, charge certain fees, or receive certain compensation; and

no specific information regarding a securities offering is communicated beyond the type and amount of securities being offered, the amount of securities already subscribed for, and the intended use of proceeds from the offering.

 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Saving Americans in Foreign Evacuations (SAFE) Act

Bill: 118-s-3299
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

Saving Americans in Foreign Evacuations (SAFE) Act

This bill provides that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents evacuating Israel in response to the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and the resulting armed conflict shall not be required to reimburse the U.S. government for emergency travel organized by the Department of State during FY2024.

The State Department shall report to Congress on the feasibility of expanding funding of such evacuations worldwide in future crises.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Specialty CROP Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3300
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act of 2023 or the Specialty CROP Act of 2023

This bill expands the annual reporting requirements for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide specific information on the competitiveness of U.S. exports of specialty crops.

Specifically, the bill modifies the requirements for a congressionally mandated annual report on U.S. specialty crop trade issues to require USDA to report specific information on acts, policies, and practices of foreign countries that constitute significant barriers to, or distortions of, U.S. exports of specialty crops.

Further, USDA must consult with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the report. Before preparing the report, USDA, in coordination with the USTR, must seek comments from the public and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.

Under the bill, USDA must submit the report to Congress in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. The unclassified portion of the report must be publicly available.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act

Bill: 118-s-3301
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: 

DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities through the establishment of an interagency agreement. 
 
The agencies are authorized to (1) carry out reimbursable agreements in order to maximize research and development effectiveness, and (2) collaborate with other federal agencies. Further, the interagency agreement must require the use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers applications from federal agencies, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit institutions.
 
Research and development activities may include
 
 
collaborative research in a variety of focus areas such as integrated natural resources and the energy-water nexus, biofuels and biobased products, invasive species management, grid modernization and security, and rural technology development;
 
developing methods to accommodate large voluntary standardized and integrated data sets on agricultural, environmental, supply chain, and economic information;
 
supporting research infrastructure and workforce development; and
 
conducting collaborative research and development on ways to improve agriculture operations and processing efficiencies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Heroes Business Opportunity Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3302
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act

Bill: 118-s-3303
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2023-11-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-11-14
text: Introduced in Senate
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3304
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2023-11-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Introduced in Senate