hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1333
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child care and development
Child health
Congressional oversight
Family services
Hereditary and development disorders
Performance measurement

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2023

 
This bill establishes a pilot program to provide training for caregivers on improving the well-being of children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities or delays.
 
To carry out the program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award grants to, among other eligible entities, health systems and nonprofits to provide the training. HRSA must also establish a national center to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and to evaluate the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
MARITIME Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1334
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Arab-Israeli relations
Collective security
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Iran
Israel
Middle East
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military operations and strategy
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Performance measurement
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism In the Middle East Act of 2023 or the MARITIME Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to seek to develop an integrated maritime domain awareness and interdiction capability for the Middle East to protect against specified maritime threats in the region. 
 
DOD must also submit to Congress (1) a strategy for achieving this capability in cooperation with regional partners and allies; and (2) a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a fund to support this effort, including an assessment of contributions that could be made by allies and partner countries. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act

Bill: 118-s-1335
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Congressional oversight
Due process and equal protection
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental education
Environmental health
Environmental technology
Floods and storm protection
Intergovernmental relations
Lakes and rivers
Land use and conservation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Navigation, waterways, harbors
New Jersey
New York State
Outdoor recreation
Public-private cooperation
Seashores and lakeshores
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act

 
This bill establishes programs to restore and protect the New York-New Jersey Watershed. The watershed is composed of all land area the surface water of which drains into the New York-New Jersey Harbor, the waters contained within that land area, and associated estuaries.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, a nonregulatory program, to coordinate restoration and protection activities among government entities and conservation partners throughout the watershed.
 
 The bill also establishes the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program, a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to provide competitive matching grants to certain entities to implement restoration and protection activities for the watershed. The federal government may not maintain ownership of any land acquired under the bill except for the purpose of promptly transferring ownership to grant recipients.
 
The bill ceases to have force or effect on October 1, 2030.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1336
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Aging
Alaska
Computers and information technology
Disability and paralysis
Employment and training programs
Food assistance and relief
Hawaii
Health care costs and insurance
Income tax deductions
Poverty and welfare assistance
Puerto Rico
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023 

This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The bill increases the minimum SNAP benefit and requires benefits to be calculated using the value of a low-cost food plan. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must determine the requirements for the low-cost food plan, which is the diet required to feed a family of four, consisting of

a man and a woman ages 19-50 years,

a child ages 6-8 years, and

a child ages 9-11 years.

USDA must (1) reevaluate and publish the market baskets of the plan by December 31, 2029, and every five years thereafter, based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance; and (2) make adjustments to the plan to account for household size, changes in the cost of the diet, and the costs of food in specified areas.

The bill modifies the requirements for calculating household income to determine SNAP eligibility by (1) authorizing a standard medical expense deduction for households containing an elderly or disabled member, and (2) eliminating the cap on the excess shelter expense deduction. 

The bill eliminates certain work requirements for SNAP; the requirements apply to able-bodied adults who are ages 18-49 and have no dependent children.

The bill allows Puerto Rico to participate in SNAP. Currently, Puerto Rico receives a block grant instead of participating in SNAP. The bill also provides funding for Puerto Rico to receive a one-time USDA grant for the technology infrastructure necessary to implement SNAP.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Increase Reliable Services Now Act

Bill: 118-s-1337
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 
 
Increase Reliable Services Now Act 

 
This bill imposes limits on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement activities and hiring. 
 
The bill prohibits the IRS from hiring any person for enforcement activities until the end of a period in which the IRS has maintained for 6 consecutive months a level of access for phone lines of not less than 90%, and an average speed of answering calls in 4 minutes or less. The bill also requires that not less than 90% of regular IRS employees perform work in person at their job sites. 
 
The bill prohibits the IRS from auditing taxpayers with taxable incomes below $400,000 at a greater rate than before the enactment of this bill. 
 
Further, the IRS may not hire additional personnel (other than for return processing activities and call center operations) until its tax return processing backlog is not in excess of 5 million cases and it issues tax refunds within 6 weeks or less after receipt of a tax return.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1420-1421)
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Electronic Communication Uniformity Act

Bill: 118-s-1338
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Electronic Communication Uniformity Act 

 
This bill applies the mailbox rule to documents and payments electronically submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Specifically, it provides that such documents and payments shall be deemed filed or made on the date on which they are sent electronically, regardless of the date on which the IRS actually receives or reviews them.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act

Bill: 118-s-1339
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Prescription drugs
Right of privacy

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act

 
This bill establishes various requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) with respect to services provided to health insurance plans.
 
First, PBMs must report annually to the plan sponsor certain information about the PBM's services, including the amount of prescription drug copayment assistance funded by drug manufacturers, a list of covered drugs billed under the plan during the reporting period, and the total net spending by the health plan on prescription drugs. PBMs also must provide plan sponsors with a supplementary report every six months with specified information about drugs that were dispensed under the plan by pharmacies that are wholly or partially owned by the PBM.
 
Second, the bill prohibits spread pricing. Under the bill, spread pricing occurs when a PBM charges an insurance plan (or an insurance plan charges plan participants) a price for a prescription drug that exceeds the price paid to the pharmacy for the drug.
 
Finally, PBMs must remit to the plan sponsor all rebates, fees, alternative discounts, and other remuneration received from a drug manufacturer.
 
The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of these requirements and provides funding for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Labor to implement the provisions of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-06-22
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 113.
action_date: 2023-06-22
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-06-22
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Financial Technology Protection Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1340
Sponsor: Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Currency
Department of the Treasury
Digital media
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Financial Technology Protection Act of 2023 

 
This bill establishes the Independent Financial Technology Working Group to Combat Terrorism and Illicit Financing. The working group must study and report on terrorist and illicit use of new financial technologies and develop proposals to improve anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing efforts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
EDUCATORS for America Act

Bill: 118-s-1341
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

EDUCATORS for America Act

 
This bill provides resources to support the recruitment, retention, and preparation of educators. 
 
Specifically, the bill expands the Teacher Quality Partnership program to include training and professional development opportunities for principals and other school leaders.
 
Additionally, the bill updates the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program to support underrepresented candidates in educator preparation programs. 
 
The bill establishes an education careers opportunity program to provide individuals from underrepresented backgrounds with education and training to become educators.
 
Further, the bill revises the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program to raise the maximum amount for TEACH grants.
 
The bill also expands loan forgiveness for educators by revising the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, including by
 
 
renaming the program as the Educator Loan Forgiveness Programs,
 
making additional loan types eligible for benefits under the program (e.g., parent PLUS loans), and 
 
expanding program eligibility to early childhood educators and program directors serving in early childhood education programs and school leaders serving in public high-need schools.
 
 
Next, the bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to (1) make monthly student loan payments on behalf of the educator during qualifying service (i.e., employment as a full-time qualifying educator in a high-need school or an early childhood education program), and (2) provide complete loan forgiveness after five years of qualifying service.
 
ED must also carry out a program to provide loan credits to eligible educator borrowers enrolled in income-contingent or income-based repayment plans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1421)
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Smart Sentencing Adjustments Act

Bill: 118-s-1342
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Smart Sentencing Adjustments Act

 
This bill establishes a grant program through which the Department of Justice may award grants to states to reduce the prison population of the state or to reduce the recurrence of recidivism after a term of incarceration and the collateral consequences experienced by individuals with criminal records. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

Bill: 118-s-1343
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Fair Adjudications for Immigrants Act

 
This bill narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for barring or removing a non-U.S. national (

alien
 under federal law) from the United States. (Generally, a conviction for certain crimes, such as a crime that carries a term of incarceration of a certain length, may constitute grounds for denying an individual certain immigration benefits.)
 
The bill redefines the term 
conviction
 to exclude convictions that have been dismissed, expunged, deferred, annulled, invalidated, withheld, vacated, or pardoned. The term must also exclude adjudications where a court issued a recommendation against removal, an order of probation without entry of judgment, or a similar disposition.
 
In addition, any reference to a term of imprisonment or sentence must, unless otherwise provided (1) only consider the period of incarceration ordered by a court, and (2) exclude any suspended portion of a sentence. Currently, for immigration purposes, a term of incarceration includes any part of the sentence that was suspended.
 
These provisions pertaining to the definition of 
conviction
 and terms of imprisonment shall apply to convictions and judgments entered either before or after this bill's enactment. 
 
Furthermore, certain crime-based grounds for barring or removing a non-U.S. national shall not apply if the sentencing court issues a recommendation that the alien not be removed on the basis of the conviction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1421)
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act

Bill: 118-s-1344
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to provide emergency financial-aid grants to students.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1346
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hospital care
Internet, web applications, social media
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2023

 
This bill authorizes a grant program for emergency departments to increase access to follow-up psychiatric services for individuals who present for care of acute mental-health episodes. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration may award these grants.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Military Families Mental Health Services Act

Bill: 118-s-1347
Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Military Families Mental Health Services Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to waive cost-sharing requirements for the first three outpatient mental health visits for certain beneficiaries of TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime each year.

Under the bill, active-duty family members are eligible for such waiver of cost-sharing requirements under both TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime. 
Active-duty family members
 are dependents (e.g., spouses and children who are under the age of 21) of members of the uniformed services who are on active duty for a period of more than 30 days. Additionally, children who are under the age of 26 and are not eligible for an employer-sponsored health care plan are also eligible for such waiver under TRICARE Select. 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
College Transparency Act

Bill: 118-s-1349
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

College Transparency Act

 
This bill requires the National Center for Education Statistics to establish a secure and privacy-protected data system that contains information about postsecondary students.
 
Specifically, the data system must
 
 
 evaluate student enrollment patterns, progression, completion, and postcollegiate outcomes, and higher education costs and financial aid;
 
provide complete and customizable information for students and families making decisions about postsecondary education; 
 
reduce the requirements for reporting by institutions of higher education; and 
 
periodically match with other federal systems of data. 
 
 
The bill also establishes a postsecondary student data system advisory committee.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
WIPPES Act

Bill: 118-s-1350
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Consumer affairs
Cosmetics and personal care
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental education
Environmental regulatory procedures
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Government information and archives
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Pest management
Retail and wholesale trades
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety Act or the WIPPES Act

This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations requiring entities responsible for the labeling or retail packaging of certain premoistened, nonwoven wipes (e.g., baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or personal care wipes) to label such products clearly and conspicuously with the phrase 
Do Not Flush
 and accompanying symbol as depicted under specified industry guidelines.

The commission is authorized to enforce this requirement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1353
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-04-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: 

Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 

2023

 
This bill allows certain adjunct faculty to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Specifically, the bill allows adjunct faculty, teachers, or lecturers in nontenured track employment to participate in the PSLF program if they (1) teach at least 9 credit hours per semester, 6 credit hours per trimester, or 18 credit hours per calendar year or at least 30 hours per week at an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, or a tribal college or university; and (2) do not have another full-time job.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1421-1422)
action_date: 2023-04-27
text: Introduced in Senate