hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Bill: 118-s-51
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional districts and representation
Congressional elections
Constitution and constitutional amendments
District of Columbia
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government buildings, facilities, and property
House of Representatives
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

 
This bill provides for the admission of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the United States.
 
The commonwealth consists of all the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding certain federal property. The excluded property shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of federal government; it includes the principal federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court Building, and the federal office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and Capitol Building. In addition, the bill maintains the federal government's authority over military lands and specified other property and prohibits the commonwealth from taxing federal property except as permitted by Congress.
 
Within 30 days of this bill's enactment, the DC mayor must call for the election of two Senators and one Representative for the commonwealth. The commonwealth shall be admitted into the United States upon a presidential proclamation announcing the results of that election.
 
The bill applies current DC laws to the commonwealth and continues pending judicial proceedings. It also continues certain federal authorities and responsibilities, including regarding employee benefits, agencies, and courts, until the commonwealth certifies that it is prepared to take over those authorities and responsibilities.
 
Further, the bill provides for expedited consideration of a joint resolution to repeal the Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution (which allows DC citizens to vote in presidential elections).
 
The bill also establishes a commission to advise the President, Congress, and DC and commonwealth leaders on the transition.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
American Beef Labeling Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-52
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

American Beef Labeling Act of 202

3

 
This bill reinstates mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to develop a means of reinstating the requirements that complies with the rules of the World Trade Organization. The USTR and the Department of Agriculture must implement the means within one year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S76-77)
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-53
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
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 tiered ranking of foreign countries based on their government's efforts to eliminate corruption.
 
The bill outlines the minimum standards that the State Department must consider when creating the ranking, such as 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: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S77-78)
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the limitation on the credit for biomass stoves and boilers.

Bill: 118-s-54
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 
This bill increases the allowable amount of the energy efficient home improvement tax credit for biomass stoves and boilers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
VACANT Act

Bill: 118-s-55
Sponsor: Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

VA medical Center Absence and Notification Timeline Act or the VACANT Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to comply with certain notification and staffing requirements when a VA medical center director is on detail.
 
Not later than 90 days after detailing a director of a VA medical center to a different position within the VA, the VA must notify Congress with specified information about the detail (e.g., the location of the detail). Additionally, the VA must appoint an individual as acting director not later than 120 days after detailing a director to a different position.
 
The VA must regularly update Congress regarding the status of the detail.
 
Generally, not later than 180 days after detailing a director to a different position, the VA must return the individual to the position as director or reassign the individual from the position and begin the process of hiring a new director. This requirement may be waived for a limited amount of time, but the VA must submit to Congress a justification for the waiver. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act

Bill: 118-s-56
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Charitable contributions
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Higher education
Income tax credits
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act

 
This bill allows individual and corporate taxpayers a tax credit for cash contributions to certain scholarship-granting and workforce training organizations. It imposes a cap of $10 billion on the sum of contributions that qualify for a tax credit under this bill. 
 
The bill requires the Department of Education, in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and Labor, to establish, host, and maintain a web portal that (1) lists all eligible scholarship-granting and workforce training organizations; (2) enables contributions to such organizations; (3) provides information about the benefits of this bill; and (4) enables a state to submit and update information about its programs and educational organizations, including information on student eligibility and allowable educational expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Student Empowerment Act

Bill: 118-s-57
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
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: 

Student Empowerment 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 enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school. 
 
(Under current law, distributions in connection with an elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school.) The bill allows the distributions to be used for additional educational expenses, including
 
 
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 homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act

Bill: 118-s-58
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act

 
This bill prohibits Members of Congress (or their spouses) from holding or trading certain investments (e.g., individual stocks and related financial instruments other than diversified investment funds or U.S. Treasury securities).
 
The prohibition does not apply to assets held in a qualified blind trust or to sales by a Member to come into compliance with the bill's requirements. Specifically, the bill allows for sales by current Members during the 180 days following the bill's enactment and for sales by future Members during the 180 days following the commencement of their service.
 
Any profit made in violation of the prohibition must be disgorged to the Treasury and may subject the Member to a civil fine. Additionally, a loss stemming from a prohibited holding or transaction may not be used as an income tax deduction.
 
Each Member must submit an annual certification of compliance, and the Government Accountability Office must audit Members' compliance with the bill's provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-60
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Income tax exclusion
Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 

2023

 
This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses.
 
Specifically, ED must establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in the uniformed services for the payment of the children's educational expenses. Funds in the savings account may be used for specified purposes, including the cost of attendance at a private elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education, private tutoring, or costs associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-61
Sponsor: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [I-AZ]
Introduced: 2023-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Digital media
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Government information and archives
Human trafficking
Intergovernmental relations
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: 

Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report and implement a strategy to combat the use of social media by transnational criminal organizations to recruit individuals in the United States to support illicit activities in the United States or countries near a U.S. international border.
 
DHS must also identify a designee within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to receive, process, and disseminate information about these social media recruitment activities. The information must be disseminated to federal, tribal, state, and local entities to support appropriate government functions, such as providing actionable intelligence to law enforcement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-12-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 267.
action_date: 2023-12-11
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-123.
action_date: 2023-12-11
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-123.
action_date: 2023-06-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate
No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-62
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2023-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Appropriations
Assault and harassment offenses
Comprehensive health care
Consumer affairs
Crimes against women
Employee benefits and pensions
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health programs administration and funding
Income tax credits
Sex offenses
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: 

No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2023

 
This bill modifies provisions relating to federal funding for, and health insurance coverage of, abortions.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions or for health coverage that includes abortions. Such restrictions extend to the use of funds in the budget of the District of Columbia. Additionally, abortions may not be provided in a federal health care facility or by a federal employee. 
 
Historically, language has been included in annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions&#8212;such language is commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment. Similar language is also frequently included in appropriations bills for other federal agencies and the District of Columbia. The bill makes these restrictions permanent and extends the restrictions to all federal funds (rather than specific agencies). 
 
The bill's restrictions regarding the use of federal funds do not apply in cases of rape, incest, or where a physical disorder, injury, or illness endangers a woman's life unless an abortion is performed. The Hyde Amendment provides the same exceptions.
 
The bill also prohibits qualified health plans from including coverage for abortions. Currently, qualified health plans may cover abortion, but the portion of the premium attributable to abortion coverage is not eligible for subsidies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
American Vehicle Security Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-63
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Introduced: 2023-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: 
 
American Vehicle Security Act of 2023

 

T
his bill requires the immediate implementation of amendments to the tax credit for new clean vehicles enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The amendments include requirements for vehicle assembly and critical mineral and battery sourcing for manufacturers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Water Rights Protection Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-64
Sponsor: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2023-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
State and local government operations
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: 

Water Rights Protection Act of 2023

 
This bill addresses issues of water rights with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, including water rights of federally recognized Indian tribes.
 
Specifically, such departments must ensure that federal action imposes no greater restriction or regulatory requirement than under applicable state water law.
 
Further, such departments shall not take actions that adversely affect state authority in permitting water usage or in adjudicating water rights.
 
The bill also prohibits such departments from requiring water users to transfer water rights to the United States or acquire water rights in the name of the United States as a condition of issuing or renewing a land use or occupancy agreement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-65
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational guidance
Elementary and secondary education
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Special education
Vocational and technical education
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: 

Mentoring to Succeed Act of 

2023

 
This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies, high-need schools, and local governments to establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring programs that assist at-risk students in developing cognitive skills and promoting social-emotional learning to prepare them for success in high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce.
 
Additionally, the bill directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct a study to identify successful school-based mentoring programs and evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program established by this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S99-100)
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate
NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-66
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Department of Transportation
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: 

NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023

 
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish the FAA Task Force on NOTAM (notice to air missions required by international or domestic law) Improvement. A 
NOTAM
 is a notice containing information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations but not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means. It states the abnormal status of a component of the National Airspace System. 
 
Specifically, the task force must (1) review existing methods for presenting NOTAMs and flight operations information for pilots; (2) review regulations and policies relating to NOTAMs, including their content and presentation to pilots; (3) evaluate and determine best practices to organize, prioritize, and present flight operations information in a manner that optimizes pilot review and retention of relevant information; (4) provide recommendations to improve the presentation of NOTAM information; and (5) report to Congress on its reviews and evaluations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 282.
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate