hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-975
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make changes to the financing of the Universal Service Fund. This fund, which is financed by fees contributed by telecommunications carriers, supports programs to expand the availability of and access to telecommunications services.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the FCC to (1) study the need for expanding the fund's contribution base to ensure fairness and equity in applicable contribution requirements, and (2) reform the fund's contribution system through rulemaking. In carrying out the rulemaking, the FCC must consider the findings and recommendations of its study and the impact of changes on consumers, businesses, and seniors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
After Hours Child Care Act

Bill: 118-s-976
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

After Hours Child Care Act

 
This bill establishes a pilot program for the Administration for Children & Families to award grants to increase the capacity of child care providers to deliver services to families in which a parent is working nontraditional work hours (e.g., before 9:00 a.m., after 5:00 p.m., or on a Saturday or Sunday).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
FIRE STATION Act

Bill: 118-s-977
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Building construction
Buy American requirements
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Health facilities and institutions
Housing industry and standards
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Facilitating Investments Required for Emergency Services To All Towns In Our Nation Act or the FIRE STATION Act

 
This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a grant program to modify, upgrade, and construct fire and emergency medical services (EMS) department facilities.
 
Grant recipients may use funds to
 
 
build, rebuild, or renovate fire and EMS department facilities;
 
upgrade existing facilities to install exhaust emission control systems, install backup power systems, upgrade or replace environmental control systems (such as HVAC systems), remove or remediate mold, and construct or modify living quarters for use by male and female personnel; and
 
upgrade fire and EMS stations or build new stations. 
 
 Grant recipients must meet one of the two most recently published editions of relevant codes and standards, especially codes and standards that (1) require up-to-date hazard resistant and safety provisions, and (2) are relevant for protecting firefighter health and safety. 
The bill sets forth provisions regarding (1) grant fund allocations between career and volunteer fire and EMS departments, (2) overtime, and (3) prevailing rate of wage and a requirement for using materials produced domestically for public contracts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Affordable College Textbook Act

Bill: 118-s-978
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Affordable College Textbook Act

 
This bill directs the Department of Education to make grants to institutions of higher education or states to support projects that expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students while maintaining or improving instruction and student learning outcomes. An open textbook is an educational resource that either resides in the public domain or has been released under an intellectual license that permits its free use, reuse, modification, and sharing with others.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S955-957)
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-979
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2023

 
This bill modifies requirements related to H-1B (specialty occupation) and L-1 (intracompany transfers) nonimmigrant visas and contains related provisions. 
 
Provisions relating to H-1B visas include
 
 
requiring the Department of Labor to review petitions for indicators of fraud or misrepresentation of material fact; 
 
requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize certain petitions, with top priority for workers with advanced degrees in science, technology, or engineering; 
 
requiring an H-1B worker to possess at minimum a bachelor's degree to meet specialty occupation requirements (currently, relevant experience may be used instead); and
 
 prohibiting an individual classifiable in certain H-1B categories from obtaining a B-1 (temporary business visitor) visa. 
 
 
Provisions relating to L-1 visas include
 
 
requiring a waiver from Labor for an L-1 worker to be primarily stationed with an employer other than the petitioning employer; 
 
prohibiting an individual from receiving an L-1 visa to open or be employed in a new office if the individual has received two or more such visas in the last two years; and 
 
increasing the L-1 worker minimum wage to the highest of certain amounts, such as the median wage for the worker's occupational classification in the area of employment (currently, an L-1 worker must be paid at least the higher of the federal or state minimum wage). 
 
 
In regards to both visas, the bill (1) expands the authority of DHS and Labor to take various enforcement actions, and (2) directs DHS to conduct annual audits of a certain percentage of employers. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S957-964)
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Industrial Hemp Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-980
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Industrial Hemp Act of 2023

 
This bill exempts industrial hemp production from certain inspection and testing requirements. Under current law, the hemp production program requires that all hemp production meet the same inspection and testing requirements. 
 
The bill amends the hemp production programs for a state, Indian tribe, and the Department of Agriculture to (1) establish a separate definition for industrial hemp, (2) require a procedure for hemp producers to designate the type of hemp production as industrial hemp or hemp for any other purpose, and (3) exclude industrial hemp from testing requirements.
 
Industrial hemp producers are subject to annual visual inspections. If a producer fails a visual inspection, the producer may be (1) required to provide certain documentation on the in-field practices, and (2) subject to chemical testing on harvested material.
 
Currently, a person with a felony conviction related to a controlled substance is prohibited from participating in the hemp production program for ten years. This bill includes an exception to allow participation by a person producing industrial hemp. However, a person who knowingly produces a crop that is inconsistent with the industrial hemp designation is prohibited from participating in the hemp production program for five years.
 
The bill also preempts state and tribal law for the regulation of industrial hemp.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
CURD Act

Bill: 118-s-981
Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Food supply, safety, and labeling

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act or the
 
CURD Act

 
This bill establishes a statutory definition for 
natural cheese
. Under the bill, natural cheese is defined as cheese (ripened or unripened soft, semi-soft, or hard) that is produced from animal milk or certain dairy ingredients and is produced in accordance with established cheese-making standards. The definition excludes pasteurized process cheeses, cheese foods, and cheese spreads.
 
A food is deemed misbranded and may not be sold if it does not meet this definition and its label includes the term
 natural cheese
 as a factual descriptor of a category of cheese.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to establish an FBI hotline to receive tips about persons trying to engage in certain activities in the United States on behalf of the Government of China or the Chinese Communist Party, and to criminalize the performance of the functions of a law enforcement agency in the United States on behalf of the Government of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

Bill: 118-s-982
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 
This bill requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to establish a hotline to receive anonymous tips about individuals who surveil, harass, intimidate, or coerce another individual, or perform law enforcement activities, in the United States on behalf of China or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
 
This bill also establishes federal criminal offenses for individuals in the United States who engage in one of the following on behalf of China or the CCP: (1) surveillance, harassment, intimidation, or coercion of another person in the United States; or (2) performance of any function of a law enforcement agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
OPIOIDS Act

Bill: 118-s-983
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employment and training programs
Intergovernmental relations
Law enforcement administration and funding
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Overcoming Prevalent Inadequacies in Overdose Information Data Sets Act or the OPIOIDS Act 

 
This bill establishes and revises certain grants and resources to address opioid-related overdoses.
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to states, territories, and localities to improve data and surveillance related to opioid overdoses.
 
Additionally, the bill directs DOJ to award grants to law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories in communities with high rates of drug overdoses to (1) provide training to help officers better identify overdoses, (2) upgrade essential systems for drug tracing and processing samples in forensic laboratories, or (3) provide training to better trace criminals through the dark web.
 
The bill requires the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to provide training to state and local law enforcement agencies on how to best coordinate with state and federal partners for tracking drug-related activity.
 
The bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to provide training and resources for equipment that protects first responders from secondary fentanyl exposure.
 
Finally, the bill directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to (1) develop uniform reporting standards for information concerning drug control activities, and (2) budget for a program that analyzes fentanyl samples.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
MODERN WIC Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-984
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2023 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2023

 
 This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 
 
Specifically, the bill allows an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option. The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office. 
 
Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program. 
 
Under current law, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The Food and Nutrition Service has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were originally provided by laws that were enacted to address the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Equal Campus Access Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-985
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Equal Campus Access Act of 2023

 
This bill prohibits funding made available under the Higher Education Act of 1965 from being provided to any public institution of higher education (IHE) that denies to religious student organizations any right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to other student organizations at the IHE because of the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or standards of conduct of the religious student organization.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
STOP Act 2.0

Bill: 118-s-986
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

STOP Act 2.0

 
This bill revises requirements related to advance electronic data (AED) on international mail shipments. (The STOP Act of 2018 requires international mail shipments coming into the United States to have AED to address the threat of synthetic opioids and other dangerous items.)
 
Specifically, the bill establishes a new criminal penalty for knowingly misrepresenting the country of origin of an international mail shipment in order to avoid AED requirements.
 
Additionally, five years after enactment, the bill terminates U.S. Customs and Border Protection's authority to exclude countries from AED requirements.
 
The bill establishes additional reporting requirements related to AED, including a requirement for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report the results of randomized tests of packages entering the United States.
 
Further, the bill authorizes DHS, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Service to enter into partnerships with private parcel services or other private information technology entities to develop technology and processes for identifying the origin of fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, and other narcotics and psychoactive substances. 
 
The bill also authorizes DHS to share with and receive information from foreign governments regarding (1) shippers with a history of transporting illegal substances, and (2) best practices for detecting the substances. 
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection must train its officers in detecting illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
 
Finally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the implementation of the STOP Act of 2018.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
PREVENT Fentanyl Act

Bill: 118-s-987
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Providing Resources for Exceptional Veterans to End Narcotic Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the PREVENT Fentanyl Act

 
This bill expands the Human Exploitation Rescue Operation Child-Rescue Corps program to address fentanyl trafficking. (The program, which is part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, trains eligible members and veterans of the Armed Forces as computer forensic analysts to combat child exploitation.) 
 
Under this bill, program participants must investigate and analyze fentanyl trafficking in addition to the issues required under current law, such as child exploitation and human trafficking.
 
The bill also changes the name of the program to the Human Exploitation Rescue Operation Corps. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Projects Act

Bill: 118-s-988
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Projects Act

 
This bill expands the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)to act as the only lead agency for the purpose of coordinating the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) of natural gas pipeline project applications under the Natural Gas Act. Thus, federal, state, and local agencies involved in the environmental review process must defer to FERC's approved scope for a NEPA review.
 
FERC must invite and designate the other participating agencies involved in the authorization process. In addition, FERC must consult with the Transportation Security Administration regarding pipeline infrastructure security, pipeline cybersecurity, pipeline personnel security, and other pipeline security measures.
 
The bill establishes a deadline for agencies to complete NEPA reviews of pipeline projects and requires concurrent reviews when multiple federal or state agencies are involved.
 
If a federal or state agency requires the person applying for a pipeline authorization to submit data, the agency must consider any such data gathered by aerial or other remote means that the person submits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
North American Energy Act

Bill: 118-s-989
Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 

North American Energy Act

 
This bill establishes a new process for approving the construction and operation of energy infrastructure across an international border of the United States and replaces the existing process established under specified executive orders.
 
Specifically, this bill requires a person to obtain a certificate of crossing before constructing, connecting, or operating a border-crossing facility for the import or export of oil, natural gas, or electricity across a U.S. border between Canada or Mexico. A certificate must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a facility consisting of oil or natural gas pipelines or the Department of Energy (DOE) for an electric transmission facility.
 
As a condition of issuing a certificate, DOE must require that an electric transmission facility be constructed, connected, or operated consistent with specified policies and standards.
 
FERC and DOE must meet a deadline for issuing a certificate as set forth by this bill. The bill also requires FERC to meet a deadline for approving applications to import or export natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico.
 
Any entity aggrieved by a final agency action taken under the new process established by the bill may obtain judicial review of the action.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command to conduct a gap analysis of the capabilities of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Bill: 118-s-990
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2023-03-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Homeland security
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Military operations and strategy
Spacecraft and satellites

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: 
This bill requires the North American Aerospace Defense Command to analyze and report on its capabilities. Such analysis and report must analyze any limitation that has been or may be exploited by a foreign country to allow air assets of the foreign country to enter the airspace of the United States or Canada unnoticed.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-03-27
text: Introduced in Senate
National Labor Relations Board Reform Act

Bill: 118-s-991
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 

National Labor Relations Board Reform Act

 
This bill expands the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and modifies the procedures for reviewing unfair labor practice complaints.
 
Specifically, the bill increases from five to six the number of members on the NLRB and requires that each major political party is represented by three members each.
 
It also permits an individual subject to a NLRB complaint of an unfair labor practice issued or authorized by the NLRB General Counsel to obtain review of the complaint in federal district court. An individual must file a written petition for such review not later than 30 days after the complaint is issued or authorized.
 
The bill further permits either party to a complaint proceeding to appeal to a federal court of appeals if the NLRB does not issue a final order within one year after a report is issued by an administrative law judge or decision is issued by a regional director.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate