hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Democracy in Design Act

Bill: 118-hr-964
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Architecture
General Services Administration
Government buildings, facilities, and property

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Democracy in Design Act
 
 
This bill requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to ensure that the design of federal public buildings (e.g., agency office buildings) adheres to the principles of the report titled 
Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture
. 
 
The report was published by the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space on June 1, 1962, and serves as the policy directive for the GSA's Design Excellence Program within its Public Buildings Service. Among other principles, the report prescribes against the development of an official architectural style for government buildings and encourages the government to avoid excessive uniformity in building design.
 
The GSA must issue regulations to implement the amendment made by this bill and to establish minimum standards for the design of public buildings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Coffee Plant Health Initiative Amendments Act

Bill: 118-hr-965
Sponsor: Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Coffee Plant Health Initiative Amendments Act 

 
This bill expands the research and extension grant program for the coffee plant health initiative. Under current law, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may provide competitive grants under the initiative to support research and extension activities to combat the insect known as the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei).
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes USDA to provide competitive grants for
 
 
developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious weeds that impact coffee plants;
 
establishing an area-wide integrated pest management program in areas affected by, or at risk of being affected by, plant pests or noxious weeds that impact coffee plants;
 
surveying and collecting data on coffee plant production and health;
 
investigating coffee plant biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; and
 
conducting research on various factors that may contribute to or be associated with coffee plant immune systems and other serious threats to coffee plants.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Macadamia Tree Health Initiative Amendments Act

Bill: 118-hr-966
Sponsor: Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Macadamia Tree Health Initiative Amendments Act 

 
This bill expands the research and extension grant program for the macadamia tree health initiative. Under current law, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may provide competitive grants under the initiative to support research and extension activities to combat the insect known as the macadamia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei).
 
Specifically, the bill authorizes USDA to provide competitive grants for
 
 
developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious weeds that impact macadamia trees;
 
establishing an area-wide integrated pest management program in areas affected by, or at risk of being affected by, the invasive plant pests or noxious weeds;
 
surveying and collecting data on macadamia tree production and health;
 
investigating macadamia tree biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; and
 
conducting research on various factors that may contribute to or be associated with macadamia tree immune systems and other serious threats to macadamia trees.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Betting on Our Future Act

Bill: 118-hr-967
Sponsor: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Betting on Our Future Act

 
This bill prohibits certain advertising of sports betting. Specifically, it makes it unlawful to advertise sportsbooks (persons engaged in the business of taking sports bets or wagers and paying out winnings) using a medium of electronic communication that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
AIR Act

Bill: 118-hr-968
Sponsor: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Aerial Intelligence-collection Revelation Act of 2023 or the AIR Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Defense to provide written notification to Congress if any foreign surveillance object (e.g., a balloon) enters the national airspace system without prior approval. Such notification must be submitted to Congress not later than 24 hours after the object enters the national airspace system.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
GAAME Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-969
Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act of 2023 or the GAAME Act of 2023

 
This bill specifies that funds that support the instructional needs of elementary and secondary students from low-income families (i.e., Title I funds) may be used for arts and music programs. 
 
First, the bill specifies that schools operating school-wide programs may include descriptions related to arts and music education in their comprehensive plans. Such a plan may include a description of (1) how sequential, standards-based arts education taught by certified educators and providers meet the challenging state academic standards, and (2) how sequential, standards-based music education taught by certified educators align with the challenging state academic standards. 
 
Second, the bill specifies that schools operating targeted assistance programs may use funds for arts and music programs that address the academic needs of students. This assistance may include providing support for certified educators, professional development, supplies, instruments, and other expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act

Bill: 118-hr-970
Sponsor: Rep. Waltz, Michael [R-FL-6]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act

 
This bill establishes a moratorium on energy development (e.g., offshore wind development) in specified areas of the Gulf of Mexico until June 30, 2032. 
 
Until that date, the Department of the Interior may not conduct certain energy development activities in any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium also applies to other areas of the Outer Continental Shelf&#8212;the South Atlantic Planning Area, the Straits of Florida Planning Area, or any area west of the Military Mission Line in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area&#8212;if energy exploration, leasing, or development in that area has been identified as having any adverse effect on national security, military readiness, or the Department of Defense's testing capabilities.
 
However, Interior may issue leases in those areas for environmental conservation purposes, including the purposes of shore protection, beach nourishment and restoration, wetlands restoration, and habitat protection.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Black History Matters Act

Bill: 118-hr-971
Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Black History Matters Act

 
This bill directs the National Museum of African American History and Culture to study and report on Black history education in public elementary and secondary schools.
 
Among other elements, the study must (1) identify the states and local educational agencies that require (and those that do not require) Black history education as part of the curriculum taught in public elementary and secondary schools, (2) assess the quality of Black history education provided by schools, and (3) assess the types and quality of instructional material used to teach students about Black history.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-972
Sponsor: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Home and outpatient care
Medicare
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act of 

2023

 
This bill establishes and modifies certain requirements relating to Medicare payments for ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services.
 
Specifically, the bill (1) requires the payment system for ASC services to feature certain positive annual adjustments equivalent to those made with respect to hospital outpatient department (OPD) services; (2) revises quality reporting requirements to permit publicly available, side-by-side comparisons of quality measures for ASCs and OPDs in the same geographic area; and (3) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), when excluding requested procedures from the list of those approved to be performed in ASCs, to cite specified reasons for doing so.
 
With respect to excluding procedures from the approved list for ASCs, the CMS may not cite as a basis for exclusion that a procedure can only be reported using an unlisted surgical procedure code. (Physicians sometimes use unlisted codes when performing new procedures or services if no existing code is adequately descriptive.)
 
The bill also limits the copayment amount for ASC services under Medicare to that of the inpatient hospital deductible.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 118-hr-973
Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2023-02-09 in the House
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Georgia
Racial and ethnic relations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: 

Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., in recognition of his contributions in helping marginalized people, communities, and institutions. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H803)
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Introduced in House
AIM Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-974
Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2023-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Business records
Crimes against property
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Justice
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Firearms and explosives
Freedom of information
Historical and cultural resources
Judicial review and appeals
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: 

ATF Improvement and Modernization Act of 2023 or the AIM Act of 2023

 
This bill removes limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws.
 
Specifically, the bill removes provisions that
 
 
limit the use of firearms tracing data; 
 
prohibit consolidating or centralizing records maintained by federal firearm licensees, or FFLs (e.g., gun dealers); 
 
prohibit imposing a requirement that gun dealers conduct a physical inventory; 
 
require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours; 
 
limit the disclosure of data under the Freedom of Information Act; 
 
 prohibit the ATF from altering the definition of or denying certain import applications for a curio or relic firearm; 
 
 prohibit the denial of a federal firearms license due to lack of business activity; 
 
 prohibit transferring the ATF's functions, missions, or activities to other agencies or departments; 
 
 prohibit the electronic retrieval of information gathered from firearm transaction records of FFLs that go out of business; and 
 
 prohibit the ATF from denying an application to import certain shotguns. 
 
 
Additionally, the bill
 
 
raises the liability standard for denying or revoking a federal firearms license from a willful violation to a knowing violation of federal firearms laws or regulations, and 
 
removes the de novo standard of judicial review for appealing the denial or revocation of a federal firearms license. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
Rachael Booth Act

Bill: 118-hr-975
Sponsor: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Introduced: 2023-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: 

Rachel Booth Act

 
This bill expands eligibility for transitional compensation payments to dependents (or former dependents) of certain members of the Armed Forces who have committed a dependent-abuse offense.
 
Specifically, the bill provides eligibility for transitional compensation to dependents of members of the Armed Forces in situations where a member (1) has been convicted of a dependent-abuse offense in a civilian court but has been separated from duty for an offense other than the abuse offense; or (2) has been accused but not convicted of such an offense, but has been determined to have committed the offense by a commander and required to forfeit pay and allowances for an offense other than the abuse offense.
 
For purposes of determining a recipient of payments under such circumstances, an individual's status as a dependent child must be determined as of the first date on which an individual is held in pretrial confinement relating to the dependent-abuse offense or the date on which the commander determines there is probable cause the individual has committed the offense.
 
The bill prescribes when transitional compensation payments must commence based on the status of the conviction or confinement.
 
The military department concerned may delegate authority to authorize eligibility for benefits for dependents (and former dependents) to the first general or flag officer (or civilian equivalent) in the chain of command of the offending member.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
TCJA Permanency Act

Bill: 118-hr-976
Sponsor: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Introduced: 2023-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: 
 
TCJA Permanency Act 

 
This bill makes permanent provisions affecting individual and business taxpayers that were enacted in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. 
 
The bill makes permanent reductions in individual and capital gain tax rates. 
 
The bill increases the standard tax deduction for individual taxpayers. It also increases and modifies the child tax credit and raises the contribution base for the tax deduction for charitable contributions. 
 
The bill allows additional contributions to ABLE accounts (tax-exempt accounts designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save and pay for disability-related expenses). It exempts from taxation combat zone benefits of members of the Armed Forces serving in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and limits the deduction for moving expenses to active duty members of the Armed Forces. 
 
Additionally, the bill 
 
 
expands the types of elementary and secondary school expenses eligible for payment from qualified tuition programs (529 programs); 
 
lowers to $750,000 the amount of mortgage debt eligible for an interest expense tax deduction;
 
reinstates after 2024 the exclusion of income from the gross income of student loan borrowers for loan debt discharged due to death or total and permanent disability;
 
makes permanent the limitation on the tax deduction for state and local taxes and denies a deduction for foreign real property taxes;
 
makes permanent the tax deduction of the income of certain pass-through business entities;
 
repeals the tax deduction for personal tax exemptions and the exclusion of employer-provided bicycle commuter fringe benefits;
 
terminates certain miscellaneous itemized tax deductions;
 
doubles the estate and gift tax exemption amount; and
 
makes permanent the increase of the alternative minimum tax exemption amount for individual taxpayers.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-977
Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]
Introduced: 2023-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Medicaid
Medical ethics

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: 

Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 

2023

 
This bill repeals provisions under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law) that limit, for purposes of Medicare participation, self-referrals by newly constructed or expanded physician-owned hospitals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-02-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
Drain the Swamp Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-978
Sponsor: Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]
Introduced: 2023-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
District of Columbia
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Maryland
Virginia

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: 

Drain the Swamp Act of 2023

 
This bill repeals the requirement that all offices attached to the seat of the federal government be exercised in the District of Columbia, except as otherwise expressly provided by law.
 
Each executive agency, by September 30, 2024, must submit a plan for the relocation of its headquarters outside of the Washington metropolitan area. Such plan shall
 
 
 identify a location for a new headquarters;
 
 maximize any potential cost savings associated with the relocation; 
 
 provide that, upon implementation of the plan, no more than 10% of agency employees are based in the Washington metropolitan area; and 
 
 consider any potential national security implications of the relocation. 
 
 
Each agency shall implement the plan by September 30, 2028.
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-02-10
text: Introduced in House