hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1224
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2023

This bill revises the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which is a component of the Farm Service Agency's (FSA's) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CREP is a public-private partnership program which allows states, tribal governments, and nonprofit and private entities to partner with FSA to implement CRP practices. CRP is a land conservation program that provides an annual rental payment to farmers in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental health and quality. 

The bill specifies that dryland agricultural uses and grazing are included as appropriate practices under CREP.

The bill also allows a land owner or operator to elect to determine the annual payment amount allocated for each year of a CREP agreement, instead of a fixed payment per year for the contract period.

For drought and water conservation agreements that include the permanent retirement of water rights, annual payment rates must be equal to the irrigated acre payment rates determined by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the case of an agreement that permits dryland agricultural uses, the annual payment rates must be equal to the difference between the irrigated acre payment rates and the dryland acre payment rates determined by USDA. The payment formula is retroactive for certain existing drought and water conservation agreements. 

Further, the bill exempts CREP payments from the $50,000 annual payment limitation under CRP. 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1225
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act of 2023

 
This bill allows the adjusted basis of certain assets (including any common stock in a C corporation, any digital asset, and tangible property used in a trade or business) to be indexed for inflation for the purpose of determining the gain or loss of a taxpayer (other than a corporation) who has held the asset for more than three years.
 
The bill sets forth rules for applying the inflation adjustment to
 
 
short sales; 
 
regulated investment companies; 
 
real estate investment trusts;
 
other pass-through entities, including partnerships, S corporations, and common trust funds;
 
dispositions between related persons; and 
 
improvements to property or contributions of capital.
 
 
The Internal Revenue Service may disallow an adjustment if any person transfers cash, debt, or any other property to another person for the principal purpose of securing or increasing the adjustment allowed by this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the individual tax provisions of the tax reform law, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-s-1226
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 
This bill makes permanent several tax provisions for individual taxpayers that were enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. These provisions include a reduction of individual income tax rates, an increase in the child tax credit, limitations on the tax deduction for state and local taxes and the mortgage interest deduction, and an increase in the exemption amount for estate and gift taxes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
FISH Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1227
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests Act of 2023 or the FISH Act of 2023

This bill establishes a blacklist and other mechanisms for addressing vessels involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the blacklist and issue regulations governing its administration. NOAA must add a vessel to the list if NOAA has a reasonable basis to believe that the vessel contributes to IUU fishing in certain ways, such as by (1) exceeding applicable catch limits; (2) engaging in fishing on the high seas involving the use of forced labor; or (3) providing nonemergency fueling, resupply, or other services to a vessel on the blacklist.

Under the bill, a vessel on the blacklist is prohibited from accessing U.S. ports or making deliveries in U.S. waters. No U.S. vessel may service a vessel that is on the blacklist, except for emergency or enforcement purposes. A blacklisted vessel and its cargo, with some exceptions, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture.

Additionally, the bill requires the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person (i.e., individual or entity) that is the beneficial owner of a vessel on the blacklist. 

The Coast Guard must increase its observation of vessels on the high seas suspected of IUU fishing and related practices.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection must issue regulations regarding the verification of seafood imports to block imports of seafood harvested by foreign vessels using forced labor. 
 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1228
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2023

 
This bill authorizes the United States Mint to modify the metallic composition of circulating coins (including by prescribing reasonable manufacturing tolerances with respect to those coins) if a study and analysis conducted by the Mint indicates that the modification will
 
 
 reduce costs incurred by the taxpayers;
 
 be seamless, which means that the coins must have the same weight and diameter as current coins and that the coins work interchangeably in most coin acceptors using electromagnetic signature technology; and 
 
have as minimal an adverse impact as possible on the public and stakeholders.
 
 
The Mint must notify Congress before making the modification and provide a justification for the modification. Congress may disapprove of any proposed modification through a joint resolution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Green New Deal for Health Act

Bill: 118-s-1229
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Green New Deal for Health Act

 
This bill establishes programs and requirements to mitigate the health effects of climate change and environmental effects of the health care sector, particularly on vulnerable populations.
 
The Department of Health and Human Services must, for example, lead a research initiative to mitigate the health effects of climate change and develop a plan for preparing the health care system to respond to those effects.
 
The bill establishes programs and requirements for medical facilities. It funds through FY2028 the Community Health Center Program (which supports outpatient facilities for medically underserved populations) and establishes grants for sustainability and resiliency planning for medical facilities. Further, the bill revives the Hill-Burton program (which historically supported construction and modernization of medical facilities) and makes climate resiliency a program focus. It also restricts certain hospitals from terminating essential services without engaging in planning and other efforts to preserve access.
 
The bill also provides support for workforce and community programs. This includes (1) grants for incorporating climate change into medical training and community-based mental wellness and resiliency programs; and (2) funding through FY2028 for the National Health Services Corps, which awards educational incentives to providers in underserved areas.
 
Additionally, the bill addresses efforts to reduce (1) the health sector's contributions to climate change, (2) climate-related risks to pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical supply chains, and (3) health impacts of extreme heat. It also expands Medicare coverage to include items and services (e.g., solar batteries) for individuals who are medically at-risk at home from climate or man-made disasters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 118-s-1230
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars
Congressional tributes
Military history
Military personnel and dependents

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

 
This bill provides for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Roddie Edmonds in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during World War II. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
SAD Act

Bill: 118-s-1231
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act or the SAD Act 

 
This bill prohibits deceptive advertising for reproductive health services. Specifically, the bill makes deceptive advertising regarding whether a person provides contraceptives, abortion services, or access to licensed medical personnel subject to Federal Trade Commission enforcement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
AIM Act

Bill: 118-s-1232
Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

American Investment in Manufacturing Act or the AIM Act

 
This bill makes permanent the allowance for depreciation, amortization, or depletion for purposes of determining the income limitation on the tax deduction for business interest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify provisions relating to rural decentralized water systems grants.

Bill: 118-s-1233
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 
This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2028 a program that provides financial assistance for rural water systems under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
 
Under the existing program, the Department of Agriculture may provide grants to nonprofit organizations that in turn must provide subgrants and loans to individuals for household water well systems or individually owned household decentralized wastewater systems in rural areas. 
 
This bill modifies the eligibility requirements for subgrants. To be eligible for a subgrant, an individual must be a member of a household with an annual combined income that is no more than 60% of the median nonmetropolitan household income for the area served by the nonprofit (currently, the state or territory in which the individual resides).
 
The bill also allows a subgrant for a household decentralized wastewater system to include sufficient additional funding to cover the cost of a performance warranty with a duration of at least five years.
 
In addition, the bill allows loans to be awarded to an individual who is a member of a household with an annual combined income that is 60% to 100% of the median nonmetropolitan household income for the area.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Broadband Buildout Accountability Act

Bill: 118-s-1234
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Broadband Buildout Accountability Act

 
This bill makes actions or decisions of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration concerning the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program subject to the Freedom of Information Act, which governs the release of federal documents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Bruce's Law

Bill: 118-s-1235
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Community life and organization
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Health promotion and preventive care

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Bruce's Law

 
This bill reauthorizes certain grants through FY2027 and sets out other activities to address the dangers of fentanyl-related drug overdoses, with a particular focus on fentanyl contamination.
 
Specifically, the bill (1) reauthorizes grants that are available through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for community-based coalitions to address local drug crises, and (2) authorizes new grants for coalitions to implement education and prevention strategies in communities that face significant levels of drug overdoses related to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The ONDCP may delegate authority to execute the new grants to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must carry out a campaign to increase public awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, including the risk of fentanyl contamination in counterfeit drugs.
 
The bill also establishes an interagency work group to coordinate and improve federal efforts to reduce and prevent overdoses involving fentanyl contamination in illegal drugs. Work group members include the ONDCP, HHS, the Department of Justice, and the Department of State.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act

Bill: 118-s-1236
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Improving Mental Health Access for Students Act

 
This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs to share contact information for suicide prevention resources with students. 
 
If IHEs distribute student identification cards, then they must include on the cards phone numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a campus mental-health center or program.
 
If IHEs do not create such cards, then they must publish the numbers on their websites.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act

Bill: 118-s-1237
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Government lending and loan guarantees
Rural conditions and development
Small business
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act

 
This bill restores an exemption for certain family farms and small businesses under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The bill applies to the net worth of (1) a family farm on which the family resides, or (2) a small business with not more than 100 full-time or full-time equivalent employees that is owned and controlled by the family.
 
Prior to recent changes made to FAFSA, the net worth of these family farms and small businesses were excluded as assets when calculating a student's financial need to determine federal student aid eligibility. Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the net worth of these farms and businesses will be treated as an asset and therefore included in the calculation. This bill restores the exemption to exclude such net worth from the calculation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act

Bill: 118-s-1238
Sponsor: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Agricultural research
Animal and plant health
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Ecology
Endangered and threatened species
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Forests, forestry, trees
Government studies and investigations
Horticulture and plants
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Pest management
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Invasive Species Prevention and Forest Restoration Act 

 
This bill sets forth provisions to control invasive species and support native trees.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to award grants to federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and certain institutions for research to promote the restoration of tree species affected by non-native plant pests and noxious weeds.
 
USDA may also award grants to implement the research or other solutions to restore forest tree species native to the United States that have suffered severe levels of mortality caused by nonnative plant pests or noxious weeds. Grants may be awarded to cooperating forestry schools, land-grant colleges or universities, state agricultural experimental stations, or nonprofit organizations.
 
The bill also expands the authority of USDA to transfer funds to respond to an emergency in which a plant pest or noxious weed directly or indirectly threatens any segment of U.S. agricultural production.
 
Further, USDA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences or another nongovernmental entity to analyze available resources that federal agencies have to research, and find solutions to, nonnative plant pests and pathogens.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
No Child Left Inside Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1239
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

No Child Left Inside Act of 2023

 
This bill provides support for environmental literacy and environmental education programs in elementary and secondary schools, including by directing the Department of Education to award grants to (1) states for implementing state environmental literacy plans, and (2) local educational agencies and their partners for establishing or expanding outdoor school education programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1295-1296)
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1241
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 

Taiwan Cybersecurity Resiliency Act of 2023
 
This bill requires the Department of Defense to seek to expand military cybersecurity cooperation with the government of Taiwan. Such cooperation may include (1) efforts to protect military networks, infrastructure, and installations; and (2) cybersecurity training activities and exercises. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
No EV Credits for Idle Allies Act

Bill: 118-s-1242
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 
 
No EV Credits for Idle Allies Act 

 
This bill excludes critical materials for vehicle batteries that were extracted or processed in Germany or France from any determination of the eligible amount of the new clean vehicle tax credit unless the Department of State certifies that either country has, since February 24, 2022, directly provided a cumulative amount of aid to Ukraine that is not less than the direct commitment of aid provided by the United States. 
 
The State Department must annually review its certification of the amount of aid provided to Ukraine by Germany or France and require such countries to attain a certain level of defense spending for the duration of the war in Ukraine.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Small Business Investment Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1243
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 
 
Small Business Investment Act of 2023 

 
This bill increases the exclusion of gain from the disposition of qualified small business stock held for five years or more. The increase also applies to convertible debt instruments (debt instruments that can be converted into stock). 
 
The bill also eliminates the requirement that qualified small business stock be issued solely by a C corporation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Ending Duplicative Subsidies for Electric Vehicles Act

Bill: 118-s-1244
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-04-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: 
 
Ending Duplicative Subsidies for Electric Vehicles Act 

 
This bill prohibits duplicative subsidies (i.e., loans, grants, or tax credits) for manufacturers of new clean electric vehicles.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1296)
action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Introduced in Senate