hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-215
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2023

 
This bill establishes within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) a National Council on African American History and Culture.
 
The council shall
 
 
prepare an annual report to be submitted to NEH on the work of NEH to preserve and celebrate African-American history and culture;
 
gather timely and authoritative information concerning historical developments and cultural trends in African-American history and culture and take other specified steps;
 
evaluate the various programs and activities of NEH to determine the extent to which such programs and activities are contributing to the successful preservation and celebration of African-American history and culture and make recommendations to the President;
 
develop and recommend national policies to foster and promote the understanding and preservation of African-American culture and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the country's success; and
 
make and furnish such studies, reports thereon, and recommendations with respect to matters of cultural preservation and African-American history.
 
 
The bill terminates the council 10 years after its enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
RESPECT Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-216
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Family services
Health facilities and institutions
Health promotion and preventive care
Mental health
Neurological disorders
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

Reinforcing Enhanced Support through Promoting Equity for Caregivers Act of 2023 or the RESPECT Act of 2023

 
This bill modifies the caregiver programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and addresses the provision of support for caregivers participating in such programs.
 
The bill expands (1) the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to include services related to neurological disorders and additional mental health services, and (2) the Program of General Caregiver Support Services to include services related to neurological disorders.
 
The VA must establish a process and requirements for its clinicians to document incidents in which veterans in the family caregiver program present at a facility for treatment for an emergent or urgent mental health crisis or are assessed to be at risk for suicide.
 
The bill sets forth the VA's process and requirements for determining or reassessing the eligibility of a veteran and caregiver for the family caregiver program, including with regard to the provision of documentation and evidence related to mental health, psychological trauma, or a neurological disorder. The VA must waive the reassessment requirement under specified circumstances, such as when a veteran's serious injury is caused by a degenerative or chronic condition.
 
The VA is authorized to award grants to implement, coordinate, improve, or enhance mental health counseling, treatment, or support for family caregivers of veterans participating in the family caregiver program.
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on the provision of mental health support to caregivers of veterans.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-16
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Disaster Reforestation Act

Bill: 118-s-217
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance
Forests, forestry, trees
Income tax deductions
Inflation and prices

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

Disaster Reforestation Act

 
This bill sets forth a special rule for the tax deduction for casualty losses of uncut timber (including pre-merchantable timber). It provides that in losses of any uncut timber from fire, storm, wood-destroying insects or invasive species, severe drought, or from theft, the basis for determining the amount of the deduction for such loss shall not be less than the excess of the appraised value of such timber determined immediately before such loss was sustained, over the salvage value of such timber. 
 
To be eligible for the casualty loss deduction, the uncut timber subject to the loss must be reforested not later than the close of the five-year period beginning on the date of the loss.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act

Bill: 118-s-218
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Asia
China
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Oil and gas
Strategic materials and reserves
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act

 
This bill prohibits the sale and export of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from selling petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the SPR to any entity that is under the ownership or control of China. Further, DOE must require as a condition of any sale of crude oil from the SPR that the oil not be exported to China.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
No Budget, No Pay Act

Bill: 118-s-219
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

No Budget, No Pay Act

 
This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid in a fiscal year until both chambers approve the budget resolution and pass all regular appropriations bills for that fiscal year. Retroactive pay is prohibited for such a period.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 11.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Workforce Mobility Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-220
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Congressional oversight
Contracts and agency
Department of Labor
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
State and local government operations
Trade secrets and economic espionage

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

Workforce Mobility Act of 2023

 
This bill prohibits the use of noncompete agreements in the context of commercial enterprises except under certain circumstances. 
 
The first exception is that the seller of a business entity may enter into an agreement to refrain from engaging in a similar business in the geographic area where the business being sold has conducted business prior to the agreement. This exception extends to agreements by senior executive officials who have a severance agreement as part of the conditions of sale (i.e., a buyout provision). Second, a partner of an enterprise may enter into an agreement that, upon dissolution of the partnership or dissociation of the partner from the partnership, the partner will refrain from engaging in a similar business in the geographic areas where the partnership has conducted business prior to the agreement.
 
Commercial enterprises must post notice of the prohibition of noncompete agreements under this bill in a conspicuous area of the workplace and conduct a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the provisions of this bill.
 
The Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Labor shall investigate or enforce the provisions of the bill. Individuals and state attorneys general may also bring civil actions to enforce the provisions of the bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S207-208)
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
DEI Pay Cap Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-221
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

DEI Pay Cap Act of 2023

 
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from appointing or employing a military or civilian employee with a rank or grade in excess of E-5 base pay or GS-5 (not adjusted for locality) for any position with specified diversity, equity, and inclusion components.
 
Specifically, DOD may not appoint such individuals to positions with duties that include (1) developing and implementing diversity, equity and inclusion policy; (2) leading working groups and councils to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and objectives to measure performance and outcomes; and (3) creating and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion education, training, and workshops for military and civilian personnel.
 
Any military or civilian employee who has been appointed to such a position and holds a rank or grade in excess of E-5 or GS-5 must be reassigned to another position not later than 180 days after the enactment of this bill.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Border Airport Fairness Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-222
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

Border Airport Fairness Act of 

2023

 
This bill requires the President to designate certain primary airports near the border as ports of entry and terminate the user fee requirement for customs services at these airports.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to fix a technical error in the definitions.

Bill: 118-s-223
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 
This bill makes technical corrections in the definitions section of the Controlled Substances Act. 

action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 
This bill makes technical corrections in the definitions section of the Controlled Substances Act. 

action_date: 2024-12-16
text: 
This bill makes technical corrections in the definitions section of the Controlled Substances Act. 

action_date: 2024-12-23
text: 
This act makes technical corrections in the definitions section of the Controlled Substances Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 118-189.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 118-189.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-12-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-12-16
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7166)
action_date: 2024-12-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7166)
action_date: 2024-12-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 223.
action_date: 2024-12-16
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7166)
action_date: 2024-12-16
text: Mr. Bucshon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2023-02-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-02-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2023-02-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: 2023-02-06
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S192; text: CR S192)
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S192; text: CR S192)
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 118-189
Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-224
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2023-02-01 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: 

Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act of 2023

 
This bill imposes sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) employees and associates if the ICC investigates or pursues charges against certain individuals.
 
The bill defines certain classes of individuals as protected individuals, including (1) members of the U.S. Armed Forces, (2) employees and contractors of the U.S. government who assist the U.S. Armed Forces, and (3) certain members of the armed forces of U.S. allies or partners. If the ICC investigates or pursues charges against a protected individual, the President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against those foreign persons (individuals or entities) that, as ICC employees or associates, aided in the investigation, arrest, detention, or prosecution of a protected individual. 
 
Additionally, if the ICC investigates or pursues charges against protected individuals, the President must impose visa-blocking sanctions against any foreign individual who is (1) an employee of the ICC; (2) acting as an agent of the ICC; or (3) an immediate family member of those aiding the investigation, arrest, detention or prosecution of a protected individual.
 
The property-blocking sanctions do not apply to the importation of goods. The visa-blocking sanctions do not apply to admissions to (1) further important U.S. law enforcement objectives; or (2) comply with international obligations, such as the United Nations Headquarters Agreement. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-02-01
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-225
Sponsor: Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]
Introduced: 2023-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government liability
Government studies and investigations
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: 

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 

 
This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States that provides for a payment to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments that (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case.
 
Government officials or agents who violate this prohibition may be removed from office or required to forfeit to the government any money they hold for such purposes to which they may otherwise be entitled.
 
Agencies must report annually for seven years to the Congressional Budget Office about the parties, funding sources, and distribution of funds for their settlement agreements permitted by the exceptions in this bill. The Office of Inspector General for each agency must also report annually on any settlement agreements that violate the bill's requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
ESP Family Leave Act

Bill: 118-s-226
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: 

ESP Family Leave Act

 
This bill allows education support professionals to meet the hours of service requirements for family and medical leave if they have worked a number of hours equal to not less than 60% of the total monthly hours expected for their job descriptions and duties, as assigned for the previous school year.
 

Education support professionals
 are employees within a public school or public institution of higher education which may include specified staff, such as paraeducators, administrative support staff, custodians, skilled trade workers, and nursing support staff.
 
The Department of Labor may provide a method for calculating such leave for these professionals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-228
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2023-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Civil actions and liability
Contracts and agency
Food industry and services
Government information and archives
Livestock
Mammals
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: 

Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take various actions to address transparency in contract terms and pricing in the cattle industry. 
 
Among these requirements, USDA must maintain a publicly available library or catalog of contracts entered into between meat packers and livestock producers for the purchase of cattle, including any schedules of premiums or discounts associated with the contracts and other specific details. USDA must make this information available to producers and other interested parties in a monthly report. 
 
The bill further requires USDA to establish five to seven regions encompassing the entire continental United States that reasonably reflect similar fed cattle purchase practices for processing plants and establish mandatory minimums for each region (i.e., the minimum percentage of cattle purchases that are required to be made through approved pricing mechanisms from producers that are not packers).
 
Under the bill, 
approved pricing mechanisms 
are generally purchases of fed cattle made through a negotiated purchase, through a negotiated grid purchase, at a stockyard, or through trading systems or platforms where multiple buyers and sellers can regularly make and accept bids and offers. 
 
The bill also establishes a maximum penalty for mandatory minimum violations by covered packers. Under the bill, a 
covered packer
 is a packer that has slaughtered an average of 5% or more of the number of fed cattle slaughtered nationally during the immediately preceding five calendar years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-230
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2023-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Hospital care
Medical education
Medicare
Rural conditions and development

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: 

Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 

2023

 
This bill allows certain hospitals to receive additional payment under Medicare for full-time equivalent residents who receive training in rural areas. 
 
Specifically, hospitals, critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals may elect to receive payment for time spent by a resident in a rural training location if the resident trains for at least eight weeks in the location and the hospital pays the salary and benefits of the resident during this time. Additionally, hospitals may receive payment for all time spent by residents in a residency program in which 50% of all training is in rural locations, regardless of where the training occurs or specialty. 
 
Payments are based on the difference between the total amount of eligible payments (as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and the amount of graduate medical education payments received (if applicable).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate
Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-231
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2023-02-02 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Emergency planning and evacuation
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Natural disasters

Summary:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: 

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2023 

 
This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to provide agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by natural disasters the option to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures. 
 
The bill also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes, and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-02-02
text: Introduced in Senate