hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1571
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 

2023

 
This bill allows additional hospitals to qualify as critical access hospitals (CAHs) that receive special payment under Medicare.
 
Currently, in order to qualify as a CAH under Medicare, a hospital must either (1) be located more than 35 miles (or 15 miles in mountainous regions or areas with only secondary roads) from another hospital, or (2) have been certified prior to January 1, 2006, by the state as a necessary provider of services in the area. 
 
The bill allows a hospital to also qualify if the hospital is a small, rural hospital that (1) serves a health professional shortage area, or a high number of low-income individuals or Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries; (2) has experienced financial losses for two consecutive years; and (3) attests to having a strategic plan to address financial solvency.
 
The Government Accountability Office must study the effects of the bill's implementation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must subsequently establish a mechanism and issue guidance on how newly designated CAHs may transition to different payment models under Medicare.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S1627-1628)
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Depositor Protection Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1572
Sponsor: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
Banking and financial institutions regulation
Congressional oversight
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Government studies and investigations

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Depositor Protection Act of 2023 

 
This bill expands Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protections and the actions the FDIC is allowed to take, including in the event of an institutional failure. 
 
First, the bill expands for two years FDIC deposit insurance for an amount up to $100,000,000 that a depositor maintains at an insured depository institution in a noninterest-bearing transaction account. (Currently, the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000.) 
 
The bill also increases the reciprocal deposit limit applicable to depository institutions. (Reciprocal deposits are used by institutions to increase the availability of deposit insurance by splitting large deposits using a reciprocal network of institutions.)
 
For 90 days after the date of enactment, the bill allows for the acquisition of distressed banks by a bank holding company without regulatory approval under certain circumstances. 
 
The bill also allows the FDIC to facilitate a merger, sale, assumption of liabilities, or stock acquisition involving the failure of a large institution using an adjusted least-cost resolution calculation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-06-22
text: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1573
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical research
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise modifies research and education programs for preventing premature births.
 
In particular, the bill expands the scope of education programs for health care providers and the public to address the importance of screening for and treatment of chronic conditions as part of preconception and prenatal care.
 
Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an interagency working group to improve the coordination of programs and activities to prevent preterm birth, infant mortality, and related adverse effects. (Current law permits HHS to establish such a working group.)
 
The bill also requires HHS to support a study carried out by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on matters related to premature births, such as the financial costs and factors that affect preterm birth rates.

action_date: 2023-10-04
text: 

PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023

 
This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise modifies research and education programs for preventing premature births.
 
For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an interagency working group to improve the coordination of programs and activities to prevent preterm birth, infant mortality, and related adverse effects. (Current law permits HHS to establish such a working group.)
 
The bill also requires HHS to support a study carried out by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on matters related to premature births, such as the financial costs and factors that affect preterm birth rates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-10-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 223.
action_date: 2023-10-04
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-10-04
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-09-21
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act

Bill: 118-s-1574
Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Mental Health Excellence in Schools Act

 
This bill establishes a program to expand the mental health services workforce in schools.
 
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to contract with graduate institutions to pay a share of the cost of attendance for graduate students pursuing careers in the school-based mental health profession (e.g., school counseling).
 
Additionally, the bill requires an independent national evaluation of the outcomes and effectiveness of the program.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Colorado Judgeship Act

Bill: 118-s-1575
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Law

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Colorado Judgeship Act

 
This bill increases from seven to ten the total number of U.S. district court judgeships for the District of Colorado. The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, three additional judges for that judicial district.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
CREST Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1576
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Air quality
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act of 2023 or the CREST Act of 2023

 
This bill expands the current research and development programs of the Department of Energy (DOE) for capturing and storing carbon dioxide to include methods that harness natural processes, such as the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and its storage in geological, biobased, or ocean reservoirs. In addition, the bill establishes a five-year pilot program under which DOE must purchase from certain facilities carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere or upper hydrosphere.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1628-1629)
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Oversee Emerging Technology Act

Bill: 118-s-1577
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Oversee Emerging Technology Act

 
This bill requires federal agencies to designate emerging technology leads (i.e., individuals to give advice on the responsible use of emerging technologies, provide expertise, collaborate with interagency coordinating bodies, and provide input for procurement policies).
 
The President, within 180 days of this bill's enactment, must (1) inform Congress of each agency for which a lead has been appointed or designated, and (2) provide to Congress a description of the authorities and responsibilities of such leads.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
ACES Act

Bill: 118-s-1578
Sponsor: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Accountability for Cryptocurrency in El Salvador Act or the ACES Act

This bill requires the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury to report to Congress on various issues relating to the adoption by El Salvador of a cryptocurrency as legal tender.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
MORE DOT Grants Act

Bill: 118-s-1579
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Infrastructure development
Intergovernmental relations
Land use and conservation
Public transit
Railroads
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

More Opportunities for Rural Economies from DOT Grants Act or the
 
MORE DOT Grants Act 

 
This bill revises the process for awarding grants to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal or local governments within such counties under certain Department of Transportation (DOT) programs. Examples of qualifying grant programs include the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). A
 high-density public land county
 is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which the federal government owns or manages more than 50% of the land.
 
For these jurisdictions, any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50%.
 
On request, DOT must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program.
 
DOT must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.
 
In approving applications for a qualifying grant program, DOT must give special consideration to an application from a high-density public land county or unit of local government within such a county with respect to any rural-set aside designated for the program. DOT may give special consideration to an application from a tribal government within such a county. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
MORE USDA Grants Act

Bill: 118-s-1580
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Business investment and capital
Economic development
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government lending and loan guarantees
Health technology, devices, supplies
Internet, web applications, social media
Rural conditions and development
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act or the
 
MORE USDA Grants Act 

 
This bill revises the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal or local governments within such counties. A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which more than 50% of the land is owned or managed by the federal government.
 
Any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50% with respect to such jurisdictions.
 
On request, USDA must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program.
 
USDA must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Diversify Act

Bill: 118-s-1581
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Diversifying by Investing in Educators and Students To Improve Outcomes For Youth Act or the Diversify Act

 
This bill revises the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program. The TEACH program awards grants to undergraduate and graduate students who commit to teaching in a high-need field and in an elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. 
 
First, the bill raises the maximum amount for TEACH grants.
 
Second, the bill allows TEACH grants to cover the full cost of attendance. Currently, these grants may be used only for tuition, fees, and on-campus housing. 
 
The bill allows teaching in a high-need early education program to count toward service requirements for the program.
 
Next, the bill eliminates the process for converting a TEACH grant to a loan if a recipient does not complete the requirements of the program. Further, the bill prohibits the Department of Education (ED) from instituting or creating a monetary penalty for failure or refusal to complete the service requirement.
 
In addition, the bill requires ED to send an electronic certificate to grant recipients who have completed their service requirement.
 
The bill also exempts the TEACH program from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Opportunities in Organic Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1582
Sponsor: Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural education
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Business records
Employment and training programs
Farmland
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Intergovernmental relations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public-private cooperation
Rural conditions and development
Soil pollution
State and local government operations

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress classified dissent cables relating to the withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from Afghanistan.

Bill: 118-s-1583
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text:  

This bill requires the Department of State to (1) submit to Congress any classified State Department cables or memos that express a dissenting opinion relating to the withdrawal of the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan, and (2) make publicly available unclassified versions of such cables and memos.

 

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S1629)
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
RAISE Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1584
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators Act of 2023 or the RAISE Act of 

2023

 
This bill allows eligible educators (i.e., any elementary or secondary teacher and any early childhood educator) a refundable tax credit of $1,000 plus an additional amount (based upon a specified student poverty ratio) for eligible educators employed at a qualifying school (i.e., a public elementary or secondary school that is eligible for certain federal assistance or is funded by the Bureau of Indian Education), or an early childhood education program for children receiving certain federal assistance.
 
The bill also increases the amount of the tax deduction for the expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers and expands such credit to include early childhood educators. 
 
The bill provides additional funding to local educational agencies that maintain or increase the salaries of their teachers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Federal Law Enforcement Service Weapon Purchase Act

Bill: 118-s-1585
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Federal Law Enforcement Service Weapon Purchase Act

 
This bill generally permits a federal law enforcement officer to purchase a retired handgun from the agency that issued a handgun to the officer.
 
The bill directs the General Services Administration to develop policies to facilitate the sale and disposition of eligible handguns.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Educating Future Nurses Act

Bill: 118-s-1586
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Education programs funding
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Medical education
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Educating Future Nurses Act

 
This bill establishes a permanent National Graduate Nurse Education Program to provide clinical training to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), particularly with respect to services for Medicare beneficiaries. (The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conducted a similar demonstration program from 2012-2016.)
 
Under the program, hospitals may receive payments for the costs associated with providing clinical education to APRNs. Hospitals must partner with nursing schools, regional hospitals or health systems, or non-hospital community providers (e.g., nursing homes) to provide qualifying clinical education. Such education must consist of clinical experience in primary, preventive, transitional, acute, and chronic care, as well as other services that are appropriate for Medicare beneficiaries; at least half of this education must be provided in non-hospital, community-based settings.
 
Participating hospitals must report annually on their programs, subject to payment reductions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act

Bill: 118-s-1587
Sponsor: Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]
Introduced: 2023-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: 

Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act

 
This bill addresses overpayments of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, including by providing incentives for states to investigate and recover these funds. 
 
Specifically, the bill allows a state to retain 25% of any funds recovered from fraudulent overpayments of certain UI benefits that were provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. These retained funds must be used for specified program integrity measures, such as modernizing UI systems and information technology and hiring fraud investigators. 
 
The bill allows a state to retain up to 5% of (1) any UI overpayment it recovers, except where the overpayment is due to state agency error; and (2) any unpaid employer contributions that the state recovers, if the state certifies that it has enacted certain fraud detection measures. A state must use the retained funds for specified purposes, such as deterring, detecting, and preventing improper payments. 
 
Additionally, the bill extends from 3 to 10 years the time during which states must recover overpayments of pandemic UI benefits through benefit offsets. The bill also extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions related to UI fraud.
 
Further, the bill extends an exception to the federal requirement that state UI personnel be hired on a merit basis. The bill allows a state to hire temporary staff on a noncompetitive basis through December 31, 2030. 
 
Finally, the bill repeals a provision that provided funding to the Department of Labor for UI program integrity activities. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate