hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1014
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 

Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act of 2023

 
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to hold national hearings to review Federal Milk Marketing Orders. (USDA uses these orders to establish a minimum price for various classes of milk.) The hearings must include the review of proposals from producers and the dairy industry on the price of Class I skim milk. 
 
The bill also requires manufacturers to report cost and yield information for all dairy products processed in the same facility or facilities to USDA's Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program. Further, every two years, USDA must publish a report containing the information obtained under these new requirements. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.

Bill: 118-s-1015
Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Arizona
Forests, forestry, trees
Geography and mapping
Land transfers

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 
This bill directs the Forest Service to convey specified property to Gila County, Arizona, upon the county's submission of a written request for such conveyance. The property, identified as the Gila County Area, consists of approximately 232.9 acres of National Forest System land located in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.
 
The conveyance shall be made without consideration. 
 
The Forest Service shall not be required to provide any covenant or warranty for the land and improvements conveyed to the county under such conveyance.
 
If any land conveyed under this bill ceases to be used for purposes of serving veterans, all right, title, and interest in and to the land shall revert to the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-12-20
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 296.
action_date: 2023-12-20
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-144.
action_date: 2023-12-20
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-144.
action_date: 2023-09-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-07-12
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 118-285.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1016
Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 

Agriculture Resilience Act
 
of 2023 

 
This bill establishes, expands, and revises multiple programs and activities of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) primarily to reduce carbon emissions from the agriculture sector.
 
Specifically, USDA must finalize and implement a plan to achieve net-zero emissions from the sector by 2040. USDA must periodically review and revise the plan, as necessary, and annually report on its implementation.
 
Additionally, the bill expands the scope of various USDA research, extension, and education programs; conservation programs; and livestock programs to incorporate climate change adaptation and mitigation. Expanded activities include efforts to improve soil health and preserve farmland and grassland.
 
Further, the bill changes programs that support renewable energy in rural areas to address carbon emissions in the agriculture sector. Among these changes, the bill provides statutory authority for the AgSTAR program for reducing methane emissions from livestock waste and requires the program to be moved from the Environmental Protection Agency to USDA.
 
The bill also addresses food waste, for example, by (1) standardizing the voluntary labels used by food producers to indicate the date by which food should be used or discarded, and (2) making composting activities eligible for support through USDA conservation programs. Moreover, the bill establishes grants to reduce and prevent food waste in landfills and in schools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Ensuring Fairness for Students Act

Bill: 118-s-1017
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 

Ensuring Fairness for Students Act

 
This bill requires educational institutions to implement a specified grievance process for investigating and adjudicating formal complaints of sexual harassment (i.e., Title IX claims). Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.
 
Among other elements, this grievance process must (1) provide both parties with a written notice of the allegation, an equal opportunity to select an advisor of each party's choice, and an opportunity to submit and review evidence throughout the investigation; (2) apply a presumption of innocence during the process; and (3) give both parties an equal opportunity to appeal.


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

Bill: 118-s-1018
Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Recoupment Act

 
This bill extends the time period when a state must recover improperly paid pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and bring related criminal charges or enforcement actions to 10 years.
 
The bill also adds certain recovery requirements to two pandemic UI programs&#8212;Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Lost Wages Assistance (LWA)&#8212;that match the requirements of other pandemic UI programs. Specifically, the state must (1) repay itself by deducting the PUA or LWA funds from any UI benefits a recipient may later qualify to receive; and (2) ensure the recipient is provided with notice, a hearing, and a final determination. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
CASES Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1019
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2023-03-28 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: 

Corruption in Argentina Stymied by Enforcing Sanctions Act of 2023 or the CASES Act of 2023

 
This bill requires sanctions to be imposed on five specified Argentinian public officials if such individuals meet the criteria for such sanctions.
 
The specified Argentinian officials are Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, Maximo Kirchner, Juan Martin Mena, Oscar Isidro Jose Parrilli, and Carlos Alberto Zannini.
 
The bill requires the Department of State to submit an annual report to Congress containing (1) a description of each person's assets, including the net worth of immediate family members; and (2) a determination as to whether each person meets the criteria for the imposition of visa- and property-blocking sanctions related to corruption or human rights violations.
 
The President must impose such sanctions on any of these individuals whom the President determines meets the sanctions criteria. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-03-28
text: Introduced in Senate
Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1020
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural research
Food industry and services
Livestock
Meat
Nutrition and diet

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Livestock Consolidation Research Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Economic Research Service (ERS) to publish a report on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry (i.e., beef, dairy, pork, and poultry production, including broilers, eggs, and turkeys). ERS must publish the report within one year of the Census of Agriculture being made publicly available. The Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years; the 2022 census is scheduled for release in 2024.
 
The ERS report must include (1) information on changes in the size and location of ranches, farms, processing facilities, and packers throughout the United States; and (2) the impact of these changes on farmers, ranchers, and downstream consumers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to prohibit the Export-Import Bank of the United States from providing financing to persons with seriously delinquent tax debt.

Bill: 118-s-1021
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Government lending and loan guarantees
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 
This bill prohibits the Export-Import Bank from providing financing to a person with seriously delinquent tax debt or for a project in which any participant has seriously delinquent tax debt.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Define WOTUS Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1022
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Define WOTUS Act
 
of 2023

 
This bill describes which bodies of water fall under federal jurisdiction for purposes of the Clean Water Act. Specifically, the bill redefines navigable waters and establishes a process for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine, upon request, whether certain waters are navigable waters.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1023
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Agricultural conservation and pollution
Commodities markets
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Executive agency funding and structure
Farmland
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Government studies and investigations
Livestock
Meat
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

 Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an advisory committee that is representative of the U.S. farming and ranching sectors to make recommendations on the impact of
 waters of the United States
 (WOTUS) regulations on U.S. agriculture and environmental protection. (The Clean Water Act [CWA] protects
 navigable waters
, which the statute defines as WOTUS. Because the CWA does not further define this term, the agencies that implement the CWA have defined WOTUS in regulations.)
 
Specifically, USDA must establish an advisory committee to study and develop recommendations to address matters such as
 
 
the impact of the prior-converted farmland exemption on agricultural operations,
 
the impact of WOTUS regulations on secure food supply chains and rural infrastructure, and
 
how to develop safe harbor conditions for farmers who observe certain conservation practices. 
 
 
 
Federal agencies must provide to the committee any information requested by the committee chair. 
 
The advisory committee terminates 90 days after completing reporting requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Access to AEDs Act

Bill: 118-s-1024
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Education

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Access to AEDs Act

 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools operating as LEAs under state law, to promote student access to defibrillation in elementary and secondary schools.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
SAFEGUARD Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1025
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Licensing and registrations
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Trade restrictions
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2023 or the SAFEGUARD Act of 2023

 
This bill establishes specified measures to prevent the sale, export, or transfer of defense articles or defense services to foreign countries for use in violation of international humanitarian law or human rights. 
 
These measures include (1) prohibiting arms sales to countries committing genocide or war crimes, (2) requiring a consideration of human rights practices and democratization in any foreign country to which an arms sale is contemplated, and (3) providing for congressional oversight of arms exports to foreign countries wherein certain human rights violations have occurred.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1026
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accidents
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Crime prevention
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Firearms and explosives
Health programs administration and funding
Medical research
Research administration and funding
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2023

 
This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct or support research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
STAND with Taiwan Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1027
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Sanctions Targeting Aggressors of Neighboring Democracies with Taiwan Act of 2023 or the STAND with Taiwan Act of 2023

 
This bill requires the imposition of sanctions in the event of a military invasion of Taiwan by China and addresses related issues.
 
If the President determines that China or any of its proxies has initiated a military invasion of Taiwan, or if a joint resolution making such a determination is enacted, the bill requires 
 
 
the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain senior officials of China's government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); 
 
the Department of the Treasury to impose property-blocking sanctions on specified foreign financial institutions, including banks under the jurisdiction of China and in which China's government holds an interest; 
 
 
Treasury to impose property-blocking sanctions on any entity affiliated with China's government or the CCP; 
 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to prohibit the trading of the securities of an issuer affiliated with China's government or the CCP on a national securities exchange; 
 
Treasury to prohibit U.S. financial institutions from making certain investments, such as investments in an entity owned or controlled by China's government, the CCP, or China's military; 
 
the prohibition of the importation of certain goods, including goods produced wholly or in part in China or by certain entities owned or financed by China's government or the CCP; and
 
a prohibition on any depository institution or SEC-registered securities broker or dealer processing funds transfers to or from China or for the benefit of Chinese government officials or CCP members. 
 
 

 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1028
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act of 2023

 
This bill modifies and implements policies and procedures related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST), which is generally defined as physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment that occurred while the veteran was serving in the military.
 
In the case of any veteran who claims that a covered mental health condition (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) based on MST was incurred or aggravated by active service, the VA must consider (1) a diagnosis of the condition by a mental health professional, (2) a medically proven link between current symptoms and MST, and (3) credible supporting evidence that MST occurred. 
 
The VA may not deny a veteran's claim of compensation for a covered mental health condition based on MST without first (1) advising the veteran that nonmilitary evidence and behavioral evidence may constitute credible corroborating evidence, and (2) allowing the veteran an opportunity to furnish the corroborating evidence or advise the VA of potential sources of such evidence.
 
The Veterans Benefits Administration must conduct an annual special focus review on the accuracy of the processing of claims for disability compensation for disabilities relating to MST.
 
Additionally, the bill (1) expands access to mental health care at VA facilities for survivors of MST, and (2) requires the Government Accountability Office to report on access to such care for MST survivors.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Military Servicemembers' Data Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1029
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Asia
China
Computers and information technology
Consumer affairs
Europe
Iran
Middle East
Military personnel and dependents
North Korea
Right of privacy
Russia

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Protecting Military Servicemembers' Data Act of 202

3

 
This bill prohibits businesses that collect consumer personal information from selling lists containing the personal information of members of the Armed Forces to North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran.
 
The bill provides enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act

Bill: 118-s-1030
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2023-03-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Age discrimination
Civil actions and liability
Disability and health-based discrimination
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Evidence and witnesses
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Racial and ethnic relations
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: 

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act

 
This bill revises the evidentiary standard for age discrimination by establishing an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age or participation in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation related to an age discrimination claim was a motivating factor for an adverse practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice (thereby allowing what are commonly known as 
mixed motive
 claims).
 
The bill (1) permits the complaining party to rely on any type or form of admissible evidence, which need only be sufficient for a reasonable trier of fact to find that an unlawful practice occurred; and (2) declares that the complaining party shall not be required to demonstrate that age or retaliation was the sole cause of the employment practice (thereby rejecting the Supreme Court's decision in 
Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.
, which requires the complainant to prove that age was the 
but-for
 cause for the employer's decision).
 
The bill applies this evidentiary standard to other employment discrimination and retaliation claims, including claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
 
In a claim in which age discrimination is shown, but where the employer demonstrates that it would have taken the same action absent the motivating factor of age, the bill authorizes courts to grant declaratory and injunctive relief, but prohibits the court from awarding damages or issuing an order requiring any admission, reinstatement, hiring, promotion, or payment. This limitation also applies to claims of discrimination based on disability.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Introduced in Senate