hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
A bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to address the hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, and for other purposes.

Bill: 119-s-643
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 
This bill provides a process by which the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and Oregon may negotiate to amend or replace the existing agreement defining the tribe's hunting, fishing, trapping, and animal gathering rights.
 
The current agreement, which was made effective by a January 12, 1987, consent decree by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, serves as the exclusive and final determination of the tribe's hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering rights. This bill instead allows a December 2, 1986, agreement between the United States, Oregon, and the tribe (known as the Grand Ronde Hunting and Fishing Agreement) to define the tribe's rights until and unless it is amended or replaced upon mutual agreement of the tribe and Oregon.
 
The bill allows the tribe and Oregon to return to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon to request the modification or termination of the January 12, 1987, consent decree.
 
The bill prohibits a new or amended agreement from (1) affecting the other rights of the tribe or any other Indian tribe, (2) limiting Oregon from entering into separate agreements with other tribes to address the authority to take species within the geographic scope of the agreement, or (3) being used in a civil or criminal action to modify any treaty or other right of a tribe.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Modernizing Retrospective Regulatory Review Act

Bill: 119-s-644
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill: 119-s-645
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional tributes
Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
Nebraska
U.S. history

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to recognize the individuals and communities that provided financial and other support for the North Platte Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, during World War II.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Born in the USA Act

Bill: 119-s-646
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-647
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act of 2025

This bill provides for the establishment of at least seven regional wildland fire research centers to improve the understanding of wildland fire through coordinated research and development. 

Specifically, the Department of Commerce, in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Forest Service, must establish regional centers at institutions of higher education and land-grant colleges and universities in seven specified regions. Institutions must be selected to host regional centers through a competitive process. Among other priorities, regional centers must develop technologies and tools to understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, test and operate models to support land management decision-making, and improve the understanding of post-fire risks (e.g., flash flooding). Regional centers must coordinate their research with one another and with other wildland fire research entities, and must make their work and data fully and openly available. 

The bill also establishes a national coordination board to develop technological research priorities and science, data management, and sharing protocols in cooperation with each regional center. The national board must coordinate the activities of regional centers and other research institutions to avoid unnecessary duplication. 

Further, the bill establishes an advisory board at each regional center to advise on research goals and activities, assist with dissemination of research outputs, and ensure coordination of research between regional centers and federal and state land management agencies in the relevant region. 

Finally, the bill sets forth certain reporting requirements with respect to the regional centers’ progress. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
SCRUB Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-648
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Judicial review and appeals

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-649
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: National Guard and reserves
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-05-21
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act

Bill: 119-s-650
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government studies and investigations
Historic sites and heritage areas
Missouri
Monuments and memorials
World history

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Unplug the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Programs Act

Bill: 119-s-651
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act

Bill: 119-s-652
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Government information and archives
Health technology, devices, supplies
Internet, web applications, social media
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Prescription drugs

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1129-1130)
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat membership in a health care sharing ministry as a medical expense, and for other purposes.

Bill: 119-s-653
Sponsor: Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 
This bill provides that amounts paid for membership in a health care sharing ministry, including amounts paid for the sharing of medical expenses and administrative fees, are a tax-deductible medical expense. (Health care sharing ministries are faith-based organizations with members who share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and who contribute regular payments to cover the medical expenses of other members.)


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 119-s-654
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Public contracts and procurement
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 
This bill establishes within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a national External Provider Scheduling Program to assist the VA in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). The program must consist of technology that allows VA schedulers to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the VCCP in real time.

The VA must ensure the program reduces the time (1) from referral to the actual scheduling of appointments for care or services, and (2) for VA schedulers to schedule appointments for care or services.

The VA must also ensure the program is available to all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-07-30
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2025-03-11
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-655
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Fair Credit for American Hostages Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-656
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-657
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025

This bill permits individuals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad to collect Social Security benefits based on average national wages for months in which they were held hostage or detained. 

Specifically, for purposes of determining Social Security benefits based on an individual’s wages or self-employment income, the bill directs the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deem qualifying individuals to have been paid a monthly portion of the national average wage index for any month during which the individual was held hostage or unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad. (The national average wage index is determined annually by the SSA.) Deemed wages must apply for any affected month before the individual reaches the statutory retirement age (generally between ages 65 and 67). 

A 
qualifying individual
 is a U.S. national (1) determined by the Department of State to have been unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, or (2) determined by the interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell to have been taken hostage abroad. 

A qualifying individual or an individual entitled to benefits on the basis of a qualifying individual’s wages and income must apply to the SSA in order to receive deemed wages for affected months. These provisions do not apply if a larger benefit would be available without the application of deemed wages. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act

Bill: 119-s-658
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
GRACIE Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-659
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Child safety and welfare
Digital media
Family services
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Sound recording
State and local government operations

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-660
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act of 2025

This bill allows a state or local authority (e.g., a transit authority) to use public transportation grants to make a partial advance payment for bus rolling stock (e.g., transit buses). 

Specifically, a public transportation grant recipient may use grant funds to make an advance payment of not more than 20% of the total purchase order value of a bus rolling stock vehicle without obtaining preapproval or requiring the vehicle manufacturer to provide a performance bond (or other form of security). In order to make an advance payment, the recipient must meet certain requirements. For example, the recipient must have a signed purchase order and an executed contract with a vehicle manufacturer that includes advance payment provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Postal Processing Protection Act

Bill: 119-s-661
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government buildings, facilities, and property
Postal service
U.S. Postal Service

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
MERIT Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-662
Sponsor: Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Criminal justice information and records
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee performance
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Family relationships
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Income tax deferral
Merit Systems Protection Board
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Personnel records
Unemployment
Wages and earnings

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
DEFENSE Act

Bill: 119-s-663
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
NIH Reform Act

Bill: 119-s-664
Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Allergies
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Fatal Overdose Reduction Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-665
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employee hiring
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Medicaid
Mental health
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

Fatal Overdose Reduction Act of 2025

This bill establishes a five-year Medicaid demonstration program to support the provision of comprehensive and accessible services to treat opioid use and substance use disorders.

Specifically, the bill establishes a demonstration program through which states may receive a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) of at least 90% for services provided by organizations that serve as Health Engagement Hubs. States must certify that these organizations provide a certain level of services, including physical and behavioral health services that are easily and quickly accessible, peer support services, and targeted case management. Organizations must also meet specified minimum staffing requirements, have a community advisory board, and be equipped to provide certain social services (e.g., employment counseling).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may select up to 10 states to participate in the program. The bill provides funds for state planning grants and administration of the program.

The CMS must contract with an entity to evaluate the program, and the Government Accountability Office must report on this evaluation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
First Responders Wellness Act

Bill: 119-s-666
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Emergency communications systems
Employment and training programs
First responders and emergency personnel
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding
Mental health

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

First Responders Wellness Act

This bill establishes a national mental health hotline for first responders and provides mental health services for emergency response providers responding to major disasters.

The bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to establish a mental health hotline staffed with specialists trained to provide first responders and their families with peer support, mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder assistance, and referral services. SAMHSA must raise awareness about the hotline and develop guidance regarding first responders for personnel operating the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA must report to Congress annually on the hotline.

Also, the bill expands the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, which provides mental health services to victims of major disasters, so that emergency response providers responding to major disasters may also receive these services.

Additionally, the bill requires SAMHSA to publish a report with recommendations for establishing a mobile health care delivery site to provide crisis services to emergency response providers responding to a major disaster.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate
Safer Shrimp Imports Act

Bill: 119-s-667
Sponsor: Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Introduced: 2025-02-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: 

Safer Shrimp Imports Act

This bill prohibits the importation of shrimp from countries that do not have food inspection systems equivalent to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection system for shrimp, or that have not entered into an agreement with the FDA facilitating U.S. inspection of their food facilities. 

Specifically, the FDA must seek to enter into arrangements and agreements with the government of each country with at least one facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds shrimp for consumption in the United States to facilitate FDA inspection of such facilities. 

The bill prohibits the importation of shrimp that is manufactured, processed, packed, or held in a country (1) that has not entered into an inspection arrangement or agreement with the FDA, or (2) the food inspection system of which is not equivalent to the FDA’s food inspection system with respect to shrimp. To be considered equivalent, a country’s food inspection system must include staffing that ensures uniform enforcement of applicable laws and regulations, and must provide for the enforcement of laws and regulations that address conditions under which shrimp are raised and transported to processing facilities. 

Further, shrimp imported or offered for import into the United States that have been manufactured, processed, packed, or held in a country that is not compliant with these requirements are deemed adulterated, and thus may not be introduced into interstate commerce. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2025-02-20
text: Introduced in Senate