hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-124
Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Employee performance
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Judicial review and appeals
Veterans' medical care

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Restore Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2025 or the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025

This bill modifies personnel action procedures regarding certain employees and executives of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

The bill authorizes the VA to remove from civil service, demote, or suspend VA employees that are supervisors or managers if the VA determines by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of such individual warrants such action. This authority does not apply to certain appointees or individuals in their probationary or trial period.

Supervisors or managers who are subject to a removal, demotion, or suspension under this bill are entitled to (1) advance notice of the action and supporting evidence, (2) representation by an attorney or representative, and (3) grieve the action in accordance with an internal grievance process.

The bill also provides protections from removal, demotion, or suspension for supervisor or managers who are whistleblowers or are seeking corrective action for an alleged prohibited personnel practice such as discrimination.

The bill also modifies the procedures to remove, demote, or suspend VA employees or senior executives based on performance or misconduct, specifically by requiring the VA to determine by substantial evidence that the performance or misconduct of the individual warrants such removal, demotion, or suspension. Such procedures must apply retroactively, beginning on the date of enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 (June 23, 2017).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-03-11
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers Act

Bill: 119-s-125
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion
Health programs administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers Act

This bill prohibits federal funding for entities, or their affiliates, that perform abortions, provide referrals for abortions, or provide funding to others that perform abortions. It provides exceptions for abortions (1) in the case of rape or incest, or (2) when a physician certifies there is a danger of death to the woman without an abortion. 

The bill’s prohibition applies to any federal statutory law adopted after the bill’s effective date, unless such law contains an explicit exemption. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
FAIR Act

Bill: 119-s-126
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act or the FAIR Act

This bill modifies pay rates for federal employees in 2026. Specifically, the bill increases rates under the statutory pay systems and for prevailing rate employees by 3.3% and increases locality pay by 1%.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-127
Sponsor: Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Government lending and loan guarantees
Housing and community development funding
Intergovernmental relations
Landlord and tenant
Low- and moderate-income housing
Residential rehabilitation and home repair

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
SAVE Act

Bill: 119-s-128
Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Citizenship and naturalization
Civil actions and liability
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Election Assistance Commission
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Government information and archives
Immigration status and procedures
Licensing and registrations
Postal service
State and local government operations
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act

This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill specifies what documents are considered acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship, such as identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates U.S. citizenship.

Further, the bill (1) prohibits states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and (2) requires states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.

Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by certain sources.

Additionally, states must remove noncitizens from their official lists of eligible voters.

The bill allows for a private right of action against an election official who registers an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

The bill establishes criminal penalties for certain offenses, including registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
No Tax on Tips Act

Bill: 119-s-129
Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Food industry and services
Income tax deductions
Service industries
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

No Tax on Tips Act

This bill establishes a new tax deduction of up to $25,000 for tips, subject to limitations. The bill also expands the business tax credit for the portion of payroll taxes an employer pays on certain tips to include payroll taxes paid on tips received in connection with certain beauty services.

Under the bill, the new tax deduction for tips is limited to cash tips (1) received by an employee during the course of employment in an occupation that customarily receives tips, and (2) reported by the employee to the employer for purposes of withholding payroll taxes. (Under current law, an employee is required to report tips exceeding $20 per month to their employer.)

Further, an employee with compensation exceeding a specified threshold ($160,000 in 2025 and adjusted annually for inflation) in the prior tax year may not claim the new tax deduction for tips.

Finally, the bill expands the business tax credit for the portion of payroll taxes that an employer pays on certain tips to include payroll taxes paid on tips received in connection with barbering and hair care, nail care, esthetics, and body and spa treatments. (Under current law, an employer is allowed a business tax credit for the amount of payroll taxes paid on certain tips received by an employee in connection with providing, delivering, or serving food or beverages.) 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-05-26
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2025-05-26
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2025-05-23
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2993-2995; text: CR S2993-2994)
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2025-05-20
text: Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-130
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2025

This bill revises antitrust laws applicable to mergers and anticompetitive conduct.

Specifically, the bill applies a stricter standard for permissible mergers by prohibiting mergers that (1) create an appreciable risk of materially lessening competition, or (2) create a monopsony (i.e., where a single buyer or employer has sufficient market power to lower the price of goods or wages due to a lack of competition)

Additionally, for some large mergers or mergers that concentrate markets beyond a certain threshold, the bill shifts the burden of proof to the merging parties to prove that the merger does not violate the law.

The bill also prohibits exclusionary conduct that presents an appreciable risk of harming competition.

No predispute arbitration agreements or predispute joint-action waivers are valid or enforceable with respect to an antitrust dispute.

The bill also establishes monetary penalties for violations, requires annual reporting for certain mergers and acquisitions, establishes within the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the Office of the Competition Advocate, and sets forth whistleblower protections.

The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) the success of merger remedies required by the Department of Justice or the FTC in recent consent decrees; and (2) the impact of mergers and acquisitions on wages, employment, innovation, and new business formation.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
PRECEPT Nurses Act

Bill: 119-s-131
Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Government trust funds
Income tax credits
Medical education
Nursing

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Providing Real-World Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow's Nurses Act or the PRECEPT Nurses Act

This bill establishes a new, nonrefundable tax credit for eligible nurse preceptors, subject to limitations. The bill also requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report to Congress certain information about the tax credit for nurse preceptors.

Under the bill, a nonrefundable tax credit of $2,000 is allowed for an eligible nurse preceptor through 2032. An 
eligible nurse preceptor
 is defined as an individual who provides at least 200 certified hours of supervision and personalized experiential learning, training, instruction, and mentoring in the clinical practice of nursing to a nursing student, advanced practice registered nursing student, or newly hired licensed nurse in a community designated as a health professional shortage area. 

The bill also requires the IRS to report to Congress

the number of taxpayers that claim the tax credit for nurse preceptors each year and the geographic distribution of such taxpayers,

aggregated and averaged data on the preceptorships served by taxpayers as an eligible nurse preceptor, and

the effectiveness of the tax credit in increasing the number of nurse preceptors in the United States.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act

Bill: 119-s-132
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: District of Columbia
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Natural disasters
State and local government operations
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
U.S. territories and protectorates

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act

This bill authorizes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to postpone federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a qualified state declared disaster, upon written request by the state governor. The bill also increases the automatic extension of federal tax deadlines for certain taxpayers.

Under current law, the IRS may postpone federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a federally declared disaster, including (but not limited to) deadlines for (1) filing federal tax returns, (2) paying federal taxes, (3) making retirement plan contributions, and (4) tax assessments and collections.

The bill authorizes the IRS to postpone such federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a qualified state declared disaster upon written request by the state’s governor (or the District of Columbia mayor). Under the bill, a state includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The bill defines 
qualified state declared disaster
 as any natural catastrophe, fire, flood, or explosion that causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a request to postpone such federal tax deadlines.

Further, under current law, an automatic 60-day extension of such federal tax deadlines applies to certain relief workers, individuals killed or injured as a result of a federally declared disaster, and taxpayers whose principal residence, business, or tax records are located in a federally declared disaster area.

The bill increases to 120 days the automatic extension of federal tax deadlines for these taxpayers.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Fire Suppression and Response Funding Assurance Act

Bill: 119-s-133
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Saving the Civil Service Act

Bill: 119-s-134
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Saving the Civil Service Act

This bill generally prohibits changes to the classification of positions in the competitive service and excepted service unless certain conditions are met. (Competitive service positions are subject to competitive examination while excepted service positions are appointed under one of five schedules. Competitive service positions have notice and appeal requirements for adverse actions that are not applicable to most excepted positions, including those of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character under Schedule C.)

On October 21, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that placed executive agency positions that are of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character, and that are not normally subject to change as a result of a presidential transition, under a new Schedule F in the excepted service. The order was subsequently revoked by President Joe Biden.

The bill prohibits executive agency positions in the competitive service from being placed in the excepted service, unless such positions are placed in a schedule in the excepted service as in effect on September 30, 2020. The bill also prohibits positions in the excepted service from being placed in any schedule other than the aforementioned schedules.

Additionally, agencies may not (1) transfer occupied positions from the competitive or excepted service into Schedule C without the consent of the Office of Personnel Management, or (2) transfer employees in the excepted service to another schedule or transfer employees in the competitive service to the excepted service without employee consent. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-135
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Employee leave
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025

This bill establishes specialized pay for federal wildland firefighters.

Specifically, the bill provides for a specialized pay schedule for wildland firefighters in the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. The specialized pay schedule is based on the General Schedule, increased by a specified percentage depending on the position grade (the higher the grade, the lower the percentage adjustment).

The bill also provides for specialized premium pay for wildland firefighters who respond to certain prolonged fire incidents (i.e., those that are not contained within 36 hours). It also provides for paid rest and recuperation leave in conjunction with such responses. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-136
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
FIND Act

Bill: 119-s-137
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Firearms and explosives
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act or the FIND Act

 
This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against firearm trade associations or businesses that deal in firearms, ammunition, or related products.
 
 Specifically, the bill requires a federal agency to include in each contract for the procurement of goods or services awarded by the agency a clause requiring the prime contractor to certify that it (1) has no policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association; and (2) will not adopt a policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association during the term of the contract.
 
The bill establishes (1) a similar requirement with respect to subcontracts, and (2) penalties for violations.
 
The bill makes such prohibition inapplicable to a contract for the procurement of goods or services that is a sole-source contract. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-138
Sponsor: Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Veterans Affairs
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Housing finance and home ownership
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

VA Home Loan Awareness Act of 2025

This bill requires mortgage lenders to include on the Uniform Residential Loan Application (i.e., Fannie Mae Form 1003 or Freddie Mac Form 65) a notification that applicants with military service may qualify for a Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan.

Not later than 18 months after the enactment of the bill, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on whether at least 80% of lenders using the loan application form have met this requirement.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate
FASD Respect Act

Bill: 119-s-139
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2025-01-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Government information and archives
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Sex and reproductive health

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: 

Advancing FASD Research, Services and Prevention Act or the FASD Respect Act

This bill reauthorizes and modifies programs that are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including educational and research programs.

The bill also establishes FASD Centers for Excellence to support FASD prevention, such as through screenings, public awareness campaigns, and trainings, particularly at the state and local levels.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Introduced in Senate