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S. 143: Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act

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S. 143: Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-16 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 172.

AI-relatedfederal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 172. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act

Plain summary

Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research program in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing that is focused on the development of tools to (1) solve big data challenges associated with veterans' health care, and (2) support the Department of Veterans Affairs in identifying potential health risks and challenges. DOE shall carry out a pilot program to develop tools for big data analytics in order to advance artificial intelligence technologies to solve complex big data challenges.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 143, Department of Energy Veterans’ Health Initiative Act (2019-08-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mike Rounds (R-SD)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] reported raising $2.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Agencies named in this bill

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No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Computer systems that do tasks that usually need human judgment, such as recognizing images, understanding language or making predictions. Laws about AI often cover how it is used, tested, disclosed or limited.
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-s143 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116