Records
Bill· HRH.R. 7085 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Ending Qualified Immunity Act This bill eliminates the defense of qualified immunity in civil actions for deprivation of rights. Qualified immunity is a judicially created doctrine that protects government employees or those acting with state authority from being held personally liable for constitutional violations. The bill provides that under the statute allowing a civil action alleging deprivation of rights under color of law, it shall not be a defense or immunity to any such action that (1) the defendant was acting in good faith or believed that his or her conduct was lawful at the time it was committed; (2) the rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws were not clearly established at the time of their deprivation; or (3) the state of the law was such that the defendant could not reasonably have been expected to know whether his or her conduct was lawful.
Bill· HRH.R. 7153 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Law Enforcement Identification Act This bill requires federal law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces engaged in crowd control, riot control, or arrest or detainment of individuals engaged in an act of civil disobedience, demonstration, protest, or riot to display clearly visible identifying information.
Law· HRH.R. 7347 (116th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1162 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the National Security Agency's bulk collection telephone records program was unconstitutional and that the federal charges against Edward Snowden for disclosing information about the program should be dropped.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1175 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) newsgathering activities, including the publication of leaked classified information, are protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution; (2) freedom of the press is a vital function of a free society; and (3) the federal government should drop all espionage charges against Julian Assange.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 99 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2020
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal revenue collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in population and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and revenues derived from borrowing are excluded. Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit for up to one year by declaring an emergency with a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber. The requirements take effect in the first year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, except that expenditures are permitted to exceed the limit by specified amounts during each of the first nine years that the requirements are in effect.
Bill· HRH.R. 8549 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2020
This bill modifies statutory requirements related to certain procedures limiting the retention of communications incidentally acquired during an intelligence activity. Specifically, the bill removes a requirement that such procedures must permit the acquisition, retention, and dissemination of such communications. (An existing executive order authorizes intelligence community agencies to collect, retain, and disseminate incidentally obtained information that may indicate involvement in activities that may violate federal, state, local or foreign laws.)
Bill· HRH.R. 8651 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020
This bill establishes a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching. Specifically, an individual who acts with one or more people to commit certain civil rights offenses (e.g., a hate crime act) that result in death is subject to criminal penalties.
Bill· HRH.R. 8997 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Civil Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act This bill prohibits federal civil asset forfeiture and imposes restrictions on state civil asset forfeiture. Specifically, property belonging to a person may be forfeited to a state government pursuant to a civil proceeding only after (1) a criminal conviction of the property owner under state criminal law; or (2) the state, in a civil proceeding where the property owner has the same constitutional rights provided to criminal defendants, proves that the property owner has committed the offense giving rise to the forfeiture.
Bill· HRH.R. 8996 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Jones Act Repeal Act This bill repeals coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, be at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and be mostly crewed by U.S. citizens.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 108 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal revenue collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in population and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and revenues derived from borrowing are excluded. Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit for up to one year by declaring an emergency with a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber. The requirements take effect in the first year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, except that expenditures are permitted to exceed the limit by specified amounts during each of the first nine years that the requirements are in effect.
Bill· HRH.R. 9026 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
FISA Oversight Correction Act This bill authorizes a court to disclose to a person information related to evidence collected about the person using certain foreign intelligence surveillance powers if the disclosure would likely promote a more accurate determination of the legality of the surveillance. (Currently, a court may disclose such information to the person only if the disclosure is necessary to make an accurate determination of the legality of the surveillance.)
Bill· HRH.R. 9025 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act This bill expands protections for whistleblowers who are employed by a covered agency in the intelligence community (or by a contractor of such an agency) to apply to protected disclosures made to any Member of Congress. Currently, when a protected disclosure is made to Congress, whistleblower protections generally apply only if the disclosure was made to a congressional intelligence committee or to a member of such a committee.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 109 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing equality before the law.
Bill· HRH.R. 9040 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
Protect Asylum Seekers Act This bill limits the separation of alien families and provides protections for asylum seekers. Certain civil and criminal penalties related to improper entry into the United States shall not apply if, after entering the United States, an alien without delay communicates to an immigration or asylum officer a non-fraudulent (1) desire to seek asylum, or (2) fear of persecution. The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian unless a state court terminates the parent or legal guardian's rights; a state child welfare agency or court determines it is in the child's best interests to be removed; or the child is determined to be a trafficking victim or at risk of becoming one, the accompanying adult is most likely not the parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. An agency may not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian solely to deter migration into the United States or to promote compliance with immigration laws. DHS shall develop (1) training related to the bill's family separation requirements, and (2) guidance for how parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.
Bill· HRH.R. 9039 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
Practical Alternatives to Detention Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fully implement and use alternatives to detention programs for aliens who are not subject to mandatory detention. For such alternatives to detention programs, DHS shall prioritize certain aliens, such as those who are pregnant or have serious medical needs.
Bill· HRH.R. 9041 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
National Emergencies Reform Act This bill revises provisions of the National Emergencies Act relating to the termination of presidentially-declared national emergencies. Specifically, the bill provides that any national emergency declared by the President shall terminate if (1) no joint resolution has been enacted affirming the declaration of such emergency before the expiration of the 48-hour period beginning on the first day after such emergency is declared and on which both houses of Congress are in session, (2) a joint resolution is enacted terminating the emergency, or (3) the President issues a proclamation terminating the emergency. The date on which a presidentially-declared emergency terminates is 60 days after the President transmits to Congress the proclamation declaring the emergency or Congress affirms a previous renewal unless the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to Congress an executive order renewing the emergency, and a joint resolution is enacted affirming the renewal of the declaration. A national emergency declared before the enactment of this bill shall be unaffected by the amendments made by this bill except that such emergencies shall terminate 60 days after enactment unless renewed.