United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Federal Jobs Act This bill requires federal agencies to develop plans to increase diversity in the workforce. Specifically, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must develop a plan to increase diversity in the executive branch of government that includes specified information, including strategies for agencies to remove barriers to equal employment opportunities. Each executive agency must develop an agency-specific plan to increase diversity, pursuant to OPM and OMB guidance, and annually publish specified data. The legislative and judicial branches of government must also implement these requirements to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, each executive agency, and each prime contractor that is under contract with an executive agency, must annually report information relating to economically and socially disadvantaged businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2020 This bill allows owners of eligible dwelling units a new tax credit for up to 50% of the lead hazard reduction activity costs for each such unit in a taxable year. An eligible dwelling unit is any unit located in the United States that was placed in service before 1978 and the residents of which during the preceding taxable year have a cumulative adjusted gross income of less than $160,000. The bill (1) specifies the types of lead hazard reduction activity costs eligible for the credit, including risk assessment and abatement costs; and (2) limits the amount of the credit in any taxable year to $3,000 for specified abatement measures and $1,000 for interim lead control measures.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act This bill imposes various restrictions related to China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region, including by prohibiting certain imports from Xinjiang and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations there. Goods manufactured or produced in Xinjiang shall not be entitled to entry into the United States unless Customs and Border Protection (1) determines that the goods were not manufactured by convict labor, forced labor, or indentured labor under penal sanctions; and (2) reports such a determination to Congress and to the public. The President shall periodically report to Congress a list of foreign entities and individuals knowingly facilitating (1) the forced labor of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang; and (2) efforts to contravene U.S. laws regarding the importation of forced labor goods from Xinjiang. The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals and entities and impose visa-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals. Securities issuers required to file annual or quarterly reports with the Securities Exchange Commission shall disclose in such reports certain information related to Xinjiang, including instances where the issuer knowingly (1) engaged in activities with an entity helping to create mass surveillance systems in Xinjiang, (2) engaged in activities with an entity running or building detention facilities for Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, or (3) acquired a significant amount of textiles produced in Xinjiang. After being notified of such a disclosure, the President shall determine whether to investigate if sanctions or criminal charges are warranted.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Cargo Flight Deck Security Act of 2020 This bill requires all-cargo aircraft to be equipped with intrusion-resistant cockpit doors that remain locked while such aircraft is in flight. The requirement takes effect on January 1, 2023, regardless of whether the Federal Aviation Administration has issued regulations to implement such requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act of 2020 This bill requires states and jurisdictions to adopt contingency plans and permit absentee voting in order to prevent the disruption of federal elections due to natural disasters or infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, create and publish a plan to operate their federal elections if a significant number of voters or poll workers are quarantined due to COVID-19. Such plan must (1) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote in federal elections by mail, and (2) extend vote-by-mail deadlines if postal service is disrupted as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, when at least 25% of states have declared an emergency due to any single natural disaster or infectious disease, including COVID-19, states must allow registered voters to vote by absentee ballot, permit voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots, allow voters to receive electronic (i.e., print-at-home) ballots, accept absentee-ballot requests up to five days before an election for mailed ballots and one day before the election for print-at-home ballots, and accept ballots postmarked on or before the date of the election. The bill also provides for an emergency voting period if a state governor declares a state of emergency. States and jurisdictions must provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots. The Election Assistance Commission must reimburse states for the costs of doing so.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2020
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Rosie the Riveter Day and acknowledges the important role played by women in World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020
Kira Johnson Act This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to improve outcomes and reduce bias, racism, and discrimination in maternal care settings. Specifically, HHS must award grants to (1) community-based programs to improve maternal health outcomes for African American women, (2) eligible entities to provide certain training to health care providers and others who work in maternity care settings, and (3) specified health care facilities to establish respectful maternity care compliance offices. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine must study issues related to the training programs, and the Government Accountability Office must study the implementation and impact of the compliance offices.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020
Food Worker Pay Standards Act This bill prohibits the federal government from purchasing any meat, meat food product, poultry, poultry food product, or processed food produced by workers in the United States who are compensated at a rate lower than the prevailing rate for wages and fringe benefits for such workers in their locality. The Department of Labor shall determine the prevailing rates and in determining such rates shall take into account any applicable existing collective bargaining agreements in the locality. In no case shall a prevailing rate established pursuant to this bill supersede a worker's wages and benefits agreed to in a collective bargaining agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020
This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National Women's History Month and recognizes the women and organizations that continue to promote the teaching of women's history.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020
Improving Child Care for Working Families Act of 2020 This bill increases the limitation on the exclusion from employee gross income for employer-paid dependent care assistance from $5,000 to $10,000.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020
Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act This bill makes it a crime to deface, damage, or destroy certain memorials that commemorate civil rights events or figures. An individual convicted under this act must pay restitution and is subject to additional penalties that vary based on the cost of the defacement, damage, or destruction.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Environmental Justice For All Act This bill establishes several environmental justice requirements, advisory bodies, and programs to address the disproportionate adverse human health or environmental effects of federal laws or programs on communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities. Specifically, the bill prohibits disparate impacts on the basis of race, color, or national origin as discrimination. Aggrieved persons may seek legal remedy when faced with such discrimination. In addition, the bill directs agencies to follow certain requirements concerning environmental justice. For example, agencies must prepare community impact reports that assess the potential impacts of their actions on environmental justice communities under certain circumstances. Further, it creates a variety of advisory bodies and positions, such as the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Compliance and Enforcement. Among other things, the group must issue an environmental justice strategy. It also establishes requirements and programs concerning chemicals or toxic ingredients in certain products. For example, the bill (1) requires certain products (e.g., cosmetics) to include a list of ingredients or warnings; and (2) provides grants for research on designing safer alternatives to chemicals in certain consumer, cleaning, toy, or baby products that have an inherent toxicity or that are associated with chronic adverse health effects. Finally, it creates a variety of funding programs, such as a grant program to enhance access to park and recreational opportunities in an urban areas.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Charter Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency Act or the COAT Act This bill requires state educational agencies, in order to receive certain federal funds, to ensure that each contract between a charter school located in the state and a private charter management organization includes certain compliance requirements. Specifically, such organization must annually disclose certain information to the Department of Education (ED), including the identity of each charter school it operates or manages, the amount expended on operations and administration, information about its contracts, and an audited income statement. ED must publish such information on its website. Additionally, such organization must hold board meetings that are open and accessible to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Original Black History Month Resolution of 2020 This resolution recognizes the importance of commemorating Black History Month to acknowledge the achievements of African Americans throughout history.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
This resolution recognizes Malcolm X as a leading figure in the movement for justice for African Americans and urges the Department of Justice and local law enforcement to reinvestigate his assassination.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2020
Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act This bill requires certain issuers of securities to annually disclose information related to the tax jurisdiction, income, and assets of their constituent entities on a country-by-country basis.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2020
Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act This bill amends several appropriations laws to remove limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. Specifically, the bill removes provisions that limit the use of firearms tracing data, prohibit the imposition of a requirement that firearms dealers conduct a physical inventory, and require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2020
Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2020 This bill repeals a lifetime ban that prohibits individuals convicted of certain offenses related to the possession, use, or distribution of controlled substances from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or assistance under programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grants. In addition, individuals who are incarcerated and scheduled to be released within 30 days shall qualify as individual households for purposes of SNAP eligibility. Under current law, unless specifically excepted, individuals residing in institutions do not constitute a household. Existing state laws that removed or modified the federal ban at the state level shall have no force or effect.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Safe Routes to School Expansion Act This bill expands eligibility under the Highway Safety Improvement Program to include certain safety projects related to safe routes to school infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, bus stop shelters or protected waiting areas. The bill increases the federal share for the Department of Transportation to fund improvements for pedestrian or bicyclist safety, safety of people with disabilities, and safe routes to school infrastructure.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Fair Indexing for Health Care Affordability Act This bill revises the method for determining the annual per capita change in health insurance premiums for the purpose of determining the premium adjustment percentage that is used to establish the annual limits on cost sharing for health insurance plans.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Vaping Prevention on College Campuses Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Education to develop and publish resources (e.g., action plans and visual aids) to help institutions of higher education reduce the use of e-cigarettes by students on their campuses.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
This resolution supports the goals of and encourages people to observe the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, as designated by the World Health Organization. It also recognizes the contributions of nurses and midwives to the U.S. health care system.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the legacy of Harriet Tubman as an abolitionist. The Secretary may issue coins under this bill only during the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to Project Legacy in Brooklyn, New York, for the purpose of accomplishing and advancing its mission.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2020
No Public Charge Deportation Act of 2019 This bill repeals the provision generally providing for the deportability of an alien who becomes a public charge (an alien who has received certain public benefits for a certain amount of time) within five years of entering the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2020
HIV Epidemic Loan-Repayment Program Act of 2020 or the HELP Act of 2020 This bill directs the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to carry out a loan repayment program for certain health care providers who agree to provide HIV treatment or HIV dental care in (1) a designated health professional shortage area, (2) a clinical site that is funded under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, or (3) an area that meets requirements specified by HRSA. For each qualifying year of service, HRSA pays one-fifth of the principal and interest on any eligible loan, with total loan repayment after five years; repayment is capped at $250,000 per borrower.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2020
This resolution expresses support for (1) the designation of Rare Disease Day; and (2) a national and global commitment to developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for rare diseases and disorders.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
America's Red Rock Wilderness Act This bill designates specified lands in the following areas of Utah as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Great Basin, (2) Grand Staircase-Escalante, (3) Moab-La Sal Canyons, (4) Henry Mountains, (5) Glen Canyon, (6) San Juan-Anasazi, (7) Canyonlands Basin, (8) San Rafael Swell, and (9) Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin. The bill sets forth administrative requirements for (1) the exchange of state-owned lands within such areas, (2) federal reservation of water rights, (3) measurement of setbacks for roads with adjacent wilderness, (4) authorized livestock grazing, and (5) withdrawal of such lands from disposition under certain public land laws.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act of 2020 This bill requires the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand research and develop certain educational materials on endometrial cancer, respectively. Among other issues, the materials must address certain endometrial cancer disparities and risk factors that affect minority women.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Police Accountability Act of 2020 This bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct by certain state or local law enforcement officers in the line of duty that constitutes murder or manslaughter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2020
Resiliency Enhancement Act of 2020 This bill extends the provision of disaster assistance for critical services to solid waste management, stormwater management, public housing, transportation infrastructure, and medical care. Such assistance is also extended to any major disaster in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands subsequent to Hurricane Irma or Hurricane Maria on or before September 30, 2022.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2020
Eritrean Nationals' Safety from Unjust Removal or Expulsion Act or the ENSURE Act of 2020 This bill defers the removal of qualified Eritrean nationals for 24 months starting from this bill's enactment. To qualify, a Eritrean national must have been (1) ordered removed to Eritrea before this bill's enactment, and (2) continuously present in the United States since this bill's enactment. The Department of Homeland Security may not detain a qualified individual for immigration status reasons or because the individual moved to reopen certain immigration proceedings. Generally, a qualified individual shall have work authorization unless the individual is subject to extradition. An extradition based on a not-credible accusation that the individual committed crimes against humanity shall not disqualify the individual from receiving work authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2020
Electric Vehicles for Underserved Communities Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to assess the state of, challenges to, and opportunities for the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in urban areas, particularly in underserved or disadvantaged communities. If practicable, DOE must ensure that relevant programs provide access to electric vehicle infrastructure, address clean transportation needs, and provide improved air quality in such communities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2020
This resolution acknowledges the impact of redlining (i.e., geographic discrimination) and states that the federal government has a responsibility to ameliorate its effects.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Update Act This bill requires the White House Homeland Security Council (HSC) and the National Security Council (NSC) to update the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza issued by the HSC in November 2005 within 90 days of this bill's enactment. The implementation plan associated with the strategy shall be updated not later than 180 days after such update.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
Protecting Americans from Seasonal Influenza Act of 2020 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award grants to increase seasonable influenza vaccination rates in states that have sustained influenza vaccination rates below recommended levels. State health agencies receiving such grants must include at least one of the elements set out in the bill in their programs. Among others, these include (1) increasing outreach to vulnerable populations, (2) encouraging employer-based vaccination programs, and (3) coordinating between health care providers and insurers to reduce out-of-pocket costs of vaccinations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
This resolution urges that Tom Flores, one of only two people in National Football League history to win multiple Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
This resolution supports the designation of a National Citizenship Month. The resolution also honors the contributions our immigrant community makes to our nation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2020
Every Veteran Counts Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a national survey of veterans in a manner to include a statistically valid sample of veterans by specified demographic information, including gender identity and age. The survey shall also include specified groups of veterans, such as World War II veterans and Korean conflict era veterans. The VA shall report on the results of the survey and publish such report on a publicly accessible VA website.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2020
This resolution commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp and honors survivors of the Holocaust, as well as members of the Allied forces who liberated Auschwitz. The resolution urges the United States to improve efforts to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry and intolerance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2020
This resolution recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year. The resolution expresses, in observance of this Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rat, the deepest respect of the House of Representatives for Asian Americans and all individuals throughout the world who celebrate this significant occasion. The resolution wishes Asian Americans and all individuals who observe this holiday a happy and prosperous new year.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
This resolution expresses support for Australia, as well as greater collaboration between the United States and Australia to promote wildfire mitigation and prevention.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
Bring Our Heroes Home Act This bill establishes at the National Archives a collection of records that relate to the fate or status of missing Armed Forces personnel. Each government office must identify and locate such records in its possession and transmit them to the Archives. The bill establishes a temporary board to ensure and facilitate the review, transmission, and public disclosure of such records. The bill generally makes such records public, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
Eliminating the HHS Discrimination Division Act of 2020 This bill eliminates the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and prohibits the use of federal funds to establish or operate a similar entity with respect to HHS programs and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
This resolution encourages the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain and strengthen requirements that keep waterways clean. It also encourages the EPA to end or reverse administrative actions that weaken requirements protecting the nation's waters.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2020 This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover, without cost sharing, three primary care visits and three behavioral health care visits during a plan year.