United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act or the BLUE Pacific Act This bill requires and authorizes activities related to U.S. foreign policy in the Pacific Islands, which includes the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. The bill authorizes various activities in the Pacific Islands, including to assist the Pacific Islands to improve public health outcomes and build public health capacity; assist efforts to promote the dissemination of free and accurate information; promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders and professionals; provide assistance to promote sustainable and quality basic education in the Pacific Islands; build the capacity of local civilian and national security institutions; expand trade capacity and promote regional development; help enhance preparedness for and resilience to natural disasters and other emergencies, including by improving critical infrastructure; support sustainable fisheries policies and marine biodiversity conservation; support efforts to expand access to broadband and improve telecommunications infrastructure; and help improve cybersecurity, including by providing assistance to develop and implement incident response plans and risk management frameworks. The bill also requires (1) the Department of State to help Pacific Island countries access development support from international organizations, (2) the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to seek to enter into investment incentive agreements with Pacific Islands countries, and (3) the Department of Commerce to expand the presence of the U.S. Commercial Service and increase the number foreign commercial officers in the Pacific Islands.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
This resolution calls on the government of Venezuela to immediately release Eyvin Hernandez, a U.S. citizen and Los Angeles County public defender, from unjust imprisonment. The resolution urges the President and other U.S. government officials to continue raising the Eyvin Hernandez case to Venezuela and to press for his immediate release. The resolution also expresses support for all American citizens wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Reducing Waste in National Parks Act This bill directs the National Park Service to establish a program for the National Park System to reduce disposable plastic products and, if applicable, eliminate the sale and distribution of disposable plastic products. Each regional office of the National Park Service must eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic products and the sale and distribution of other disposable plastic products after consideration of several specified factors (e.g., the costs and benefits to overall operations). Each regional office must develop a proactive visitor education strategy to address visitor expectations of water availability and explain the rationale for the program and its implementation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2023
IDEA Full Funding Act This bill provides permanent, mandatory funding for the grant program that assists states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQIA+ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation, sex characteristics, or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023
Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2023 This bill prohibits discrimination, in the context of various housing practices, against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023
This resolution declares that it is the policy of the United States (1) to use all means necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and (2) to support the freedom of action of partners and allies to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023
Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act This bill includes assisted reproduction as a tax deductible medical expense. It defines assisted reproduction as any methods, treatments, procedures, and services for effectuating a pregnancy and bringing it to term, and treats it as medical care of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent to the extent that they intend to take legal custody or responsibility for any children born as a result of such assisted reproduction.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023
This resolution affirms that the fundamental human right and dignity of the religious and ethnic minority communities of Iraq should be a policy priority of the United States and the international community.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023
Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2023 or the MONARCH Act of 2023 This bill provides support for the conservation of western monarch butterflies (the monarch butterfly population that overwinters along the coast of California and breeds across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah). Specifically, the bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund. The Department of the Interior must use amounts in the fund to provide grants for the conservation of such butterflies and other pollinators within the range of western monarch butterflies. In addition, Interior must enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to facilitate updating and implementing the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023
Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2023 This bill modifies several tax provisions that refer to married couples to make the provisions equally applicable to legally married same-sex couples.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023
Promoting Respect for Individuals' Dignity and Equality Act of 2023 or the PRIDE Act of 2023 This bill requires the equal treatment of same sex married couples for tax purposes. It permits such couples to amend their filing status to married filing jointly for tax returns outside of the statute of limitations and modifies tax rules relating to married couples to include same sex couples.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023 This bill establishes several programs and requirements to address the use of fentanyl and related substances. For example, the bill expands the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Grant Program in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to include training and resources for teachers on how to carry and administer opioid overdose reversal drugs (e.g., naloxone). DOJ must also increase resources and establish an interagency task force for law enforcement agencies to combat the trafficking of fentanyl, fentanyl-related, and fentanyl-laced substances. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must develop a national strategy to prevent the use of these substances, award grants to state and localities for treatment programs for those who are addicted to these substances, and research the health effects of these substances. The bill also increases criminal penalties for adulterating or misbranding drugs if the violation results in serious bodily injury or death (imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $1 million, or both for violations that result in serious bodily injury, and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $5 million, or both for violations that result in death). Penalties are higher for violations that include the intent to defraud or mislead. The bill adds up to 5 years of additional imprisonment if the violation involves drugs that are promoted or sold online. Furthermore, the bill exempts the possession, sale, or purchase of fentanyl drug testing equipment, including test strips, from criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
This resolution states that the Senate unequivocally recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and supports India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The resolution also condemns China's use of military force along the Line of Actual Control (the contested border that separates Indian-controlled and Chinese-controlled territory) as well as other provocations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
This resolution reaffirms the strong and long-standing partnership between the governments of the United States and India. The resolution also encourages further defense, commercial, and investment ties between the countries, as well as continued cooperation for a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023 This bill imposes limits and requirements on international food assistance provided under Title II of the Food for Peace Act and makes other changes to the assistance program. First, the bill eliminates the use of food procured outside of the United States, food vouchers, or cash transfers as food as assistance under the program. Second, the bill restricts the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from using more than 50% of its annual appropriations for program expenses other than the procurement of agricultural commodities and ocean transportation. Additionally, the bill limits the amount that USAID may provide to qualified organizations to be used for purposes such as administration, personnel, and program evaluation. Under current law, USAID must spend a minimum of 7.5% and a maximum of 20% of its annual appropriations for these purposes. The bill reduces the minimum to 5% and the maximum to 10%. The bill also cancels the Local and Regional Procurement assistance program, which funds field-based (i.e., outside the United States) agricultural projects. The bill also modifies some of the respective powers of USAID and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). For example, the bill transfers from USAID to USDA the authority to approve drawing emergency food aid from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. The bill also renames the assistance program as the Peter O'Brien Food for Peace Program.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023
Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2023 This bill prohibits a person from transporting a horse in interstate commerce in a motor vehicle that contains two or more levels stacked on top of one another. Vehicles operated exclusively on a rail or rails are excluded from the prohibition. The bill prescribes civil penalties for knowing violations of such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023
Equality Act This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, federally funded programs, and other settings. Specifically, the bill expands Title II and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit public accommodations and federally funded programs, respectively, from discriminating based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It also includes stores, transit services, recreational facilities, and establishments that provide health care, accounting, or legal services as public accommodations under Title II. The bill also expands Title IV (desegregation of public schools) and Title VII (employment discrimination) to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity. (The Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII's prohibition of employment discrimination based on sex also prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.) The bill similarly expands the Fair Housing Act (discrimination in public and private housing) to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by creditors and with respect to jury selection. The bill defines sex for purposes of the aforementioned provisions to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2023
Bank Safety Act of 2023 This bill requires additional bank holding companies and insured depository institutions (i.e., those with over $100 billion in assets) to use certain information when calculating capital for purposes of meeting risk-based capital requirements. Specifically, these calculations must include certain unrealized gains and losses (i.e., accumulated other comprehensive income), except for accumulated net gains and losses on cash flow hedges related to items that are not recognized at fair value. Currently, only very large institutions are required to include this type of income in their capital calculations, while other institutions are allowed to opt out.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2023
Incentivizing Safe and Sound Banking Act This bill allows the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to, during cease-and-desist proceedings for unsafe or unsound practices in an institution, prohibit the sale of stock in a bank or holding company by an officer or director of the bank or any bank-affiliated party who received stock as compensation. Further, the bill automatically prohibits the sale of such stocks by senior executive officers or affiliated parties at large banks if the bank receives a certain risk management rating or if the bank is under an unresolved supervisory notice issued by a banking regulator.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2023
Closing the Enhanced Prudential Standards Loophole Act This bill expands the application of enhanced supervision and prudential standards to banks without holding companies. These standards include stress testing, liquidity requirements, and specified risk management standards.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2023
Failed Bank Executives Accountability and Consequences Act This bill allows the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to recover compensation from an executive officer or director of a failed financial company that is in receivership. Specifically, any current or former executive officer whose negligence caused financial loss to the company may have their compensation for the preceding two years clawed back by the FDIC. No time limit applies if the financial loss involves fraud. In addition, federal banking agencies are allowed to prohibit a party from participation in the affairs of any bank if that party negligently caused financial loss to a failed bank. The bill also establishes civil penalties for executive officers or directors who caused financial loss to a failed bank.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2023
Middle Class Mortgage Insurance Premium Act of 2023 This bill increases the adjusted gross income threshold for the phaseout of the mortgage insurance premium tax deduction and makes such deduction permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration Act or the LIFT the BAR Act This bill repeals certain limits on the eligibility of noncitizens who lawfully reside in the United States for federal means-tested programs, including Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), programs funded through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grants, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and certain nutrition and housing programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
Quiet Communities Act of 2023 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to reestablish an Office of Noise Abatement and Control to promote the development of local noise control programs and carry out related duties.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 This bill provides certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) with a path to receive permanent resident status and contains other immigration-related provisions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall provide conditional permanent resident status for 10 years to a qualifying individual who entered the United States as a minor and (1) is deportable or inadmissible, (2) has deferred enforced departure (DED) status or temporary protected status (TPS), or (3) is the child of certain classes of nonimmigrants. The bill imposes various qualifying requirements, such as the individual being continuously physically present in the United States since January 1, 2021, passing a background check, and being enrolled in or having completed certain educational programs. DHS shall remove the conditions placed on permanent resident status granted under this bill if the alien applies and meets certain requirements, such as completing certain programs at an educational institution, serving in the military, or being employed. Furthermore, DHS and DOJ shall provide lawful permanent resident status to certain individuals who had TPS, were eligible for TPS, or were eligible for DED status on certain dates. Such individuals must meet certain requirements and apply for such status within three years of this bill's enactment. DHS may not use information from applications filed under this bill or for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status for immigration enforcement purposes. This bill also repeals a restriction that bars a state from providing higher education benefits to undocumented individuals unless those benefits are available to all U.S. nationals without regard to residency in the state.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Systemic Risk Authority Transparency Act This bill requires banking regulators to submit a report to Congress in the event of the failure of an insured depository institution that leads to a systemic risk determination by the Department of the Treasury. Regulators must report confidential supervisory information relating to the institution, any institutional mismanagement by the executives and the board, any shortcomings by the regulator, and recommendations to improve the safety and soundness of similarly situated institutions. This report must be made no later than 60 days after such a determination and again 180 days afterwards. The Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) must report on additional factors in its report regarding such a determination. Specifically, GAO must report on any mismanagement by the executives and board of the institution, a review of the institution's compensation practices, supervisory or regulatory shortcomings, actions taken by regulators, and other relevant information. The bill also requires this report to be made no later than 60 days after such a determination and again 180 days afterwards.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Payment Choice Act of 202 3 This bill requires retail businesses to accept cash as a form of payment for on-site sales of $500 or less, and it prohibits them from charging cash-paying customers a higher price compared to customers not paying with cash. Businesses covered by this bill are those engaged in the business of selling or offering goods or services at retail to the public that accept in-person payments at a physical location. The bill provides for enforcement through preventative relief, damages, and civil penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Right to Contraception Act This bill sets out statutory protections for an individual's right to access and a health care provider's right to provide contraception and related information. Contraception refers to an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives (i.e., a device or medication used to prevent pregnancy), fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures. Generally, the bill prohibits measures that single out and impede access to contraception and related information. However, a party may defend against a claim that a measure violates the bill's prohibitions by demonstrating, through clear and convincing evidence, that the measure significantly advances the safety of contraception and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The bill also specifies that the prohibition preempts inconsistent state and local laws and applies in spite of other federal laws, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. The Department of Justice, individuals, or health care providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2023
Chief Risk Officer Enforcement and Accountability Act This bill provides statutory authority for requiring large bank holding companies to appoint a chief risk officer and expands which companies must establish a risk committee and appoint a chief risk officer. Currently, only large bank holding companies that are public companies are required to establish risk committees and, by regulation, have chief risk officers. Under the bill, risk committees and chief risk officers are also required for (1) privately-held large bank holding companies, and (2) large banks that do not have a holding company. Further, the Federal Reserve Board is allowed to require smaller bank holding companies to establish a risk committee and appoint a chief risk officer. Currently, the board is allowed to require smaller bank companies that are public companies establish risk committees. Chief risk officers are responsible for the establishment of risk limits, monitoring compliance, and reporting any deficiencies to the risk committee.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2023
Fair and Open Skies Act This bill amends the policy considerations the Department of Transportation (DOT) must take into account when issuing a foreign air carrier permit. (This allows foreign air carriers to operate in U.S. air space.) DOT must consider preventing the undermining of labor standards when determining whether the foreign air transportation will be in the public interest. Further, the bill amends the requirements for the Department of State and DOT in formulating U.S. international air transportation policy. Under current law, the State Department and DOT must develop a negotiating policy emphasizing the greatest degree of competition compatible with a well-functioning international air transportation system and include specific considerations; this is amended to also include preventing the undermining of labor standards.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2023
This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i religious minority and Iran's continued violation of international human rights treaties. The resolution calls on Iran to (1) immediately release Baha'is and others imprisoned or detained solely on account of religion, (2) end its state-sponsored campaign of hate propaganda against the Baha'is, and (3) reverse certain policies that discriminate against Baha'is and other religious minorities. The resolution also urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2023
This resolution calls on the United States to immediately provide Army Tactical Missile Systems to Ukraine in sufficient quantity to hasten Ukraine's victory against Russia while still maintaining U.S. military readiness. The resolution also calls on U.S. allies and partners to transfer similar systems to Ukraine.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2023
Effective Bank Regulation Act This bill requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to test additional scenarios during annual stress tests. Specifically, when evaluating whether a nonbank financial company or bank holding company has the capital to absorb losses due to adverse economic conditions, the board must test for three additional scenarios, including scenarios that incorporate interest rate changes.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2023
AUKUS Undersea Defense Act This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to sell Australia up to two Virginia-class attack submarines under the Australia-United Kingdom-United States security partnership agreement (AUKUS). The bill authorizes DOD to transfer the submarines from existing Navy inventories. The bill also applies existing law to the transfer under this bill of special nuclear material related to submarine reactors, authorizes the Navy to determine the appropriate shipyard in any of the AUKUS countries for repair of U.S. Navy submarines, establishes a submarine security activities account to accept payments from Australia for non-nuclear related aspects of submarine security activities, and authorizes the President to transfer defense services to Australia to develop the Australian submarine industrial base for AUKUS activities.
![Official portrait of Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000344_200.jpg)