United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2024
Prove It Act of 2024 This bill expands the requirements for federal agency rulemaking with respect to small businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions. Specifically, when conducting an initial regulatory flexibility analysis, agencies must include, where feasible, any reasonably foreseeable potential indirect costs the proposed rule may impose on such small entities. Further, if an agency certifies that an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required because the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, the agency must provide such certification within 10 days to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A small entity or group of small entities may petition the Office of Advocacy to review such certification. The petition must include specified information, such as the issues the petitioner believes should be addressed and a proposed solution to the issues raised. If the Office of Advocacy ultimately determines, upon a full review of the petition, that the proposed rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, the agency promulgating the rule must perform an initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis for the rule. Additionally, if the agency does not participate or assist in the full review process, the finalized rule shall not apply to small entities. The bill also requires agencies to publish, and allow for comments on, all guidance documents with respect to any rule an agency determines is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2024
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at S74w16860 Janesville Road, in Muskego, Wisconsin, as the "Colonel Hans Christian Heg Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2024
This resolution supports the goals of National Catholic Schools Week, an event cosponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and established to recognize the contributions of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2024
Equal Representation Act This bill requires any questionnaire used in the decennial census to include a checkbox or other similar option for respondents to indicate whether the respondent and each household member is (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a U.S. national but not a citizen, (3) a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) lawfully residing in the United States, or (4) a non-U.S. national unlawfully residing in the United States. The Department of Commerce must make public the number of persons in each state, disaggregated by each of these four categories. The bill also requires that the statement sent by the President to Congress indicating the number of persons in each state (related to the reapportionment of U.S. Representatives) exclude noncitizens.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Death Tax Repeal Act This bill repeals the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It also sets forth conforming amendments related to the gift tax.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2024
This concurrent resolution recognizes and supports the efforts of the New Heights Bid Committee to bring the 2027 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup competition to the United States and Mexico and encourages the President and federal agencies to support the committee's efforts to meet all requirements for the United States to jointly host that competition.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2024
This resolution condemns acts of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, including those acts committed by Hamas on and since October 7, 2023. The resolution also calls on all nations to criminalize rape and sexual assault and hold accountable all perpetrators of sexual violence, including state and non-state armed groups.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2024
Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 This bill limits the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over entities that are regulated by a state insurance regulator. Specifically, the bureau is prohibited from pursuing enforcement against any person regulated by a state insurance regulator and offers a consumer financial product or service, to the extent that the person is engaged in the business of insurance. If a person engaged in the business of insurance is regulated by a state insurance regulator but is otherwise subject to the bureau's enforcement authority, the bureau must construe its authority narrowly.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2024
This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tomah, Wisconsin, as the Jason Simcakoski Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2023
Care Across Generations Act This bill requires the Administration on Aging to award grants for long-term care facilities (including assisted living and nursing homes) to offer child care services and to coordinate multigenerational activities among long-term care and child care participants. In lieu of directly operating a child care facility, a long-term care facility may opt to contract with an existing child care facility. Grant recipients may also use the funds to build or expand a facility to accommodate child care and multigenerational events.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2023
Rectifying Undefined Descriptions of Abusive Acts and Practices Act or the Rectifying UDAAP Act This bill restricts the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) authority to deem a financial practice abusive for purposes of enforcement activities. Currently, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFPB may take enforcement action against a financial product or service provider in connection with any transaction with a consumer for a consumer financial product or service that is unfair, deceptive, or abusive. Specifically, the bill prohibits the CFPB from including discrimination as an abusive practice. Further, the bill revises what an abusive practice is, including by additionally requiring the act or practice to intentionally interfere with the ability of a consumer to understand a term or condition. The bill also establishes additional criteria for abusive actions. For example, conduct is considered abusive if (1) it causes or is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers which is not reasonably avoidable by consumers, (2) the substantial injury is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition, or (3) the conduct is otherwise prohibited under federal consumer financial law. The bill also eliminates the CFPB’s ability to seek monetary relief for unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices if the provider establishes a good faith effort to comply with requirements. The bill establishes rulemaking requirements, including requiring a cost-benefit analysis for a rule relating to unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices. Finally, the bill establishes the right for providers to cure violations if they self-report and limits the CFPB’s use of alternative claims in court.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2023
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 603 West 3rd Street in Necedah, Wisconsin, as the "Sergeant Kenneth E. Murphy Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2023
Confirmation Of Congressional Observer Access Act of 2023 or the COCOA Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for designated congressional election observers. Designated congressional election observe r refers to an employee of the House of Representatives who is designated in writing by the chair or ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration to gather information with respect to an election, including in the event that the election is contested in the House and for other purposes permitted by Article I, Section 5, clause 1 and Article I, Section 4, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The bill requires states to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to clearly observe all elements of administration procedures of federal elections, including access to any area in which a ballot is cast, processed, scanned, tabulated, canvassed, recounted, audited, or certified, including during pre- and post-election procedures. The bill prohibits such an observer from handling ballots or election equipment, advocating for a position or candidate, taking any action to reduce ballot secrecy or voter privacy, taking any action to interfere with the ability of a voter to cast a ballot or an election administrator to carry out the administrator's duties, or otherwise interfering with the election administration process. The bill specifies the conduct for which designated congressional election observers may be removed by election officials. In the event of removal, the election official must provide written notice to the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on House Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2023
End Financing for Hamas and State Sponsors of Terrorism Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from using its stabilization fund to deal in International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR) from any country determined to be a state sponsor of terrorism. (The SDR is an international reserve asset maintained by the IMF based on contributions from IMF member countries. SDRs may be exchanged between member countries and may also be exchanged for currencies.) Treasury must develop a strategy, in coordination with allies and partners, to ensure that Hamas is incapable of financing armed hostilities against Israel. Treasury must report to Congress on the major sources of funding to Hamas, with an evaluation of U.S. efforts to undermine Hamas' ability to finance armed hostilities against Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 2023
This resolution recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Hmong New Year and wishes Hmong Americans and all individuals who observe this holiday a happy new year.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2023
This resolution condemns the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff. It also urges the Department of Education to direct the Office for Civil Rights to investigate and, where appropriate, take immediate action.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2023
This resolution calls on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during its October 2023 attack on Israel. The resolution (1) condemns Hamas for attacking Israel, taking hostages, and for threats made against hostages; (2) demands that Hamas immediately release hostages; (3) recognizes that hostage-taking is a violation of international humanitarian law; and (4) expresses sympathy to the hostages, wounded, deceased, and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2023
Freezing and Halting Any More Alleviation of Sanctions Act or Freezing HAMAS Act This bill reinstates any statutory sanctions against Iran that had been waived, reduced, or otherwise relieved pursuant to any agreement between the United States and Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2023
This bill terminates the presidential waiver of certain sanctions on Iran and the licenses issued by the Department of the Treasury that allowed for the transfer of previously blocked Iranian funds (namely, the approximately $6 billion of Iranian funds that the Biden Administration permitted to be transferred from restricted accounts in South Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar to facilitate the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran). Furthermore, the President may not exercise waiver authority related to certain accounts belonging to Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2023
This resolution states that the House of Representatives stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, and condemns Hamas' brutal war against Israel. The resolution also reaffirms the United States' commitment to Israel's security, supports emergency resupply and certain other types of assistance to Israel, and urges full enforcement of sanctions against Iran to prevent Iran's funding of terrorist groups.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2023
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Fremont Street in Kiel, Wisconsin, as the "Trooper Trevor J. Casper Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2023
This bill extends through December 31, 2033, the statutory authorization for the Federal Election Commission Administration Fine Program. This program provides expedited enforcement for late and nonfiled campaign finance disclosure reports.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2023
Insurance Data Protection Act This bill limits the ability of federal entities to compel insurance companies to share information. Specifically, the bill eliminates the subpoena power of the Federal Insurance Office. Under current law, the office has the power to subpoena information from insurers to, among other purposes, identify issues that could contribute to a systemic crisis in the insurance industry or the U.S. financial system. The bill also eliminates the ability of the Office of Financial Research to subpoena insurance companies. When seeking to collect insurance company data under specified consumer protection laws, a financial regulator must obtain the data from other regulators or from publicly available sources if possible. Otherwise, the financial regulator may only collect this data directly from the insurance company if it complies with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
This resolution condemns the actions of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for violating the Second Amendment to the Constitution and depriving the citizens of New Mexico of their right to bear arms.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act This bill prohibits a Federal Reserve bank from offering products or services directly to an individual, maintaining an account on behalf of an individual, or issuing a central bank digital currency (i.e., a digital dollar) directly or indirectly to an individual. Further, The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Open Market Committee are prohibited from using a central bank digital currency to implement monetary policy.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2023
Giving Increased Variety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids Act or the GIVE MILK Act This bill revises the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to allow WIC participants (or the parent or guardian of such participants) to elect to be issued nonfat milk, 1% low-fat milk, 2% reduced-fat milk, or whole milk. Current WIC regulations restrict the milk choices for most women and children who are at least two years old to nonfat or 1% milk, with exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Build the Wall and Fight Fentanyl Act of 2023 This bill establishes accounts to fund the construction of physical barriers along the U.S. southern border and to provide grants to address fentanyl abuse. These accounts shall be funded from the sale of assets belonging to cartels that have been seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The bill defines cartel as (1) an organization with operations in Mexico and the United States designated as a significant transnational criminal organization; (2) certain named organizations, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Juarez Cartel; and (3) other organizations as designated by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Preserving Family Farms Act of 2023 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $13 million (currently, $750,000) the limitation on the special use valuation for farmland or other trades or businesses for estate tax purposes. The increased amount is adjusted for inflation for estates of decedents dying after 2023.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2023 This bill accelerates to the enactment date of this bill the deferral of tax (currently, after December 31, 2027) on sales of employer stock to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) sponsored by S corporations. It also eliminates the limitation on the amount that may be deferred. The Department of the Treasury must establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations. The office must provide education and outreach about the benefits of employee ownership of S corporations and technical assistance to assist S corporations in sponsoring ESOPs. The bill directs the Department of Labor to appoint an Advocate for Employee Ownership.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
This bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives for each fiscal year. Under the Agricultural Marketing Service, the DBI Initiatives support dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. The DBI Initiatives provide direct technical assistance and subawards to dairy businesses, including for niche dairy products and dairy products derived from cow milk, sheep milk, and goat milk.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Protecting Americans’ Retirement Savings from Politics Act This bill revises laws and regulations regarding shareholder proposals, the proxy voting process, and proxy advisory firms. (Public companies regularly hold shareholder meetings during which proposals, including those presented by shareholders, can be voted on by eligible shareholders. Voting is held in-person or by proxy. To vote by proxy, shareholders fill out proxy cards with voting directions and submit it to a designated representative. Proxy advisory firms provide voting services and advice to institutional investors.) The bill allows an issuer of securities to exclude certain shareholder proposals from its proxy materials, including proposals that address the same subject matter as a previously offered proposal or those related to environmental, social, or political issues. Passively managed funds (e.g., index funds) that vote shares on behalf of fund investors in proxy shareholder votes must adhere to requirements set forth by the bill, including by voting shares according to the instructions of the beneficial owner of the securities. The bill also creates new requirements for proxy advisory firms. Under the bill, a proxy advisory firm is prohibited from using robovoting and must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide proxy-voting advice to a client using interstate commerce. The bill establishes a private right of action against a proxy advisory firm and allows these firms to be held liable for failing to disclose material information or making false or misleading statements in the context of the sale or purchase of securities. The bill also requires various disclosures and reporting to the SEC.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Main Street Tax Certainty Act This bill makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) Qualified business income is defined as the net amount of qualified items of income, gain, deduction and loss with respect to any trade or business, excluding capital gains or losses, dividends, interest income, or income earned outside the U.S.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023
This bill specifies what is considered a false or misleading statement concerning a material fact for liability purposes in the context of the sale or purchase of securities. Particularly, the bill specifies that this liability extends to certain actions performed by a proxy voting advice businesss. (Proxy voting advice businesses provide voting services and advice to institutional investors in public companies for proposals presented at shareholder meetings.) Under the bill, a proxy voting advice business may be held liable if it fails to disclose its methodology, sources of information, or conflicts of interest, or if it makes a material misstatement when providing proxy voting advice.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023
This bill requires a proxy advisory firm to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and prohibits an unregistered proxy advisory firm from using interstate commerce to provide proxy-voting advice, research, analysis, or recommendations to any client. (Proxy advisory firms provide voting services and advice to institutional investors in public companies for proposals presented at shareholder meetings.) With respect to these firms, the bill establishes procedures and requirements for registration. Firms must certify that they will only provide advice that is in the best economic interest of the shareholders and that they have the experience to do so. The bill also requires each firm to employ an ombudsman, designate a compliance officer, and publicly disclose conflicts of interest and specified contact with outside entities. Firms must provide issuers that are the subjects of the voting recommendations with the opportunity to access the data and information used to make recommendations and to provide the firm with any comments or corrections. The bill (1) establishes a private right of action against a proxy advisory firm that endorses an approved proposal that is not supported by the issuer and is found to be illegal; and (2) prohibits unfair, coercive, or abusive practices by these firms.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
American Confidence in Elections Act or the ACE Act This bill addresses election administration and security, campaign finance, and other related provisions. Specifically, the bill directs the Election Assistance Commission's (EAC's) Standards Board and Local Leadership Council to issue voluntary considerations for states about various aspects of election administration. Additionally, the bill reduces certain election assistance payments for states and local jurisdictions that allow noncitizens to vote; requires states to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to observe the administration procedures of federal elections; prohibits federal agencies from using funds made available for salaries and expenses to solicit or enter into agreements with nongovernmental organizations to conduct voter registration or voter mobilization activities on the agency's property or website; prohibits federal funds for election administration for states that allow ballot harvesting, with exceptions; establishes various requirements for elections in the District of Columbia; makes various changes to the EAC; and prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or donations in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda. The bill also establishes the Twentieth Amendment Section Four Panel, which must recommend to Congress model legislation to resolve any vacancy created by the death of a candidate in a contingent presidential or vice-presidential election. The bill makes changes to campaign finance, including by (1) repealing limits on coordinated party expenditures, and (2) prohibiting federal funds from being used to make payments in support of a congressional election campaign. It also makes changes to the Federal Election Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 3 July 2023
Protect American Voters Act This bill directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to adopt voluntary guidelines for election officials on the use of nonvoting election technology. Nonvoting election technology refers to the technology used in the administration of federal elections which is not used directly in the casting, counting, tabulating, or collecting of ballots or votes (e.g., electronic pollbooks or election result reporting systems). The EAC must review such guidelines every four years and may adopt revisions to the guidelines. States may use election administration funds to obtain or upgrade nonvoting election technology which is in compliance with the EAC's voluntary guidelines. States may also use certain unobligated grant funds until December 31, 2024, for the purposes of enhancing election technology and making election security improvements.
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
Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act or the REPO for Ukrainians Act This bill requires or authorizes various actions related to the confiscation and disposition of Russian sovereign assets (which include funds and other property of Russia's central bank, direct investment fund, or ministry of finance). Under the bill, the President must require U.S. financial institutions to notify the Department of the Treasury of any Russian sovereign assets located at such institutions. The President may confiscate any such assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Confiscated funds and the proceeds of liquidated property must be deposited into the Ukraine Support Fund established by the bill. The Ukraine Support Fund shall be used by the Department of State to compensate Ukraine for damages caused by the Russian invasion. The Ukraine Support Fund may also support an international body or mechanism for (1) reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Ukraine, (2) humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people, or (3) other purposes which support the recovery of Ukraine and the welfare of the Ukrainian people. The bill also directs the President to seek to establish, with foreign partners, an international mechanism to provide compensation to Ukraine using the Ukraine Support Fund and Russian sovereign assets confiscated by foreign partners. Additionally, the bill sets policy on related topics, such as specifying that the United States should lead an international sanctions regime to freeze Russian sovereign assets in conjunction with allies and partners.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Dairy Farm Resiliency Act This bill updates the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. (The DMC program was enacted in the 2018 farm bill to support dairy operations by allowing producers to buy a guaranteed margin for their milk production. The margin is the difference between the Department of Agriculture's [USDA's] national all milk price and a calculated feed cost, which provides producers optional risk protection on price and feed costs.) The bill requires that a dairy operation's production history for DMC be based on the most recent three-year history and be recalculated every five years. (A participating dairy producer must have an established milk production history with USDA's Farm Service Agency.) The bill also increases Tier 1 margin coverage for annual milk production to 6 million pounds or less (currently 5 million pounds or less) and Tier 2 margin coverage to over 6 million pounds (currently over 5 million pounds).
![Official portrait of Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s001213_200.jpg)