United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2021
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the "Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2021
Saving America's Energy Future Act This bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior from declaring a moratorium on issuing new oil and gas leases and drill permits on certain federal lands. In addition, the bill prohibits the departments from declaring a moratorium on renewals of such permits.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 2021
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4020 Broadway Street in Houston, Texas, as the "Benny C. Martinez Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2021
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Representatives to three terms and Senators to two terms. Terms beginning before the ratification of this amendment do not count towards these term limits.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2021
Hearing Protection Act This bill removes silencers from the definition of firearms for purposes of the National Firearms Act. It also treats persons acquiring or possessing a firearm silencer as meeting any registration and licensing requirements of such Act. The Department of Justice must destroy certain records relating to the registration, transfer, or making of a silencer. The bill also revises the definitions of firearm silencer and firearm muffler under the federal criminal code and includes such items in the 10% excise tax category.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2021
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines. Specifically, an individual who is eligible to carry a concealed firearm in one state may carry or possess a concealed handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. It sets forth requirements for the lawful concealed carry across state lines. The bill preempts most state and local laws related to concealed carry and establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by interference with a concealed-carry right established by this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020
This resolution supports President Trump's efforts to (1) ensure that every legal vote is counted in the November 2020 presidential election, and (2) investigate and bring to justice those individuals who perpetrate election fraud.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the "Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the "Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2020
This resolution (1) expresses support for the recognition of Constitution Week; and (2) encourages schools and universities to include, in a grade appropriate manner, lessons explaining the history and importance of the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
This resolution expresses support for those unjustly imprisoned in Russia, including Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed. The resolution calls for the release of Trevor Reed and calls on Russia to respect his universally recognized human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 2020
Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning Act of 2020 or the SCHOOL Act of 2020 This bill allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow the student to the school that they attend (i.e., public, private, or home school), regardless of whether the student is learning in person or remotely. Such funds may be used for educational and instructional materials, tutoring, tuition for private school, and extracurricular activities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 2020
David Dorn Act of 2020 This bill increases criminal penalties for rioting and related acts, such as inciting or organizing a riot. Specifically, this bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment for such offenses from 5 to 10 years. Additionally, if a fine is imposed for an offense, the bill sets a minimum fine amount of $1,000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 2020
This bill increases certain criminal penalties for assaulting, resisting, or otherwise interfering with a federal officer or employee who is performing official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 2020
Health Savings Accounts For All Act of 2020 This bill revises provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs). Specifically, the bill repeals the annual limitation on tax-deductible contributions to HSAs by plan participants and their employers; eliminates the requirement that an HSA participant must be enrolled in a high deductible health plan as a condition of eligibility; expands qualified medical expenses to include prescription and over-the-counter drugs; allows payments from HSAs for health insurance premiums; allows payment of medical expenses incurred prior to the establishment of an HSA and correction of administrative errors prior to the due date of an applicable tax return; allows a tax-free rollover of amounts in an HSA, upon the death of an account holder, to the account holder's child, parent, or grandparent; and extends bankruptcy protections to HSAs on the same basis as tax-preferred retirement plans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Ensuring Veterans Access Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain a secure, internet-based portal to enable a person or their representative to make records requests related to VA claims and benefits. Requests for records must specify in which format the copy is desired. The VA must notify a requester within 10 days that their request has been received and must fulfill the request within 120 days.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2020
Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Enhancement Act This bill extends the duration of, authorizes subsequent loans under, and otherwise modifies the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill extends the Paycheck Protection Program through December 31, 2020. It also authorizes a recipient of a paycheck protection loan to apply for a subsequent loan made under the same terms, conditions, and process, and for which the recipient shall be eligible for forgiveness in the same manner, as an initial paycheck protection loan. Further, the bill expands program eligibility to include (1) organizations such as business leagues and chambers of commerce, and (2) franchisors or franchisees that employ not more than 500 employees per physical location. The bill also prohibits the use of program amounts for lobbying activities and makes eligible expenses tax deductible. In addition, the bill provides for an abbreviated process for forgiveness of a paycheck protection loan that is not more than $150,000.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2020
This resolution offers sincere thanks and appreciation for the nation's law enforcement officers. It also recognizes the sacrifices of law enforcement officers and rejects efforts to defund and dismantle law enforcement agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3519 East Walnut Street in Pearland, Texas, as the "Tom Reid Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4020 Broadway Street in Houston, Texas, as the "Benny C. Martinez Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2020
This bill requires the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and any affiliates thereof to return any amounts received under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2020
Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act This bill modifies loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides for automatic forgiveness of a paycheck protection loan that is not more than $150,000 if the recipient submits a one-page form. Such form must allow a recipient to submit specified demographc and expenditure information, and certain individuals (e.g., the President, the Vice President, or the head of an executive department) are not eligible for such forgiveness. Further, the bill prohibits any enforcement or other action against a lender relating to loan origination, forgiveness, or guarantee based on the lender's reliance on certifications or documentation submitted by a loan applicant or recipient.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2020
Freedom from Regulations Act of 2020 This bill requires independent regulatory agencies to comply with the requirements applicable to regulatory actions by other federal agencies, including the rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2020
Restitution for Economic losses Caused by Leaders who Allow Insurrection and Mayhem Act or the RECLAIM Act This bill provides for civil liability in certain instances against an official who recognizes a law enforcement-free zone and contains other related provisions. The bill defines such a zone as an area that law enforcement is entitled to access but is instructed to not access or only access in exceptional circumstances, but generally does not include instances where law enforcement temporarily withholds from an area in response to an imminent threat. An official shall be liable to a person who suffers certain physical harm or property damage from a third party's criminal act if, among other requirements, the official directed law enforcement to recognize a law enforcement-free zone and the criminal act and harm was foreseeable and occurred within the zone. An official who prohibits law enforcement from taking a law enforcement action that would prevent or mitigate physical harm or property damage related to a riot shall also be liable to a person who suffered harm or property damage caused during the riot, in certain instances. The bill also provides for triple damages in certain instances for an individual who prevails in a civil rights lawsuit against an official who recognized a law enforcement-free zone or prohibited a law enforcement action related to a riot. States and local government entities that receive certain law enforcement grants or disaster relief may not take certain actions such as (1) prohibiting law enforcement actions that would mitigate injuries to individuals or property from a riot, or (2) recognizing a law enforcement-free zone.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Defund Cities that Defund the Police Act of 2020 This bill prohibits state or local governments that abolish or defund police departments from receiving certain Economic Development Administration grants or Community Development Block Grant funds. Specifically, the bill applies to state or local governments that abolish or disband the police or significantly reduce the police department's budget without reallocating a portion of those funds to any other community policing program. Further, a state or local government that abolishes or defunds a police department must return any Community Development Block Grant funds it has already received.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
This bill provides statutory authority for a June 26, 2020, executive order directing various agencies to take actions related to protecting monuments, memorials, and statues from vandalism, such as ordering the Department of Justice to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of cases involving vandalism of a monument, government property, or religious property.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
This resolution declares that the House of Representatives (1) condemns certain statements made by Representative Ilhan Omar, (2) condemns Members of Congress who advocate for Marxist policies, and (3) reaffirms its commitment to support and defend the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Justice for Victims of Lawless Cities Act of 2020 This bill allows a victim of a felony that occurs in an autonomous zone to sue and recover damages from the state or local government where the zone is located. Specifically, the bill applies to areas where, by law or practice, state or local officials or entities purposefully either refuse to provide emergency services to at least one individual or give up law enforcement powers to nongovernmental actors. Further, a state or local government must agree to waive any immunity regarding these civil actions as a condition of receiving a community development block grant or specified federal public works and economic development grants.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards A Recovery in Twenty-twenty Act or the RESTART Act This bill establishes a loan program whereby the Small Business Administration (SBA) shall guarantee loan amounts to certain businesses affected by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires the SBA to guarantee 100% of program loan amounts made to certain small businesses that have not more than than 5,000 full-time employees. The terms for such loans shall include (1) a maximum duration of not more than seven years; (2) an amount that is not greater than 45% of 2019 gross receipts, up to $12 million; and (3) no payment on principal for the first two years of the loan. A lender that is otherwise approved to make paycheck protection loans may make and approve loans established by the bill, and a recipient may use loan funds for specified allowable expenses including payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment. Such loans may be forgiven up to the amount of total losses incurred by the recipient in the taxable year 2020.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
Protecting American Energy Production Act This bill prohibits the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes the moratorium. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2020
This bill expands the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), to encompass chambers of commerce and certain destination marketing organizations with 300 or fewer employees.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2020
This bill expands the applicability of an existing criminal statute that protects veterans' monuments. Currently, it is a crime to willfully injure or destroy a monument that commemorates a person who served in the Armed Forces. This bill expands the prohibition to also make it a crime to willfully injure or destroy a monument that commemorates a person who signed the Declaration of Independence, or a President.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2020
CHOPping Cash for CHAZ Act of 2020 This bill prohibits federal funding during FY2021 to governmental entities that permit autonomous zones within their borders. The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall issue regulations establishing standards for determining what constitutes an autonomous zone and activities that permit such a zone to exist. In determining what constitutes such a zone, DOJ shall incorporate consideration of the presence of ANTIFA (a political protest movement comprising autonomous groups affiliated by their militant opposition to fascism and other forms of extreme right-wing ideology) within the zone. To reestablish eligibility for federal funds, a state, territory, or political subdivision shall (1) disband the relevant autonomous zone, and (2) report to DOJ detailing the manner in which such zone was disbanded and how the entity intends to prevent future establishment of autonomous zones.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2020
This resolution expresses that any jurisdiction that seeks to dismantle or reduce funding for a police force should review its local rules to ensure such rules do not place an undue burden on residents who seek to defend themselves, including through the legal purchase of a firearm and training services; such a review should be based on standards set forth by the Supreme Court that confirmed the Second Amendment to the Constitution to be an individual right and that no law can prohibit an individual from possessing and using a firearm in the home for self-defense; and any jurisdiction that seeks to dismantle or reduce funding for police agencies must remove rules that hinder individual gun ownership or access to firearms.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2020 This bill requires certain reports on federal criminal statutory and regulatory offenses. Specifically, the Department of Justice (DOJ) must report to Congress a list of all criminal statutory offenses and the potential criminal penalty, the number of prosecutions brought by DOJ each year for the previous 15 years, and the mens rea (i.e., guilty mind) requirement for each offense. Further, the bill requires each specified federal agency to provide Congress with a similar list of all criminal regulatory offenses that are enforced by the agency. Finally, the bill requires DOJ and each specified federal agency to establish a publicly accessible index of the crimes that are reported to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust in Congress Act or the TRUST in Congress Act This bill requires a Member of Congress, as well as any spouse or dependent child, to place specified investments into a qualified blind trust (i.e., an arrangement in which certain financial holdings are placed in someone else's control to avoid a possible conflict of interest) until 180 days after the end of their tenure as a Member of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
America: Foreign Influence Resistance Starts with Transparency Act or the America FIRST Act This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disclose additional information related to gifts and contracts from foreign sources. Specifically, the bill requires IHEs, nonprofit departments within IHEs, and affiliates of IHEs (e.g., professors and researchers) to disclose in the byline of publications the total value of gifts, contracts, and financial assets received by them from foreign sources. The Department of Education (ED) must determine appropriate enforcement actions for failures to do so, such as imposing a probationary period or limiting eligibility for federal funds. Additionally, IHEs must report to ED a gift or contract from a foreign source that has an annual value of $50,000 or more, considered in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with a foreign source. The fair market value of in-kind gifts is included in such limit. (Currently, a report is due if the annual value is $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with a foreign source.) Such reports to ED must also include the content of the contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2020
Transparency for Confucius Institutes This bill requires an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student-aid programs to enter into a program participation agreement if a Confucius Institute operates on the IHE's campus. (Confucius Institutes are Chinese government-funded centers for language education and cultural programming at IHEs.) The agreement must be entered into with the Office of Chinese Language Council International (i.e., Confucius Institute Headquarters, Hanban) and be made publicly available online. Among other requirements, the Confucius Institute must be physically located apart from the IHE's own Chinese language, history, and cultural programs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2020
Foreign Influence Transparency Act This bill addresses foreign influence in higher education and in certain other academic, religious, and artistic pursuits. Current law exempts from foreign agent registration requirements a person engaging in activities in furtherance of religious, scholastic, academic, or scientific pursuits or of the fine arts. The bill specifies that this exemption applies only to those activities that do not promote the political agenda of a foreign government. Under current law, an institution of higher education is required to disclose to the Department of Education a gift or contract that is from a foreign source and is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with a foreign source. The bill instead requires the institution to disclose such a gift or contract that is valued at $50,000 or more. An institution must include in its disclosure report the contents of any such contract and make the contents available for public disclosure.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2020
No Bailouts for Illegal Aliens Act This bill withholds funding authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) from any state or municipality that provides relief payments through a program targeted exclusively to individuals who are believed to be unlawfully present in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2020
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 This bill modifies provisions related to the forgiveness of loans made to small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program implemented in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill establishes a minimum maturity of five years for a paycheck protection loan that has a remaining balance after the application of forgiveness. The bill also extends the covered period during which the recipient of a paycheck protection loan may use such funds for certain expenses while remaining eligible for forgiveness of the loan. Further, the bill prohibits the Small Business Administration from limiting the non-payroll portion of a forgivable covered loan amount. Currently, only 25% of a paycheck protection loan may be allocated to non-payroll expenses such as rent and utilities. The bill extends the period of time in which an employer may rehire or eliminate a reduction in employment, salary, or wages that would otherwise reduce the forgivable amount of a paycheck protection loan. However, the forgivable amount must be determined without regard to a reduction in the number of employees if the recipient is (1) unable to rehire an employee, (2) able to demonstrate an inability to hire a similarly qualified employee, or (3) able to demonstrate an inability to return to the same level of business activity. Lastly, the bill eliminates a provision that makes a paycheck protection loan recipient who has such indebtedness forgiven ineligible to defer payroll tax payments.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2020
Right to Test Act This bill authorizes a state's public health department, or another entity designated by the state's governor, to approve a diagnostic test or diagnostic device (e.g., a test for the virus that causes COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019) for use during a public health emergency. Unless requested by the governor of the state, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may not, during the emergency, engage in certain enforcement actions related to such a test or device. Not later than 180 days following the end of the public health emergency, the FDA must review and make a final determination concerning approval of the test or device.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2020
Veterans Prescription Flexibility Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for prescriptions written by an eligible health care provider during a public health emergency (as declared by the Department of Health and Human Services) for up to a 90-day supply of drugs. Under the bill, Veterans Community Care Program providers or providers who are eligible to enter into Veterans Care Agreements are considered eligible health care providers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2020
This resolution designates the Hong Kong national security law proposed by China as a violation of China's international obligations. The resolution calls on the United States to use all diplomatic means available to dissuade China from passing the law and rally free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2020
No TikTok on Government Devices Act This bill prohibits federal employees from using the social media video application TikTok on government-issued devices. Specifically, the bill prohibits employees and officers of the United States, Members of Congress, congressional employees, and officers and employees of government corporations from downloading or using TikTok, or any successor application from the developer, on any device issued by the federal government or a government corporation, with the exception of specified activities (e.g., cybersecurity research).
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2020
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 This bill modifies provisions related to the forgiveness of loans made to small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program implemented in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill establishes a minimum maturity of five years for a paycheck protection loan that has a remaining balance after the application of forgiveness. The bill also extends the covered period during which the recipient of a paycheck protection loan may use such funds for certain expenses while remaining eligible for forgiveness of the loan. Further, the bill prohibits the Small Business Administration from limiting the non-payroll portion of a forgivable covered loan amount. Currently, only 25% of a paycheck protection loan may be allocated to non-payroll expenses such as rent and utilities. The bill extends the period of time in which an employer may rehire or eliminate a reduction in employment, salary, or wages that would otherwise reduce the forgivable amount of a paycheck protection loan. However, the forgivable amount must be determined without regard to a reduction in the number of employees if the recipient is unable to rehire an employee and is able to demonstrate an inability to hire a similarly qualified employee. Lastly, the bill eliminates a provision that makes a paycheck protection loan recipient who has such indebtedness forgiven ineligible to defer payroll tax payments.