United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
This resolution condemns Russia for exacerbating global food insecurity through its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resolution condemns Russia for suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a 2022 United Nations-brokered agreement between Ukraine, Turkey, and Russia for grain exports through the Black Sea. The resolution also calls on Russia to immediately resume participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative or pledge noninterference for commercial grain shipping in the Black Sea without any preconditions. Additionally, the resolution expresses solidarity with all people affected by food insecurity resulting from Russia's war against Ukraine.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2023
This bill extends the eligibility or applicability of various Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits. First, the bill extends from three to five years the authority for additional licensed health care professionals (i.e., physician assistants, nurse practitioners, audiologists, and psychologists) to perform medical disability examinations as part of the existing VA pilot program related to the use of contract physicians for disability examinations. Currently, when an individual transfers fewer than 12 credits from a program of education that is closed or disapproved, the individual is deemed to have not received those credits, and no charge from the individual's entitlement to education assistance may be made for that period of enrollment. Under the bill, this period of relief for those affected by a closure or disapproval is extended by two years to apply to programs that close or discontinue before September 30, 2025. The bill extends through FY2028 the authorization for VA emergency preparedness for public health emergencies. The bill also extends the applicability of certain loan fee rates through November 15, 2031, under the VA's home loan program.
United States · United States Congress · 1 September 2023
Building Unity through Dual Sponsors Resolution or the BUDS Resolution This bill permits two Members of the House of Representatives to jointly sponsor legislation if one is from the majority party and one is from the minority party. Under current House rules, only one Member may serve as the sponsor for a piece of legislation, though additional Members may serve as cosponsors.
United States · United States Congress · 29 August 2023
Michel O. Maceda Memorial Act This bill designates the Air and Marine Operations Marine Unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection located in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, as the Michel O. Maceda Marine Unit .
United States · United States Congress · 29 August 2023
Rural Telehealth and Education Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through FY2028. This Department of Agriculture program provides grants to help rural communities gain the technology and training necessary to engage in telemedicine and distance learning.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 2023
Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Psychiatrists Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to appoint a psychiatrist who completes a residency at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility to a VHA health care position immediately after such residency, without regard to civil service or classification laws, if (1) the psychiatrist meets the qualifications established in regulations prescribed for the position, and (2) the position has been unfilled for at least 35 days.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 2023
Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a grant program under which USDA may award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for renewable energy systems, energy efficiency activities, energy storage, smart grids, or microgrids in U.S. territories. In addition, USDA may award grants to train residents of U.S. territories to develop, construct, maintain, or operate renewable energy systems. The Department of Energy must ensure that its national laboratories offer to provide technical assistance to grant recipients. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on renewable energy and energy efficiency in U.S. territories.
United States · United States Congress · 8 August 2023
This bill authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to Joseph M. Perez for his acts of valor on May 26, 1967, while serving in the Army during the Vietnam War. Joseph M. Perez was previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023
Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act This bill establishes deadlines for the approval of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requests for fishery resource disaster assistance funding. Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve or deny a spend plan (a type of funding request submitted to NOAA by a state, an Indian tribe, or other eligible requester with an affirmative fishery resource disaster determination) within 30 days of its receipt from NOAA. For any denial, OMB must return the plan to NOAA within 15 days of the denial with a description of the changes necessary for the spend plan to be approved. The bill provides that NOAA, in consultation with the requester, must make the necessary changes and resubmit the spend plan to OMB for approval. OMB must approve or deny a resubmitted spend plan within 15 days of its receipt. The bill also requires OMB to provide certain information regarding approved spend plans (e.g., the dates of the approval and each denial or resubmission) on its website.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023
Finish It Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a plan (within 15 days after the bill is enacted) to utilize, transfer, or donate to states all existing excess border wall construction materials to construct a permanent physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. If DOD delays in submitting or executing the plan, the travel budget of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy must be decreased by 1% for every two days of delay. DOD must work with the Defense Logistics Agency to execute the plan until DOD is no longer incurring any costs to maintain, store, or protect the excess materials. Any state requesting border wall construction materials must certify, in writing, that the materials will be used exclusively for the construction of a permanent physical barrier to stop illicit human and vehicle trafficking along the border. If a state does not use all such materials for the specified purpose within two years of receiving the materials, the state must pay the federal government an amount equal to the original purchase price of the materials.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023
Disaster Mitigation through Military Service Act This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to conduct, in conjunction with military operations, humanitarian and civic assistance activities that include the hardening of existing infrastructure in support of disaster mitigation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023
Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act or the SEAS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase support for aquaculture grants and assistance. (Aquaculture is the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and sea vegetables.) Specifically, the bill directs USDA to give aquaculture producers the same consideration as animal agriculture producers in awarding grants or other assistance. Further, USDA must ensure adequate and fair funding levels for aquaculture producers under USDA programs. USDA must also provide its staff with specific education and trainings on aquaculture. USDA must submit to Congress (1) an annual report that includes information on USDA seafood and aquaculture purchases and grants, and (2) a report on USDA's role in supporting aquaculture and the seafood industry. USDA must make competitive grants (e.g., to regional aquaculture centers or nonprofit organizations) to develop next generation technology to reduce pollution and fuel usage in the seafood and aquaculture industries. Further, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program grants must address methods of increasing the survival rate and adaptability of shellfish, including resistance to heat, disease, salinity, and acidification. In addition, the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) must research and develop a policy to insure aquaculture products and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (the agency that finances FCIP operations) must establish a policy to insure aquaculture products.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization Act or the WILD Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and revises several conservation programs for wildlife species and their habitats, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program as well as programs that provide financial assistance for African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
This bill allows a state to receive cash funds under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to directly purchase agricultural commodities through the private commercial marketplace. TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. Specifically, the bill allows an eligible state agency to elect to receive as cash the dollar amount used by USDA to purchase the commodities to distribute to the state.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Healthy Babies Act of 2023 This bill requires that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) include infant food combinations and dinners as part of the program. (The WIC food packages provide supplemental foods designed to address the specific nutritional needs of income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum individuals, infants, and children up to five years of age who are at nutritional risk.) Specifically, the Department of Agriculture must update the regulations that prescribe the supplemental foods that must be made available in the program. Currently, infant food combinations (e.g., meat and vegetables) and dinners (e.g., spaghetti and meatballs) are not allowed.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
This resolution condemns Iran for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. It also urges the Biden Administration and U.S. allies to publicly condemn the massacre and to pressure Iran to provide information to the families of the victims.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Expanding Seniors' Access to PFAS Testing Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of testing for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with no cost-sharing. (PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act This bill allows five Alaska Native communities in Southeast Alaska to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements. Specifically, the bill allows the Alaska Native residents of each of the Alaska Native villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, to organize as Alaska Native urban corporations and to receive certain settlement land. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey specified land to each urban corporation. Further, Interior must convey the subsurface estate for that land to the regional corporation for Southeast Alaska. The land conveyed to each urban corporation must include any U.S. interest in all roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land conveyed to the urban corporation. The bill also allows each urban corporation to establish a settlement trust to (1) promote the health, education, and welfare of the trust beneficiaries; and (2) preserve the Alaska Native heritage and culture of their communities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under the bill, USDA must establish and maintain (directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement) a program to help eligible hospital facilities in rural areas with a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less. The program must provide tailored technical assistance and training to hospital facilities to identify development needs for maintaining essential health care services and support action plans for financial, operational, and quality improvement projects to meet these needs. Development needs include (1) constructing, expanding, and modernizing health care facilities; (2) increasing telehealth capabilities; and (3) acquiring or upgrading health care information systems (e.g., electronic health records). The program must also provide technical assistance and training to help hospital facilities to better manage their financial and business strategies and identify, and apply for assistance from, USDA loan and grant programs. In selecting eligible hospital facilities to participate in the program, USDA must give priority to borrowers and grantees of certain USDA rural assistance programs. USDA must also submit an annual report to Congress on the progress and results of the program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers Act or the HIRE Act This bill addresses issues relating to temporary work visas, including by extending the period of stay for H-2A (temporary agricultural workers) and H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visas. Under this bill, the period of stay for an H-2A or H-2B visa shall generally be three years, whereas under current law, these visas are typically valid for up to a year with extensions available for one-year periods for up to three consecutive years. Specifically, this bill establishes that labor certifications and petitions for such visas shall be valid for three years. (Under current regulations, the period of stay for an H-2A or H-2B visa is for the validity period of the underlying petition and supporting labor certification, with some additional time to allow the visa holder to relocate to and from the United States.) The bill also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to waive the in-person requirement for an individual seeking to renew an H-2A or H-2B visa within four years of the expiration of the earlier visa. The Department of Labor must publish on its website information on the number of seasons during which an employer expects to have seasonal employment available, if the employer requests such information.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2023
One Stop Shop for Small Business Licensing Act of 2023 This bill requires the Office of Entrepreneurship Education of the Small Business Administration to establish a website that provides licensing and business permit information for small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2023
Afghan Adjustment Act This bill provides lawful permanent resident status (also known as green cards ) to certain individuals who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and addresses related issues. Generally, to be eligible for a green card under this bill, an Afghan national must be (1) lawfully admitted into the United States, or (2) paroled into the United States on or after July 30, 2021. Any individual who was admitted or paroled after this bill's enactment is eligible only if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that the individual provided support to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. DHS must provide a green card to an eligible individual who applies and meets certain requirements, including vetting requirements. The bill also authorizes special immigrant visas for certain Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan while serving in certain capacities, including an individual who (1) served in the Afghan Air Force or certain other branches of the Afghan armed forces, or (2) was a female member of certain entities in the Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces. To be eligible, such an individual must receive a recommendation from the Department of Defense (DOD). DOD must review the applicant's relevant records, including service records, after receiving a recommendation request. (Special immigrant visa holders qualify for a green card after meeting certain criteria.) The bill also authorizes a special immigrant visa for an Afghan national who is the parent or sibling of a member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023
Agricultural Representation for the United States Territories Act This bill increases agricultural representation for U.S. territories on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. Specifically, the bill increases the advisory board membership to 16 members (from the current 15). The additional member must represent the agricultural interests of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. The bill also extends the advisory board through FY2028. (The NAREEE Advisory Board advises the Department of Agriculture, land-grant colleges and universities, and Congress on top priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension, and economics.)
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 · 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 expresses support for the designation of Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day. (A journeyman lineworker is a person who builds and maintains electrical power systems.)
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Casualty Loss Deduction Restoration Act This bill eliminates the suspension period (2018 through 2025) for the tax deduction for personal casualty lossess and increases from $10,000 to $50,000 the limitation on allowable amount of the deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2023
American Confidence in Elections: District of Columbia Voter List Maintenance Act This bill establishes certain voter registration requirements for elections in the District of Columbia (DC). Under the bill, a voter must register at least 30 days before an election. The bill also requires election officials to remove ineligible voters from official registration records every year. Further, election officials must remove a voter's registration if the voter has not voted for two consecutive years and, after receiving a specified notice, the registrant fails to respond and does not vote during the period that begins when the notice is sent and ends on the later of (1) four years later, or (2) after two consecutive general elections have been held.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023
Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and revises the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, which provides financial assistance for projects to promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Disaster Relief Fund Replenishment Act This bill provides $11.5 billion in emergency funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to carry out the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to major disasters.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023
Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act or the VET PFAS Act This bill provides eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital care and medical services to veterans and their family members (including those in utero) who have specified conditions and resided at a military installation where individuals were exposed to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. Hospital care and medical services may not be furnished for a condition that is found to have resulted from a cause other than the exposure to PFAS at a military installation. The VA may provide reimbursement for hospital care or medical services provided to a family member only after the family member or provider has exhausted all claims and remedies otherwise available for payment of such care. For disability compensation purposes, the bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified conditions in veterans who served at a military installation at which individuals were exposed to PFAS. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2023
This bill extends the tax credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals to U.S. possessions and makes such credit refundable for bona fide residents of Puerto Rico. The bill permits Puerto Rican residents a refundable tax credit for 21% of amounts otherwise allowable as a tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. It also requires payment to U.S. possessions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, of an amount equal to the their losses due to the application of the credits and deductions by this bill.
![Official portrait of Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001219_200.jpg)