United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2024
This resolution encourages (1) the people of the United States to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members, alumni, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers and to raise awareness about the importance of national and community service; and (2) all individuals to consider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2024
Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a final rule that prohibits certain discharges of plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic into waters of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2024
Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act This bill prohibits state Medicaid programs from using estate recovery to recoup the costs of benefits. States must withdraw property liens within 90 days of the bill's enactment and notify affected individuals of the withdrawals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2024
Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act of 2024 This bill requires certain providers, as a condition of Medicare participation, to limit mandatory overtime for nurses. Specifically, the bill prohibits hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and other specified providers from requiring nurses to work (1) more than a previously scheduled shift, 48 hours in a workweek, or 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period; or (2) during the 10 hours immediately following the 12th hour worked in a shift during a 24-hour period. Qualifying work hours include time spent in training, on call, and on standby. The bill's provisions do not apply during declared emergencies or disasters, subject to specified conditions, and do not preclude voluntary overtime. The bill also establishes (1) certain protections for nurses who file complaints against providers, (2) documentation and notice requirements for providers, and (3) potential civil penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2024
This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover certified community behavioral health services, including crisis services, outpatient mental health and substance use services, peer support, and screenings.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 2024
This resolution supports the designation of Barth Syndrome Awareness Day. Barth Syndrome is a rare, life-threatening genetic disorder of lipid metabolism that primarily affects males.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2024
Retaining Access and Restoring Exclusivity Act or the RARE Act This bill specifies that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drug exclusivity period) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition. Current law grants a seven-year period of market exclusivity for an approved orphan drug, during which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may not approve an application from another manufacturer for the same drug for the same disease or condition. The FDA's regulations provide that this exclusivity is specific to the same approved use or indication of the drug, rather than all uses or indications, for the disease or condition. However, in Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra, a court held that exclusivity did extend to all uses or indications for the disease or condition. The bill provides statutory authority for the FDA's regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2024
Saving Local News Act This bill includes as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization purpose the publication (including electronic publication) of written news articles. In the case of an organization that is tax-exempt due to the publication of written news articles, the term unrelated business taxable incom e does not include any amount attributable to payments for advertisements in news publications.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2024
This resolution expresses support for local news and expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that it is in the best interests of federal, state, and local governments to foster robust local news sources.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2024
This resolution recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year. The resolution expresses, in observance of this Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, the deepest respect of the House of Representatives for Asian Americans and all individuals throughout the world who celebrate this significant occasion. The resolution wishes Asian Americans and all individuals who observe this holiday a happy and prosperous new year.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2024
Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024 or the Autism CARES Act of 2024 This bill reauthorizes several programs that support autism education, research, and resources. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2029 (1) the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program that is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (2) activities administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support autism education, early detection, and intervention; and (3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee in HHS.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2024
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 333 West Broadway in Anaheim, California, as the "Dr. William I. 'Bill' Kott Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2024
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in Santa Maria, California, as the "Larry Lavagnino Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2024
Stop Scams and Spam Act This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to track and report on the top illegal robocall campaigns. The FCC is required to establish a framework for designating the top 100 campaigns, which must focus on campaigns involving primarily robocalls that are illegal or suspected to be illegal. The bill directs the FCC to release monthly reports on the designated top campaigns. The bill defines robocalls as calls and text messages sent using (1) artificial dialing technology, or (2) an artificially generated message or an artificial or prerecorded voice.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Access to Family Building Act This bill provides a statutory right to access assisted reproductive technology (e.g., in vitro fertilization). Specifically, under the bill, individuals have the right to access assisted reproductive technology, and to retain all rights with respect to the use or disposition of reproductive genetic materials (e.g., eggs or sperm), without prohibitions or unreasonable restrictions. Health care providers and insurers also have the right to provide and cover these services, respectively. The bill does not affect state or local health and safety regulations that achieve their purpose in the least restrictive manner possible. The Department of Justice may bring civil actions against states, localities, or government officials or entities that enact or enforce limitations or requirements that violate this bill. Individuals and health care providers who are affected by violations may also bring civil actions for relief.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Emergency Reporting Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publicly report on certain activations of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). DIRS is a reporting system, activated during severe weather and other events impacting communications service, through which communications providers report outages and other degradations to service. If the system was activated for at least seven days, the FCC must issue a preliminary a report that includes (1) the number and duration of any service outages, (2) the approximate number of users or the amount of infrastructure potentially affected by a service outage, and (3) the number and duration of any outages at public safety answering points (PSAPs) that prevent the PSAPs from receiving and routing emergency calls. The FCC must also hold at least one public field hearing in the area affected by the event, and it must issue a final report that includes recommendations on how to improve the resiliency of affected networks. Separately, the FCC must publish a general report on (1) the volume and nature of 9-1-1 outages that are not required to be reported under current outage notification rules, and (2) the value to public safety agencies of the inclusion of visual information in outage notifications from communications providers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). The bill requires DOT to apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must also (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.
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 · 11 January 2024
Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2024 or the Nutrition CARE Act of 2024 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for individuals with eating disorders. Such services must be furnished by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional pursuant to a referral from a physician, psychologist, or other authorized mental health professional.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2024
Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 This bill extends and provides FY2024 funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides a monthly benefit that allows eligible low-income households to receive discounted internet service. The program also provides a one-time discount that may be used to purchase a connected device, such as a computer.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2023
Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act This bill establishes a Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Program for certain Medicare beneficiaries after they are discharged from a hospital. Specifically, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must establish a four-year demonstration program under which hospitals provide medically tailored, home-delivered meals and associated nutrition therapy for beneficiaries who have a diet-impacted disease (e.g., kidney disease) after they are discharged from the hospital. Hospitals must screen individuals to determine if they qualify for the program as part of the discharge planning process and continue to screen these individuals as part of program participation. Qualifying individuals must live at home, be limited with respect to at least two activities of daily living, and not be eligible for certain other home services (e.g., home health services), along with other specified criteria. The CMS must report on the impact of the program with respect to clinical outcomes and costs, particularly with respect to hospital admissions.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2023
This resolution commemorates the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a law that prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States. The resolution also reaffirms Congress's commitment to preserving civil rights and constitutional protections for people of Chinese or other Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2023
Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in recognition of the life of Roberto Clemente, baseball player and human rights activist. All sales of coins issued under this bill must include a surcharge to be paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2023
Codifying SAVE Plan Act This bill provides statutory authority for a Department of Education final rule published on July 10, 2023, that creates a new income-driven repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2023
This resolution condemns all forms of antisemitism and calls for increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and other efforts to strengthen protections and enhance the safety of the American Jewish community.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2023
Fostering Overseas Rule of law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act of 2023 or the FOREST Act of 2023 This bill restricts certain commodities produced on illegally deforested land from accessing the U.S. market. Specifically, the bill prohibits the importation of any product made wholly or in part of a covered commodity produced on illegally deforested land. The bill outlines requirements for import declarations of covered commodities. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must, within 30 days, publish (1) an initial list of covered commodities that consists of palm oil, soybeans, cocoa, cattle, and rubber; and (2) an initial list of covered products that are defined by the bill in accordance with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. These lists must be updated at least on an annual basis. Further, the USTR must identify foreign countries without adequate and effective protection against illegal deforestation for the production of commodities that are likely to enter the United States. The USTR must develop an action plan that includes benchmarks for each identified country. Additionally, the bill creates an interagency working group to provide advice and recommendations to the USTR, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other relevant agencies. The bill provides funding to assist foreign governments in combating illegal deforestation. The bill also includes illegal deforestation as a specified unlawful activity under a federal financial crime statute. The bill establishes a federal procurement preference for commodities that are not produced on land subject to deforestation.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2023
Medicare Economic Security Solutions Act This bill modifies provisions relating to enrollment periods for Medicare medical services. Among other things, the bill establishes a late enrollment penalty of 15% of monthly premiums and applies the penalty for a period equal to twice the number of months in each 12-month period during which the individual was not enrolled. Currently, the late enrollment penalty is 10% of monthly premiums for each 12-month period during which the individual was not enrolled, and the penalty continues to apply for as long as the individual is enrolled in Medicare medical services. The bill also expands the special enrollment periods to individuals who have health insurance coverage other than through their employer.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2023
Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act This bill establishes the Last Servicemember Standing medal for certain members of the Armed Forces. A person eligible for the medal is any servicemember who served on active duty; was deployed during war or an overseas contingency operation; as a result of a combat instance during such war or operation, was the last surviving member of a unit; demonstrated extraordinary heroism during such combat; and whose character is recommended for recognition by their commanding officer and at least two peers. The medal may be issued to the next-of-kin if the recipient is deceased.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2023
Trees for Residential Energy and Economic Savings Act of 2023 or the TREES Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grant program for facilitating tree planting projects that reduce residential energy consumption. Under the program, DOE must award grants in a manner that facilitates the planting of at least 300,000 trees each year. States, local governments, Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, or retail power providers may apply for grants.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2023
Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2023 or the 911 SAVES Act of 2023 This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget, by 30 days after the bill's enactment, to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification System.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2023
Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a pilot grant program for improving recycling accessibility in communities. The EPA may award grants to states, local governments, Indian tribes, or public-private partnerships.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2023
Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2023 This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Further, it expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should continue to raise awareness of and support programs to end domestic violence.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2023
Providing Realistic Opportunity To Equal and Comparable Treatment for Rare Act or the PROTECT Rare Act This bill provides for coverage under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, Medicaid, and private health insurance of certain drugs that are used to treat rare diseases or conditions (i.e., diseases or conditions that affect 200,000 or fewer individuals). Such drugs must be supported by peer-reviewed research or medical experts and must not have been reviewed unfavorably in specified compendia or used in a way that conflicts with approved labels.
![Official portrait of Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001163_200.jpg)