Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

American Family Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023

American Family Act This bill provides for a new fully refundable child tax credit and monthly advance payments of credit amounts.

Pride In Mental Health Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2023

Pride in Mental Health Act of 2023 This bill establishes grants and reporting requirements concerning the mental and behavioral health of youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer or questioning, nonbinary, intersex, or Two Spirit (gender-variant members of indigenous communities). Specifically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must award grants to assess and improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes for those youth. Recipients may use grants for providing mental and behavioral health resources for such youth (including training for caregivers and school-based interventions) and collecting data. Recipients may not use grants for any practice or treatment that seeks to change another individual's sexual orientation or gender (i.e., conversion therapy). Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must (1) conduct a survey to measure issues related to mental health and health care among such youth; and (2) report about the mental health and related care of such youth who are in foster care and otherwise participate in federal social services programs. HHS must also review existing publications on SAMHSA's website that focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, nonbinary, intersex, and Two Spirit individuals and update or commission new publications to fill information gaps related to the mental and behavioral health of those individuals.

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2023 This bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse of a veteran who dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) regardless of how long the veteran had such disease prior to death. Under current law, such compensation is paid for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death. For purposes of compensation for a surviving spouse of a veteran who dies from ALS, the spouse must have been married to the veteran for a continuous period of eight years or longer prior to the death of the veteran. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must report on service-connected disabilities the VA determines should be treated in the same manner as ALS for purposes of dependency and indemnity compensation.

Hammers' Law

United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023

Hammers' Law This bill authorizes a party in a civil suit to recover nonpecuniary damages (i.e., damages for loss of care, comfort, and companionship) when an individual dies as a result of a cruise ship accident that occurred on the high seas beyond 12 nautical miles from the U.S. shore. The nonpecuniary damages may be in addition to other damages, but punitive damages are not recoverable. Current law already permits these damages to be recovered if a death was caused by a commercial aviation accident on the high seas.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should enact the Older Americans Bill of Rights to establish that older Americans should have the right to live with dignity and with independence.

United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023

This resolution expresses support for the enactment of the Older Americans Bill of Rights.

Expressing support for the designation of June 2, 2023, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2023 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the designation of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

SAFE Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 May 2023

Safe American Food Exports Act of 2023 or the SAFE Act of 2023 This bill allows the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to preemptively negotiate regional export ban agreements for known animal disease threats that apply only to areas affected by animal disease outbreaks to enable the continuation of exports from areas not affected by an outbreak. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Foreign Agricultural Service, in consultation with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, are authorized to negotiate the regionalization, zoning, compartmentalization, and other trade agreements regarding outbreaks of known animal disease threats of trade significance with countries with export markets for livestock animals or animal products from the United States. In addition, USDA must promulgate a regulation requiring that, within three days of removing any language from the FSIS Import and Export Library, FSIS notify each state department of agriculture, each lead state agency for animal disease, and any state and national producer organizations representing impacted livestock producers. (The FSIS library provides country and product specific information for (1) meat and poultry exports, and (2) products eligible for import to the United States.) 

Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2023

Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2023 This bill provides specific statutory authority for the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) State Educational Agency Grant Program that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The program supports school-based mental health services, including screening, treatment, and outreach programs.

Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023

Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2023 This bill expands access to menstrual products through federal programs, in certain locations, and for particular groups. It also prohibits states and localities from taxing retail sales of a range of menstrual products (e.g., sanitary napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups). The bill expands access to that range of menstrual products by requiring Medicaid to cover those products, establishing a grant program in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to provide benefits to ensure access to those products, and increasing Social Services Block Grant funding for providing those products to low-income individuals and exempting that increase from sequestration (a process of automatic, usually across-the-board cancellations of budgetary resources to enforce specific budget policy goals). Additionally, the bill sets out requirements to make free sanitary napkins and tampons available in federal and state correctional facilities (including Department of Homeland Security detention facilities) and restrooms in federal buildings that are open to the public. Further, the bill (1) establishes a grant program to support the provision of free sanitary napkins and tampons on campuses of institutions of higher education, and (2) permits elementary and secondary schools to use certain grants to provide sanitary napkins and tampons to students. In addition, the bill requires employers with at least 100 employees to provide free sanitary napkins and tampons for employees. It also permits the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to provide sanitary napkins and tampons to homeless individuals.

Toxic-Free Beauty Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023

Toxic-Free Beauty Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the use of certain chemical substances (e.g., formaldehyde) in cosmetic products.

Cosmetic Safety for Communities of Color and Professional Salon Workers Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023

Cosmetic Safety for Communities of Color and Professional Salon Workers Act of 2023 This bill establishes several programs and requirements to address harmful chemicals in cosmetics and their effects on customers and salon workers, particularly in communities of color. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to nonprofits and educational institutions to research harmful chemicals in cosmetics that are primarily marketed to and used by women and girls of color. HHS must publish a report summarizing the research, including recommendations for reducing exposure to such harmful cosmetics. HHS must similarly award grants for research, and publish a related report, about harmful chemicals in products that are used by professional nail, hair, and beauty salon workers. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration must award grants to support the development of alternative, safer chemicals that may be used in place of harmful chemicals in cosmetics. HHS must also establish a National Resource Center on Beauty Justice and a National Resource Center on Salon Worker Health and Safety to educate customers and salon workers, respectively, about harmful chemicals in cosmetics, with a particular focus on communities of color. The Department of Labor must require manufacturers of professional cosmetics to prepare and publish product safety sheets that identify harmful chemicals in their products. Salon owners and operators must also provide product safety sheets to their employees.

Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Ingredient Right to Know Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023

Cosmetic Fragrance and Flavor Ingredient Right to Know Act of 2023 This bill imposes disclosure and labeling requirements on cosmetic products that contain certain ingredients. A cosmetic product that fails to meet such requirements may not be sold. Within two years of this bill's enactment, a cosmetic product's labeling or packaging must include a full list of its ingredients, as well as a specified statement that directs consumers to the brand owner's website for the health impacts of any ingredient that (1) is identified on specified lists of harmful or potentially harmful chemicals, such as chemicals identified as carcinogenic to humans by the Environmental Protection Agency or toxic air contaminants under California regulations; or (2) must be disclosed under certain European Union laws and is present in a product above specified concentrations. The Food and Drug Administration must publish and periodically update on its website a list of the ingredients subject to this requirement. Within one year of this bill's enactment, a brand owner must disclose the full list of ingredients for each cosmetic product on its website, as well as whether a cosmetic product contains any fragrance or flavor ingredient that is subject to this bill's labeling or packaging requirement and, if so, the ingredient's functional purpose.

Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2023

Cosmetic Supply Chain Transparency Act of 2023 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to maintain a list of certain nonfunctional constituents in cosmetics that are harmful to human health or the environment, authorizes the FDA to request from a brand owner (i.e., the entity bringing a cosmetic to market) certain information about a cosmetic's ingredients, and addresses related issues. For each listed nonfunctional constituent, the list must identify the ingredient or cosmetic (or category of ingredient or cosmetic) in which the constituent is known or reasonably expected to be present. The FDA must also (1) establish procedures for petitions to add substances to the list, (2) issue guidance for industry related to testing and detecting such nonfunctional constituents, and (3) establish a committee to provide advice on creating the list and developing the required industry guidance. Within a year of a nonfunctional constituent being added to the list, a supplier of an ingredient or cosmetic must test for that constituent and provide a brand owner the results and other information before selling the ingredient or cosmetic to the brand owner. A supplier of an ingredient or cosmetic must provide additional information about the item upon a brand owner's request. Brand owners must maintain records with information about the suppliers of ingredients and raw materials used in their cosmetics and provide such information to the FDA upon request. The bill also imposes civil penalties for brand owners and suppliers that violate this bill's provisions.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 28081 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, California, as the "Major Megan McClung Post Office Building".

United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2023

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 28081 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, California, as the "Major Megan McClung Post Office Building."

Neighbors Not Enemies Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2023

Neighbors Not Enemies Act This bill repeals provisions authorizing the President to apprehend and remove from the United States the citizens of a particular nation, if the United States has declared war against that nation or that nation has threatened an invasion against the United States.

PATIENT Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023

Promoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency Act of 2023 or the PATIENT Act of 2023 This bill expands hospital price transparency requirements and establishes additional reporting requirements with respect to prescription drugs and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The bill also extends funding for various programs such as the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program, Community Health Center program, and National Health Service Corps. Specifically, the bill provides statutory authority for the requirement that hospitals publish an annual list of shoppable services they provide, including specified pricing information. Beginning in 2025, a hospital may not use an internet-based price estimator tool to meet the publication requirement for shoppable services. The bill also modifies the health insurance plan disclosure requirements to include the rates for certain in-network services and prescription drug payment information. The bill further requires providers of diagnostic laboratory tests under Medicare to publish online certain price information. Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations must report information about payments made to providers in which the MA organization has an ownership interest. Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors must report certain price information for covered drugs. Additionally, the bill requires health insurance plan issuers (or the PBM providing services on behalf of the plan) to report to the plan sponsor specified information about prescription drugs dispensed under the plan. This includes rebates, fees, alternative discounts, or other remuneration the plan receives from drug manufacturers. Finally, the bill requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 Long Beach Boulevard in Long Beach, California, as the "Alan S. Lowenthal Post Office Building".

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 Long Beach Boulevard in Long Beach, California, as the "Alan S. Lowenthal Post Office Building."

Expressing the need for the Senate to provide advice and consent to ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023

This concurrent resolution expresses the sense that the Senate should provide its advice and consent to ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7911 Imperial Highway in Downey, California, as the "Lucille Roybal-Allard Post Office Building".

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2023

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7911 Imperial Highway in Downey, California, as the "Lucille Roybal-Allard Post Office Building."

FAMILY Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023

SAFE Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023

Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2023 or the SAFE Act of 2023 This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.) Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption. The bill subjects a violator to a fine. The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony. In recent years, appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

Restore Veterans’ Compensation Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023

EVs for All Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023

Electric Vehicles for All Act of 2023 or the EVs for All Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a program that awards grants to eligible entities (i.e., public housing agencies, local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations) to facilitate electric vehicle sharing services operated at public housing projects.

Supporting the designation of July 19, 2023, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of Glioblastoma Awareness Day. Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor.

Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2023 This bill eliminates certain restrictions relating to Medicare coverage of mental health services that are provided through telehealth. Current law allows for coverage of such services regardless of the geographic location of the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), as long as the beneficiary previously received in-person services and continues to receive in-person services at specified intervals (effective January 1, 2025). The bill eliminates these in-person requirements.

Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

Give Kids a Chance Act of 2023 This bill authorizes certain targeted clinical trials involving combinations of drugs to treat pediatric cancer. Specifically, the bill modifies requirements relating to molecularly targeted pediatric cancer investigations so as to authorize investigations of new drugs that are used in combination with active ingredients that have already been approved and that (1) have been determined to be the standard of care for treating a pediatric cancer, or (2) have been approved to treat an adult cancer and are directed at molecular targets for pediatric cancer. The Food and Drug Administration must issue guidance and report on the bill's implementation. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effectiveness of the bill's changes with respect to the development of pediatric cancer drugs.

Spectrum Relocation Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

Spectrum Relocation Enhancement Act This bill modifies procedures related to the relocation or sharing of federal portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the uses of and requirements for the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF), which is a funding mechanism through which federal agencies can recover certain costs associated with spectrum relocation or sharing. The bill permits the SRF to more broadly cover those costs. Currently, the SRF covers costs to achieve comparable capabilities, while the bill permits it to cover costs to deploy systems that satisfy operational requirements. Further, the SRF may cover costs for more extensive operational requirements than those being met before the relocation or sharing provided that the more extensive costs do not jeopardize an auction, sharing, or other nonfederal use of the spectrum. Additionally, the bill expands planning and coordination requirements. This includes (1) specifying more detailed requirements for transition plans that federal agencies must submit to receive SRF payments, and (2) requiring agencies to coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on their transition plans and other activities. The bill also funds administrative support for a technical panel that reviews the plans for transitioning federal use of spectrum to nonfederal or shared use.

Spectrum Coexistence Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

Spectrum Coexistence Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to convene a working group to develop and periodically update technical specifications and other measures to minimize interference from commercial operations in the portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are allocated for federal use or shared use. This includes developing voluntary standards and other measures for encouraging the design, manufacture, and sale of radio receivers operating in federal systems with features that provide interference immunity (i.e., features that limit interruptions or obstructions of federal operations when spectrum is shared). The working group must include representatives from federal agencies, the telecommunications industry, and academia. Additionally, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Communications Commission must publish the measures developed by the working group on the website of the NTIA and in the Federal Register .

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. (AM broadcast stations are often used to deliver emergency alerts and news and entertainment programming; some newer vehicles do not include AM equipment.) Specifically, this bill applies to motor vehicles manufactured in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce after the rule's effective date. The DOT rule must require all such vehicles to have devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations or digital audio AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. Prior to the effective date of the rule, manufacturers that do not include devices that can access AM broadcast stations as standard equipment must inform purchasers of this fact through clear and conspicuous labeling. DOT may assess civil penalties against any manufacturer that fails to comply with the mandate. The Department of Justice may also bring a civil action to enjoin a violation. Further, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on whether a reliable alternative communication system exists for delivering emergency alerts and consider the (1) cost to drivers and passengers of receiving communications through an alternative system, and (2) cost and time required to develop and implement an alternative.

My Body, My Data Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023

Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act This bill requires entities (e.g., institutions of higher education, libraries, and museums), in order to be eligible for certain grants administered by the Department of Education (ED), to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in their teaching of American history. It also requires Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history to be included in tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Specifically, the bill mandates the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history as a required component of American history for such entities to be eligible for American History and Civics Academies' competitive grants. These grants support the establishment of (1) Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics, which offer workshops to teachers of American history and civics to strengthen their knowledge and prepare them to teach in these subjects; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics, which support high school students in developing an understanding of these subjects. (Currently, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history is not a required component of American history for either academy.) In addition, ED must give priority to grant applicants that align their activities with programs and resources of the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific American Center. The bill also requires the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in tests administered by the NAEP, which measures student academic achievement in various subjects.

PI Post Acute Access Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2023

PI Post Acute Access Act This bill allows for separate payment under Medicare to skilled nursing facilities for items and services that are needed to administer intravenous immune globin (IVIG) to patients with primary immune deficiency diseases (rare genetic disorders that impair the immune system and increase vulnerability for other infections).

DIGITAL Applications Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2023

Deploying Infrastructure with Greater Internet Transactions And Legacy Applications Act or the DIGITAL Applications Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to each establish an online portal for processing communications use authorizations. These are requests for easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, or other authorizations to locate or modify a transmitting device, support structure, or other communications facility on public lands or National Forest System land. Interior and the Forest Service must also notify the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within three business days of establishing their respective portals, and once the portals are established, the NTIA must link to them from its website.

Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2023

Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act This bill extends through FY2033 and increases funding for the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund. The funding is provided from revenues from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases, and awards from the fund are made to states and other entities, including tribes and nonprofits.

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2023

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act This bill directs multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health with a particular focus on racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must address the social determinants of maternal health (i.e., child care, housing, and other nonmedical factors that affect health outcomes). HHS and other departments must also carry out other actions to increase access to maternal health care and otherwise improve maternal health, such as growing and diversifying the maternal health workforce; establishing various grants and other programs, including ones related to maternal health disparities and maternal behavioral health; testing alternative payment models for perinatal care in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); addressing maternal health during public health emergencies; and supporting training, technology, and telehealth initiatives. The bill further provides for extended postpartum and breastfeeding eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; increased research and data collection on maternal health indicators; activities to mitigate adverse maternal health outcomes associated with climate change; and expanded public education to improve maternal vaccination rates. The bill also addresses maternal health for incarcerated populations. For example, it (1) requires the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to establish programs to improve maternity care; and (2) reduces grants for criminal justice activities unless the recipient state or territory has a law to limit the use of restraints during pregnancy for incarcerated populations.

Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2023

Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act This bill incorporates mental health promotion and education into guidelines for school wellness policies that are used by local educational agencies participating in school meal programs. Specifically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must issue further regulations for local educational agencies to (1) incorporate goals for mental health promotion and education, and (2) include reducing eating disorders as part of the nutrition guidelines for foods available on school campuses. The bill also requires that local educational agencies establish multidisciplinary teams of school personnel to lead the development, periodic review, and updating of local school wellness policies. Further, the bill requires the involvement of registered dietitians and school-based mental health services providers (in addition to those already required to be involved) in the periodic review and updating of the local policy. USDA must also provide technical assistance to promote mental health, encourage mental health assessments, and establish resilient school environments.

Providing for the reappointment of Roger W. Ferguson as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023

This joint resolution provides for the reappointment of Roger W. Ferguson as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Providing for the appointment of Antoinette Bush as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023

This joint resolution provides for the appointment of Antoinette Bush as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Providing for the reappointment of Michael Govan as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023

This joint resolution provides for the reappointment of Michael Govan as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023

Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023

Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 This bill revises provisions of the low-income housing tax credit and renames it as the affordable housing tax credit . The bill increases the per capita dollar amount of the credit and its minimum ceiling amount beginning in 2023 and extends the inflation adjustment for such amounts. The bill modifies tenant income eligibility requirements and the average income formula for determining such income. It also revises rules for student occupancy of rental units and tenant voucher payments, and prohibits any refusal to rent to victims of domestic abuse. The bill further modifies the credit to increase state allocations of the credit; repeal the qualified census tract population cap; prohibit consideration of local approval and local government contribution requirements for housing projects; increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households; increase the credit for certain bond-financed projects designated by state agencies; eliminate the basis reduction for properties that receive certain energy-related tax benefits; and increase the population cap for difficult development areas (i.e., areas with high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area median gross income). The bill also includes Indian and rural areas as difficult development areas and modifies other requirements relating to casualty losses, tax-exempt bond financing, and foreclosures.

CASE LOAD Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023

Creating Additional Seats to Ease Legally Overburdened Adjudicators' Dockets Act of 2023 or the CASE LOAD Act of 2023 This bill increases the total number of U.S. district court judgeships for the Eastern District of California. Specifically, the bill incrementally increases the number from 6 to 11 by 2029.

U.S. Citizenship Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023

U.S. Citizenship Act This bill establishes a path to citizenship for certain undocumented individuals. The bill also replaces the term alien with noncitizen in the immigration statutes and addresses other related issues. Specifically, the bill establishes a new status of lawful prospective immigrant . This status shall be available to an applying noncitizen who meets certain requirements, including being continually present in the United States from January 1, 2023, and passing background checks. After at least five years with this status, an eligible noncitizen may apply for and receive lawful permanent resident status. The bill also provides permanent resident status to certain applying noncitizens, specifically for eligible noncitizens who (1) entered the United States as a minor, (2) were eligible for temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure on January 1, 2017, or (3) worked a certain amount of agricultural labor in the five years before applying. Among other things, the bill also redefines for immigration purposes the term conviction to exclude convictions that have been expunged or vacated, requires the Department of State to implement a strategy to advance reforms in Central America and address key factors contributing to migration from the region to the United States, requires the State Department to establish refugee processing centers in Central America, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection sectors and stations to have a certain number of employees with certain qualifications such as paramedic training, generally prohibits religious discrimination in granting or denying immigration benefits, and establishes grant programs for providing training and services to immigrants.

EATS Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023

Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2023 or the EATS Act of 2023 This bill expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for certain students. Specifically, the bill removes the restriction on SNAP eligibility for students to allow otherwise eligible students who are attending institutions of higher education (IHEs) at least half time to participate in SNAP. Under current law, students 18-49 years old are restricted, with exceptions, from participating in SNAP. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 temporarily exempted some students from certain SNAP eligibility requirements; these temporary student exemptions are currently scheduled to expire after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. Further, the bill provides that students enrolled at least half time in a recognized school, training program, or IHE constitute individual households (not residents of institutions ) and may be eligible for SNAP benefits. (Participation in SNAP is limited to households.)

Supporting the designation of May 10, 2023, as "National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day".

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day.

Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023

Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act This bill requires entities (e.g., institutions of higher education, libraries, and museums), in order to be eligible for certain grants administered by the Department of Education (ED), to include Asian Pacific American history in their teaching of American history. It also requires Asian Pacific American history to be included in tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Specifically, the bill mandates the inclusion of Asian Pacific American history as a required component of American history for such entities to be eligible for American History and Civics Academies' competitive grants. These grants support the establishment of (1) Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics, which offer workshops to teachers of American history and civics to strengthen their knowledge and prepare them to teach in these subjects; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics, which support high school students in developing an understanding of these subjects. (Currently, Asian Pacific American history is not a required component of American history for either academy.) In addition, ED must give priority to grant applicants that align their activities with programs and resources of the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific American Center. The bill also requires the inclusion of Asian Pacific American history in tests administered by the NAEP, which measures student academic achievement in various subjects.

Expressing support for the designation of May 2023 as "Mental Health Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

This resolution declares mental health a national priority and supports the designation of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Find It Early Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

PAST Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2023 or the PAST Act of 2023 This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses' limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations.

Transit to Trails Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Transit to Trails Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish the Transit to Trails Grant Program to award grants to certain entities (e.g., states, local governments, and metropolitan planning organizations) for projects that increase transportation access and mobility to public lands, waters, parkland, monuments, or recreational opportunities for critically underserved communities. A critically underserved community is (1) a community that can demonstrate it has inadequate, insufficient, or no park space or recreation facilities; (2) a community in which at least 50% of the population is not located within 1/2 mile of park space; or (3) an environmental justice community (i.e., a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or at-risk tribal and Indigenous communities that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, a disproportionate burden of adverse human health or environmental effects). Among other things, DOT must (1) prioritize the approval of certain projects, such as projects that use low-or no-emission vehicles and those that provide free or discounted rates for low-income riders; (2) develop transportation planning procedures for projects conducted under the program that are consistent with metropolitan and statewide planning processes; and (3) ensure that all new transportation connectors and routes developed under the program are accessible to people with disabilities. The bill requires grant awards to be at least $25,000 and not more than $500,000. Further, the bill requires publication of all schedules and routes for transportation systems that are developed with funds from a grant under the program.