United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2017
Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2017 This bill establishes and expands various programs related to education, housing, employment, and social welfare. The Department of Education must award grants to states for the development and implementation of prekindergarten programs. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention within the Department of Justice may award grants to assist communities in addressing juvenile delinquency and gang prevention. The bill expands: the Pell Grant program, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. With respect to housing, the bill: phases out the federal mortgage-interest income-tax deduction, replacing it with a new mortgage-interest income-tax credit; expands the federal low-income housing income-tax credit; expands certain affordable-housing programs; and establishes a federal income-tax credit for low-income renters. With respect to employment, the bill: expands unemployment compensation benefits; establishes several new employment-related programs to be carried out by the Department of Labor; establishes a tax credit for employers that hire long-term unemployed individuals; establishes prohibitions on employment discrimination based on an individual's status as unemployed; increases the federal minimum wage, incrementally over a period of seven years, to $15.00 per hour. In addition, the bill: expands the federal earned-income tax credit, makes refundable a federal income-tax credit for dependent care expenses, and expands eligibility for certain child-care benefits. The bill also establishes: within the Congressional Budget Office, a Poverty Impact Division; and within the Department of Health and Human Services, a Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017
Stopping Threats On Pedestrians Act of 2017 or the STOP Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a program to assist bollard installation projects designed to prevent pedestrian injuries and acts of terrorism in areas utilized by large numbers of pedestrians. Such a project is one that installs raised concrete or metal posts on a sidewalk adjacent to a roadway that are designed to slow or stop a motor vehicle.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017
Keep Americans Safe Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to knowingly transfer, possess, import, or bring into the United States a large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). It permits the continued possession of a grandfathered LCAFD. Additionally, the bill does not prohibit, with respect to an LCAFD: manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; transfer or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification that clearly shows the device was manufactured after this bill's enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017
75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 500,000 $1 coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The coins shall be emblematic of the sacrifices made by millions of people of the United States 75 years ago in bringing an end to World War II. The design on each coin shall represent the World War II Victory Medal, which was awarded to all 16 million U.S. military personnel who served from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. The bill requires all sales of such coins include specified surcharges, which shall be paid by Treasury to the congressionally designated National WWII Museum to fund its educational mission of telling the story of the U.S. experience in World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2017
Food Bank Assistance Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide additional funding to the Department of Agriculture for carrying out the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). (TEFAP helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including the elderly, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance. The program provides food and administrative funds to states to supplement the diets of these groups.)
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2017
Encourages Congress to develop and implement policies supporting and improving the education, training, professional development, research, and lives of physician assistants (PAs), and supports the designation of National PA Week to raise awareness, visibility, and appreciation for the PA profession.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2017
Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2017 This bill directs the President to establish a five-year strategy to accelerate progress toward ending preventable child and maternal deaths within a generation and ensure healthy and productive lives for women and children. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shall: (1) identify target countries with the greatest need and the highest burden of preventable child and maternal deaths, and (2) designate a current USAID employee serving in the Senior Executive Service or at the level of a Deputy Assistant Administrator or higher to serve concurrently as the Senior Coordinator for Child and Maternal Survival.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2017
This bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to revise the quorum requirement for the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States to require the lesser of three members or the number of members holding office on the board (currently, at least three members) for there to be a quorum.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2017
Honors the accomplishments of the nine historically black colleges and universities that celebrated their 150th anniversary during the week of September 24, 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act This bill amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to repeal provisions that prohibit civil actions against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, seller, importer, dealer, or trade association for the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm. Additionally, the bill states that firearms trace data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is not immune from legal process. Such data is subject to discovery; is admissible as evidence; and may be used, relied on, or disclosed in a civil action or administrative proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2017 This bill establishes the United States Commission on Hate Crimes to investigate and report on: whether hate crimes have increased; factors that contributed to an increase in hate crimes, if one is determined to exist; policies or actions by law enforcement agencies to reduce hate crimes; and the impact of underreporting on hate crimes statistics and prevention.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove the statue of Albert Pike near Judiciary Square in the District of Columbia using non-federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
Small Business Cybersecurity Enhancement Act This bill amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration to guarantee up to 90% of the amount of a loan made to a small business that has 100 or fewer employees, has been in business for at least one year, and has obtained training from a small business development center. The loan guarantee must be used for the acquisition of cybersecurity technology and services and the cost of the installation or use of such technology and services. For purposes of this bill "cybersecurity technology and services" excludes information technology whose sole use is financial management, maintenance of inventory of basic supplies, or appointment scheduling.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
Manufacturing Jobs for Veterans Act This bill directs the Department of Labor, as part of the Veteran's Workforce Investment Program, to carry out a five-year Veterans Manufacturing Employment Program to award competitive grants to three states for the establishment and administration of a State Manufacturing Employment Program to make grants to manufacturing employers and labor-management organizations that provide training, on-job training, apprenticeships, and certification classes to eligible veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2017
Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle but not convert the semiautomatic rifle into a machine gun. The bill does not prohibit, with respect to such firearm accessories, the importation or manufacture for, sale or transfer to, or possession by a federal, state, or local government. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2017
Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish detention standards for each facility at which aliens in DHS custody are detained. Such standards shall provide for at least the level of detainee protections described in the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards. A detained individual who is injured as a result of a violation of such standards may file a claim in U.S. district court. The bill: (1) provides for facility oversight and transparency, (2) phases out the use of private detention facilities and jails for such aliens, and (3) revises procedures for detaining aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2017
Fire Police Fairness Act This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include a fire police officer within the definition of "public safety officer" for purposes of death benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017
States that the House of Representatives supports the reentry of the United States into the Paris Climate Accord; stands with the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria; and will move effectively to aid in their recovery.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2017
College Student Hunger Act of 2017 This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility of students to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to include individuals enrolled in an institution of higher education who: (1) have an expected family contribution of zero, as determined by the procedures established the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA); or (2) are determined to be independent based on specified criteria included in the HEA.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2017
Strengthening our Pediatric Workforce Act of 2017 This bill temporarily expands the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program by authorizing the Health Resources and Services Administration to award grants to support additional, specialty residency positions at hospitals that already have approved programs, and to support the establishment of such specialty programs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2017
National Health Service Corps Strengthening Act of 2017 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to extend through FY2022 and make appropriations for enhanced funding for the National Health Service Corps.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017
Humanitarian Disaster Relief Act of 2017 This bill allows the head of an agency responsible for the administration of the navigation or vessel inspection laws, when the head considers it necessary for humanitarian relief efforts, and following a determination by the Maritime Administrator of the non-availability of qualified U.S. flag capacity to meet those requirements, to waive compliance with those laws as the Administrator prescribes.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017
Drinking Water Infrastructure for Job Creation Act This bill provides $7.5 billion in supplemental FY2017 appropriations to the Environmental Protection Agency to remain available through FY2022 for capitalization grants to the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. (The program assists public water systems in financing infrastructure projects needed to comply with federal drinking water regulations and meet health objectives under the Safe Drinking Water Act.) The funding provided by this bill is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The emergency funding is exempt from discretionary spending limits and is only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts as an emergency and submits the designation to Congress. The bill also exempts the funding from sequestration. (Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2017
Transportation Infrastructure for Job Creation Act This bill provides $7.5 billion in supplemental FY2017 appropriations to the Department of Transportation to remain available through FY2022 for national infrastructure investments under a competitive grant program commonly known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The funding provided by this bill is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. The emergency funding is exempt from discretionary spending limits and is only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts as an emergency and submits the designation to Congress. The bill also exempts the funding from sequestration. (Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017
Today's American Dream Act This bill establishes new programs or amends existing programs related to workforce and community development. It directs: (1) the Department of Labor to award grants for job skills training for older individuals (older than age 45) and for workers in highly-skilled industries; and (2) the Department of Education to award scholarships to students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) and teaching certifications. The bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) expand and extend the work opportunity tax credit, (2) allow tax credits for wages paid to interns by small business owners, and (3) extend and increase the new markets tax credit. With respect to community development, the bill limits the first-time homebuyer tax credit to residences purchased in economically distressed communities. It requires the Small Business Administration to make grants for commercial investment in economically underserved communities and direct loans to small business concerns. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on efforts to expand access to broadband service. The bill establishes a Commission on Innovation in the Office of Management and Budget to study new and developing technologies. The Department of Health and Human Services must: (1) study characteristics of populations that do not have health insurance coverage, and (2) award grants for free dental health services in underserved communities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017
Recognizes the challenges in addressing health outcomes among people with sickle-cell trait and sickle-cell disease. (Sickle-cell disease refers to blood disorders resulting from abnormal red blood cells.) Encourages the medical community to make individuals aware of their sickle-cell trait status. Urges the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a public awareness campaign regarding the importance of individuals knowing their sickle-cell trait status and to expand access for screening and counseling. Commits to supporting research on sickle-cell trait and sickle-cell disease.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2017
No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an individual who uses such a vehicle in committing a felony involving a severe form of human trafficking.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2017
Expresses support for the designation of National Kinship Care Month. Honors the commitment and dedication of kinship caregivers and advocates. Encourages Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2017
Personal Data Notification and Protection Act of 2017 This bill requires certain businesses that use, access, transmit, store, dispose of, or collect sensitive personally identifiable information to notify individuals whose information is believed to have been accessed or acquired through a discovered security breach. In addition, the businesses must meet specified requirements for notifying certain federal agencies, credit reporting agencies, and the media regarding a security breach. The bill also sets forth requirements for the notification process, exemptions from the requirements, and enforcement authorities for the Federal Trade Commission and the states.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2017
Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish and implement a strategic action plan and to establish a climate and health program to ensure the public health and health care systems in the United States and other nations are prepared for, and can respond to, the impacts of climate change on health. The bill directs HHS to revise the plan periodically to reflect new scientific developments and information. HHS must establish a permanent science advisory board to provide: (1) scientific and technical recommendations on the impacts of climate change on public health, and (2) advice for purposes of issuing the plan and conducting the program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2017
Common Sense Opportunities Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to inform each entity operating programs under the federal TRIO programs (programs designed to identify and provide services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds) of the status of their application for continued funding at least four months (currently eight) prior to the expiration of the funding. The bill establishes a process for applicants to resubmit an application for a grant or contract for higher education resources or student assistance when the application contains a technical error. The bill prohibits ED from rejecting an application solely because it contains a technical error, unless ED notifies the applicant of the error and the applicant does not correct it by the resubmission deadline. ED must submit an annual report that: (1) identifies each entity that received a grant or contract for higher education resources or student assistance and indicates the amount of the grant or contract; and (2) identifies each entity that applied for, but did not receive, such grant or contract and indicates the reason for the rejection of the application. ED must set forth the information separately for each state and local educational agency in the report.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2017
Child Care for Working Families Act This bill provides additional grant funding for child care and preschool programs. It also modifies various requirements for the programs, including policies regarding compensation and training for employees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2017
Recognizes: (1) the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month; and (2) the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2017
Disapproves of an act by the President to grant to himself or any family member a reprieve, pardon, or commutation of a sentence for an offense against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2017
Reducing Waste in National Parks Act This bill directs each regional director of a region of the National Park System (NPS) to establish a program to recycle and reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles within each NPS unit located in its region. Regional directors may eliminate the sale of water in disposable plastic bottles within their NPS units after having considered several specified factors. Where an NPS unit is not offering water for sale in disposable plastic bottles, the superintendent of the unit may continue that practice, upon submission of an evaluation of those factors. Each regional director who establishes and implements such a program shall develop for each affected NPS unit a proactive visitor education strategy to address visitor expectations of water availability and explain the rationale for the program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2017
Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence Act of 2017 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to extend through FY2022 and make appropriations for enhanced funding for the community health centers program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2017
Grow American Incomes Now Act of 2017 or the GAIN Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the earned income tax credit (EITC), to: (1) increase specified credit and phaseout percentages, (2) increase the earned income amounts and the phaseout amounts, (3) decrease from 25 to 21 the minimum eligibility age for individuals without qualifying children, and (4) allow employees to elect to receive advance payments of the EITC from employers when wages are paid.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2017
Comprehensive Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act of 2017 This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to revise requirements for disputes regarding consumer credit information reported by a consumer reporting agency (CRA). The bill prescribes requirements for: record maintenance by furnishers of credit information, CRA action when notified of inaccurate or incomplete information from furnishers, and injunctive relief for consumers in the event of noncompliance. The bill limits the circumstances in which a CRA may furnish a consumer report for employment purposes. No CRA may furnish a consumer report containing any adverse item of information relating to a delinquent or defaulted private education loan of a borrower who has a specified demonstrated history of loan repayment. The bill revises requirements relating to information contained in credit reports, requires removal of adverse information that resulted from specified fraudulent lending activity, and shortens the time period adverse information stays on reports. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) must issue final regulations for development of credit scoring models. CRAs must disclose free credit scores to consumers with their free annual consumer reports. Specified lenders must give consumers free copies of any consumer reports and credit scores they used for underwriting before consumers sign the respective loan agreements. The bill establishes requirements related to credit report sales, required disclosures, and credit freezes. The CFPB is directed to create a nationwide CRA registry.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2017
SNAP Standard Medical Expense Deduction Act of 2017 This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow households containing an elderly or disabled member to use a standard medical expense deduction for calculating income to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits. If the amount of actual costs of allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member for a month, exclusive of special diets, is equal to or greater than $35, the standard medical deduction for each month is: (1) $140 for FY2018, and (2) the preceding year's amount with a specified adjustment for inflation for FY2019 and each subsequent year. If the monthly costs are greater than the sum of the standard medical deduction and $35, the household may deduct the actual costs. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) may approve a standard medical deduction that is higher than the amount required by this bill. USDA must submit specified studies and reports to Congress regarding: (1) state performance in enrolling disabled and elderly individuals in SNAP and specified Medicare programs, (2) disability and food insecurity, and (3) the effectiveness of the standard medical deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2017
Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing Act This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to specify that the following unwelcome conduct in or around a dwelling shall be considered sufficiently severe or pervasive as to constitute a discriminatory housing practice: (1) unwelcome touching of a sexual nature or groping; or (2) any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is intended to be coercive, threatening, or intimidating.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2017
Medicare Buy-In and Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017 This bill makes a series of changes relating to health insurance options and costs. Among other things, the bill establishes a Medicare buy-in option for individuals aged 50 to 64, requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to negotiate drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries, and establishes an individual market reinsurance fund.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2017
This bill provides statutory authority for the Minority Bank Deposit Program (which encourages the use of minority-owned banks, women-owned banks, and credit unions that serve low-income communities).
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2017
Healthy Breakfasts Help Kids Learn Act of 2017 This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional food (known as commodity assistance) to states participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP). (Under current law, USDA provides commodity assistance to states participating in the National School Lunch Program based on the number of lunches served. The food may also be served as part of the SBP or other child nutrition programs.) The bill modifies the requirements to: (1) repeal a provision that prohibits USDA from offering commodity assistance based on the number of school breakfasts served, and (2) require USDA to use a specified formula to provide additional commodity assistance for each school breakfast served.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2017
Denounces and opposes the violence, xenophobia, and bigotry promoted by white nationalists and neo-Nazis. Urges federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to recognize white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups as terrorist organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2017
Harriet Tubman Tribute Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the Department of the Treasury to ensure that each $20 federal reserve note printed after December 31, 2019, bears the likeness of Harriet Tubman.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2017
Javits Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize through FY2018 the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, which provides competitive fellowships to graduate students for study in the fields of arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Department of Education must ensure that music education is included among the fields of study for which a fellowship may be awarded under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2017
Confederate Monument Removal Act This bill amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to prohibit statues of certain persons who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America from being displayed in National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol shall identify all such statues and, subject to the approval of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress, arrange for their removal from the Capitol within 120 days. States may substitute statues in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the Revised Statutes and the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001. The bill makes appropriations for the activities in the bill.
![Official portrait of Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/115_rp_pa_2_evans_dwight_200.jpg)