United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
Raise the Age Act of 2023 This bill establishes new restrictions on the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals under 21 years of age. Specifically, this bill makes it unlawful for a licensed gun dealer, importer, manufacturer, or collector to sell or deliver a semiautomatic center-fire rifle or semiautomatic center-fire shotgun that has (or has the capacity to accept) an ammunition feeding device with a capacity of more than five rounds to an individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under age 21. The prohibition does not apply if the individual under age 21 is a full-time law enforcement officer or active-duty member of the Armed Forces. The bill also requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation to report on the operation of its public access line, including a description of information sharing protocols and recommendations for improving such protocols.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2023
End Gun Violence Act of 2023 This bill extends federal restrictions on the sale or disposition of firearms and ammunition to a new category of persons: persons who have been convicted in any court of a violent misdemeanor within the preceding five years.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2023
Rare Earth Magnet Manufacturing Production Tax Credit Act of 2023 This bill allows a new tax credit for the domestic production of rare earth magnets. The magnets must be manufactured or produced in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's trade or business. The credit is disallowed if any component rare earth material used to produce such magnets is produced in a non-allied foreign nation. The bill defines rare earth magnet as a permanent magnet comprised of an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron, or an alloy of samarium and cobalt, which may also include other material.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2023
Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act This bill increases the maximum amount authorized under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant program to $10,000 for veterans with a service-connected disability and $5,000 for those with disabilities that are not service-connected. The HISA grant program provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to veterans' (or service members') primary residence for specified purposes (e.g., allowing for entrance to their home). The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the dollar amount of the grant in accordance with inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2023
Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act of 2023 This bill exempts from worldwide or numerical limitations certain family-sponsored immigrant visas for the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who were naturalized under certain laws providing for naturalization for service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2023
This resolution calls for the creation of a Green New Deal with the goals of achieving greenhouse gas and toxic emissions reductions needed to stay under 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming; establishing millions of high-wage union jobs and ensuring economic security for all; investing in infrastructure and industry; securing clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment for all; and promoting justice and equality. The resolution calls for accomplishment of these goals through a 10-year national mobilization effort. The resolution also enumerates the goals and projects of the mobilization effort, including building smart power grids (i.e., power grids that enable customers to reduce their power use during peak demand periods); upgrading all existing buildings and constructing new buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency; removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and agricultural sectors; cleaning up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites; ensuring businesspersons are free from unfair competition; and providing higher education, high-quality health care, and affordable, safe, and adequate housing to all.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2023
Arnold Daniel Palmer Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in recognition and celebration of Arnold Palmer. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2023
Armenian Genocide Education Act This bill requires the Library of Congress to maintain a public website and otherwise support educational initiatives to promote understanding about the Armenian Genocide (the killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923).
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Puerto Rico Status Act This bill provides for a plebiscite to be held on November 2, 2025, to resolve Puerto Rico's political status. Specifically, such plebiscite shall offer eligible voters a choice of independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood. The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall invite national and international election observers to ensure transparency and confidence in the electoral process, and carry out a nonpartisan voter education campaign through traditional paid media and make available at all voting locations voter education materials related to the plebiscites. All voter educational materials and ballots used to carry out this bill shall be made available in English and Spanish. The bill sets forth transition and implementation provisions for each choice offered in the plebiscite.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
This resolution encourages the United States and Israel to continue deepening and expanding cooperation on economic, security, and civilian issues. The resolution also encourages the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords. The Abraham Accords are agreements to normalize or improve relations between Israel and four members of the Arab League: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Firearms Retailer Code of Conduct Act of 2023 This bill establishes federal statutory requirements and prohibitions related to the sale or transfer of firearms and ammunition by licensed manufactures, importers, and dealers (i.e., federal firearms licensees, or FFLs) in the course of a firearms business. Among the requirements, FFLs and their employees must complete a training course and be certified in the conduct of firearms transfers. Additionally, FFLs must comply with and display written protocols, maintain general business and liability insurance, and securely store each firearm in their inventory when the business is closed. The bill prohibits an FFL from transferring a firearm or ammunition to a straw purchaser, a gun trafficker, an individual who is intoxicated, or an individual who is at risk of harming themselves or others. Further, it prohibits an FFL from transferring a firearm or ammunition to an individual not paying in U.S. currency unless the identity of the individual matches the name on the payment method.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish standards for facilities holding non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) in its custody, phases out using non-DHS facilities for such purposes, and addresses related issues. The standards must comply with the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards. The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) must conduct periodic unannounced inspections of each facility and take various actions against noncompliant facilities, including imposing fines, cancelling contracts, and closing facilities. DHS must report to Congress any death of an individual in its custody within 24 hours and conduct an investigation within 30 days that identifies policy changes that could reduce the likelihood of such a death. DHS may not contract with third parties to operate detention facilities or alternatives to detention programs and must terminate existing contracts within three years of the bill's enactment. The bill establishes that OIG facility inspection reports and contracts for an outside entity to operate a detention facility are records available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. DHS must maintain certain information relating to immigration-related detention, including the detained individual's location and whether the individual was separated from family. The bill provides for various requirements and procedures related to immigration-related detention, including (1) prohibiting DHS from detaining children, (2) imposing a presumption that a detained individual should be released, and (3) establishing that individuals in custody shall be subject to the least restrictive conditions. The bill also abolishes mandatory detention for asylum seekers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2023
Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act or the SAD Act This bill prohibits deceptive advertising for reproductive health services. Specifically, the bill makes deceptive advertising regarding whether a person provides contraceptives, abortion services, or access to licensed medical personnel subject to Federal Trade Commission enforcement.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
Do No Harm Act This bill prohibits the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specified federal laws or the implementation of such laws. Currently, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. Under the bill, RFRA is inapplicable to laws or the implementation of laws that protect against discrimination or require the promotion of equal opportunity (e.g., the Civil Rights Act of 1964); require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for any health care item or service. The bill prevents RFRA from being used to deny (1) goods or services the government has agreed to provide to a beneficiary of or participant in a program or activity funded by a government contract, grant, agreement, or other award; or (2) a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. In order for a person to assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2023
This resolution condemns calls to defund the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and rejects attempts by a vocal minority to degrade public trust in federal law enforcement agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Medicaid VBPs for Patients Act or the MVP Act This bill provides statutory authority for regulations that allow for the use of varying best price points under value-based purchasing arrangements for purposes of the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. ( Value-based purchasing arrangements refer to arrangements in which the price of a drug is linked to clinical outcomes; such arrangements are particularly used for new high-cost treatments, such as gene therapies.) The Government Accountability Office must study the impact of value-based purchasing arrangements on federal health care programs, including with respect to the bill's changes. Additionally, the bill (1) exempts sales of drugs that are made under value-based purchasing arrangements from calculations of the manufacturer average sales price for purposes of payments under Medicare medical services, if the manufacturer reports multiple best prices under Medicaid in accordance with the bill's changes; and (2) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a program under which state Medicaid programs may cover drugs in inpatient settings via value-based purchasing arrangements. The bill's changes terminate five years after enactment; any value-based purchasing arrangements that are in effect as of the date of termination continue to apply.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to address workplace violence in health care, social service, and other sectors. Specifically, Labor must issue an interim occupational safety and health standard that requires certain employers to take actions to protect workers and other personnel from workplace violence. The standard applies to employers in the health care sector, in the social service sector, and in sectors that conduct activities similar to those in the health care and social service sectors. In addition, Labor must promulgate a final standard within a specified time line.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Technology Grants to Strengthen Domestic Mining Education Act of 2023 or the Mining Schools Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grant program to support domestic mining education. Under the program, DOE must award up to 10 grants each year to mining schools for recruiting and educating mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet future energy and mineral needs. In addition, the bill repeals the Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act of 2023 This bill eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act This bill delays reductions to Medicaid disproportionate-share hospital (DSH) allotments until FY2026. (DSHs are hospitals that receive additional payments under Medicaid for treating a large share of low-income patients.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2023
US Rescue and Aid Individuals of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023 This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the Americans who were active in aiding and rescuing Jews and other refugees during the period of Nazi Germany's genocidal Final Solution policy to murder every Jew in Europe. The medal recognizes the contributions of these Americans, which resulted in tens of thousands of Jews and others being spared from almost certain death.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Permit Reform In Mining for Energy and Defense Act or the PRIMED Act This bill makes certain actions taken by the Department of Defense to secure critical materials for energy infrastructure (e.g., minerals) eligible for an expedited environmental review by including those projects within the scope of covered projects under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2023
Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 20 2 3 This bill modifies, expands, and reauthorizes through FY2028 the Family Violence and Prevention Services program, which funds emergency shelters and supports related assistance for victims of domestic violence. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants and enter cooperative agreements with state and tribal domestic violence coalitions, and community-based organizations, to support prevention services. Depending on the type of organization, grant recipients must use funding to (1) provide technical assistance; (2) promote evidence-informed prevention strategies; (3) implement coordinated, community responses to reduce risk factors for family violence; and (4) develop prevention partnership strategies. Further, HHS must award specified grants to organizations that provide population-specific services in underserved communities and to community-based organizations that provide culturally specific domestic violence services to racial and ethnic minority groups. The bill also establishes a grants program for tribal domestic violence coalitions to support the provision of local, tribal, family domestic or dating violence services and requires HHS to award a grant for the administration of a hotline dedicated to serving Indians affected by domestic violence. In addition, the bill modifies certain program-wide definitions; changes the requirements for specified grant applications, eligibility criteria, and use of funds; and makes other technical revisions.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
Securing Access to Lower Taxes by ensuring Deductibility Act or the SALT Deductibility Act This bill repeals the temporary restrictions in taxable years 2018 through 2025 on the deductibility of state and local taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
School Meals Expansion Act This bill expands eligibility for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the school lunch program. It also increases the reimbursement rate for schools under the CEP. (The CEP allows eligible schools, groups of schools, and school districts the option to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.) This bill lowers the threshold for a school to participate in the CEP to an identified student percentage (ISP) of at least 25%, from 40%. The ISP is the percentage of students who are eligible for free school meals without a household application, primarily those who are directly certified through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill also increases the reimbursement multiplier for school meals to 2.5 from the current 1.6, effectively increasing the reimbursement rate for the CEP participating schools. The reimbursement multiplier is used to calculate how many meals will be reimbursed at the free meal rate. A higher multiplier means more meals will be reimbursed at this higher rate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2023
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment providing that the rights protected and extended by the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation. The amendment requires federal, state, and local governments to (1) regulate, limit, or prohibit election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate's own contributions and expenditures, to ensure equal access of citizens to the political process, regardless of economic status; and (2) require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. Additionally, the judiciary is prohibited from construing the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2023 This bill requires hospitals to implement and submit to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a staffing plan that complies with specified minimum nurse-to-patient ratios by unit. Hospitals must post a notice regarding nurse-to-patient ratios in each unit and maintain records of actual ratios for each shift in each unit. The bill also requires hospitals to follow certain procedures regarding how ratios are determined, and other staff are prohibited from performing nurse functions unless specifically authorized within a state's scope of practice rules. HHS must adjust Medicare payments to hospitals to cover additional costs attributable to compliance with these ratios. Nurses may object to, or refuse to participate in, an assignment if it would violate minimum ratios or if they are not prepared by education or experience to fulfill the assignment without compromising the safety of a patient or jeopardizing their nurse's license. Hospitals may not (1) take adverse actions against a nurse based on the nurse's reasonable refusal to accept an assignment; or (2) discriminate against individuals for good faith complaints relating to the care, services, or conditions of the hospital or related facilities. HHS may impose civil monetary penalties on hospitals violating the ratio requirements and must publish the names of such hospitals. The bill provides stipends to the nurse workforce loan repayment and scholarship program and expands the nurse retention grant program to include nurse preceptorship and mentorship projects.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2023
BAH Restoration Act This bill increases the monthly amount of the basic housing allowance for members of the uniformed services inside the United States. Specifically, the monthly amount of allowance for a member must be the amount of the monthly cost of adequate housing in the area, as determined by the Department of Defense, for members of the uniformed services serving in the same pay grade and same dependency status as the member.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act This bill allows for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that are used to screen for cancer across many cancer types, if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services determines such coverage is appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023 This bill generally prohibits the manufacture, process, use, and distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos or any mixture or article containing commercial asbestos. The President may, on application, grant exemptions from the prohibition in situations where it is necessary to protect national security interests. The Environmental Protection Agency must develop and make publicly available resources that may be used to educate the public and health professionals about (1) the adverse health effects of asbestos exposure, (2) any federal resources available to address the prevention and mitigation of asbestos exposure, and (3) the availability of licensed commercial asbestos mitigation.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act or the RISE Act This bill establishes requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs) concerning students with disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires IHEs to allow students to use certain documents, such as individualized education programs, to establish their disabilities. In addition, IHEs must make the process for determining the eligibility for accommodations transparent. Finally, IHEs must submit key data related to their undergraduate students with disabilities for inclusion in federal postsecondary institution data collection efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2023 This bill revises background check requirements applicable to proposed firearm transfers from a federal firearms licensee (e.g., a licensed gun dealer) to an unlicensed person. Specifically, it increases the amount of time, from 3 business days to a minimum of 10 business days, that a federal firearms licensee must wait to receive a completed background check prior to transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person. (This type of transaction is often referred to as a default proceed transaction.) If a submitted background check remains incomplete after 10 business days, then the prospective purchaser may submit a petition for a final firearms eligibility determination. If an additional 10 days elapse without a final determination, then the federal firearms licensee may transfer the firearm to the prospective purchaser. The Government Accountability Office must report on the extent to which the changes have prevented firearms transfers to prohibited persons. The Federal Bureau of Investigation must report on the number of petitions it receives for final federal firearms determinations. The Department of Justice, in consultation with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms, must report on further amendments to the background check process that would likely reduce the risk of death or great bodily harm to victims of domestic violence, domestic abuse, dating partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition in WIC Act of 2023 or the MODERN WIC Act of 2023 This bill permanently allows individuals to remotely certify their eligibility for, and receive benefits through, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Specifically, the bill allows an individual seeking a WIC certification, recertification, or a nutritional risk evaluation to do so by phone or through video teleconference, in addition to the in-person option. The bill also allows states to provide benefits on WIC electronic benefit transfer cards through mail or remote issuance instead of requiring participants to pick up or reload benefits in person at a WIC office. The bill also reauthorizes Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) WIC funding for infrastructure, management information systems, and special nutrition education through FY2029. Specified funds must be used to establish, develop, improve, replace, or administer technology platforms that allow for secure communication between health care providers and program clinics under the program. Further, the Department of Agriculture must report to Congress about the use of remote technologies and other digital tools in the WIC program. Under current law, individuals are generally required to be physically present to certify their WIC eligibility and receive benefits, with exceptions. The FNS has temporarily waived these requirements and allowed remote certification and benefits using authorities that were originally provided by laws that were enacted to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Women's Health Protection Act of 2023 This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. Before fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from using particular abortion procedures or drugs, offering abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately providing abortion services if delaying risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require providers to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, or comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers who offer medically comparable services to abortions. Additionally, governments may not require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining services. After fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from performing abortions when necessary to protect a patient's life and health. The same provisions that apply to abortions before viability also apply to necessary abortions after viability. Additionally, states may authorize post-viability abortions in circumstances beyond those that the bill considers necessary. Further, the bill recognizes an individual's right to interstate travel, including for abortion services. The bill also prohibits governments from implementing measures that are similar to those restricted by the bill or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may sue states or government officials to enforce this bill, regardless of certain immunity that would otherwise apply.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Access to AEDs Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools operating as LEAs under state law, to promote student access to defibrillation in elementary and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Protection from Abusive Passengers Act This bill addresses the banning of abusive passengers from commercial aircraft flights. Abusive passenger is defined as any individual who engages in behavior that results in a civil penalty or conviction for assaulting, threatening, or intimidating a crew member or passenger on an aircraft flight, or for taking any action to interfere with security screening personnel or any security system related to civil aviation security. The bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration or the Department of Justice to provide the identity (including the full name, date of birth, and gender) of all abusive passengers to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA must maintain a list of abusive passengers and develop and make publicly available policies and procedures for handling individuals included on the list. Any individual on the list is prohibited from boarding any commercial aircraft flight until the individual is removed from such list. Additionally, all abusive passengers are permanently ineligible to participate in the TSA PreCheck or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry programs, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide competitive grants for projects that provide public parking for commercial motor vehicles and improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers. States, metropolitan planning organizations, tribal governments, and local governments are eligible for these grants. The grants must be used for projects on federal-aid highways or a facility with reasonable access to such a highway or a freight facility. In providing grants, DOT must determine that there is a shortage of commercial motor vehicle parking capacity in the corridor in which the project is located; the eligible entity has consulted with motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle drivers, public safety officials, and private providers of commercial motor vehicle parking regarding the project; the project will likely increase the availability or utilization of commercial motor vehicle parking, facilitate the efficient movement of freight or improve highway safety, traffic congestion, and air quality; and the eligible entity has demonstrated the ability to provide for the maintenance and operation of the facility. To the maximum extent practicable, DOT must select grant projects that maximize the geographic dispersion of new commercial motor vehicle parking capacity across the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
National Plan to End Parkinson's Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a project to prevent and cure Parkinson's disease (a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements) and related conditions. Among other components of the project, HHS must (1) implement and periodically update a national plan to coordinate and guide efforts to prevent, slow the progression of, and cure the disease; and (2) improve diagnosis, treatment, and care of those with the disease. HHS must also annually assess the preparations for and response to the increased burden of Parkinson's disease. In addition, the bill establishes a council, comprised of federal and nonfederal stakeholders, to advise HHS on and make recommendations concerning the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease. The provisions of the bill terminate at the end of calendar year 2035.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, including hospitals in rural areas and health professional shortage areas. Current law provides for an increase of up to 200 positions per fiscal year beginning in FY2023, with a total increase of 1,000 positions; each hospital may receive up to 25 additional positions. Current law also provides for an additional increase of up to 200 positions for FY2026, with at least 100 of these positions for psychiatry or related specialties; each hospital may receive up to 10 additional positions. The bill provides for an additional increase of 2,000 positions per fiscal year from FY2025-FY2031; during this period, each hospital may receive up to 75 additional positions in total under the bill and current law. Additionally, one-third of the positions that are made available under the bill must be allocated to hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on strategies to increase the diversity of the health professional workforce, including with respect to representation from rural, low-income, and minority communities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
Combating Illicit Xylazine Act This bill criminalizes the illicit use of xylazine. (Xylazine, also known as Tranq , is a sedative that is approved for use in animals. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reported an increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.) Specifically, the bill establishes criminal penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, xylazine for illicit use (i.e., for use in humans) in accordance with the penalties for schedule III substances (up to 10 years imprisonment or, if death or serious bodily injury occurs, up to 15 years imprisonment, as well as criminal fines). In addition, the DEA must coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration to report on the prevalence of the illicit use of xylazine, including associated supply chains. The bill also declares the illicit use of xylazine as an emerging drug threat.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
International Human Rights Defense Act of 2023 This bill establishes in the Department of State a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex) Peoples who shall serve as the principal State Department advisor regarding human rights for LGBTQI+ people and represent the United States in diplomatic matters relevant to the human rights of LGBTQI+ people. The special envoy shall periodically provide Congress with a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ people. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development may provide assistance to prevent and respond to such activities against LGBTQI+ people. The bill also requires that specified annual country reports on human rights practices include information on criminalization, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Fulbright Scholars Act of 2023 This bill authorizes special immigrant visas for qualifying citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who were selected for certain educational and cultural exchange programs. Specifically, a citizen or national of Afghanistan (and any accompanying spouse or child of such an individual) may be eligible for a special immigrant visa if the individual was selected between October 7, 2001, and August 31, 2023, to participate in a qualifying educational or cultural exchange program administered by the Department of State, including the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. Generally, such visas shall be subject to protections and requirements similar to those for special immigrant visas for citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who were employed by the United States in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King in recognition of her courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education, and society.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act This bill establishes that a foreign nongovernmental organization shall not be disqualified from receiving certain U.S. international development assistance solely because the organization provides medical services using non-U.S. government funds if the medical services do not violate the laws of the country in which they are being provided. Such foreign organizations shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy or lobbying activities, other than those that apply to U.S. nongovernmental organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2023
Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2023 or the SAFEGUARD Act of 2023 This bill establishes specified measures to prevent the sale, export, or transfer of defense articles or defense services to foreign countries for use in violation of international humanitarian law or internationally recognized human rights. These measures include (1) prohibiting arms sales to countries committing genocide or war crimes, (2) requiring a consideration of human rights practices and democratization in any foreign country to which an arms sale is contemplated, and (3) providing for congressional oversight of arms exports to foreign countries wherein certain human rights violations have occurred.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2023
End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2023 This bill authorizes actions, including the provision of international assistance, to combat tuberculosis. The President may provide international assistance to prevent, treat, control, and eliminate tuberculosis. The President must also establish goals for U.S. efforts to detect, cure, and prevent all forms of tuberculosis globally by updating the National Action Plan for Combating Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis. The Government Accountability Office must periodically report to Congress on the impact of efforts to combat tuberculosis that are supported by U.S. bilateral assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2023
LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of the coins shall be promptly paid by Treasury to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties for the objects and purposes related to the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States. Treasury is encouraged to develop and execute a marketing and educational program to promote and sell the coins.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2023
United States-Israel Future of Warfare Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense to establish the United States-Israel Future of Warfare Research and Development Fund to conduct collaborative defense projects between the United States and Israel in areas of emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence). The purpose of the fund is to enable the Armed Forces of the United States and Israel to meet emerging defense challenges.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2023
Carnivals are Real Entertainment Act This bill makes certain workers with a traveling carnival or circus eligible for P visas (nonimmigrant visas for athletes, artists, and entertainers). Such visas shall be available for workers who perform functions that are integral and essential to the carnival or circus, such as transporting and assembling relevant structures and equipment. Such visas shall only be available for a position if (1) there are not sufficient U.S. workers available, and (2) employing a non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) will not affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.
![Official portrait of Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s001193_200.jpg)