United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act This bill requires the Federal Reserve Board to carry out its duties in a manner that supports the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in employment, income, wealth, and access to affordable credit. The board must report on disparities in labor force trends as well as on plans and activities of the board to minimize and eliminate these disparities.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2020
This resolution remembers the victims, survivors, and the El Paso community on the one-year anniversary of the deadliest attack against Latinos in recent history. The resolution offers condolences and support for everyone impacted by the tragedy. The resolution thanks the first responders and law enforcement for their swift action. The resolution acknowledges the work that remains to combat racism, xenophobia, terrorism, and hate crimes, including by passing legislation to curb gun violence. Finally, the resolution commits to ensuring that another tragedy such as this never happens again.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2020
This resolution confirms that the 2020 presidential election shall be held on November 3, 2020. It recognizes that the United States shall hold elections as constitutionally mandated and legally authorized.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Clean Energy Innovation Funding Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of Science, the Office of Electricity, and the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs of the Department of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the use of certain foreign assistance funds to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services in developing countries, including abortion services, training, and equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2020
Worker Relief and Security Act of 2020 This bill extends, and expands eligibility for, pandemic unemployment assistance; it also extends federal pandemic unemployment compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2020
Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act This bill establishes investment programs and generally revises provisions related to community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions. The Department of the Treasury must establish a Neighborhood Capital Investment Program to facilitate direct capital investments in low- and moderate-income community financial institutions. To qualify for the program, these institutions must, among other things, (1) demonstrate specified lending history regarding low-and moderate-income borrowers and other targeted populations, and (2) provide details regarding plans to expand or maintain lending to certain minority communities and historically disadvantaged borrowers. The bill also establishes the Neighborhood Loan Program through the Federal Reserve Board's emergency powers to create a credit facility for small business loans, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income community financial institutions serving low- and moderate-income and minority communities. The bill requires certain amounts available through existing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) economic aid programs to be set aside for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Regarding minority depository institutions, the bill establishes the Minority Bank Deposit Program to expand the use of minority depository institutions to hold the deposits of federal departments and agencies, allows new minority depository institutions to take three years to meet initial capital requirements, and establishes a program allowing minority depository institutions to apply to receive deposits from certain Treasury accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2020
Represent America Abroad Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of State to establish the Represent America Mid-Career Foreign Service Entry Program to increase diversity in the Foreign Service by recruiting mid-career professionals who are from minority groups. As part of the program, the State Department shall (1) establish and publish eligibility criteria for participation; (2) carry out recruitment efforts to attract highly qualified, mid-career professionals from minority groups; and (3) include appropriate mentorship and other career development opportunities for program participants. The State Department must submit an annual report on the status of the program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to provide grants and other forms of emergency assistance to certain providers of transportation services that have experienced a significant revenue loss as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Treasury must ensure equal access to the assistance for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. As a condition of receipt of assistance, Treasury must require that a provider of transportation services agree to (1) use the funds, on a priority basis, to maintain through December 31, 2020, pay, paid administrative leave, and benefits to all employees after making any adjustments required for retirement or voluntary employee separation; and (2) recall or rehire any employee laid off, furloughed, or terminated because of reduced service as a result of COVID-19, to the extent warranted by increased service levels.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Local Journalism Sustainability Act This bill allows individual and business taxpayers certain tax credits for the support of local newspapers and media. Specifically, individual taxpayers may claim an income tax credit up to $250 for a local newspaper subscription. The bill also allows local newspaper employers a payroll tax credit for wages paid to an employee for service as a journalist and certain small businesses a tax credit for local newspaper and media advertising expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Protect Access to Birth Control Act This bill nullifies interim final rules issued by the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Health and Human Services that allow employers with religious or moral objections to be exempt from the requirement that their health insurance plans cover contraceptive services without cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act This bill allows an individual sentenced to death by a state to present newly discovered evidence in a petition challenging the legality of the individual's detention (i.e., a habeas corpus petition). Under the bill, a federal court may grant a habeas corpus petition concerning such an individual if the death sentence was imposed without consideration of newly discovered evidence of the individual's probable innocence. Furthermore, a federal court may consider, subject to certain requirements, a subsequent petition concerning such an individual if the petition is based on a claim that the death sentence was imposed without consideration of newly discovered evidence of the individual's probable innocence. (Currently, if a federal court has already considered a habeas corpus petition concerning an individual, subsequent petitions concerning that individual shall be dismissed, with limited exceptions.)
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2020
This resolution recognizes the forthcoming centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The resolution, among other things acknowledges the historical significance of this event as one of the largest single instances of state-sanctioned violence against black people in American history; honors the lives and legacies of the estimated 300 black individuals who were killed during the massacre and the nearly 9,000 who were left homeless and penniless; condemns efforts to cover up the truth and shield the white community, especially government officials, from accountability; condemns the continued legacy of racism and white supremacy against black people in the United States, particularly in the form of police brutality; encourages education about the massacre, the history of white supremacy that fueled the massacre, and subsequent attempts to deny or cover up the massacre, in all elementary and secondary education settings and in institutions of higher education; and recognizes the commitment of Congress to acknowledge and learn from the history of racism and racial violence to reverse the legacy of white supremacy and fight for racial justice.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
This resolution condemns the advancement of China's national security legislation for Hong Kong. The resolution also advises the United States to coordinate with allies to respond to developments in Hong Kong, including by providing Hong Kong residents who face well-founded fears of persecution an opportunity to emigrate from Hong Kong.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Voices for Veterans Act This bill expands the membership of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans to include veterans who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Among other responsibilities, the committee advises the Department of Veterans Affairs on the administration of benefits and provision of health care, benefits, and services to minority veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
This resolution directs the Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into specified instances to determine whether the House of Representatives should impeach Attorney General William Barr. The resolution authorizes the committee, or any subcommittee or task force designated by the committee, to take affidavits and depositions by a member, counsel, or consultant of the committee, pursuant to notice or subpoena.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
This bill requires the Small Business Administration to establish the interest rate at 1% for any economic injury disaster loan made during the period beginning on January 31, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2020
This resolution commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean war and expresses support for the alliance between the United States and South Korea. The resolution also commends the two countries' cooperation with respect to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2020
The COVID-19 Hospital and Health Provider Loan Forgiveness Act of 2020 This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements for the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The program provides Medicare payments in advance to eligible providers experiencing claims or cash flow disruptions, such as during national emergencies; the program was specifically expanded in response to COVID-19 to encompass more types of providers, subject to certain recoupment and repayment provisions. The bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to waive recoupment and repayment for providers who meet specified requirements. Among other criteria, providers must not have engaged in surprise billing practices with respect to COVID-19 patients. Providers must still repay any amounts not used for COVID-19 expenses; the bill caps the interest rate on such repayments at 2% upon a demonstration of hardship. The bill also requires private health insurers to treat out-of-network COVID-19 services as in-network for purposes of payment and cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
This resolution celebrates the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania; supports Romania's pursuit of democratic, political, social, and economic progress; and reaffirms and supports the U.S.-Romanian relationship, including the strategic partnership between the nations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Community Development in Opportunity Zones Act of 2020 This bill includes within the definition of qualified opportunity zone business any community development financial institution. This allows qualified opportunity funds to invest in such institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Disclose Police Brutality Bonds Act of 2020 This bill requires issuers of securities to disclose services provided to state and local governments related to the issuance of bonds if proceeds may be used to pay settlements or judgments in connection with police violence or civil rights abuses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
This resolution commemorates June 19, 1865, or Juneteenth, as the end of slavery in the United States. It also reaffirms the commitment of Congress to honor Juneteenth by supporting the enactment of policies that ensure fair and secure elections for all Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
This resolution recognizes the historical significance and supports the continued celebration of Juneteenth Independence Day, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed To Survive Act of 2020 or the RESTAURANTS Act of 2020 This bill temporarily establishes and provides funding for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, from which the Department of the Treasury shall make grants to eligible food and beverage purveyors to cover specified costs. The amount of such a grant shall be reduced by the amount of (1) any emergency grant received for an economic injury disaster loan, or (2) any paycheck protection loan amount forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). For the grant program's initial period, Treasury must (1) prioritize awarding grants to marginalized and underrepresented communities, and (2) only award grants to eligible food and beverage purveyors with annual revenues of less than $1.5 million.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
Small Business PPE Tax Credit Act This bill allows certain small businesses a tax credit for the cost of qualified personal protective equipment, up to $25,000 in a taxable year. The entities eligible for such credit include farms, nonprofit organizations, veterans organizations, and Tribal business concerns. The bill defines qualified personal protective equipment to include the cost of equipment for reducing the risk of coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) transmission. including gloves, facial masks and protective gear, and cleaning supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
Confederate Monument Removal Act This bill prohibits a state from providing for display in National Statuary Hall a statue of a person who voluntarily served with the Confederate States of America, and it provides for the removal, return, and replacement of any statue currently on display that depicts such a person.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
This resolution condemns Russia's attempts to harmfully influence domestic politics and stimulate unrest in the United States and allied countries. The resolution calls on the United States, as well as the European Union, to consider imposing additional sanctions against Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated entities. (Prigozhin is a Russian businessman accused of interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the 2018 U.S. midterm elections).
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
This joint resolution nullifies a rule published on June 5, 2020, by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency within the Department of the Treasury. The rule generally revises the office's implementation of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which requires banks to serve the credit needs of low- and moderate-income communities. Under the CRA, a bank receives credit, which influences the bank's performance rating, for conducting specified activities related to this requirement in designated assessment areas. Among other things, the rule revises qualifying CRA activities, sets forth new procedures for determining if an activity qualifies under the CRA, and expands designated assessment areas.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Honoring Real Patriots Act of 2020 This bill states that it is the policy of the United States that no military installation or other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DOD) shall be named, or may remain named, after any individual who took up arms against the United States during the American Civil War or any individual or entity that supported such efforts. Not later than one year after the enactment of this bill, DOD shall change the name of each military installation and other property under its jurisdiction that is named after any individual who took up arms against the United States during the American Civil War or is named after any individual or entity that supported the effort to take up arms against the United States during such war.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Workforce Justice Act of 2020 This bill creates a new condition of eligibility for funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. Specifically, to be eligible for grant funds under the JAG program, a state must prohibit private employers from requiring a job applicant to disclose a criminal record, asking about the criminal record of a job applicant prior to making a conditional offer, and conducting a criminal background check prior to making a conditional offer.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act or the INVEST in America Act This bill addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, research, hazardous materials, and rail programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Among other provisions, the bill extends FY2020 enacted levels through FY2021 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs; reauthorizes for FY2022-FY2025 several surface transportation programs, including the federal-aid highway program, transit programs, highway safety, motor carrier safety, and rail programs; addresses climate change, including strategies to reduce the climate change impacts of the surface transportation system and conduct a vulnerability assessment to identify opportunities to enhance the resilience of the surface transportation system and ensure the efficient use of federal resources; revises Buy America procurement requirements for highways, mass transit, and rail; establishes a rebuild rural grant program to improve the safety, state of good repair, and connectivity of transportation infrastructure in rural communities; implements new safety requirements across all transportation modes; and directs DOT to establish a pilot program to demonstrate a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee to restore and maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund and achieve and maintain a state of good repair in the surface transportation system.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2020
Justice in Policing Act of 2020 This bill addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. It includes measures to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, to enhance transparency and data collection, and to eliminate discriminatory policing practices. The bill facilitates federal enforcement of constitutional violations (e.g., excessive use of force) by state and local law enforcement. Among other things, it does the following: lowers the criminal intent standard—from willful to knowing or reckless—to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution, limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer or state correctional officer, and authorizes the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas in investigations of police departments for a pattern or practice of discrimination. The bill also creates a national registry—the National Police Misconduct Registry—to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct. It establishes a framework to prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels. The bill establishes new requirements for law enforcement officers and agencies, including to report data on use-of-force incidents, to obtain training on implicit bias and racial profiling, and to wear body cameras.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2020
Bend Toward Justice Act of 2020 This bill lowers the criminal intent standard—from willful to reckless—to convict a government official (including a law enforcement officer) for deprivation of rights while acting under color of law.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2020
Stop Using Military Force Against Civilians Act This bill limits the authority of the President, except in the case of a natural disaster, to call into service or use state militia or armed forces to provide aid to a state government following an insurrection or to enforce federal authority. After not more than 3 days, the President must withdraw any militia or armed forces unless an extension of not more than 14 days is enacted (not more than 2 additional authorizations for extension may be enacted).
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
This resolution recognizes racism as a national public health crisis and supports the creation of a truth and reconciliation process to address historic, enduring systemic and structural racism against black people.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Great American Outdoors Act This bill establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to support deferred maintenance projects on federal lands. For FY2021-FY2025, there shall be deposited into the fund an amount equal to 50% of all federal revenues from the development of oil, gas, coal, or alternative or renewable energy on federal lands and waters. Deposited amounts must not exceed $1.9 billion for any fiscal year. The fund must be used for priority deferred maintenance projects in specified systems that are administered by the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effect of the fund in reducing the backlog of priority deferred maintenance projects for the specified agencies. Additionally, the bill makes funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanent. The President shall annually report to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
This concurrent resolution (1) affirms, on the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first slave ship, the U.S. debt of remembrance not only to those who lived through the injustices of slavery but also to their descendants; and (2) proposes a U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation to properly acknowledge, memorialize, and be a catalyst for progress, including toward permanently eliminating persistent racial inequities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
This resolution condemns racism and invidious discrimination as evil and antithetical to the U.S. Constitution and declares unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination in America. The resolution declares that the House of Representatives shall pass legislation establishing a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation. The department shall be charged with ending racism and invidious discrimination, developing and coordinating the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and invidious discrimination, with a budget the equivalent of at least 10% of the Defense Department's budget. The department shall be headed by a Secretary of Reconciliation, who shall make semi-annual progress reports to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take specified steps to address accreditation standards, management operations, and misconduct of law enforcement. Specifically, it requires DOJ to develop uniform accreditation standards for law enforcement agencies and adopt policies and procedures to encourage law enforcement agencies to pursue accreditation. It authorizes DOJ to make grants to law enforcement agencies to obtain accreditation from certified organizations. The bill authorizes DOJ to make grants for studying law enforcement agency management and operations standards and developing pilot programs to address law enforcement misconduct. DOJ must study the prevalence and effect of any law, rule, or procedure that allows a law enforcement officer to delay the investigation and prosecution of complaints of law enforcement misconduct. The bill also establishes the Task Force on Law Enforcement Oversight to coordinate the detection and referral of complaints of alleged law enforcement misconduct. Law enforcement agencies must report data regarding practices on traffic violation stops, pedestrian stops, frisk and body searches, and use of deadly force. Finally, DOJ must create a medallion for survivors of each law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty and memorialized on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Ending Qualified Immunity Act This bill eliminates the defense of qualified immunity in civil actions for deprivation of rights. Qualified immunity is a judicially created doctrine that protects government employees or those acting with state authority from being held personally liable for constitutional violations. The bill provides that under the statute allowing a civil action alleging deprivation of rights under color of law, it shall not be a defense or immunity to any such action that (1) the defendant was acting in good faith or believed that his or her conduct was lawful at the time it was committed; (2) the rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws were not clearly established at the time of their deprivation; or (3) the state of the law was such that the defendant could not reasonably have been expected to know whether his or her conduct was lawful.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2020
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act This bill establishes a grant program, as well as a new center within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to facilitate access to investigational therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (i.e., ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive and fatal disease). Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants for the provision of investigational drugs for ALS and other rapidly progressing neurodegenerative diseases through an expanded access (i.e., compassionate use) program. HHS may award these grants to (1) a small business that is the sponsor of an investigational new drug application, or (2) a participating clinical trial site for such a sponsor. Additionally, HHS must establish within the FDA a Center of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Diseases. The center shall have duties and authorities similar to those of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, which helps expedite the development of medical products and assists providers in requesting access to investigational drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2020
This resolution condemns acts of brutality, racial profiling, and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. It also calls for the end of militarized policing practices. The resolution supports strengthening efforts to promote accountability for individual law enforcement officers and police departments. Finally, it calls for the adoption of sound and unbiased law enforcement policies at all levels of government.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2020
Affordable Insulin for the COVID-19 Emergency Act This bill eliminates cost-sharing under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage for insulin and associated medical supplies during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill also allows beneficiaries to receive their insulin and supplies via mail order during the emergency period.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2020
Postal Preservation Act This bill provides additional funding to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Specifically, the bill appropriates $25 billion to the USPS for its Postal Service Fund for revenue forgone due to COVID-19 and $15 billion for its Office of Inspector General. The bill requires the USPS, during the pandemic, to prioritize the purchase of, and make available to all USPS employees and facilities, personal protective equipment and to conduct additional cleaning and sanitizing of USPS facilities and delivery vehicles. The Office of Inspector General shall (1) conduct oversight, audits, and investigations of projects and activities carried out with appropriated funds; and (2) initiate an audit of the use of such appropriations and report to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2020
Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020 This bill establishes the Pandemic Risk Reinsurance Program within the Department of the Treasury. The program generally provides compensation to insurers if they incur losses as a result of coverage related to pandemics and outbreaks of disease. Insurers may elect to participate in the program if they meet certain criteria. Specifically, insurers participating in the program must offer, in all business interruption insurance policies, coverage for public health emergencies related to an outbreak of infectious disease or a pandemic declared on or after January 1, 2021, and certified by the Department of Health and Human Services. The program is triggered when aggregate industry insured losses for participating insurers resulting from a covered public health emergency exceed $250 million. The bill establishes the share of insured losses the program would cover, conditions for payment to insurers, caps on annual liability, and the amount insurers must annually pay in deductibles. The bill also provides for the treatment of existing business interruption insurance policies and state residual market insurance entities. The Government Accountability Office must report on the availability and affordability of business interruption insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2020
National Guard COVID-19 Earned Benefits Guarantee Act This bill requires the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat full-time National Guard duty performed in response to the national emergency with respect to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) as a period of not shorter than 90 days (i.e., the threshold usually required for eligibility for certain retirement and education benefits). Members of Congress are excluded and must deploy for not fewer than 90 days to receive similar benefits eligibility.
![Official portrait of Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001137_200.jpg)