United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act This bill allows a new business-related tax credit for the start-up expenses of a veteran-owned small business in an underserved community. The allowable amount of such credit is 15% of start-up expenditures that do not exceed $80,000. To be eligible for the credit, the small business must (1) be owned and controlled by one or more veterans or spouses of veterans, and (2) have a principal place of business in an underserved community. An "underserved community" is any area located within (1) a HUBZone (as defined by the Small Business Act), (2) an empowerment zone or an enterprise community, (3) an area of low income or moderate income (as recognized by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council), or (4) a county with persistent poverty (as classified by the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Honoring Our WWII Merchant Mariners Act of 2019 This bill distributes a payment of $25,000 to U.S. merchant marines who engaged in qualified service during World War II. To be eligible, an individual must apply for the benefit and must not have received benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. The bill sets forth what constitutes qualified service, including time frame of service and licensing requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants to states that do the following: (1) require law enforcement officers to be trained on diversity and sensitivity, and (2) require an independent prosecutor to be appointed to investigate and prosecute an alleged offense involving the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer that results in a death or injury.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available Act of 2019 or the Police CAMERA Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to purchase or lease body-worn cameras for use by law enforcement officers and to implement body-worn camera programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Streamlined and Improved Methods at Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2019 This bill allows for early voting in elections for federal office and for reduced waiting times for voters at polling places used in such elections. States must allow early voting in a federal election each day during the 15-day period ending on the second day before election day in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day; ensure that each polling place that allows early voting in a federal election is located within reasonable walking distance of a stop on a public transportation route; provide a sufficient number of voting systems, poll workers, and other election resources at polling places used in a federal election to ensure an equitable waiting time, not longer than one hour, for all voters in the state; plan to provide polling places whose waiting times exceed one hour on election day with additional poll workers, machines, ballots, and other equipment and supplies. The Election Assistance Commission shall issue standards for the administration of early voting in a federal election. The bill establishes requirements for the counting of provisional ballots that will be treated as votes. The bill allows civil money penalties, intervention by aggrieved parties, and private actions to address Help America Vote Act of 2002 violations by a state or jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Vote by Mail Act of 2019 This bill requires states to allow voting in federal elections to be by mail without additional conditions or requirements, except a deadline for returning the ballot. States must mail ballots to individuals registered to vote in a federal election not later than two weeks before the election. The U.S. Postal Service must carry ballots mailed by a state expeditiously and free of postage. This bill authorizes automatic voter registration of individuals through state motor vehicle authorities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act This bill requires federal employees and District of Columbia public employees furloughed due to a lapse in appropriations that begins on or about December 22, 2018, to be compensated at their standard rate of compensation for the period of such lapse as soon as practicable after such lapse ends.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Gun Trafficking Prohibition Act This bill establishes stand-alone criminal offenses for trafficking in firearms and straw purchasing of firearms. The bill expands the categories of prohibited persons (i.e., persons barred from receiving or possessing a firearm or ammunition) to include persons who intend (1) to sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person, (2) to sell or transfer a firearm to further a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense, or (3) to unlawfully export. It increases the maximum prison term for the sale or transfer of a firearm to or the receipt or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The bill revises the existing prohibition on transferring a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense. It broadens the scope of unlawful conduct and increases the maximum prison term for a violator. The bill also revises the existing prohibition on smuggling a firearm into the United States with the intent to unlawfully import or to promote a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense. It broadens the scope of unlawful conduct and increases the maximum prison term for a violator. Finally, the bill makes it a crime to smuggle a firearm or ammunition out of the United States, or conspire or attempt to do so, with the intent to unlawfully export or to promote a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections. The amendment grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation. They are allowed to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
This resolution authorizes the Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, to intervene in the case of Texas v. United States , any appellate proceedings arising from such case, and any other cases involving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Office of General Counsel of the House, at the direction of the Speaker, shall represent the House in such litigation. The office may employ outside counsel, including pro bono counsel, and other experts for this purpose. The amount expended by the office on outside counsel and other experts shall be printed quarterly in the Congressional Record.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
This resolution sets forth the rule for consideration of H.Res. 6 (adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 116th Congress), H.R. 21 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019), and H.J.Res. 1 (FY2019 Department of Homeland Security appropriations).
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2018
Border Security and Child Safety Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to present to Congress a strategy to ensure the safety of children in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to prioritize hiring medical personnel to handle the care of such children.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2018
Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act of 2018 or the UIGHUR Act of 2018 This bill restricts executive agencies from procuring goods and services from foreign persons involved in China's mass detention of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group in Xinjiang province. It also places export controls on various technologies used to facilitate the mass detentions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2018
No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act of 2018 This bill requires a joint resolution from Congress before the United States may enter into any civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. Before such an agreement, the President shall report on various topics including Saudi Arabia's investigation into the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the extent to which the country has renounced uranium enrichment and reprocessing, and the country's progress in improving human rights protections.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2018
Agriculture Research Integrity Act of 2018 This bill amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to reaffirm that the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, and any successor agencies must be: (1) within the research, education, and economics mission area of the Department of Agriculture (USDA); and (2) administered by the USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. USDA must locate each of the specified agencies and the majority of the staff of the agencies within the National Capital Region.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the "Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2018
Physician Education for Fistula Treatment Act This bill authorizes the John E. Fogarty International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, to support training programs for obstetrician-gynecologists and sub-specialists in urogynecology in least developed countries; the center must also develop a strategy to address physician shortages in such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2018
This joint resolution nullifies a Department of the Treasury rule (Rev. Proc. 2018-38) that modifies the requirements for information returns filed by certain tax-exempt organizations. The Treasury rule exempts certain tax-exempt organizations that are not 501(c)(3) organizations from the requirement to report the names and addresses of their contributors on returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The organizations must continue to collect and keep the information to make it available to the IRS upon request.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2018
Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of State, when providing overseas assistance for refugees, to ensure the provision of safe and secure access to sanitation facilities, with a special emphasis on women, girls, and vulnerable populations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2018
This bill recognizes service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II as active military service. Individuals who served in the corps are eligible for specified honors but shall not be entitled by reason of such service to veterans' benefits generally.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2018
Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of State to include in its annual reports on human rights in countries receiving U.S. development and security assistance a discussion of the status of reproductive rights in each country, including whether a country has adopted policies to: (1) promote access to contraception, (2) provide services to ensure safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth, (3) expand or restrict access to safe abortion services, (4) prevent maternal deaths, and (5) prevent and treat sexually transmitted diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2018
This resolution recognizes the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and encourages all nations to continue working towards freedom, peace, and security through democracy and respect for human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2018
Keeping All Students Safe Act This bill prohibits the use of seclusion and limits the use of physical restraint in federally funded elementary and secondary schools and Head Start agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2018
This resolution congratulates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for receiving the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their work helping those affected by sexual violence during conflict. It also denounces governments and militaries that engage in crimes against humanity and calls for continued efforts and funding to prevent the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and to hold individuals accountable for such actions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2018
Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2018 This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province. The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation. The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang and assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies. The Department of State shall report on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2018
Recognizes and accepts the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the special report on the impacts of global warming. Expresses the sense that immediate action by Congress and the Administration is needed to reduce greenhouse gases.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2018
Expresses the sense of Congress that public health professionals are to be celebrated, commended, and thanked on Public Health Thank You Day for their profoundly important contributions to the nation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2018
3-D Firearms Prohibitions Act This bill establishes new restrictions and prohibitions on the sale, acquisition, and distribution of certain unfinished receivers and parts kits that are used to make firearms. Specifically, the bill does the following: treats unfinished receivers as banned hazardous consumer products, generally prohibits the electronic marketing and advertising of unfinished receivers and parts kits, and requires an individual to obtain a serial number before making a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2018
Expresses support for the designation of National Dyslexia Awareness Month, and calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2018
This bill prohibits U.S. security assistance and arms sales to Saudi Arabia's government. The Department of Defense shall not provide security assistance, intelligence, training, equipment, or specified technical services to Saudi Arabia or any of its agents or instrumentalities, or engage in any defense cooperation. The bill establishes an exception to this prohibition for activities that protect U.S. diplomatic and consular posts or U.S. citizens. The President may not sell, transfer, deliver, or license for export any defense article to Saudi Arabia or any of its agents or instrumentalities, or provide any defense or construction service. Congress may pass a joint resolution to waive these prohibitions on a case-by-case basis. To request such a waiver, the President shall report to Congress on (1) how the requested activity advances U.S. national security interests, (2) the status of any investigation and prosecution of individuals responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and (3) the status of human rights protections in Saudi Arabia.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2018
Arms Sale Oversight Act This bill revises House of Representatives procedures for considering joint resolutions related to weapons and defense services sales to foreign countries, export licenses for such weapons and services, and technical assistance or manufacturing agreements with foreign countries. Currently, the President must provide certification supporting such an action, which can go forward unless Congress enacts a joint resolution opposing it. The bill provides for rules such as who may make a motion to discharge the resolution from committee and time limits on debate.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2018
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from providing any assistance to or engaging in any defense cooperation with the government or any instrumentality or agent of Saudi Arabia. Such prohibition shall not apply to DOD protection of U.S. diplomatic and consular posts or personnel or the evacuation of U.S. citizens. The bill prohibits any defense article, defense service, or design and construction service under the Arms Export Control Act from being sold or otherwise made available to the government or to any instrumentality or agent of Saudi Arabia. Such prohibitions shall continue until the Department of State certifies to Congress that the government or instrumentality or agent of Saudi Arabia did not direct Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, imprisonment, or death.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2018
Finds that no person should face violence or discrimination because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Honors the contributions of nonprofit organizations and community leaders working to advance tolerance, acceptance, equality, safety and respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Americans. Reaffirms support for LGBTQ-inclusive hate crime prevention laws.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2018
Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act This bill funds through FY2090 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): to allow claims to be filed until October 2089, to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in special circumstances, and to adjust the annual limit on economic loss compensation for inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2018
Welcomes His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and commends him for courageously condemning extremism and terror in all its forms.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2018
No Federal Funds for Public Charge Act of 2018 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out the proposed rule of the Department of Homeland Security entitled "Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds." The rule makes aliens who are likely at any time to become a public charge and receive public benefits inadmissible.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2018
Keeping Girls in School Act This bill authorizes the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to enter into acquisition, assistance, or financing agreements to address societal, cultural, health, and other barriers that adolescent girls face in accessing quality secondary education. USAID's Senior Coordinators for International Basic Education Assistance and Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and the State Department's Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues shall oversee all U.S. resources and activities relating to educational opportunities for adolescent girls. The bill requires USAID to seek to ensure program adherence to monitoring, evaluation, and data requirements and gender equality guidance. The Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues shall review, update, submit to Congress, and make publicly available a U.S. global strategy to empower adolescent girls. The U.S. Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls, issued in March 2016, shall be deemed to fulfill such requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2018
Prevent Cruel Handling of Information Leading to Deportation Harm Act of 2018 or the Prevent CHILD Harm Act of 2018 This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from considering the immigration status of a proposed custodian when determining whether to place an unaccompanied alien child with such person. The Department of Homeland Security may not use information provided by an unaccompanied alien child or information initially obtained by HHS to make a suitability, home study, or secure facility determination in order to apprehend or remove from the United States: the unaccompanied alien child, the proposed or current custodian, a resident of the home in which the proposed or current custodian resides, the proposed or current sponsor, or a resident of the home in which the proposed or current sponsor resides.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2018
Expresses support for the designation of World Food Day and encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2018
Condemns the abuses committed by the government of Cameroon, security forces, and armed separatist groups. Urges all parties, including political opposition groups, to exercise restraint and to ensure that protests remain peaceful.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Federal Leadership in Energy Efficient Transportation Act or the FLEET Act This bill establishes various authorities and requirements for upgrading the U.S. Postal Service vehicle fleet, including requirements to reduce petroleum consumption, fuel efficiency and emissions standards, and authorities to enter into energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2018
Giving Increased Resources to Learning Students Act or the GIRLS Act This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow states to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants to supply menstrual hygiene products to students.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2018
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 · 26 September 2018
Lady Liberty Act of 2018 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the President to set the number of post-FY2018 refugee admissions at not less than 110,000 persons per fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
Directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Yemen, except for Armed Forces engaged in operations authorized under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, within 30 days unless and until a declaration of war or specific authorization for such use has been enacted into law.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2018
Strengthening Minority-Serving Institutions Act of 2018 This bill permanently extends mandatory funding programs for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions and increases the authorized funding levels for such programs.
![Official portrait of Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/117_rp_ma_2_mcgovern_james_200.jpg)