United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2020
Shareholder Political Transparency Act of 2020 This bill requires an issuer of securities to disclose information related to expenditures for political activities. Specifically, issuers must disclose quarterly any such expenditure, including by identifying any candidate the expenditure was made in relation to and any trade association or other tax exempt organization that received dues or other payments that may be used for political activities. Annually, issuers must report on expenditures for political activities made in the previous year over $10,000 and information related to anticipated expenditures for the next year. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effectiveness of the Securities and Exchange Commission's oversight of these reporting and disclosure requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2020
Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act This bill requires certain issuers of securities to annually disclose information related to the tax jurisdiction, income, and assets of their constituent entities on a country-by-country basis.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2020
National Children's Museum Act This bill requires the General Services Administration to enter into a cooperative agreement with the National Children's Museum with respect to the museum's occupancy of a specified space in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Among other things, the agreement must make the space available to the museum in perpetuity and without charge.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2020
Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act This bill amends several appropriations laws to remove limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. Specifically, the bill removes provisions that limit the use of firearms tracing data, prohibit the imposition of a requirement that firearms dealers conduct a physical inventory, and require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Federal Employee Parental Leave Technical Correction Act This bill expands certain paid parental leave benefits to include specified public sector employees, including employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration, the Executive Office of the President and the White House, and the District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Nutrition Education Act This bill requires a local educational agency that participates in a school lunch or breakfast program to require each student to receive 50 hours of nutrition education per school year. Such instruction must be consistent with applicable school meal program requirements as well as meet certain other standards with respect to content and delivery.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Decrease Noise Levels Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to revise its regulations to decrease the threshold for the day-night average sound level that constitutes significant noise from 65 decibels to 60 decibels, and adjust relative ranges of day-night average sound level accordingly. Additionally, the FAA must ensure that its community outreach related to aviation day-night average sound levels contains the results of its evaluation of alternative metrics to the current average day-night level standard, and create a publicly available report that outlines a strategy to reduce the maximum day-night average sound level in all residential areas to 55 decibels within 10 years.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Agriculture Resilience Act This bill addresses national greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts in the U.S. agriculture sector, including a national goal to achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2040. Among other things, the bill expands the purposes of federally supported agricultural research, extension, and education to include accelerating the ability of agriculture and the food system of the United States to first achieve net zero carbon emissions and then go further to be carbon positive by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a national network of regional hubs for risk adaptation and mitigation to climate change; creates a soil health grant program for state and tribal governments; revises the agricultural conservation easement program to require owners that receive cost-share assistance to have a conservation plan in place that addresses applicable resource concerns for the land subject to the easement, including soil health and greenhouse gas emissions reduction; establishes an alternative manure management program to support non-digester dairy and livestock methane management strategies to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to maximize environmental benefits; directs USDA to study dual-use renewable energy systems, including an assessment on the compatibility of different species of livestock and crop types with dual-use renewable energy system designs; and provides competitive grants and technical assistance for local educational agencies to implement food waste measurement and reporting, prevention, education, and reduction projects.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Military Pilots Cancer Incidence Study Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study cancer incidence and mortality among uniformed services pilots and make recommendations on cancer screenings. DOD must report the study findings.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the legacy of Harriet Tubman as an abolitionist. The Secretary may issue coins under this bill only during the period of January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to Project Legacy in Brooklyn, New York, for the purpose of accomplishing and advancing its mission.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2020
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 This bill sets forth requirements related to waste and recycling collection systems for a variety of products and materials, including plastics. The bill makes certain producers of products (e.g., packaging, paper, single-use products, beverage containers, or food service products) fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting the products after consumer use. In addition, the bill establishes (1) minimum percentages of products that must be reused, recycled, or composted; and (2) an increasing percentage of recycled content that must be contained in beverage containers. Beginning on January 1, 2022, the bill phases out a variety of single-use products, such as plastic utensils. The bill also sets forth provisions to encourage the reduction of single-use products, including by establishing programs to refund consumers for returning beverage containers and by establishing a tax on carryout bags. The bill creates a temporary moratorium on new or expanded permits for facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency must publish guidelines for a national standardized labeling system for recycling and composting receptacles. Producers must include labels on their products that are easy to read and indicate whether the products are recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Finally, the bill establishes limitations on the export of plastic waste to other countries.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2020
This resolution requires a majority vote of the Members present and voting, a quorum being present, on final passage of H.J.Res. 79 (eliminating the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on sex).
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2020
Removal Jurisdiction Clarification Act of 2020 This bill requires federal courts to remand to state court, upon motion, civil actions that are removed to federal court solely on the basis of diversity jurisdiction, if a citizen of the state where the action has been brought has joined as a defendant but has not yet been served. Such actions must be remanded if such a defendant is served within the eligible time period.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
America's Red Rock Wilderness Act This bill designates specified lands in the following areas of Utah as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Great Basin, (2) Grand Staircase-Escalante, (3) Moab-La Sal Canyons, (4) Henry Mountains, (5) Glen Canyon, (6) San Juan-Anasazi, (7) Canyonlands Basin, (8) San Rafael Swell, and (9) Book Cliffs and Uinta Basin. The bill sets forth administrative requirements for (1) the exchange of state-owned lands within such areas, (2) federal reservation of water rights, (3) measurement of setbacks for roads with adjacent wilderness, (4) authorized livestock grazing, and (5) withdrawal of such lands from disposition under certain public land laws.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Electric Vehicle Freedom Act or the EV Freedom Act This bill establishes a national network of publicly available electric vehicle charging stations along public roads and the National Highway System in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
This resolution urges the federal government to establish a goal of conserving at least 30% of the land and 30% of the ocean within its territory by 2030.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2020
Eritrean Nationals' Safety from Unjust Removal or Expulsion Act or the ENSURE Act of 2020 This bill defers the removal of qualified Eritrean nationals for 24 months starting from this bill's enactment. To qualify, a Eritrean national must have been (1) ordered removed to Eritrea before this bill's enactment, and (2) continuously present in the United States since this bill's enactment. The Department of Homeland Security may not detain a qualified individual for immigration status reasons or because the individual moved to reopen certain immigration proceedings. Generally, a qualified individual shall have work authorization unless the individual is subject to extradition. An extradition based on a not-credible accusation that the individual committed crimes against humanity shall not disqualify the individual from receiving work authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the international covenants on human rights. Further, it calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned or detained Baha'is, and it urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
Judicial Branch Senior Executive Leave Efficiency and Modernization Act of 2020 This bill allows certain senior level employees within the judicial branch to accumulate up to 90 days of unused annual leave for use in succeeding years. Under current law, such employees may accumulate only up to 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
This resolution supports the designation of a National Citizenship Month. The resolution also honors the contributions our immigrant community makes to our nation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2020
Nationwide Right To Unionize Act This bill provides authorization for labor agreements to require membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment regardless of state law (thus preempting state laws that prohibit such agreements).
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2020
Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act or the FAIR Act This bill increases by 3.5% the rates of basic pay for federal employees under the statutory pay systems (i.e., the General Schedule, the Foreign Service Schedule, and various schedules related to the Veterans Health Administration) for calendar year 2021. Additionally, it increases by 3.5% the rates of basic pay for prevailing rate employees for FY2021.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2020
Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chesapeake Bay Office, revises requirements concerning the office and its activities, and authorizes the office to establish a Chesapeake Bay watershed education and training program and a program to support coordinated management, protection, characterization, and restoration of priority habitats and living resources.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2020
This resolution commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp and honors survivors of the Holocaust, as well as members of the Allied forces who liberated Auschwitz. The resolution urges the United States to improve efforts to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry and intolerance.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2020
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3621) to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to remove adverse information for certain defaulted or delinquent private education loan borrowers who demonstrate a history of loan repayment, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 550) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the United States Merchant Mariners of World War II, in recognition of their dedicated and vital service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2020
This resolution recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year. The resolution expresses, in observance of this Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rat, the deepest respect of the House of Representatives for Asian Americans and all individuals throughout the world who celebrate this significant occasion. The resolution wishes Asian Americans and all individuals who observe this holiday a happy and prosperous new year.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
Protecting Community Television Act This bill revises the definition of a franchise fee that is paid by a cable operator or cable subscriber to encompass only a tax, fee, or other monetary assessment that is imposed by a franchising authority or other governmental entity.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2020
Transformational Reforms and Updates to Ensure Educational Quality and Urgent Investments in Today's Youth Act of 2020 or the TRUE EQUITY Act This bill establishes various grant programs to address educational inequities in elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the bill creates grant programs related to (1) early childhood education, (2) high-quality and diverse teachers and leaders, (3) college and career readiness pathways, and (4) additional resources for at-risk students. For each grant program, the Department of Education (ED) must award a single grant to an eligible state. To be eligible for a grant, a state must establish an independent state oversight board. The oversight board must, among other things (1) determine whether the state and its local educational agencies (LEAs) have met state educational equity goals, and (2) hold them accountable for failing to meet those goals. ED may renew a grant if the oversight board determines the state has met its goals. In addition, for each grant program, the bill outlines the activities authorized under the program, maintenance-of-effort requirements, and matching fund requirements. Finally, the bill permits ED to enter into a local flexibility demonstration agreement, through which a state educational agency may use funds to develop and implement a school funding system based on weighted per-pupil allocations for low-income and disadvantaged students. (Currently, ED may enter into these agreements with LEAs.)
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2020
Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism for veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill withdraws approximately 234,328 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. The area is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill. The Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020 This bill establishes new requirements to expand the availability of information on domestic terrorism, as well as the relationship between domestic terrorism and hate crimes. It authorizes domestic terrorism components within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to monitor, analyze, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism. The domestic terrorism components of DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must jointly report on domestic terrorism, including white-supremacist-related incidents or attempted incidents. DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must review the anti-terrorism training and resource programs of their agencies that are provided to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. It creates an interagency task force to analyze and combat white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement agencies. Finally, it directs the FBI to assign a special agent or hate crimes liaison to each field office to investigate hate crimes incidents with a nexus to domestic terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
This resolution encourages the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain and strengthen requirements that keep waterways clean. It also encourages the EPA to end or reverse administrative actions that weaken requirements protecting the nation's waters.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
Access to Counsel Act of 2020 This bill establishes various protections for aliens in certain immigration-related proceedings or inspections. When an alien is undergoing certain types of inspections or is subject to a removal, exclusion, or deportation proceeding, the alien shall be entitled to representation by counsel of the alien's choice, at no cost to the government. The current statute only states that an alien is entitled to representation in removal proceedings. If such an alien is subject to detention or inspection at a port of entry and cannot meet with counsel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shall provide for remote communication with counsel. If such an alien has been denied access to counsel, the alien may not submit paperwork to abandon lawful permanent resident status or to withdraw an application for admission. The detention of an individual at a port of entry or a CBP or ICE facility shall (1) be limited to the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions necessary, and (2) include access to food, water, and restrooms.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
Early Childhood Mental Health Support Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify and review evidence-based interventions, best practices, curricula, and staff trainings in Head Start programs that improve the behavioral health of children and support staff wellness. HHS must (1) award grants to participating Head Start agencies to implement such interventions, and (2) evaluate the implementation of such interventions. The bill also permits HHS to fund five best practice centers in universities to prepare future Head Start agencies and staff to deliver such interventions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
Safety Hazard and Recall Efficiency Information Act or the SHARE Information Act This bill eliminates a manufacturer's ability to file a claim to prevent the public disclosure by the Consumer Product Safety Commission of certain product information (e.g., product safety warnings). The bill also increases the maximum civil penalty for consumer-product safety violations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
This concurrent resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran unless (1) Congress has declared war or specifically authorized such use in statute, or (2) such use is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed attack upon the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
Crude by Rail Volatility Standard Act This bill establishes a maximum volatility standard for crude oil. Specifically, the bill prohibits the transportation by rail of crude oil with Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) of more than 9.5 pounds per square inch (the maximum volatility set by the New York Mercantile Exchange for crude oil futures contracts), and directs the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to finalize a rule setting a maximum volatility standard for crude oil and other hazardous materials transported by rail.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
No War Against Iran Act This bill prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress has either declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use. An exception is made for a presidential exercise of power to introduce Armed Forces into hostilities (or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated) when there is a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States. The bill further states that no prior authorizations of military force (e.g., against Iraq) may be construed to authorize the use of military force against Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act of 2019 This bill prohibits discrimination against survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault in the sale or rental of housing and other related real estate activities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
The Commuter Parkway Safety and Reliability Act This bill requires the National Park Service (NPS) to prioritize the funds made available under the federal lands transportation program for high-commuter corridors. (A high-commuter corridor is a federal lands transportation facility administered by the NPS that has average annual daily traffic of not less than 20,000 vehicles.) If the NPS determines that a high-commuter corridor requires additional investment it must submit to the state information on the condition of pavements and bridges; an estimate of the amounts needed to bring such corridor into a state of good repair, taking into consideration any planned future investments; and at its discretion, a request that the state transfer to the NPS a portion of the amounts necessary to address the condition of the corridor. The bill sets forth the criteria the NPS must consider when making a determination of whether a a high-commuter corridor requires additional investment.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act of 2019 This bill establishes programs to support school-based mental health services and address racial and ethnic mental health disparities, among other provisions. Specifically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must award grants for school- and community-based, mental health services. Such services must be trauma-informed and designed to provide comprehensive, culturally-appropriate interventions at a school-wide level. Further, the bill requires the SAMSHA to award grants that address racial and ethnic health disparities by (1) providing integrated health care in areas with a high proportion of racial and ethnic minority groups and (2) developing national programs for health professionals to reduce such disparities. The bill also (1) reauthorizes the minority fellowship program to support the education of mental health professionals who provide services to racial and ethnic minorities, (2) establishes a commission to research the effects of social media use on adolescents, and (3) prohibits the use of federal funds for specified conversion therapy in the context of sexual orientation or sexual identity.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish an initiative to build upon and accelerate previous or ongoing work to develop and demonstrate new technologies in aircraft concepts that are capable of reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and noise emissions from aircraft by at least 50%. The goal of the initiative shall be to deploy new technologies developed pursuant to the initiative on (1) regional transport aircraft intended to enter into service by 2030, and (2) single-aisle aircraft designed to accommodate more than 125 passengers intended to enter into service by 2040.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2019
American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from public lands. The bill increases royalties on fossil fuels produced from public lands and creates annual, per-acre fees for federal oil and gas leases. The bill prohibits Interior from holding new lease sales for coal, oil, or gas for one year and until Interior (1) certifies that additional fossil fuel leasing on public lands is not inconsistent with achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from public lands by 2040, and (2) releases a Public Lands Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy. Interior and the Forest Service shall reduce net emissions associated with the extraction and end-use combustion of fossil fuels produced from public lands to meet specified targets. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) must determine if the emission reduction targets have been met. If net emissions from public lands have exceeded the targets, Interior must not approve new fossil fuel permits and not hold new fossil fuel lease sales until the USGS has certified and issued a notice that net emissions are below the target level. Interior shall make available on a public website (1) information regarding fossil fuel operations, including the aggregate amount of each fossil fuel produced on federal leases; and (2) information that describes the amount and sources of renewable energy produced from public lands. The bill sets forth how revenue raised by the bill is to be distributed.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act This bill directs the President, when determining whether Russia is a country of particular concern for religious freedom under certain federal laws, to consider incidents occurring in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia or Russia-affiliated non-state groups. (The United States may take certain actions, such as withdrawing development assistance, against a country of particular concern for religious freedom.)
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Aircraft Noise Reduction Act This bill authorizes owners or operators of general aviation airports to implement aircraft noise restrictions, including (1) restricting the number and type of aircraft that can operate at their airports, and (2) setting date and time limitations for such operations. The bill prohibits withholding or withdrawing federal funds from airports that choose to implement noise restrictions. The Department of Transportation may restrict the authority of airport owners or operators to impose noise restrictions in the case of an emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
This resolution recognizes the fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, an international agreement to keep global temperature from rising 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, and recommends that the United States remain a signatory to the global warming agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
This resolution (1) recognizes the harmful effects of income inequality and poverty; and (2) expresses support for the development of a national strategic plan to end deep poverty, which is defined as an income below half of the federal poverty level. It also acknowledges the role of the federal government and the contributions of science in understanding and generating solutions to address deep poverty.
![Official portrait of Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000606_200.jpg)