United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2018
Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act This bill makes widespread changes to federal laws governing campaign finance, public corruption, ethics, lobbying, and conflicts of interest. Among other things, the bill does the following: strengthens post-employment lobbying restrictions, expands financial disclosure requirements, creates a new ethics agency to oversee federal employees, makes changes to presidential conflict of interest laws, requires certain transition teams to develop ethics plans, and makes the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges applicable to Supreme Court Justices.
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
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 · 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
Restoring Justice for Workers Act This bill prohibits predispute arbitration agreements that require arbitration of an employment dispute. It allows a postdispute arbitration agreement if the employee enters into it voluntarily without coercion and is informed in writing of rights and protections under such agreement. An employer may not retaliate against an employee for refusing to enter into an agreement for arbitrating an employment dispute. The bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice to interfere with the right of an employee to collectively litigate employment disputes.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2018
Office of Disability Congressional Research Act of 2018 This bill establishes the Office of Disability Congressional Research within the National Council on Disability. The bill also expands the duties of the council to include responding to congressional requests for information regarding the effects of regulations, legislation, and guidance on individuals with disabilities, their families, and the existing systems of services and support for them.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2018
Coretta Scott King Full Employment Federal Reserve Act of 2018 This bill (1) revises the goals of the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Open Market Committee, including by making a stable rate of inflation a goal for both; (2) adds reporting requirements for the board related to inflation and employment; and (3) modifies the composition of the board of directors of Federal Reserve banks.
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 · 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
Stamp Out Elder Abuse Act of 2018 This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Stamp Out Elder Abuse Semipostal Stamp, with the proceeds from the sale of the stamp transferred to (1) the Department of Justice for specified purposes, including prevention and education regarding elder abuse, data collection, and victim services; and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of elder justice activities.
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 · 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 · 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
Women's Pension Protection Act of 201 8 This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to: (1) extend spousal consent requirements that currently apply to defined benefit pension plans to defined contribution pension plans, and (2) allow certain long-term part-time workers to participate in pension plans that include either a qualified cash or deferred arrangement or a salary reduction agreement. Financial product or service providers who sell retirement financial products or services must provide purchasers of their products or services an easily accessible link to the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to obtain information relating to retirement planning or later life economic security. The Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor shall award grants to certain community-based organizations to: (1) improve the financial literacy of women who are working age or in retirement, and (2) assist low-income women and victims of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders and the benefits they are entitled to through the orders.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Truth-in-Billing, Remedies, and User Empowerment over Fees Act of 2018 or the TRUE Fees Act of 2018 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit providers of telecommunications services from: advertising the price of services unless that price includes all related charges, providing bills electronically unless consumers are notified by email of the bill's availability and that email includes an itemized statement of charges, increasing the charges for a service unless the increase is a result of an objectively-quantifiable increase in cost to the provider, increasing the charges for a service unless the consumer is provided clear notice of the increase and the consumer is permitted to terminate the service contract without incurring an early termination fee or other penalty, increasing the charges for equipment rental unless the equipment is upgraded to increase functionality, and including in a contract a provision requiring consumers to resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution.
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
Get the Lead Out of Schools Act This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for schools and day care facilities that: (1) establishes a lead action level (a level of lead in drinking water that triggers additional actions to control lead contamination) of at least 15 parts per billion; (2) directs each public water system to sample for lead in the drinking water at schools and day care facilities if the EPA determines there is a risk that the lead in the drinking water will meet or exceed the action level; and (3) directs public water systems that serve schools or day cares that meet or exceed the action level to notify the local educational agency, the relevant local health agencies, the municipality, and the state as soon as practicable, but no later than five business days after the system receives the sampling results. The EPA must also establish a grant program for: (1) testing drinking water in schools and day care facilities for lead contamination, and (2) remediating lead contamination in such drinking water by replacing lead pipes and certain plumbing materials with lead-free material.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2018
Strengthening Social Security Act of 201 8 This bill modifies the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits program, including with respect to the determination of (1) a beneficiary's taxable income and primary-insurance amount, (2) widow or widower's benefits, and (3) cost-of-living increases in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
This bill designates the River Terrace Area of the Anacostia Park in the District of Columbia as the "Illinois' Bicentennial Grove." The Department of the Interior shall furnish and place a plaque near the trees planted in the Illinois' Bicentennial Grove in recognition of the trees as a tribute to the bicentennial of the State of Illinois and to Edward Coles, Mary Brown Davis, and Elijah and Owen Lovejoy, who were prominent abolitionists from Illinois.
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
Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2018 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to set forth provisions governing the regulation of cosmetics by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including requiring the FDA to establish safety standards and good manufacturing practices for cosmetics.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
Spotlight Act This bill repeals an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revenue procedure (Rev. Proc. 2018-38) that exempts certain tax-exempt organizations that are not 501(c)(3) organizations from the requirement to report the names and addresses of substantial contributors (persons who contribute more than $5,000 per year) on information returns that are filed with the IRS. The bill requires tax-exempt organizations that fall under sections 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., social welfare organizations, labor organizations, business leagues) to disclose the names and addresses of all substantial contributors on their returns. The information must also be made available to the public. The bill also eliminates the authority of the IRS to provide exceptions to the disclosure requirements for tax-exempt organizations. This provision does not apply to determinations made by the IRS before July 16, 2018.
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
Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2018 This bill requires the Bureau of Economic Analysis to include estimates pertaining to various income groups in its gross domestic product analyses. Such analyses shall include estimates pertaining to each of the 10 deciles of income as discreet groups and the highest 1% of income as a group.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2018
Reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees, including through U.S. resettlement for those who cannot return home. Urges President Trump and his administration to affirm the importance of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and to make a presidential determination for FY2019 that the admission of at least 110,000 refugees is justified. (Under the program, such determination establishes the overall admissions levels and regional allocations of all refugees for an upcoming fiscal year.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2018
Hold the Low-Yield Nuclear Explosive Act or the Hold the LYNE Act This bill prohibits the use of funds authorized for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy (DOE) for the development, production, or deployment of the Trident D5 low-yield nuclear warhead. It also repeals authorization for DOE to modify or develop a low-yield nuclear warhead for submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act This bill amends the Act of April 12, 1941 (creating the White County Bridge Commission) to transfer a bridge over the Wabash River to the states of Illinois and Indiana without the condition of tolls.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
United States Territorial Relief Act of 2018 This bill establishes a process under which Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories may terminate certain debts if they meet eligibility criteria. The bill allows territories to terminate their public, unsecured debt if they meet two of three criteria: the population of the territory has decreased by more than 5% over 10 years, the territory received major federal disaster assistance, and the territory's per capita debt exceeds $15,000. The bill also provides funding that a special master must allocate to certain creditors whose debts were discharged under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act or the Pregnant Women in Custody Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery. Additionally, it requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to include, in the National Prison Statistics Program and Annual Survey of Jails, statistics on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women. A Bureau of Prisons facility must provide appropriate services and programs to address the health and safety needs of women inmates related to pregnancy and childbirth. The Government Accountability Office must study the services and protections for pregnant incarcerated women in state and local correctional settings.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 2018 This bill places a moratorium on certain acquisitions between large agricultural and retail-related businesses and establishes the Food and Agriculture Concentration and Market Power Review Commission. The commission shall report to Congress and the President on (1) the nature and consequences of market concentration in the U.S. food and agricultural economy, and (2) recommended legal and regulatory changes to address such market concentration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
This joint resolution nullifies a rule issued on August 3, 2018, by the Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans. Short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans are plans that may only offer coverage for a limited amount of time under law and that are exempt from the market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (e.g., coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions). The rule increases the maximum authorized duration of such plans from less than 3 months (including renewals) to an initial maximum duration of less than 12 months (with a total duration of up to 36 months, including renewals). The rule took effect October 2, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Recognizes: (1) the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month; and (2) the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2018
Condemns all efforts to suppress information regarding the oppression and violence inflicted upon Burma's (Myanmar's) Rohingya civilians. Calls on the leader of Burma's civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, to release the jailed journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.
United States · United States Congress · 31 August 2018
Alternatives to Detention Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish programs for providing alternatives to detaining individuals under the immigration laws, including community-based supervision and community support programs. DHS may not detain and must place in an alternative detention program individuals deemed members of a vulnerable population (e.g., asylum seekers, pregnant or nursing women, or crime victims), a parent of a child under age 18, or a caregiver. DHS must establish the position of Coordinator of Alternatives to Detention and Family Reunification to coordinate the use of alternative detention programs and to reunify parents with children separated from them.
United States · United States Congress · 21 August 2018
Amends Rule XXV (Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House from serving as an officer or member of the board of any publicly held or publicly regulated corporation, financial institution, or business entity. Specifies that this prohibition shall not apply, however, to uncompensated service as an officer or member of the board of an organization that is either tax-exempt or principally available to Members or employees of the House.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 2018
Screening With Dignity Act of 2018 This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop procedures to appropriately and respectfully screen self-identified transgender air passengers and begin training of all TSA Officers on such procedures. The TSA must implement protections for transgender passengers including prohibiting human viewing of passenger images and conducting pat-downs by an officer of the gender requested by the passenger. The TSA shall separately study and report on: (1) the cost and feasibility of retrofitting advanced image technology screening equipment to distinguish between foreign objects and human body parts in a manner that is gender neutral, and (2) the impact of imaging technology on transgender passengers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2018
3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2018 This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to intentionally publish digital instructions for programming a three-dimensional printer to make a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
Untraceable Firearms Act of 2018 This bill generally prohibits and penalizes the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of a ghost gun. A ghost gun is a firearm that lacks a unique serial number.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
No Guns for Abusers Act of 2018 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for state and local governments to implement procedures to remove firearms from individuals who are charged with or convicted of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence protective order. Additionally, the bill sets forth the following requirements: the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) must report to Congress on best practices for implementing such procedures, the NIJ must contract with nongovernmental entities to study the comparative effectiveness of such procedures, and DOJ must submit federal legislative recommendations in accordance with the best practices.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and other children Expeditiously Act or the REUNITE Act This bill directs the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS), after consultation with humanitarian organizations, child welfare agencies, and states bordering Mexico, to promulgate and publish a rule describing efforts that DHS and HHS will undertake to aid apprehended parents or legal guardians in locating and reuniting with any children (under age 18 with no permanent immigration status) separated from them at or near the port of entry, or within 100 miles of the border. DHS, HHS, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) must provide apprehended parents or legal guardians separated from their children with written notice, in a language understandable to them, of any rules or guidance that may assist them in locating and reuniting with their children. The bill permits DHS and HHS to use DNA testing to determine family relationships subject to certain requirements, after using other commonly-used techniques for determining such relationships. DHS must establish secure alternative programs that incorporate case management services in each DHS field office to ensure appearances by alien parents and children at immigration proceedings and public safety and to provide for community-based alternatives to detention. DHS, DOJ, and HHS shall establish an interagency Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents for facilitating the reunification of children and apprehended parents or legal guardians after entering the United States. The bill requires DOJ to appoint counsel, free of charge, for children and vulnerable aliens (e.g., persons with disabilities and victims of abuse, torture, or violence) in immigration proceedings. The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to limit bonds for detained aliens to $1,500, except for aliens who have committed an aggravated felony (as defined by the INA).
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Ban Nerve Agents In Our Food Act of 2018 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cancel the registration of organophosphate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The bill prohibits the sale and use of existing stock of organophosphate pesticides. The bill requires the EPA to ban organophosphate pesticide residue on food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.