United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2024
BIOSECURE Act This bill prohibits federal contracting with certain biotechnology providers connected to foreign adversaries, with exceptions. Specifically, the bill prohibits executive agencies from (1) procuring or obtaining any biotechnology equipment or service produced or provided by a biotechnology company of concern, or (2) entering into a contract or extending or renewing a contract that uses such equipment or service or that will require the direct use of such equipment or services. Those agencies may not obligate or expend loan or grant funds for such purposes. A biotechnology company of concern includes BGI, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, and any subsidiary, parent affiliate, or successor of such entities, and any entity that is subject to the jurisdiction, direction, control, or operates on behalf of the government of a foreign adversary; is involved in the manufacturing, distribution, provision, or procurement of a biotechnology equipment or service; and poses a risk to U.S. national security based on specified activities. Executive agencies may waive the prohibitions on a case-by-case basis under specified circumstances. The Office of Management and Budget must develop and periodically update a list of the entities that constitute biotechnology companies of concern.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Unborn Child Support Act This bill requires states to apply child support obligations to the time period during pregnancy. This requirement is applicable retroactively based on a court order at the request of the pregnant parent and a determination by a physician of the month during which the child was conceived. Existing state requirements are applicable to these obligations, such as proof of parenthood.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Death Tax Repeal Act This bill repeals the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It also sets forth conforming amendments related to the gift tax.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Pregnancy Center Support Act of 2024 This bill establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for contributions made to qualifying pregnancy centers. The amount of the credit is 50% of the contributions made by the taxpayer up to $10,000 per year (or $20,000 for joint filers) to a tax-exempt organization whose primary function is the operation of one or more qualified pregnancy centers. A qualifying pregnancy center is a facility that primarily provides assistance to women and families of unplanned pregnancies and encourages those women and families to carry their pregnancy to term, rather than choosing an abortion. The facility may not provide child births, perform abortions, or counsel in favor of abortions. For taxpayers that itemize their deductions on their tax return, contributions to a qualifying pregnancy center may not be counted both for this credit and the charitable contribution deduction. The amount of the tax credit that exceeds the individual’s tax liability for the tax year may be carried forward for up to five years. For businesses, the contribution amount is included in the calculation of the general business tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2024
This resolution calls on the Taliban to immediately release Ryan Corbett (an American citizen wrongfully detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan on August 10, 2022) and all other American detainees. The resolution also (1) urges the Taliban to respect Ryan Corbett's fundamental human rights and provide full, unfettered, and consistent health and welfare visits; and (2) condemns the Taliban’s practice of hostage-taking.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2024
This resolution condemns acts of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, including those acts committed by Hamas on and since October 7, 2023. The resolution also calls on all nations to criminalize rape and sexual assault and hold accountable all perpetrators of sexual violence, including state and non-state armed groups.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2024
Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act This bill prohibits the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state's reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The proposed rule provides that if ACF identifies a TANF expenditure that does not appear to reasonably accomplish a purpose of TANF then the state must show that it used the funds in a manner that a reasonable person would consider to be within one of the purposes. The bill prohibits ACF from applying this standard to state expenditures for pregnancy centers that (1) support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and (2) offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including but relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, or material supports. Under current law, TANF funds may be used for any of four purposes, including to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies. In the supplemental information to the proposed rule, ACF states that TANF expenditures for programs that exclusively or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant have a tenuous or nonexistent connection to this purpose and, therefore, likely do not meet the proposed reasonableness standard.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2024
This resolution congratulates the University of Michigan Wolverines for their win in the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2023
Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in recognition of the life of Roberto Clemente, baseball player and human rights activist. All sales of coins issued under this bill must include a surcharge to be paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2023
Protecting American Advanced Manufacturing Act This bill prohibits companies associated with governments of foreign adversaries from receiving the advanced manufacturing production tax credit. This includes companies that are owned, controlled by, operated by, or under the influence of a foreign adversary, any company whose equity interests are held by a foreign adversary (not less than 10%), or any company that is controlled by a foreign adversary through certain debt, lease, or manufacturing arrangements.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2023
Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act of 2023 or the Innovative FEED Act of 2023 This bill provides for the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances as food additives. The bill defines zootechnical animal food substance as a substance that is added to the food or drinking water of animals and that affects only the animal's gastrointestinal tract, with the intended purpose of affecting the byproducts of the animal's digestion, reducing foodborne pathogens, or altering the animal's gastrointestinal biome. The definition does not include substances that are used to treat or prevent diseases in animals, hormones, or active ingredients of animal drugs. Labels for zootechnical animal food substances must include a disclaimer that the substance may not be used to treat or prevent diseases in animals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2023
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Expanded Act or the PACE Expanded Act This bill modifies requirements regarding Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). PACE is a program under Medicare and Medicaid that provides in-home and community services for certain individuals as an alternative to nursing home care. The bill allows Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a PACE program at any time and provides states with the option to allow Medicaid beneficiaries to do the same. Entities may also apply to become PACE providers at any time, upon specified assurances relating to staffing and other requirements. The bill also (1) allows the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model for expanded PACE eligibility that targets high-need and high-cost populations, and (2) requires an evaluation of the effectiveness of PACE in rural and underserved areas.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2023
Broadening Online Opportunities through Simple Technologies Act or the BOOST Act This bill allows an individual taxpayer to elect a tax credit for 75% of qualified signal booster expenditures up to $400 in a single taxable year through 2027. The bill defines qualified signal booster expenditures as amounts paid for the purchase of any communications signal booster and other equipment for use by the taxpayer in a principal residence located in an unserved area. The booster is designed to increase the strength or range of a broadband communications signal.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2023
This resolution commemorates the 200th anniversary of the promulgation of the Monroe Doctrine. Specifically, it reasserts the rights and interests of the United States, in accordance with the Monroe Doctrine, to oppose foreign powers extending malign influence in the Western Hemisphere. The resolution also recognizes the principles of freedom and independence in the Western Hemisphere enshrined in the Monroe Doctrine.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2023
This resolution expresses strong support for democracy in Pakistan, including free and fair elections. It calls on the President to work with Pakistan to uphold democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The resolution also urges Pakistan to uphold democratic institutions and human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2023
Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 This bill extends the authorization for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to carry out certain Holocaust education program activities through FY2030.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2023
Farmland Security Act of 2023 This bill authorizes increased civil penalties for violations of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) and increases Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight of and research into foreign investment in agricultural land. (AFIDA and the regulations that implemented the act require foreign investors who acquire, transfer, or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report such holdings and transactions to USDA.) In general, the bill allows USDA to determine an appropriate civil penalty amount for an AFIDA violation by removing the cap that currently prohibits the civil penalty from exceeding 25% of the fair market value of the interest in the land. The bill provides an exception for a shell corporation (i.e., a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, trust, or estate that has no or nominal operations). An AFIDA civil penalty for a foreign-owned shell corporation must be 100% of the fair market value of the interest in the agricultural land associated with the violation. The penalty does not apply if the shell corporation remedies a defective filing or failure to file within 60 days of USDA providing notice. USDA must conduct annual compliance audits of at least 10% of the reports. Further, USDA must provide state and county-level personnel annual training in identifying agricultural land for which a report must be submitted. USDA must also annually conduct research and submit a report to Congress on foreign investment in agricultural land, including trends in the purchase of U.S. agricultural land by foreign-owned shell corporations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the National Labor Relations Board titled Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status and published on October 27, 2023. The rule establishes a new joint employer standard for determining whether two employers simultaneously employ a particular employee or employees. Under the rule, an entity may be considered a joint employer of another employer's employees if the two share or codetermine the employees' essential terms and conditions of employment. The rule is currently scheduled to take effect on February 26, 2024.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2023
Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023 This bill provides for oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Specifically, the bill nullifies any order or action by the President or the Department of the Interior that places a moratorium on, suspends, or otherwise pauses leasing in ANWR's 1002 Area. It also ratifies and approves all authorizations and permits issued for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The Environmental Protection Agency and other applicable federal departments and agencies must process, reinstate, or continue to maintain such authorizations and permits. Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, Interior must accept bids for certain ANWR leases that were canceled and reissue the leases. The bill states that the reissued leases must be considered to meet the requirements of specified existing laws, such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973. By December 22, 2024, Interior must also conduct a second lease sale. Further, the bill limits the authority of the President and Interior to cancel future leases issued under the program. The bill also directs the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw its (1) Notice of Availability of the Draft Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement , and (2) proposed rule titled Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska . It also nullifies Section 4 of Executive Order 13990 and Secretarial Order 3401. Finally, the bill limits judicial review of approvals of leases under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2023
Defend Our Networks Act This bill requires certain unobligated funds that were provided to address COVID-19 to be transferred to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for carrying out the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. (Under the program, the FCC reimburses certain providers of advanced communications services for reasonable expenses incurred in the removal, replacement, and disposal of communications equipment and services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2023
Protect Funding for Women's Health Care Act This bill prohibits federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, or clinics.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2023
This resolution strongly condemns any instances of antisemitism occurring at colleges and universities in the United States. The resolution also encourages higher education leaders (e.g., presidents, deans, and administrators) to publicly condemn speech that incites or celebrates violence against any people based on religious beliefs, national origin, or ancestry; and encourages institutions of higher education to engage with Jewish student organizations and ensure that Jewish students, faculty, and staff can pursue their academic and personal aspirations without fear.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2023
Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 This bill provides FY2024 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State for activities to respond to the attacks in Israel. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. The bill provides appropriations to DOD for Operation and Maintenance; Procurement; and Research, Development, Test and Evaluation. The funding is provided for purposes such as replacing defense articles that were provided to Israel, reimbursing DOD for defense services and training provided to Israel, procuring Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems, and developing Israel's Iron Beam defense system. The bill provides appropriations to the State Department for Diplomatic Programs, including Worldwide Security Protection; Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service; and the Foreign Military Financing Program. In addition, the bill includes provisions that expand the authorities of the President to transfer defense articles and services from DOD to Israel. Finally, the bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided for activities of the Internal Revenue Service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2023
Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act This bill requires the Department of State to designate Ansarallah as a foreign terrorist organization and the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions with respect to Ansarallah and any foreign person who is a member, agent, or affiliate of, or owned or controlled by Ansarallah.