United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to Rosie the Riveter (i.e., any female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II), in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations. The medal shall be displayed at the National Museum of American History, which must make the medal available for display at other locations associated with Rosie the Riveter.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority as an independent, private non-profit corporation with responsibility for developing and administering an anti-doping and medication control program for (1) Thoroughbred, Quarter, and Standardbred horses that participate in horse races; and (2) the personnel engaged in the care, training, or racing of such horses. The Federal Trade Commission shall have oversight over the authority. An interstate compact may be established after five years to take over the authority's duties.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
Captive Primate Safety Act This bill revises requirements governing the trade of wildlife species. Among other things, the bill adds nonhuman primate species to the list of wildlife species that may not be imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased in interstate or foreign commerce. In addition, the bill revises requirements concerning the persons exempted from the prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
This resolution condemns all forms of violence against children and urges the United States to implement a comprehensive strategy to combat child abuse globally.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act This bill increases the number of states that may participate in two-year Medicaid demonstration programs that improve access to community mental health services. It also extends the two-year term for existing state demonstration programs by two years.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for qualifying hospitals, with an aggregate increase of 3,000 positions per fiscal year for five years. Of these positions, at least one-third must be for hospitals that are already operating above applicable resident limits, subject to specified distribution rules.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
Healthy Families Act This bill provides for paid and unpaid sick leave for employees to meet their own medical needs and those of their families. It requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide their employees with at least one hour of earned paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 56 hours of paid sick leave in a year. An employer with fewer than 15 employees may also provide the same amount of paid sick leave, but may opt out of such requirement, in which case such employer must provide its employees at least 56 hours of unpaid leave in a year. An employee may use sick leave for absences (1) resulting from a physical or mental illness, injury or medical condition; (2) resulting from obtaining professional medical diagnosis or care, or preventive medical care; (3) to care for a child, parent, spouse, a domestic partner, or other blood or close relative; and (4) resulting from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The bill makes it unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of an employee's right to accrue sick leave as provided by this bill. An employee may take legal action to enforce the right to sick leave granted by this bill and the Department of Labor must investigate complaints of violations of the requirements of this bill. Labor is authorized to conduct a public awareness campaign to educate and inform the public of the requirements for paid sick leave provided by this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2019
College Transparency Act This bill requires the National Center for Education Statistics to establish a secure and privacy-protected data system that contains information about postsecondary students. Specifically, the data system must evaluate student enrollment patterns, progression, completion, and postcollegiate outcomes, and higher education costs and financial aid; provide complete and customizable information for students and families making decisions about postsecondary education; reduce the requirements for reporting by institutions of higher education; and periodically match with other federal systems of data. The bill also establishes a postsecondary student data system advisory committee.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Scientific Integrity Act This bill revises provisions regarding the release of scientific research results by federal agencies. The bill prohibits specified federal employees and contractors of an agency that funds, conducts, or oversees scientific research from engaging in scientific or research misconduct or manipulating communication of scientific or technical findings. A covered individual may disseminate scientific or technical findings by (1) participating in scientific conferences; and (2) seeking publication through peer-reviewed, professional, or scholarly journals. The bill specifies the kinds of scientific community activities covered individuals may participate and engage in, including the reviewing of public statements and responding to media interview requests. Each covered agency must develop, adopt, and enforce a scientific integrity policy and also must submit it to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Congress; appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer; and adopt and implement an administrative process and administrative appeal for dispute resolution and a training program that, among other things, provides regular scientific integrity and ethics training to employees and contractors. OSTP must collate, organize, and publicly share all information it receives under each scientific integrity policy on its website.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act This bill allows tax credits and grants for activities that provide access to healthy food in food deserts, which are communities that have limited or no access to grocery stores and meet income requirements. For entities that are certified by the Department of the Treasury as special access food providers using specified criteria, the bill allows tax credits for operating a new grocery store or renovating an existing grocery store in a food desert. The bill also authorizes grants for a portion of (1) the construction costs of building a permanent food bank in a food desert, and (2) the annual operating costs of temporary access merchants (mobile markets, farmers markets, and food banks). Treasury, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (USDA), must annually allocate the tax credits and grants to special access food providers. Grants authorized by this bill are not considered gross income for tax purposes. The bill also requires USDA to update the Food Access Research Atlas at least annually to account for food retailers that are placed in service during that year.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Campus Hunger Reduction Act of 2019 This bill makes institutions of higher education eligible for assistance under the Community Food Projects grant program that addresses the food needs of low-income individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Safe Freight Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the operation of a freight train or light locomotive engine used in the movement of freight unless it has a crew of at least two individuals, one of whom is certified by the Federal Railroad Administration as a locomotive operator and the other as a train conductor.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
CHampioning Apprenticeships for New Careers and Employees in TECHnology Act or the CHANCE in TECH Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to enter into contracts with industry intermediaries to promote the development of and access to apprenticeships in the technology sector. The Department of Education (ED) may issue CHANCE in TECH Awards for 21st Century Schools to secondary schools or junior or community colleges that demonstrate high achievement in providing students necessary skills to compete in the 21st century workforce. In making an award, ED must consider the availability of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), career and technical education, and computer technology courses at the schools.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents to veterans who served on (1) Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980; or (2) Johnston Atoll or a ship that went to Johnston Atoll between January 1, 1972, and September 30, 1977. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific diseases 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. Additionally, the bill expands eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans with a disability associated with exposure to certain herbicides during specified times of military service on Guam, American Samoa, or Johnston Atoll.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Equality Act This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act of 2019 This bill requires coverage for abortion care through public health insurance programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as insurance plans for federal employees. Further, abortion care must be available at federal, and federally supported, health care facilities to individuals eligible for services at such facilities. Additionally, the bill prohibits federal, state, or local governments from restricting coverage for abortion care available through private health insurance plans.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2019 This bill deems an individual receiving outpatient observation services in a hospital as an inpatient for purposes of satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital-stay requirement with respect to Medicare coverage of skilled nursing facility services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone Act or the PACE Act This bill modifies the tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment (known as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit) to (1) make the credit refundable, (2) increase the rate for the credit, and (3) require the dollar amounts for such credit to be adjusted for inflation after 2019. The bill also increases the amount of employer-provided dependent care assistance which may be excluded from the gross income of an employee and requires the increased exclusion amount to be adjusted for inflation after 2020.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
Community Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes the Community Services Block Grant program through FY2028 and makes other changes to the program, including with respect to administration and leadership; performance measurement; and minimum and maximum allotments to states and territories.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2019 or the PHIT Act of 201 9 This bill allows a medical care tax deduction for up to $1,000 ($2,000 for a joint return or a head of household) of qualified sports and fitness expenses per year. The bill defines "qualified sports and fitness expenses" as amounts paid exclusively for the sole purpose of participating in a physical activity, including (1) fitness facility memberships, (2) physical exercise or activity programs, and (3) equipment for a physical exercise or activity program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 This bill cancels and prohibits removal proceedings against certain aliens and provides such aliens with a path toward permanent resident status. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall cancel removal proceedings against certain aliens who entered the United States as minors and grant such aliens conditional permanent residence status for 10 years. The bill imposes various qualification requirements, such as the alien being continuously physically present in the United States and being enrolled in or having completed certain educational programs. Aliens who were eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and not disqualified for renewal also qualify. DHS shall remove the conditional permanent resident status granted to such aliens, if the alien applies and meets certain requirements, such as completing certain programs at an educational institution or serving at least two years in the Uniformed Services and being discharged honorably. This bill also repeals a restriction that bars states from providing higher education benefits to undocumented aliens unless those benefits are available to all U.S. citizens. DHS or DOJ shall cancel removal proceedings against certain aliens who qualified for temporary protected status or Deferred Enforced Departure status on certain past dates (both statuses temporarily protect covered aliens from removal). For such aliens who apply, DHS shall grant permanent residence status. When DHS eliminates temporary protected status for nationals of a foreign country, it shall report to Congress its reasons for doing so.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2019
Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 or the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2019 This bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to take specified steps to increase cybersecurity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. IoT is the extension of internet connectivity into physical devices and everyday objects. The bill establishes September 30, 2019, as the deadline for the completion of NIST's efforts regarding considerations for managing IoT cybersecurity risks, especially regarding examples of possible cybersecurity capabilities of IoT devices. By March 31, 2020, NIST must develop recommendations for the appropriate use and management of IoT devices owned or controlled by the government, including minimum information security requirements for managing cybersecurity risks. The OMB shall then issue guidelines for each agency that are consistent with such recommendations. NIST and the OMB shall publish guidance on policies and procedures for the reporting, coordinating, publishing, and receiving of information about a security vulnerability relating to an IoT device used by the government and the resolution of such security vulnerability.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2019
Veterans Improved Access and Care Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a pilot program at a minimum of 10 medical facilities to assess the feasibility and advisability of expediting the VA's process for onboarding new medical providers. Priority shall be given to facilities facing hiring shortages of licensed and independent medical providers. The VA is also required to submit to Congress a strategy to reduce the duration of its hiring process for licensed medical providers.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2019
Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act of 2019 or the HERO Act of 2019 This bill establishes a series of programs relating to the behavioral health of public-safety officers (e.g., law-enforcement officers, firefighters, ambulance crew members, and 9-1-1 operators). For example, the bill establishes (1) a public-safety officer suicide-reporting system at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and (2) a grant program for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2019
Save the Internet Act of 2019 This bill updates the regulatory framework for broadband access. Specifically, the bill repeals a 2017 order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that classifies broadband internet access service as an information service, therefore placing it under Federal Trade Commission authority. The order also expands the public transparency rules and preempts local and state laws that conflict with the regulatory framework. The bill restores a 2015 FCC order, which classifies both mobile and fixed broadband internet access services as telecommunications services, therefore placing the services under FCC authority. Additionally, the bill would create a general conduct standard and restore regulations, including those that prohibit blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2019
Women and Countering Violent Extremism Act of 2019 This bill (1) authorizes assistance to women's groups in foreign countries that work on terrorism-related issues, and (2) amends various reporting and training provisions to incorporate issues related to gender and terrorism. The President may provide assistance to non-U.S.-based, women-led organizations countering violent extremism and terrorism in foreign countries. The President's periodic Women, Peace, and Security Strategy shall include a section on (1) women's contributions to countering violent extremism, (2) preventing women's involvement in violent extremism, and (3) the gender dimensions of disarming and reintegrating former extremists. Training for certain personnel of the Department of State and the Department of Defense (DOD) shall include training on preventing violent extremism. The State Department shall seek to double the number of women receiving training under its Anti-Terrorism Assistance programs within three years of this bill's enactment. The State Department, DOD, and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall conduct research on gender and countering violent extremism, including best practices to support women preventing violent extremism, and utilize the results of such research in their programs. The State Department's annual country reports on terrorism to Congress shall include, for at least five countries, a gender analysis of the conflict drivers, power dynamics, and impacts that are relevant to violent extremism.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2019
Veteran Education Empowerment Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to make grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of IHEs for the establishment, maintenance, improvement, and operation of veteran student centers. A veteran student center is a dedicated space on a campus that provides students who are veterans or members of the Armed Forces with (1) a lounge or meeting space for themselves, their spouses or partners, their children, and veterans in the community; (2) a centralized office for veteran student services that serves as a single point of contact to coordinate veterans support services; and (3) comprehensive academic and tutoring services to veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act This bill establishes the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Office of the Staff Director to make a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
This resolution expresses support for increased U.S. efforts to combat malnutrition among women and children and acknowledges the contributions of the U.S. Agency for International Development in addressing global nutritional needs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 or the SAFE Banking Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits a federal banking regulator from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to a legitimate marijuana-related business. Specifically, the bill prohibits a federal banking regulator from (1) terminating or limiting the deposit insurance or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a legitimate marijuana-related business; (2) prohibiting or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering financial services to such a business; (3) recommending, incentivizing, or encouraging a depository institution not to offer financial services to an account holder solely because the account holder is affiliated with such a business; (4) taking any adverse or corrective supervisory action on a loan made to a person solely because the person either owns such a business or owns real estate or equipment leased or sold to such a business; or (5) penalizing a depository institution for processing or collecting payments for such a business. As specified by the bill, a depository institution shall not, under federal law, be liable or subject to forfeiture for providing a loan or other financial services to a legitimate marijuana-related business.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2024 programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act that seek to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Among other things, the bill also authorizes new programs, makes changes to federal firearms laws, and establishes new protections to promote housing stability and economic security for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
National POW/MIA Flag Act The bill changes the days on which the POW/MIA flag is required to be displayed at specified locations to all days on which the U.S. flag is displayed. (Current law requires the POW/MIA flag to be displayed only on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
National Nurse Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to designate the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as the National Nurse for Public Health. The position includes the authority to (1) provide leadership and coordination of Public Health Service nursing professional affairs for the Office of the Surgeon General and other agencies of the Public Health Service, (2) conduct outreach and education, and (3) provide guidance and leadership for activities that will increase public safety and emergency preparedness. The National Nurse for Public Health must (1) participate in identification of national health priorities, (2) encourage volunteerism of nurses and strengthen the relationship between government agencies and health-related national organizations, and (3) promote the dissemination of evidence-based practice in educating the public on health promotion and disease prevention activities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2019 or the 911 SAVES Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget, by 30 days after the bill's enactment, to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification System.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a pilot program in order to award grants to partnerships between postsecondary educational institutions and employers in critical infrastructure sectors for cybersecurity education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2019
Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2019 This bill waives Medicare coinsurance requirements with respect to colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of the code billed for a resulting diagnosis or procedure.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2019
Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales Act of 2019 or the SAVE Right Whales Act This bill provides support for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). Specifically, it requires the Department of Commerce to provide financial assistance for the conservation of such whales. In addition, Commerce must conduct surveys of plankton on an ongoing basis using a continuous plankton recorder.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2019
Fair COLA for Seniors Act This bill bases cost-of-living adjustments on a price index that tracks the spending patterns of older consumers for specified benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System, military retirement and survivor benefit programs, the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits program, and other specified veterans benefits programs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2019
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes funding for several grants programs that address water pollution, such as wastewater and stormwater. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2024 grants to states for water pollution control programs; grants to municipalities for watershed pilot projects, such as projects that manage wet weather discharges (e.g., sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows) or control pollutants from municipal separate storm sewer systems; grants to states, local governments, private utilities, and nonprofit entities for alternative water source projects to meet critical water supply needs; grants to states for the purpose of providing grants to municipalities for controlling, treating, reducing, or reusing municipal combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, or stormwater; and grants to states for clean water state revolving funds.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2019
Combating Illicit Fentanyl Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury to annually report to Congress identifying each person in China, including government officials, involved in fentanyl production and its trafficking into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2019
Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting Act or the EMPOWER Act This bill addresses policies and procedures related to claims of workplace harassment. Specifically, the bill makes it an unlawful practice (with exceptions regarding certain settlement or separation agreements) for an employer to (1) enter into a contract with an employee or applicant, as a condition of employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or change in employment status or contractual relationship, if that contract contains a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment; and (2) enforce, or attempt to enforce, a nondisparagement clause or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment. Under the bill, an employee or applicant retains any right they would otherwise have had to report a concern about workplace harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other specified agencies, regardless of whether they have signed a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause. Employees or applicants also retain the right to pursue legal action regardless of signing such clauses. The bill sets forth (1) enforcement powers of the EEOC and other entities, and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, regarding workplace harassment; and (2) the applicable procedures and remedies for employees' claims. The EEOC must (1) establish a confidential tip-line that supplements its process for submitting a charge of discrimination, and (2) provide for the development and dissemination of workplace training programs and information regarding workplace harassment. The bill modifies the tax treatment of expenses and payments related to workplace harassment and employment discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2019
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019 This bill expands Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy that is provided by (1) a physician who is not a primary care physician; or (2) other health care providers (e.g., physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and approved counseling programs, if provided upon a referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner. Currently, such therapy is covered only if provided by a primary care practitioner. The bill also allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2019
Federal Employee Paid Leave Act This bill provides paid family leave for certain federal employees in all instances covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, which currently only guarantees unpaid leave for such instances. Specifically, the bill requires that the 12 weeks of administrative leave to which certain federal employees are entitled for family care be paid leave. This applies to all federal employees in the competitive service (all civilian positions in the executive branch, all positions in the legislative and judicial branches, and all positions in the government of the District of Columbia), congressional employees, Government Accountability Office employees, employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves, and certain Transportation Security Administration employees. The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to such employees to a total of 16 administrative work weeks.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2019
Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide states and tribal entities with grants to increase access to licensed child care services. The grants may be used to develop and expand the child care workforce or child care facilities in locations with insufficient available child care. Specifically, grants cover 50% of the cost of programs to support the education and training of caregivers or projects to build, expand, or renovate child care facilities in these areas.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2019
Timely Review of Infrastructure Act This bill authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to address insufficient compensation of its personnel without regard to civil service laws. FERC must consult with the Office of Personnel Management when making a determination of the appropriate compensation for its personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2019
Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act or the FAIR Act This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2019
Do No Harm Act This bill prohibits the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specified federal laws or the implementation of such laws. Currently, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. Under the bill, RFRA is inapplicable to laws or the implementation of laws that protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity (e.g., the Civil Rights Act of 1964); require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. The bill prevents RFRA from being used to deny (1) goods or services the government has contracted, granted, or made an agreement to provide to a beneficiary; or (2) a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. In order for a person to assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2019
Sites Reservoir Project Act This bill directs the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior to take certain actions related to federal support for the construction of water infrastructure in California. Specifically, with respect to the Sites Project (a water storage project in Glenn and Colusa Counties, California), Reclamation shall (1) be the lead federal agency for the purposes of all federal reviews, approvals, or decisions required under federal law to allow either Reclamation or the Sites Project Authority to construct the project; and (2) ensure that all such reviews, approvals, or decisions are completed by January 1, 2022. Reclamation must complete the final feasibility study evaluating the development of the project and, if the project is determined to be feasible, Reclamation may authorize additional funding and technical support. Reclamation must also work to facilitate the completion and issuance of the final joint environmental impact statement and report on the project. Reclamation shall, at the authority's request, enter into a partnership agreement for the authority to provide full project management control for construction of the project or a separable element of the project. Further, Reclamation must advance the project as a non-federal project, and the Department of the Interior must execute a long-term agreement with the authority for the coordination of operations of the Sites project and the Central Valley Project.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2019
Medicare for All Act of 2019 This bill establishes a national health insurance program that is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among other requirements, the program must (1) cover all U.S. residents; (2) provide for automatic enrollment of individuals upon birth or residency in the United States; and (3) cover items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate to maintain health or to diagnose, treat, or rehabilitate a health condition, including hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, and long-term care. The bill prohibits cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments) and other charges for covered services. Additionally, private health insurers and employers may only offer coverage that is supplemental to, and not duplicative of, benefits provided under the program. Health insurance exchanges and specified federal health programs terminate upon program implementation. However, the program does not affect coverage provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indian Health Service. The bill also establishes a series of implementing provisions relating to (1) health care provider participation; (2) HHS administration; and (3) payments and costs, including the requirement that HHS negotiate prices for prescription drugs. Individuals who are age 18 or younger, age 55 or older, or already enrolled in Medicare may enroll in the program starting one year after enactment of this bill; other individuals may buy into the program at this time. The program must be fully implemented two years after enactment.
![Official portrait of Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001090_200.jpg)