United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2018
Historic Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the requirement for a taxpayer to reduce the basis of a building by the amount of the tax credit determined for the rehabilitation of a certified historic structure.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2018
Protecting Rational Incentives in Newsprint Trade Act of 2018 or the PRINT Act This bill directs the Department of Commerce to conduct a study of, and to report to Congress regarding, the economic well-being, health, and vitality of the newsprint industry and the local newspaper publishing industry in the United States, including an assessment of: the trends in demand for newsprint and traditional printed newspapers, in demand for digital or online consumption of news, and in the U.S. pulp and paper industry and the effect of declining demand for newsprint on the health of such industry; measures undertaken by printers and newspaper publishers to reduce costs in response to increased costs for newsprint in the United States, and whether such measures have harmed local news coverage or reduced employment in the newspaper and publishing industries; whether measures undertaken by publishers and printers to reduce costs have harmed local businesses that advertise in local newspapers; and the global production capacity for newsprint in light of the declining demand for newsprint. Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission may not give effect to an affirmative determination in an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation relating to imports of uncoated groundwood paper until the President certifies that he has received the report and has concluded that giving effect to the determination is in the economic interest of the United States. Until such time as the President issues the certification, the administering authority shall order a rate of zero for deposits posted in such an investigation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2018
This bill reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act through FY2023. The Act provides services and support for victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2018
Protecting Our Kids Act This bill requires the Department of Education to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue guidance on security for schools based on the security standards that DHS issues for federal buildings.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2018
Common Sense Certification Reform Act This bill prohibits the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from requiring the certification of employees for operating power-operated equipment (e.g., cranes) used in construction activities to deliver or retrieve propane containers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2018
Provide Accurate Information Directly Act or PAID Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify, in response to an inquiry from certain non-group health plans (e.g., liability insurers), whether an individual was enrolled in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, or Medicaid during the preceding three-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2018
Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services for Success Act This bill extends through FY2023 and revises the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant program, and the Child Care Entitlement (CCE) grant program. The bill modifies a variety of programmatic requirements as well as funding for the TANF program and related activities. Specifically, the bill: renames the program as the "Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services" program; revises requirements for initial assessments of individuals by state programs; requires state programs to use, and periodically review, individual responsibility plans; revises mandatory work requirements for program recipients; prohibits state programs from using grant funds for direct spending on child care services or child welfare activities; revises state programs' authority to use grant funds for other specified purposes; by FY2023, eliminates the option for state programs to use third-party contributions to satisfy certain maintenance-of-effort requirements; applies to state programs certain provisions of federal law regarding improper payment; limits state programs' option to carry over unobligated grant funds; eliminates the TANF Contingency Fund (which provides additional funds to states in economic distress); increases funding for CCE grants; modifies certain data and reporting requirements; and otherwise revises requirements related to the TANF program and related activities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Securing the International Mail Against Opioids Act of 2018 This bill establishes requirements related to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) international mail shipments. Among other requirements, the bill requires USPS to gather advanced data on its shipments and share such information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and assesses a fee on on overseas inbound express mail.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act This bill aligns federal privacy standards for substance use disorder patient records more closely with standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, including authorized disclosures and penalty structures for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2018
Preventing Addiction for Susceptible Seniors Act of 2018 or the PASS Act of 2018 This bill alters several requirements under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Specifically, the bill: (1) requires prescription drug plan sponsors to establish drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries; (2) requires electronic prescription programs to enable the secure transmittal of prior authorization requests for covered drugs; and (3) establishes individuals who are identified as at-risk beneficiaries for prescription drug abuse as qualifying participants in medication therapy management programs. The bill also requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a secure online portal to allow: (1) data sharing among the CMS, Medicare prescription drug benefit plans, and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; and (2) referrals by such plans of substantiated fraud, waste, or abuse in order to initiate or assist investigations by contracted entities under the Medicare Integrity Program. The CMS must also: (1) identify outlier prescribers of opioids under Medicare prescription drug benefit plans and MA plans, based on specialty and geographic area; and (2) annually notify such prescribers of their status and provide them with resources on proper prescribing methods.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2018
Expresses appreciation of the goals of American Craft Beer Week, established by the Brewers Association, which represents small and independent craft brewers. Recognizes the significant contributions of such brewers to the economy and to the communities in which they are located.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2018
Protecting Seniors From Opioid Abuse Act This bill establishes individuals who are identified as at-risk beneficiaries for prescription drug abuse as qualifying participants in medication therapy management programs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Expresses the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to American families and businesses and is not in the best interest of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Wholesome Healthy Original Lactic Excellence Making Intelligent Literate Kids Act or the WHOLE MILK Act This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve unflavored whole milk.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2018
Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Stephen Michael Gleason.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2018
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) require all tax-exempt organizations to file their annual information returns electronically, and (2) require the Internal Revenue Service to make the returns available to the public in a machine readable format.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize through FY2023 the program that provides payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2018
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to submit to Congress a comprehensive customer service strategy for the Internal Revenue Service. The strategy must include: a plan to provide assistance that meets reasonable taxpayer expectations and conforms with best practices of customer service provided in the private sector; an assessment of self-service options; proposals to protect taxpayer identity and reduce identity theft; proposals to improve customer service in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term, and metrics and benchmarks for quantitatively measuring progress in meeting each element of the strategy.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2018
Supports: (1) U.S.-Israel cooperation to counter Iran's destabilizing activities, (2) enhancing Israel's deterrence capabilities, (3) including Israel in the first tier of countries receiving strategic trade authorization, and (4) the U.S. declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2018
Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to modify requirements for tax-favored retirement savings accounts, employer-provided retirement plans, and retirement benefits for federal judges. With respect to employer-provided plans, the bill modifies requirements regarding: multiple employer plans, automatic enrollment and nonelective contributions, loans, terminating or transferring plans, reporting and disclosure rules, nondiscrimination rules, selecting lifetime income providers, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums. The bill also increases the tax credit for small employer pension plan startup costs and allows a tax credit for small employers that establish retirement plans that include automatic enrollment. With respect to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), the bill: treats taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments as compensation, repeals the maximum age for traditional IRA contributions, and permits any IRA to be a shareholder of any S corporation that is a bank. The bill makes several modifications to retirement benefits for magistrate judges of the U.S. Tax Court and other federal judges. The bill also modifies various tax provisions to: reinstate and increase the tax exclusion for benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders, revise the required distribution rules for pension plans, increase penalties for failing to file tax or retirement plan returns, and require the Internal Revenue Service to share returns and return information with U.S. Customs Border Protection to administer the heavy vehicle use tax.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2018
Reaffirms support for the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, as a blueprint for sustainable peace in Northern Ireland. Urges the Department of State to appoint a Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and to promote full implementation of that agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018
Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2018 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds for specified educational purposes. Children of active duty service members who reside in a local education agency that receives payments under the Impact Aid Program or who reside within the boundaries of a federal military installation are eligible to receive funds.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018
Calls for the international community to demand that North Korea dismantle its labor camp system and for North Korea to cease human rights abuses and release political prisoners.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 This bill extends Military Financing Program grants for Israel through FY2023. The Department of Defense shall conduct a joint assessment with Israel regarding: (1) precision guided munitions needed by Israel in a sustained armed confrontation with Hezbollah and other armed groups and terrorist organizations, and (2) related U.S. assistance and resupply planning. The President may utilize the Special Defense Acquisition Fund to transfer precision guided munitions and related defense articles and services to reserve stocks for Israel. Authorities for loan guarantees and the war reserves stockpile for Israel are extended through FY2023. The Department of Homeland Security shall establish a seven-year grant program with Israel to support: (1) cybersecurity research and development, and (2) commercialization of cybersecurity technology. The U.S. Agency for International Development may enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel to advance common goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, economic growth, education, and health. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall continue to work with the Israel Space Agency to pursue peaceful space exploration and science initiatives. The President may enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to carry out research and joint production of defense articles and services to detect and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., drones) that threaten the United States or Israel. The bill states that it is U.S. policy to ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Economic Exclusion Act This bill expands sanctions against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The President shall report to Congress regarding: foreign and domestic supply chains that significantly aid the IRGC; Iranian state-owned entities that provide support to terrorist entities, including Mahan Air; and foreign persons owned or controlled by the IRGC, including companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange or companies with a value in excess of $100 million. The bill states that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization and similar international bodies as long as Iran remains a state sponsor of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018
Bipartisan HSA Improvement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify various requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs). The bill allows: individuals participating in an HSA to receive or be eligible to receive specified items and services at onsite employee clinics and retail health clinics, individuals who are covered by a spouse's health flexible spending arrangement to contribute to an HSA, high deductible health plans that are required for an HSA to include coverage with no deductible for care and prescription medications related to the treatment of medically complex chronic conditions, and HSAs to be used for certain sports and fitness expenses. The bill also: expands the definition of insurance that is permitted under an HSA to include insurance consisting of coverage for excepted benefits (Excepted benefits are not subject to certain requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.), modifies the definition of a dependent to include a child who has not attained the age of 27, and modifies the eligibility rules and other requirements for individuals who also participate in health flexible spending arrangements or health reimbursement arrangements.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018
This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to local education agencies to secure elementary and secondary schools, including by completing a security assessment for each school and making improvements based on such assessment.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018
This joint resolution extends the sympathies of Congress to the family of the Reverend William (Billy) F. Graham, Jr., and honors his life, his ministry, and his contributions to North Carolina, the United States, and the moral and religious life of millions of people.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2018
This bill extends the Generalized System of Preferences (a U.S. trade preference program that provides duty-free access to imports on products from certain developing countries) through 2020. The Trade Act of 1974 is amended to modify the deadline for the review process for the competitive needs limitation. (The competitive need limitation terminates duty-free treatment with respect to articles from a beneficiary developing country if certain import limits are exceeded.) The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 is amended to extend through June 21, 2026, the authority for customs user fees for the processing of merchandise formally entered or released into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2018
Vaccine Access Improvement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the excise tax on specified vaccines, to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to designate additional taxable vaccines.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2018
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to report on how the inclusion of quality percentage increases affects certain payment calculations under Medicare Advantage.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2018
Release the Memo Resolution Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence should immediately hold a recorded vote on making public a memo alleging improper conduct in the use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice that was prepared by members of the committee, as well as ancillary information. Urges the quick release of the memo and information to the public if the committee votes to make such documents available.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2018
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the Republic of Korea to support, participate in, and help ensure the security of the Winter Olympic Games PyeongChang 2018. Recognizes the importance of such games as a leading international sporting event that can contribute to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia, and beyond. Wishes the Republic of Korea success in hosting such games.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2018
Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for Safe Prescribing Act of 2018 This bill requires Medicare's electronic-prescription program to provide for the secure electronic transmittal of a prior authorization request from a Medicare enrollee's prescribing health-care professional with respect to a drug covered under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2018
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that if it creates a presumption of service connection between the occurrence of a disease and exposure to a herbicide agent while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era at a military base in Thailand, such presumption shall also apply to exposure to a herbicide agent while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era at any military base in Thailand without regard to where on the base the veteran was located or what military job specialty the veteran performed. The VA may provide to any spina bifida-affected child of a veteran who served on active duty in Thailand beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, and who was exposed to a herbicide agent during such service, the same health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance required to be paid to a similarly affected child of a Vietnam veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2018
Expresses support for: (1) the goals of Catholic Schools Week, an event cosponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and established to recognize the contributions of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States; and (2) the continued dedication of Catholic schools, students, parents, and teachers toward academic excellence and the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the nation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2018
Securing America's Future Act of 2018 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise immigrant visa allocation provisions, including family-related visas. A nonimmigrant classification for parents of adult U.S. citizens is created. The diversity visa program is eliminated. Annual immigration levels are revised. The limit on the worldwide level of employment-based immigrants is increased. The H-2C visa temporary agricultural worker program is revised. A trust fund is established to provide incentives for such workers to return to their country of origin. DNA testing to establish family relationships is authorized. Employment eligibility verification provisions are revised. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall establish an employment verification system. No federal, state, or local government entity or individual may prohibit or restrict a federal, state, or local government entity or official from complying with the immigration laws or assisting related federal law enforcement activities. The bill revises provisions regarding: (1) detention of aliens in removal proceedings; (2) illegal entry and reentry; (3) inadmissibility and deportability of criminal aliens, gang members, drunk drivers, and sex offenders; (4) repatriation; (5) asylum and asylum fraud; (6) unaccompanied alien children; (7) foreign students; and (8) visa fraud. The bill: (1) transfers authority for strengthening the southern border from the Department of Justice to DHS; (2) revises border security provisions; (3) provides for additional border security personnel; (4) authorizes new ports of entry along the northern border and southern borders; (5) authorizes National Guard border security activities; (6) provides contingent nonimmigrant status for certain aliens who entered the United States as minors; (7) authorizes appropriations for specified border barriers and infrastructure; and (8) establishes Operation Stonegarden to make border security grants to law enforcement agencies. DHS shall: (1) submit a southern border threat analysis, (2) establish the Integrated Border Enforcement Team program, (3) implement the Border Security Deployment Program, (4) review social media activities of visa applicants, and (5) establish a biometric exit data system.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to require any health care practitioner who is present when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion to: (1) exercise the same degree of care as reasonably provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure that such child is immediately admitted to a hospital. The term "born alive" means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut. Also, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with these requirements must immediately report such failure to an appropriate law enforcement agency. An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is subject to a criminal fine, up to five years in prison, or both. An individual who commits an overt act that kills a child born alive is subject to criminal prosecution for murder. The bill bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive for conspiracy to violate these provisions, for being an accessory after the fact, or for concealment of felony. A woman who undergoes an abortion or attempted abortion may file a civil action for damages against an individual who violates this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Medicare IVIG Access Enhancement Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a three-year demonstration project to evaluate the benefits of providing Medicare coverage and payment for items and services needed for the in-home administration of intravenous immune globulin to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or multifocal motor neuropathy. Beneficiary participation shall be voluntary.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins that are emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC, and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States. All sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges, which shall be distributed to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2017
Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior Act of 2017 or the CARES Act of 2017 This bill eliminates the three-day prior-hospitalization requirement for Medicare coverage of certain skilled-nursing-facilities services. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must study the cost of impact of such elimination.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend the employer mandate for health insurance coverage until January 1, 2019. The bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay for one year, until after December 31, 2020, the implementation of the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage (commonly referred to as the Cadillac tax).
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2017
Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2017 This bill amends the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and update policies that enable certain health-care clearinghouses, plans, and providers to: (1) provide patients with access to information related to their care; (2) develop patient-engagement tools, reports, analyses, and presentations that may demonstrate benefit to patients and health-plan enrollees; and (3) promote transparency regarding the use and disclosure of health information by health-care clearinghouses.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2017
Receiving Electronic Statements To Improve Retiree Earnings Act This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the electronic delivery of pension plan documents required to be furnished to a plan participant, beneficiary, or other individual. The system for furnishing such a document must: (1) be designed to result in effective access to the document, (2) permit the recipient to select the electronic means through which the document is received or request paper documents, and (3) protect the confidentiality of personal information. An annual paper notice must be provided describing: the selection of electronic means for furnishing documents, the right to modify the selection or to elect to receive paper versions of the documents at no additional direct cost and how to make the election, and any election that has been made to receive paper documents. An electronically furnished document must be prepared and furnished in a manner that is consistent with the style, format, and content requirements for the document. It must also include a notice that apprises the individual of the significance of the document when it is not otherwise reasonably evident as transmitted.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a list of all rehabilitation innovation centers. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must submit to Congress an analysis containing the most recent three years of cost report data for all rehabilitation innovation centers and assess the payment adequacy for such innovation centers under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2017
Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2017 This bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to make annual grants to each state's protection and advocacy system for the purpose of conducting reviews of representative payees under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. The SSA must also conduct periodic onsite reviews of individual and organizational payees. The bill lessens certain monitoring requirements with respect to specified family members who are serving as representative payees. The bill provides for advance designation of representative payees. In general, an individual who has been convicted of a felony, or of an attempt or a conspiracy to commit a felony, may not serve as a representative payee. An individual who has a representative payee may not also serve as a representative payee. The SSA must report to specified congressional committees on certain issues related to representative payment with respect to SSI and OASDI benefits. The SSA must: (1) enter into agreements with each state for the purpose of sharing information to identify represented minor beneficiaries who are in foster care; and (2) determine the appropriate representative payee for any represented minor beneficiary who has entered foster care, exited foster care, or changed foster care placement in a given month. The bill modifies provisions related to overpayment liability with respect to a represented minor beneficiary in foster care. The Government Accountability Office must report to specified congressional committees on certain issues related to represented minor beneficiaries in foster care.