United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
This bill prohibits sharing U.S. intelligence with countries that permit within their national borders the use of Huawei fifth generation telecommunications technology. (Huawei is a Chinese telecommunications company with suspected ties to the Chinese government.)
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act This bill revises requirements governing the protection of endangered or threatened species. Specifically, the bill limits such protection to native species. In addition, the bill prohibits certain funding for endangered or threatened species from being used to purchase land in foreign countries.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Property Rights Protection Act of 2020 This bill specifies certain rights for private property owners or lessees. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior from conditioning the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any land use or occupancy agreement on the transfer of any water right to the United States, or on any impairment of title or interest granted or otherwise recognized under state law, by federal or state judgment, or pursuant to any interstate water compact; or requiring any water user to apply for or acquire a water right in the name of the United States under state law as a condition for the issuance, renewal, or extension of any land use or occupancy agreement. Non-federally owned land and water may not be designated as critical habitat without the written consent of the property owners unless a threatened or endangered species is at risk of extinction without such a designation. The department concerned must pay an owner or lessee 150% of the fair market value of real property and is responsible for all related costs. Interior shall issue a final rule that requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to follow rules substantially similar to the requirements for the U.S. Geological Survey to obtain permission for certain access to private lands. Furthermore, it shall not be a violation of law to take any animal if it poses a recurring threat to life and property.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
United States-Israel PTSD Collaborative Research Act This bill establishes a grant program for collaborative efforts between the United States and Israel to advance research on post-traumatic stress disorders. The Department of Defense, in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of State, shall award grants to eligible academic institutions or nonprofit entities in the United States. Work shall be conducted by the eligible entity and an entity in Israel under a joint research agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Personalized Care Act of 2020 This bill revises provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs), including to redefine eligible individual for HSA purposes to allow increased participation in HSAs, increase the limit on contributions to HSAs, permit the payment of health insurance premiums from HSAs, include within the definition of qualified medical expenses periodic fees paid for medical services and amounts paid by a member of a health care sharing ministry, treat periodic provider fees as deductible medical expenses, allow payment of over-the-counter medicines or drugs from HSAs, and lower the 20% penalty for nonqualified distributions from HSAs to 10%. .
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
Ensuring Meaningful Petition Outreach While Enhancing Rights of States Act of 2020 or the EMPOWERS Act of 2020 This bill revises the petition process for listing, delisting, or reclassifying an endangered or threatened species, including by requiring petitioners to notify each county and state in which the species is located of the intent to submit a petition.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
Critical Habitat Improvement Act This bill revises requirements governing the designation of critical habitat for an endangered or threatened species. Habitats outside of the geographical area occupied by the species must have at least one physical or biological feature that is essential to the conservation of the species in order to be considered as a potential critical habitat.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
Weigh Habitats Offsetting Locational Effects Act of 2020 or the WHOLE Act of 2020 This bill revises the process by which the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce reviews an agency action to determine whether the action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of an endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat of the species. When making such determination, the appropriate department must consider the offsetting effects of protection or conservation measures that are already in place or proposed to be implemented as part of the action.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
Listing Reform Act This bill modifies requirements concerning the review of petitions to add a species to the list of endangered or threatened species or to remove a species from the list. Specifically, the bill allows the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce to prioritize the consideration of petitions to list a species as endangered or threatened other than in the order in which the petitions are received. The appropriate department may not give general priority to petitions to add species to the list of endangered or threatened species over petitions to remove a species from the list. The deadline for the appropriate department to decide on whether or not a petition to list or remove a species should be granted is changed from within 12 months to as expeditiously as possible. The appropriate department is given the authority to preclude the listing of a species as threatened due to the likelihood of significant, cumulative economic effects that would result from such listing or from the likely resulting designation of critical habitat of the species. Once a petition is precluded due to those economic effects, the appropriate department may not reconsider that finding unless the department (1) determines there is endangerment of extinction of the species; or (2) receives a new petition to add the species to the list that includes an analyses concluding that alternative actions are possible other than those resulting in significant, cumulative economic effects.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
Israel Anti-Boycott Act This bill prohibits participation by certain entities and individuals in boycotts or requests for boycotts imposed by international governmental organizations (i.e., the United Nations and the European Union). Specifically, the bill applies to covered persons the prohibition of specified actions in compliance with or in support of a boycott against a country that is friendly to the United States and that is not itself the object of a U.S. boycott. The bill defines a covered person as a domestic concern, the U.S. government or a state government, or a representative or official of such domestic concern or government. The bill also adds to the list of specified prohibited actions the act of furnishing information to any foreign country or international governmental organization that furthers an imposed boycott. Under current law, a person who violates the prohibitions against such boycotts may be subject to a monetary fine or imprisonment; however, the bill removes imprisonment as a potential penalty for certain violations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
This resolution condemns the actions of Iran with respect to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. It also expresses support for the protestors in Iran and condemns Iran for killing citizens protesting their government. In addition, it calls on Iran to refrain from using violence and to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
Bring ESA Into the 21st Century Act This bill provides statutory authority for two rules relating to endangered or threatened species. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the rules on August 27, 2019. The first rule revises the interagency consultation process relating to such species and federal actions (i.e., activity authorized, funded, or carried out by federal agencies). Under current law, federal agencies must consult with the FWS and NMFS to review the effects of federal actions on such species or their critical habitats. Among other requirements, the rule establishes alternative consultation mechanisms as well as deadlines for FWS and NMFS to complete consultations. The second rule revises the processes for adding or removing a species to the list of endangered or threatened species and designating critical habitat for such species. Among other requirements, the rule outlines additional circumstances under which critical habitat does not need to be designated for endangered or threatened species.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
Less Imprecision in Species Treatment Act of 2020 or the LIST Act of 2020 This bill revises the process for removing a species from the endangered or threatened species lists. A species must be removed from the endangered or threatened species lists if the Department of the Interior produces or receives substantial scientific or commercial information demonstrating that the species is recovered or that recovery goals set for the species have been met. The publication and notice of a proposed regulation to remove a species from the lists must consist solely of a notice of the removal. The bill establishes a process for removing species from the lists if they were erroneously or wrongfully listed. The bill prohibits a person from submitting a petition to list a species as a threatened or endangered species for 10 years if the person knowingly submitted a petition with information that was inaccurate beyond scientifically reasonable margins of error, fraudulent, or misrepresentative.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
Parental Accessibility Rights for Emergency and Negligent Treatment Act This bill expands the scope of advance directive policies and related disclosures for providers under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Specifically, providers (e.g., hospitals, hospice programs, and home health care providers) must have advance directive policies for minors (rather than only adults) and must disclose such policies on the provider's website and upon request. Providers must also disclose information regarding (1) an individual's rights with respect to life-sustaining procedures, including hydration and sustenance; and (2) whether parental consent is required to provide, withdraw, or deny life-sustaining procedures, or to institute a do-not-resuscitate order, for a minor.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act of 2020 This bill prohibits an individual from collecting Social Security benefits based on wages and income earned for services illegally performed in the United States while the individual was an alien.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
This resolution (1) disapproves of the Speaker of the House of Representatives' decision to refuse to transmit to the Senate the two articles of impeachment adopted on December 18, 2019, and (2) demands that the Speaker immediately transmit the articles to the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
This bill authorizes the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Doris Miller in light of his acts of valor as a member of the U.S. Navy during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
This bill prohibits the Fish and Wildlife Service from awarding specified wildlife conservation grants to entities that fund or support certain persons or entities that are credibly alleged to have committed gross human rights violations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
This bill requires the President's annual budget submission to Congress to include estimates of the cost per individual taxpayer for (1) the public debt, and (2) any projected budget deficit for the fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2019
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019 This bill establishes and modifies several requirements to address prescription drug prices under Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs. The bill generally limits payment amounts for drugs and biologics under Medicare medical services, reduces cost-sharing under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, modifies certain authorities and requirements under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, revises provisions relating to regulatory approval and commercial availability of generics and biosimilars, and establishes several reporting requirements for drug manufacturers with respect to drug prices.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2019
Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act This bill revises requirements concerning (1) citizen suits under the Clean Water Act, (2) permits for wetlands, and (3) wetland mitigation. Litigation costs (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) must be awarded to the prevailing party, thus the bill removes a court's discretion to award the fees. A prevailing party is defined as the party that prevails on more than half of the claims at issue. In addition, the bill repeals the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny or restrict the use of any area as a disposal site for dredged or fill material when the discharge of those materials would have an unacceptable adverse effect on municipal water supplies, shellfish beds and fishery areas, wildlife, or recreational areas. Finally, the bill revises mitigation requirements. Current law requires compensatory mitigation to replace the loss of aquatic resource functions in a watershed when a permit to discharge dredged or fill materials into navigable waters has unavoidable impacts on aquatic resources. This bill prohibits government entities from carrying out compensatory mitigation in excess of existing regulatory requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 2019
Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of 2019 This bill establishes requirements and procedures for the Department of the Treasury to transfer ownership of matured, unredeemed savings bonds and related records to states.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
This bill revises provisions related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to require states to include a photograph of one or more members of a household on electronic benefit cards that are issued to provide program benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
Increasing Health Coverage through HRAs Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services rule dated June 20, 2019, which provides for the integration of health reimbursement arrangements and other account-based health plans with individual health insurance coverage or Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
A Fast-Tracked Executive Rescission Review (AFTER) of Appropriations Act of 2019 This bill establishes expedited legislative procedures for congressional consideration of proposals by the President to rescind funding, cancel a new item of direct spending, or cancel a limited tax benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
This resolution recognizes and celebrates small businesses by (1) acknowledging the importance of promoting a business-friendly environment for small business owners, (2) encouraging young entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and create more startup businesses, and (3) conveying appreciation for the ways small businesses support their communities and workers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
This resolution calls for (1) technology and application (app) development companies to establish an app rating board to establish new criteria for age-appropriate app ratings, and (2) technology companies to manufacture internet-ready devices with user-friendly parental controls and default safety settings.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Budget Process Enhancement Act This bill modifies the federal budget process to withhold the salaries of Members of Congress and cancel the salaries of certain employees of the Office of Management and Budget when certain budget process requirements are not met. The bill also changes the assumptions that the Congressional Budget Office uses to calculate its baseline for discretionary spending to eliminate certain adjustments for inflation and other factors. (A baseline is a projection of federal spending and receipts during a fiscal year under current law.)
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Debt Ceiling Alternative Act This bill establishes requirements and authorities for notifying Congress, issuing bonds, proposing rescissions, and selling assets if the debt limit will be reached. The Department of the Treasury must notify Congress if it estimates that the U.S. debt will reach the statutory debt limit during a quarter. After Congress is notified, Treasury must issue bonds that (1) have an interest rate linked to the nominal gross domestic product of the United States, (2) may only be used to pay the principal and interest on obligations of the United States held by the public or the Social Security trust funds, and (3) are exempt from the debt limit. Once Congress is notified that the debt limit will be reached, the President may issue a message to Congress containing a list of budget authority proposed to be rescinded. The list may only contain items related to unobligated balances of funds made available before the beginning of the fiscal year during which such notification is provided. Congress must consider the message using specified expedited legislative procedures. If the debt limit notice has been provided to Congress, the President may also order the sale of specified mortgage-related assets owned or held by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Reserve. The proceeds from the sales must be deposited in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2019
Rural STEM Education Act This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research regarding STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education in rural schools. The NSF must award grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for (1) research and development to advance innovative approaches to support and sustain high-quality STEM teaching in rural schools, (2) research and development of programming to identify the barriers rural students face in accessing high-quality STEM education, (3) development of innovative solutions to improve the participation and advancement of rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM studies, and (4) research on online STEM education courses for rural communities. The NSF may establish a pilot program of regional cohorts in rural areas to provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research experiences for rural STEM educators of students in grades Pre-K through 12 in order to build an ecosystem of cooperation among educators, researchers, academia, and local industry. The NSF shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy agrees to evaluate aspects of STEM education and workforce development in rural areas. The National Institute of Standards and Technology must award prizes to stimulate research and development of creative technologies in order to deploy affordable and reliable broadband connectivity to underserved rural communities. The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish a broadband research and development working group to address national research challenges and opportunities for improving broadband access and adoption across the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Enhancing Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to conduct an assessment and analysis of the reasons underlying the decreasing rate of formation of new businesses (i.e., startups) in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that socialist proposals undermine the American founding principles of individual freedom and liberty and that the House should continue to focus on policies that promote self-responsibility and fostering opportunities through the free market and a healthy economy.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Pro-Growth Budgeting Act This bill requires the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation to incorporate a macroeconomic impact analysis in their cost estimates for major legislation. The macroeconomic impact analysis (commonly referred to as dynamic scoring) must include the budgetary effects of changes in economic output, employment, capital stock, and other macroeconomic variables resulting from the legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2019 This bill restricts the use of telehealth for chemical abortions (also known as medication abortions). Specifically, it requires a provider who dispenses or prescribes medication for a chemical abortion to physically examine the patient, be physically present at the location of the chemical abortion, and schedule a follow-up visit. The bill provides an exception for a chemical abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, injury, or condition. The bill establishes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both—for a provider who does not comply with the requirements. A patient who undergoes a chemical abortion may not be prosecuted.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Dignity for Aborted Children Act This bill requires abortion providers to offer patients specified options concerning the human fetal tissue from an abortion. Specifically, patients must be given an informed consent form specifying the options to (1) take possession of the tissue for transfer to an entity that provides interment or cremations services, or (2) in cases where the tissue is expelled on the provider’s premises, release the tissue to the provider. If the tissue is released to the abortion provider, the provider must ensure the tissue is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains. Abortion providers must report annually about the aggregate number of abortions performed and other specified information. The bill provides civil or criminal penalties for violations of disposal, informed consent, and reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Too Long; Didn't Read Act of 2019 or the TL; DR Act of 2019 This bill requires a federal agency to provide a clearly-marked section at the top of a communication (both hard copy and electronic) that the agency sends to an individual if such communication requires or authorizes such individual to act. The clearly-marked section shall include the authorized or required action; if a response by the individual is required, optional, or not permitted; all deadlines to complete the authorized or required action; how to complete the authorized or required action; and the contact information for the agency, department, or office that can assist or answer questions relating to the authorized or required action.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act This bill creates new federal crimes related to the performance of an abortion on an unborn child who has Down syndrome. It subjects a violator to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. It also authorizes civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief. A woman who undergoes such an abortion may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2019
Homeland Security Counterintelligence Threat Reduction Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take various actions related to counterintelligence activities. DHS shall establish a counterintelligence vetting task force to report to Congress recommendations to improve counterintelligence vetting for DHS programs. DHS shall also develop counterintelligence awareness training as part of an established program for collecting information about nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants. DHS shall require appropriate faculty from approved educational institutions and exchange visitor programs to participate in the training. DHS shall take various actions related to the program for collecting information about exchange program participants, such as identifying degrees and fields of study that are sensitive for homeland security and counterintelligence purposes. DHS shall notify Congress if it decides to not extend the existence of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2019
General James N. Mattis Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to General James N. Mattis in recognition of his distinguished military career. Following the award, the medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for display as appropriate and made available for research. The U.S. Mint may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
Ensuring Quality Care for our Veterans Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with a nonfederal organization to conduct a quality management review of hospital care or medical services furnished by each Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provider whose license was terminated by a state licensing board based upon care or services provided in a non-VHA facility. If a review determines that the standard of care was not met, the VA shall notify the individual who received such care or services.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
This joint resolution expresses support for the protection of the right to follow one's own religious beliefs under the First Amendment. The joint resolution also condemns government dictation of acceptable religious beliefs and declares any effort by the government to condition the receipt of the protections of the laws and Constitution of the United States an affront to the intention of the First Amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2019
Prohibiting the Life-Ending Industry of Fetal Organ Exchange Act or the Pro-LIFE Act This bill expands the prohibition on the sale or purchase of human fetal tissue in interstate commerce to include any payments associated with the transportation, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, or storage of such tissue.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
Sustainable Municipal Access to Resilient Technology in Infrastructure Act or the SMART Infrastructure Act This bill directs a state or locality that receives funds from the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to require open and free competition among suppliers of construction materials. The Department of Transportation, the EPA, the Corps of Engineers, and USDA shall establish an interagency task force to issue a comprehensive report on federally funded infrastructure projects.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
This resolution (1) disapproves of the actions led by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to conduct work related to matters of impeachment in a closed and classified setting; (2) requires all impeachment related matters to be done in an open setting and in public view; and (3) demands the Speaker and the chair of each committee engaged in an impeachment inquiry of any kind to give each Member of the House a minimum of 48-hours notice before conducting such matters.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
National World War II Memorial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the memorial and the service and sacrifice of American soldiers and civilians during World War II. All surcharges received from the sale of such coins shall be paid to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to support the National Park Service in maintaining and repairing the memorial, and for educational and commemorative programs.