United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
National Emergencies Reform Act This bill revises provisions of the National Emergencies Act relating to the termination of presidentially-declared national emergencies. Specifically, the bill provides that any national emergency declared by the President shall terminate if (1) no joint resolution has been enacted affirming the declaration of such emergency before the expiration of the 48-hour period beginning on the first day after such emergency is declared and on which both houses of Congress are in session, (2) a joint resolution is enacted terminating the emergency, or (3) the President issues a proclamation terminating the emergency. The date on which a presidentially-declared emergency terminates is 60 days after the President transmits to Congress the proclamation declaring the emergency or Congress affirms a previous renewal unless the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to Congress an executive order renewing the emergency, and a joint resolution is enacted affirming the renewal of the declaration. A national emergency declared before the enactment of this bill shall be unaffected by the amendments made by this bill except that such emergencies shall terminate 60 days after enactment unless renewed.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
Practical Alternatives to Detention Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fully implement and use alternatives to detention programs for aliens who are not subject to mandatory detention. For such alternatives to detention programs, DHS shall prioritize certain aliens, such as those who are pregnant or have serious medical needs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
Protect Asylum Seekers Act This bill limits the separation of alien families and provides protections for asylum seekers. Certain civil and criminal penalties related to improper entry into the United States shall not apply if, after entering the United States, an alien without delay communicates to an immigration or asylum officer a non-fraudulent (1) desire to seek asylum, or (2) fear of persecution. The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian unless a state court terminates the parent or legal guardian's rights; a state child welfare agency or court determines it is in the child's best interests to be removed; or the child is determined to be a trafficking victim or at risk of becoming one, the accompanying adult is most likely not the parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. An agency may not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian solely to deter migration into the United States or to promote compliance with immigration laws. DHS shall develop (1) training related to the bill's family separation requirements, and (2) guidance for how parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
Intelligence Community Congressional Whistleblowing Improvement Act This bill expands protections for whistleblowers who are employed by a covered agency in the intelligence community (or by a contractor of such an agency) to apply to protected disclosures made to any Member of Congress. Currently, when a protected disclosure is made to Congress, whistleblower protections generally apply only if the disclosure was made to a congressional intelligence committee or to a member of such a committee.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
FISA Oversight Correction Act This bill authorizes a court to disclose to a person information related to evidence collected about the person using certain foreign intelligence surveillance powers if the disclosure would likely promote a more accurate determination of the legality of the surveillance. (Currently, a court may disclose such information to the person only if the disclosure is necessary to make an accurate determination of the legality of the surveillance.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal revenue collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in population and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and revenues derived from borrowing are excluded. Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit for up to one year by declaring an emergency with a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber. The requirements take effect in the first year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, except that expenditures are permitted to exceed the limit by specified amounts during each of the first nine years that the requirements are in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Jones Act Repeal Act This bill repeals coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act requires that vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, be at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and be mostly crewed by U.S. citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Civil Asset Forfeiture Elimination Act This bill prohibits federal civil asset forfeiture and imposes restrictions on state civil asset forfeiture. Specifically, property belonging to a person may be forfeited to a state government pursuant to a civil proceeding only after (1) a criminal conviction of the property owner under state criminal law; or (2) the state, in a civil proceeding where the property owner has the same constitutional rights provided to criminal defendants, proves that the property owner has committed the offense giving rise to the forfeiture.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020
This bill establishes a new criminal civil rights violation for lynching. Specifically, an individual who acts with one or more people to commit certain civil rights offenses (e.g., a hate crime act) that result in death is subject to criminal penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2020
This bill modifies statutory requirements related to certain procedures limiting the retention of communications incidentally acquired during an intelligence activity. Specifically, the bill removes a requirement that such procedures must permit the acquisition, retention, and dissemination of such communications. (An existing executive order authorizes intelligence community agencies to collect, retain, and disseminate incidentally obtained information that may indicate involvement in activities that may violate federal, state, local or foreign laws.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2020
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total federal expenditures for a year from exceeding the average annual federal revenue collected in the three prior years, adjusted for changes in population and inflation. Expenditures for payment of debt and revenues derived from borrowing are excluded. Congress may authorize specific expenditures in excess of the limit for up to one year by declaring an emergency with a roll call vote of two-thirds of each chamber. The requirements take effect in the first year beginning at least 90 days following ratification, except that expenditures are permitted to exceed the limit by specified amounts during each of the first nine years that the requirements are in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) newsgathering activities, including the publication of leaked classified information, are protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution; (2) freedom of the press is a vital function of a free society; and (3) the federal government should drop all espionage charges against Julian Assange.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the National Security Agency's bulk collection telephone records program was unconstitutional and that the federal charges against Edward Snowden for disclosing information about the program should be dropped.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
This bill designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Law Enforcement Identification Act This bill requires federal law enforcement officers and members of the Armed Forces engaged in crowd control, riot control, or arrest or detainment of individuals engaged in an act of civil disobedience, demonstration, protest, or riot to display clearly visible identifying information.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Ending Qualified Immunity Act This bill eliminates the defense of qualified immunity in civil actions for deprivation of rights. Qualified immunity is a judicially created doctrine that protects government employees or those acting with state authority from being held personally liable for constitutional violations. The bill provides that under the statute allowing a civil action alleging deprivation of rights under color of law, it shall not be a defense or immunity to any such action that (1) the defendant was acting in good faith or believed that his or her conduct was lawful at the time it was committed; (2) the rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws were not clearly established at the time of their deprivation; or (3) the state of the law was such that the defendant could not reasonably have been expected to know whether his or her conduct was lawful.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 West Maple Street in Holly, Michigan, as the "Holly Veterans Memorial Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2019 This bill prohibits federal regulation of the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk or milk products packaged for direct human consumption under specified circumstances. Specifically, the prohibition applies if (1) such products would be considered adulterated or misbranded or otherwise in violation of federal law solely because they are unpasteurized; (2) the products are allowed by the state of origin to be distributed for direct human consumption by any means; (3) they are produced, packaged, and moved in compliance with the laws of such state; and (4) they are moved from the state of origin with the intent to transport them to another state that allows the distribution of such products for direct human consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
No Fly for Terrorists Act This bill prohibits Department of Homeland Security personnel from preventing a citizen or permanent resident of the United States to board a flight or a cruise ship as a passenger based on their inclusion on a no fly list, no transport list, selectee list, or terrorist watchlist unless they have been convicted of a federal crime of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the "Aretha Franklin Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
This bill prohibits the imposition of a death penalty sentence for a violation of federal law. A person sentenced to death before enactment of this bill must be resentenced.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2019
This bill eliminates regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act for certain marijuana-related activities that comply with state or tribal law.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
Saving Workers by Eliminating Economic Tampering Act or the SWEET Act This bill eliminates certain Department of Agriculture (USDA) sugar subsidy programs. Specifically, the bill eliminates (1) the price support loan program available to processors of domestically grown sugarcane and sugar beets, (2) the sugar marketing allotments and tariff-rate quotas that limit the quantities of domestically produced sugar that processors may sell and the sugar that may be imported under lower tariff rates, and (3) the feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers which operates to avoid loan forfeitures to the USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation by requiring USDA to purchase surplus sugar from domestic processors for resale to bioenergy producers.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2019
Searchable Legislation Act of 2019 This bill requires Congress to ensure that all congressional documents and records of votes cast in Congress and congressional committees are created, transmitted, and published in searchable electronic formats, consistent with data standards recommended by such advisory bodies as Congress may establish. The Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, acting jointly, shall establish the Congressional Data Task Force (an advisory body) to recommend data standards for the creation, transmission, and publication of information and congressional documents, including bills, resolutions, amendments, reports, laws, and records, in such formats for purposes of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2019
Readable Legislation Act of 2019 This bill requires every bill or joint resolution that amends an existing section of any Act to do so by setting forth the entire section and showing the omissions and insertions proposed by appropriate typographical devices. A measure may not revise or amend any section of an Act by a mere reference to it.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
This joint resolution prohibits the issuance of certain manufacturing, technical-assistance, or export licenses, as described in specific license documents by the Department of State, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or the PRIME Act This bill expands the exemption of custom slaughtering of animals from federal inspection requirements. Under current law, the exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest, and employee uses. The bill expands the exemption to include meat that is slaughtered and prepared at a custom slaughter facility in accordance with the laws of the state where the facility is located; and prepared exclusively for distribution to household consumers in the state or restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments in the state that either prepare meals served directly to consumers or offer meat and food products for sale directly to consumers in the state. The bill does not preempt any state law concerning (1) the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at a custom slaughter facility; or (2) the sale of meat or meat food products.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2019
Deferred Removal for Iraqi Nationals Including Minorities Act of 2019 This bill defers the removal of qualified Iraqi nationals from the United States for two years from the date of the bill's enactment. To qualify, an Iraqi national shall (1) have been ordered removed to Iraq before the date of the bill's enactment, and (2) have resided in the United States on or before January 1, 2014. Aliens under removal deferral under this bill (1) shall be authorized for employment, and (2) may not be detained for immigration status-related reasons or for a motion by the alien to reopen removal proceedings. An alien shall not receive removal deferral under this bill where (1) the Department of Homeland Security determines that the alien is directly responsible for specific and significant harm to U.S. security, (2) the alien voluntarily returns to Iraq, or (3) the alien is subject to extradition.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This joint resolution directs the President to terminate the use of the Armed Forces in the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen within 30 days, unless Congress enacts a declaration of war or specific authorization for such use of force.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Conscience Protection Act of 2019 This bill provides statutory authority for certain restrictions prohibiting discrimination against health care providers that refuse to perform abortions. Specifically, the bill prohibits the federal government, as well as state and local governments that receive federal financial assistance for health-related activities, from penalizing or discriminating against a health care provider based on the provider's refusal to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortions. Currently, similar provider nondiscrimination requirements apply to certain employment or personnel decisions (the Church Amendments), abortion services training (the Coats-Snowe Amendment), and qualified health plans offered through health insurance exchanges. Annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies have also included similar language (the Weldon Amendment). The HHS Office for Civil Rights, in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ), must investigate complaints alleging discrimination based on an individual's religious belief, moral conviction, or refusal to be involved in an abortion. DOJ or any entity adversely affected by such discrimination may obtain equitable or legal relief in a civil action. Administrative remedies do not need to be sought or exhausted prior to commencing an action or granting relief. Such an action may be brought against a governmental entity and may include money damages against such entity.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Ending Mass Collection of Americans' Phone Records Act This bill repeals the authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to obtain business records, such as phone records, on an ongoing basis under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). FISA warrants shall only be for items specifically identified in the FBI's application to access the records. FISA currently allows the FBI to apply for a warrant to access records and other documents to obtain foreign intelligence information or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities. The application for such a warrant is ex parte before courts designated under FISA, meaning that the government is the only party present in the proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Preserving Patient Access to Compounded Medications Act of 2019 This bill addresses regulations governing compounding pharmacies. The bill expands the circumstances under which a drug may be compounded (i.e., manufactured at small scale) to allow pharmacists and physicians to compound drugs for administration to patients in an office or clinical setting, in accordance with state law. (Compounded drugs are not required to meet certain federal requirements regarding manufacturing, labeling, or approval.) Dietary supplements may be used in the compounding of a drug. The bill exempts from interstate distribution limits the dispensing of a compounded drug from the facility where it is compounded to a patient or health facility. The bill limits the scope of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections of compounding pharmacies to certain equipment, materials, containers, and labeling. This aligns the scope of inspections of compounding pharmacies with the scope of inspections of other pharmacies. (Currently, the scope of inspections of compounding pharmacies is the same as the scope of inspections of drug manufacturers.) The bill also eliminates the requirement for compounding pharmacies to register with the FDA as drug manufacturers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019
Fair and Open Competition Act or FOCA Act This bill prohibits federal construction contracts or controlling documents for federally supported construction projects from requiring or prohibiting project labor agreements. Such documents also may not discriminate against or give preference to a bidder or contractor who signs or refuses to sign a project labor agreement. An agency may exempt a project from this prohibition to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve the national security.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2019
Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act This bill restricts the Department of Defense (DOD) from transferring certain surplus military property to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies. Specifically, DOD may not transfer to such agencies property such as controlled firearms, ammunition, bayonets, grenades or grenade launchers, explosives, certain vehicles or trucks, armored or weaponized drones, certain controlled aircraft, silencers, or long-range acoustic devices. DOD may waive this limitation and transfer certain vehicles or trucks if DOD determines that the transfer is necessary for disaster or rescue purposes or for another purpose where life and public safety are at risk. As a condition for a transfer of allowable property, DOD must require the federal or state agency that receives the property to return the property if the agency is investigated by the Department of Justice for civil liberties violations or is otherwise found to have engaged in widespread abuses of civil liberties. DOD must also periodically submit certain transfer-related information and certifications to Congress. Furthermore, as a condition for transfer, the recipient must receive the approval of its local governing body, provide specified notice to the local community, and submit specified information and certifications to DOD. A federal or state agency that receives controlled property under such a transfer may never take ownership of the property. The bill also eliminates the requirement for DOD to give preference to transfers of property that will be used in counter-drug, counterterrorism, or border security activities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2019
Ballot Fairness Act This bill requires states to impose the same requirements for appearing on the ballot in a general congressional election on all candidates, without regard to whether a candidate is the nominee of a political party. In such elections, states must use a ballot that requires a specific vote for a candidate and that does not permit the casting of a single vote for all candidates of the same political party.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2019
Veterans Equal Access Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to authorize VA health care providers to (1) provide veterans with recommendations and opinions regarding participation in their state's marijuana programs, and (2) complete forms reflecting such recommendations and opinions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2019
Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019 This bill revises and otherwise limits the federal prohibition on marijuana. First, it specifies that the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties of the Controlled Substances Act do not apply to marijuana. The bill does, however, make it a crime to knowingly ship or transport marijuana into a state where its receipt, possession, or sale is prohibited. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both. Next, it removes marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Finally, it eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who imports, exports, manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute marijuana.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that any future U.S.-Saudi Arabia civilian nuclear cooperation agreement must prohibit Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or separating plutonium.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2019
Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force This bill repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force signed into law September 18, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2019
Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act of 2019 This bill requires congressional approval for a presidential import adjustment due to a national security threat from an import related to military equipment, energy resources, or critical infrastructure essential to national security. Specifically, the bill requires the President to submit a proposal to Congress, which Congress may approve by a joint resolution. Under current law, the President determines whether any adjustment of an import is necessary and must submit to Congress the reasons for any action taken or not taken. The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce) must investigate the effect of these imports on national security. The bill retroactively applies to any proposed action made four years before enactment of this bill. In general, any rate of duty modification occurring in the time period beginning four years before and ending the day before enactment of this bill must revert to the previous rate unless it receives congressional approval.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2019
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act This bill establishes a new criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. The bill provides exceptions for an abortion (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2019
Global Trade Accountability Act of 2019 This bill requires congressional approval of unilateral trade actions. Such actions may take effect without congressional approval for one 90-day period if the President determines that it is necessary because of a national emergency, because of an imminent threat to health or safety, for the enforcement of criminal laws, or for national security; and submits written notice of the determination to Congress.
