United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking. Specifically, the bill establishes a congressional approval process for a major rule. A major rule may only take effect if Congress approves of the rule. A major rule is a rule that results in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. In addition, the bill establishes a congressional disapproval process for a nonmajor rule. A nonmajor rule may only take effect if Congress does not disapprove of the rule.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act This bill revises requirements regarding the sale and delivery of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-hookah, e-cigars, and vape pens). Specifically, the bill subjects the sale and delivery of these systems to certain requirements, including tax, licensing, and labeling requirements; prohibits the sale and delivery of these systems to anyone under the legal age to purchase tobacco products; and requires the U.S. Postal Service to implement regulations to prohibit the mailing of these systems. The bill does not apply to products approved by the Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or any other therapeutic purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Gold Star Children Act This bill broadens the categories of individuals eligible for veterans' preference in the civil service. Specifically, it makes children of certain permanently disabled or deceased veterans eligible for veterans' preference treatment in the federal civil service.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
This resolution recognizes (1) the importance of reminding U.S. citizens of the vital importance of democracy, and (2) the sacrifices of past generations to preserve the freedoms and principles of the United States. The resolution encourages (1) state and local governments to also recognize the importance of helping individuals understand the vital importance of democracy, and (2) the people of the United States to reflect on and appreciate the contributions made by the democratic system of government created by the Constitution to a more free and stable world.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2019
White Horse Hill National Game Preserve Designation Act This bill redesignates the Sullys Hill National Game Preserve in North Dakota as the "White Horse Hill National Game Preserve."
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019
Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop and conduct a collective-response-to-terrorism exercise that includes managing cascading effects on critical infrastructure, such as an extreme cold-weather event caused by a polar vortex.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019
Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act This bill revises the program responsible for federal coordination and review of major infrastructure projects, including by making this program permanent and by expanding the types of projects eligible for the program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Bill's Promise Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on how individuals on federal pretrial release are monitored.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants for a period of three years to eligible entities for the provision of suicide prevention services to veterans and their families. Under the bill, eligible entities include tribally designated housing entities, community-based organizations, and other private entities that meet certain requirements. Entities must submit an application to receive financial assistance that includes a description of the services they propose to provide, among other elements. The bill requires the VA to equitably distribute grants across geographic regions and areas with the most need. Additionally, the VA shall give preference to entities that are experienced in providing suicide prevention services. Entities receiving funding must notify service recipients that funding is wholly or partially from the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2019 or the JOBS Act of 2019 This bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by establishing the Job Training Federal Pell Grant program. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to award a job training Pell Grant to a student who does not have a degree; attends an institution of higher education (IHE); is enrolled in a career and technical education program at an IHE that provides 150 to 600 clock hours of instructional time over a period of 8 to 15 weeks and provides training aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors (i.e., job training programs); and meets all other eligibility requirements for a Pell Grant. It also specifies that any period during which a student receives a job training Pell Grant counts toward that student's Pell Grant eligibility period.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2019
Defending Elections against Trolls from Enemy Regimes Act or DETER Act This bill makes an alien inadmissible to the United States or deportable if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the alien seeks to enter the country to improperly interfere with a U.S. election or has previously done so. Improper interference in a U.S. election is conduct by an alien that violates federal criminal, voting rights, or campaign finance law, or is performed on behalf of a foreign government or criminal enterprise. Improper interference in a U.S. election includes acts intended to (1) undermine public confidence in election processes or institutions, or (2) influence or alter the result of an election.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2019
VA Emergency Transportation Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse a veteran for the reasonable value of emergency transportation by a non-VA provider (1) to a facility for emergency treatment, or (2) from a non-VA facility where the veteran was treated to a VA or other federal facility for additional care.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2019
Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act or the FEEDD Act This bill modifies the federal crop insurance program to authorize agricultural producers who harvest second crops as a result of a prevented planting to be eligible for specific crop insurance if certain conditions are met. Specifically, a producer may collect an indemnity that is equal to 100% of the prevented planting guarantee for the acreage of the first crop if (1) the acres planted are in an area with low hay or forage supplies due to widespread excessive moisture, flood, or drought; (2) the second crop will be planted with an intended use of animal feed that is hayed, gazed, or chopped; and (3) the second crop will be donated or used by the producer.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2019
75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 500,000 $1 coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The coins shall be emblematic of the sacrifices made by millions of people of the United States 75 years ago in bringing an end to World War II. The design on each coin shall represent the World War II Victory Medal, which was awarded to all 16 million U.S. military personnel who served from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. The bill requires all sales of such coins include specified surcharges, which shall be paid by Treasury to the congressionally designated National WWII Museum to fund its educational mission of telling the story of the U.S. experience in World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 This bill establishes several prohibitions, requirements, and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, the bill prohibits MA plans from instituting additional prior authorization requirements for surgeries (including related items) that are furnished to a patient during other surgeries for which prior authorization was not required or was already received. Additionally, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2019
Justice Reinvestment Initiative Act of 2019 This bill provides statutory authority for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative grant program within the Department of Justice. The program provides grants to states, local governments, Indian tribes, and entities and institutions of higher education with national law enforcement and corrections expertise to analyze criminal justice trends and increase public safety by allocating resources to efforts that reduce crime and recidivism.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Aviation Incentive Pay Parity Act This bill revises the authority for payment of aviation incentive pay to reserve component officers. It permits the amount of such pay to be equal to that of an officer in the regular component of the particular uniformed service.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the use of educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve or the Ready Reserve, at the member's election, for payment of tuition under the Department of Defense program of tuition assistance for voluntary off-duty training or education.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2019
Corporate Duty to Report Act of 2019 This bill requires corporations to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation the receipt of specified prohibited disbursements from foreign nationals for campaign related public communications. Additionally, when receiving specified disbursements, corporations must inquire whether such disbursements (1) are for campaign purposes, and (2) are made by foreign nationals. The bill establishes fines for violations of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2019
DUE PROCESS Act of 2019 or the Deterring Undue Enforcement by Protecting Rights Of Citizens from Excessive Searches and Seizures Act of 2019 This bill makes various changes to procedures governing federal civil forfeiture cases, including by raising the evidentiary standard that applies to them. It also requires the Department of Justice to create a database of and annually audit federal civil forfeiture cases.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2019 This bill makes the provision of physical therapy services a profession eligible for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program. The NHSC Loan Repayment Program assists specified health care professionals to repay eligible student loans in exchange for providing services in areas with limited access to health care.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Savanna's Act This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols to address missing and murdered Native Americans. The bill requires DOJ to take the following actions: provide training to law enforcement agencies on how to record tribal enrollment for victims in federal databases, develop and implement a strategy to notify the public of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, conduct specific outreach to tribes regarding the ability to publicly enter information through the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System or other non-law enforcement sensitive portal, develop regionally appropriate guidelines for response to cases of missing and murdered Native Americans, provide training and technical assistance to tribes and law enforcement agencies for implementation of the developed guidelines, and report statistics on missing and murdered Native Americans. The bill authorizes DOJ to provide grants for the purposes of (1) developing and implementing policies and protocols for law enforcement regarding cases of missing and murdered Native Americans, and (2) compiling and reporting data relating to missing and murdered Native Americans. Federal law enforcement agencies must modify their guidelines to incorporate the guidelines developed by DOJ. The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall include gender in its annual statistics on missing and unidentified persons published on its website.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Medicaid Improvement and State Flexibility Act of 2019 This bill authorizes states to approve their own experimental, pilot, or demonstration project under Medicaid if the project provides certain benefits involving electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards. (Currently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approves Medicaid demonstration projects; such projects are also known as Section 1115 Demonstrations .) Specifically, the project must provide enrollees who elect to participate with an EBT card to purchase primary care services; enrollees must receive any remaining balance at the end of the year in the form of a cash payment and must also obtain catastrophic health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2019
This resolution condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents and expresses support for the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against the Iranian regime.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2019
National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act This bill addresses the mine permitting process. Under the bill, projects that provide minerals vital to job creation, energy infrastructure, coastal resilience and restoration, American economic competitiveness, and national security must be considered to be infrastructure projects as described in Executive Order 13807, titled Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects and dated August 15, 2017. This order directed federal agencies to ensure that the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure is coordinated, predictable, and transparent. The bill sets forth general requirements for an existing mineral exploration or mine permit application. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service shall appoint a project lead for the mine permitting process to coordinate with other agencies to ensure that the agencies minimize delays, set and adhere to timelines for completion of the permitting process, set clear permitting goals, and track progress against goals. The requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 are satisfied if the BLM or the Forest Service determines that the agency issuing the permit will address specified factors, such as environmental impact, alternatives to issuance of the permit, or any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would be involved in the proposed action. Projects on National Forest System land shall be exempt from regulations that prohibit timber tree cutting and road construction in areas without roads.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act This bill treats certain military survivor benefits that are received by children as earned income of the child for the purposes of the kiddie tax (the tax on the unearned income of children). This has the effect of exempting the benefits from such tax.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the State Opioid Response Grants program that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 400,000 $1 silver coins that are emblematic of the women who played a vital role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Such coins may be issued during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. All surcharges received from the sales of such coins shall be paid to the American Women's History Initiative of the Smithsonian Institution.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2019
Clean Slate Act of 2019 This bill establishes a framework for sealing records related to certain federal criminal offenses. Courts must automatically seal records related to (1) a conviction for simple possession of a controlled substance or for any nonviolent offense involving marijuana, or (2) an arrest for an offense that does not result in a conviction. Additionally, an individual who meets certain criteria may petition to seal records related to a conviction for other nonviolent offenses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2019
Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019 This bill increases the aggregate debt limit for a family farmer who files for bankruptcy under chapter 12 (family farmer or fisherman reorganization).
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This resolution directs the House Oversight and Reform Committee to submit to the Department of Justice an official copy of the transcript of the February 27, 2019, hearing during which Michael Cohen, former attorney of Donald Trump, testified under oath.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from denying a veteran any VA benefit due to participation in a state-approved marijuana program. For veterans participating in these approved programs, the VA must ensure its health care providers (1) discuss marijuana use with such veterans and adjust treatment plans accordingly, and (2) record such use in the veterans' medical records. Under the bill, the VA shall authorize physicians and other VA health care providers to provide recommendations to veterans who are residents of states with approved programs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2019 This bill allows Medicare payment for home health services ordered by a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse-midwife, or a physician assistant. Currently, coverage is provided only for services ordered by a physician.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Restoring Education And Learning Act of 2019 or the REAL Act of 2019 This bill restores Pell Grant eligibility for individuals incarcerated in a federal or state penal institution and for sex offenders subject to civil commitment following incarceration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands Act of 2019 or the RURAL Act of 2019 This bill modifies the definition of income used to determine the tax-exempt status of a mutual or cooperative telephone or electric company to exclude certain government grants, contributions, and assistance. Specifically, the bill excludes from income (1) grants, contributions, and assistance provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or by local, state, or regional governmental entities for disasters or emergencies; and (2) certain grants or contributions provided by a government entity for electric, communications, broadband, internet, or other utility facilities or services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2019
Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act or the STATES Act 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. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the effects of marijuana legalization on traffic safety.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2019
Chronic Wasting Disease Research Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to award grants for research on the transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of chronic wasting disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose populations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2019
Access Technology Affordability Act of 2019 This bill allows a refundable tax credit equal to the amounts paid for qualified access technology for use by a blind individual who is the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent of the taxpayer. "Qualified access technology" is hardware, software, or other information technology with the primary function of converting or adapting information that is visually represented into forms or formats useable by blind individuals. The credit is limited to (1) costs that are not compensated by insurance or otherwise, and (2) an aggregate amount of $2,000 per blind individual in any period of three consecutive taxable years. The credit must be adjusted for inflation after 2020 and terminates after five years.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act This bill more closely aligns the federal privacy standards for substance use disorder (SUD) patient records with the standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Specifically, the bill authorizes the disclosure of SUD patient records without a patient's written consent to: (1) a covered entity for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations, as long as the disclosure is made in accordance with HIPAA; and (2) a public health authority, as long as the content of the disclosure meets HIPAA standards regarding de-identified information. Current law authorizes disclosure of SUD patient records without a patient's written consent only to medical personnel in a medical emergency, to specified personnel for research or program evaluations, or pursuant to a court order. The bill also repeals and replaces criminal penalties for certain violations involving SUD patient records with the HIPAA civil penalty structure. It also applies HIPAA criminal penalties to wrongful disclosures of SUD patient records. In addition, the bill expands the current prohibition against using SUD patient records in criminal proceedings to include any use in specified federal, state, and local criminal and civil actions. The bill prohibits certain discrimination based on the release of SUD information under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Lymphedema Treatment Act of 2019 This bill includes certain lymphedema compression treatment items as covered durable medical equipment under Medicare. (Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling that is caused when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2019 or the FAIR Act This bill revises the procedure for and the structure of civil forfeiture. First, the bill revises the general rules for civil forfeiture proceedings. Specifically, it (1) requires the right to counsel in all civil forfeiture proceedings, (2) raises the evidentiary standard to clear and convincing evidence for the civil forfeiture of property, (3) requires the government to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the owner of the seized property used the property with the intent to facilitate the criminal offense or knowingly consented or was willfully blind to its use in connection with the offense, and (4) expands the proportionality criteria used by a court to determine whether a civil forfeiture was constitutionally excessive. Next, it requires the proceeds from the disposition of seized property to be deposited into the Treasury, rather than to Department of Justice accounts for law enforcement activities. Additionally, the bill eliminates equitable sharing payments (which allow the federal government to share federally forfeited property with participating states and local law enforcement agencies). It also adds a mens rea requirement (i.e., a knowing violation) to the prohibition against structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements. Further, it requires a probable cause hearing to be held within 14 days to determine if there is a violation for structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and requires the return of a monetary instrument if probable cause is not established.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of the Congress regarding the benefits that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies provide to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act of 2019 or the ECORA Act of 201 9 This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income interest received by a lender from real estate loans secured by agricultural real estate or by a leasehold mortgage (with a status as a lien) on agricultural real estate. Agricultural real estate includes real property that is substantially used for the production of one or more agricultural products. It also includes any single family residence that is (1) the principal residence of its occupant, (2) located in a rural area which is not within a Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a population of 2,500 or less; and (3) is purchased or improved with the proceeds of a loan secured by property used for the production of one or more agricultural products.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
Restoring Investment in Improvements Act This bill confirms that the applicable recovery period for qualified improvement property (nonresidential real estate) for depreciation purposes is 15 years under the modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) and 20 years under the alternative depreciation system (ADS).
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2019 This bill exempts traditional large and premium cigars from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and from user fees assessed on tobacco products by the FDA.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019
Employee Rights Act This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to (1) make it an unlawful labor practice for a labor organization to interfere (currently, also restrain or coerce) with the rights of employees to organize and collectively bargain; (2) require union recertification after a turnover in the workforce exceeding 50% of the bargaining unit; (3) require the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to give 14 days advance notice before a hearing investigating an election petition; and (4) require an employer to provide the NLRB with a list consisting only of employee names and addresses of all eligible voters within seven days after an NLRB determination of the appropriate bargaining unit or an agreement on eligible voters. The bill (1) grants union and nonunion employees the right to vote by secret ballot on whether to ratify a collective bargaining agreement or engage in a strike, (2) prohibits the use of union dues for any purpose not directly related to collective bargaining, (3) prohibits a strike without the consent of a majority of all represented employees determined by secret ballot, and (4) prohibits the use or threat of force or violence to obtain the right to represent employees. .
![Official portrait of Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000377_200.jpg)