United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2024 the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The bill expands the goals of ARPA-E to include the development of energy technologies that (1) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (2) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy. The bill also authorizes DOE to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate how well ARPA-E is achieving its goals and missions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Afghan Women's Inclusion in Negotiations Act This bill requires the Department of State to report on the participation of Afghan women in the Afghan peace process and a strategy for U.S. post-conflict engagement in Afghanistan. Specifically, the State Department must report on (1) the participation of Afghan women in negotiations and dialogue related to the Afghan peace process and the protection of their rights and gains; and (2) the actions of the State Department to consult with and train local women-led civil society organizations and to advocate for their inclusion and participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post-conflict reconciliation. The State Department must also develop a strategy for U.S. post-conflict engagement in Afghanistan to support the implementation of commitments for women and girls' inclusion and empowerment, as well as to protect and promote basic human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Safe from the Start Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State to direct U.S. foreign assistance to address humanitarian crises in a manner that aims to prevent and respond to gender-based violence at the onset of an emergency. Specifically, the State Department shall focus on (1) preventing gender-based violence, (2) protecting survivors of humanitarian crises from the onset of the emergency, (3) promoting standards and activities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and (4) advancing and empowering survivors and at-risk individuals. Activities shall include improving access to post-sexual-assault medical and mental health services and ensuring such services are available to hard-to-reach populations. The State Department may provide support to local and international organizations to achieve its goals.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms Act of 2019 or the DISARM Act of 2019 This bill requires additional payment under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system for services that involve certain antimicrobial drugs, in accordance with specified limitations. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the barriers to developing such antimicrobial drugs and must recommend ways to address such barriers.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 programs that raise public awareness about breast health, educate health care providers to encourage early detection of breast cancer, and provide support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Trauma-Informed Modernization of Eldercare for Holocaust Survivors Act or the TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act This bill includes matters concerning Holocaust survivors in federal grants and programs that serve older adults. Specifically, the bill includes an individual's status as a Holocaust survivor within the scope of the greatest social needs for purposes of such programs. Under current law, these programs must target populations with the greatest economic and social needs. Additionally, among other activities, the Administration on Aging must establish a national center to provide resources, training, and technical assistance related to delivering services to older individuals who experience the long-term and adverse consequences of trauma. In addition, the administration may designate within it a person responsible for implementing and coordinating services for individuals who are Holocaust survivors.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Improving Transparency for the American People Act of 2019 This resolution expands the duties of the Clerk of the House of Representatives to include reporting on adoption of a standardized format for certain legislative documents, assessing funding and other resources needed to expedite and complete the legislation comparison project, and assigning unique identifiers to persons required to file lobbying statements or reports with the Clerk. The resolution requires the Clerk's website to include a database of the expiration dates of all federal programs and a database of certain recorded votes taken in committees, beginning with the 116th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
This resolution commends the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and its partners for their contributions to ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The resolution also affirms previous U.S. commitments to provide 33% of the fund's budget, including for the Sixth Global Fund Replenishment, as demonstrated by legislation passed by the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019
Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2019 This bill extends funding for Brand USA, the Corporation for Travel Promotion, through FY2027 and raises the fee for using the electronic system for travel authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019
Legacy IRA Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes. The bill increases from $100,000 to $400,000 the annual limit on the aggregate amount of distributions for charitable purposes that may be excluded from the gross income of a taxpayer. The bill permits tax-free distributions from IRAs to a split-interest entity for four years after the enactment of this bill. A split-interest entity is exclusively funded by charitable distributions and includes: a charitable remainder annuity trust, a charitable remainder unitrust, or a charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity must commence fixed payments of at least 5% no later than one year from the date of funding. A distribution to a split-interest entity may only be treated as a qualified charitable distribution if: (1) no person holds an income interest in the entity other than the individual for whose benefit the account is maintained, the spouse of such individual, or both; and (2) the income interest in the entity is nonassignable.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019
Teacher Education for Computer Science Act or the Teach CS Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education for establishing and maintaining teacher education programs for computer science. It also includes computer science as an eligible education category with respect to receiving various teacher preparation grants and graduate fellowships.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019
Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other specified agencies and departments, to develop, publish, and submit to Congress a national One Health Framework for coordinated federal activities under the One Health Program, which encourages collaborative efforts to help better prevent, prepare for, and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks. The framework must (1) describe existing efforts and contain recommendations for building upon and complementing the activities of federal entities; and (2) establish specified goals, including advancing the scientific understanding of the connections among human, animal, and environmental health.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019
Medicare Diagnostic Radiopharmaceutical Payment Equity Act of 2019 This bill establishes separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services. The bill's requirements apply to diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals that have an average daily cost of $500 or more in 2020 and as adjusted based on a specified fee schedule factor in each year thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2019 This bill provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, Indian tribes, or territories; or (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 This bill provides statutory authority for certain procedures related to the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBR-DR) Program and adds new program requirements, including with respect to coordination of benefits, precertification for grant assistance, and allocation of grant funds. Additionally, the bill expands CDBG-DR assistance to Puerto Rico. Finally, the bill establishes the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Reserve Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
EAGLES Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) within the U.S. Secret Service. It reauthorizes the functions of NTAC through FY2023 and expands them to include the establishment of a national program on targeted school violence prevention.
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 · 27 June 2019
Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2019 This bill modifies the general prohibition on female genital mutilation. Specifically, the bill prohibits this conduct when it occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. (A 2018 court ruling held the criminal offense of female genital mutilation to be unconstitutional because the statute did not include any jurisdictional elements, such as a requirement that the charged offense have a connection to or effect on interstate commerce.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries Act or the LAB Act This bill revises the periods during which laboratories must report clinical diagnostic test information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for purposes of determining Medicare payment rates. The CMS must also contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to evaluate the methodology used to determine a specified laboratory fee schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Achieving Lasting Electoral Reforms on Transparency and Security Act or the ALERTS Act This bill requires federal agencies and state and local governments to provide notification regarding election cybersecurity incidents. Specifically, federal entities must share information about an election cybersecurity incident with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If there is credible evidence that an unauthorized intrusion into an election system occurred that put voter information or other systems at risk, DHS must, with limited exceptions, share this information with relevant state and local offices and with appropriate members of Congress. State and local election offices must notify individuals possibly affected by this intrusion.
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 · 21 June 2019
Opioid Workforce Act of 2019 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain medicine programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,000 positions over a five-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
Stopping Bad Robocalls Act This bill updates various policies and regulations relating to robocalls. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect consumer privacy as it relates to robocalls. The FCC must update regulations involving certain robocalls that are exempt from criminal liability to include specific requirements identifying classes of parties who may make such calls, parties who may be called, and how many times they may be called. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that a citation be issued prior to a forfeiture penalty being imposed in cases where violations involving illegal robocalls have been intentional and where inaccurate caller identification information has been provided. The bill also implements a three-year statute of limitation for such violations requiring notice, and a four-year statute of limitation where an intentional violation has occurred. The FCC must promulgate regulations to address requirements for effective call authentication technology as well as to establish a process to streamline the ways in which a private entity may voluntarily share with FCC information relating to an illegal call or text or for calls with misleading or inaccurate caller identification information. Finally, the bill requires the FCC to ensure robocall blocking services provided on an opt-out basis are provided free of cost with transparency and redress options for consumers and callers.
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 · 18 June 2019
Locking Up Robocallers Act of 2019 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission, upon obtaining evidence that suggests an intentional robocall violation, to provide such evidence to the Department of Justice and to report annually on the number and type of such instances.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2019
Strengthening U.S. Olympics Act This bill establishes within the legislative branch the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics, which shall study matters relating to the state of U.S. participation in the Olympic and Paralympic games. Such study shall, among other things, include a description of proposed reforms to the structure of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and assessments of whether the board of the USOC includes diverse members, including athletes; U.S. athlete participation levels in the Olympics and Paralympics; whether the U.S. Center for Safe Sport has the necessary fiscal resources and staffing levels to effectively handle reports of bullying, hazing, harassment, and sexual assault and to properly audit and provide oversight of the USOC and National Governing Bodies; and the finances and the financial organization of the USOC.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of the Interior to study the sites associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald, a part-owner and President of Sears, Roebuck and Company and a noted philanthropist. The study shall include a special focus on the Rosenwald Schools (the 5,357 schools and related buildings that were constructed in 15 southern states between 1912 and 1932). In conducting such study, Interior shall (1) determine which sites are of national significance, (2) prioritize the study of any Rosenwald Schools recommended to Interior by the State Historic Preservation Officer of any of the states in which such schools exist, and (3) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating one or more units of the National Park System to include those Rosenwald Schools and other sites representing Julius Rosenwald's life and legacy.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act This bill directs the White County Bridge Commission to convey to the New Harmony River Bridge Authority and the New Harmony and Wabash River Bridge Authority, all right, title, and interest of the commission in and to the bridge and the approaches thereto across the Wabash River at or near New Harmony, Indiana, and in land underneath or adjacent to such bridge and its approaches. The Act of April 12, 1941, (creating the commission) is repealed effective on the date that the commission completes such conveyance.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 456 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the "Richard G. Lugar Post Office."
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
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to continue to sell the Alzheimer's disease semipostal stamp for an additional six years. The USPS must continue to transfer proceeds from the sale of the stamp to the National Institutes of Health to fund medical research relating to Alzheimer's disease.
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 · 5 June 2019
Collegiate Freedom of Association Act This bill addresses freedom of association protections for college students. Specifically, this bill gives students (or groups of students) enrolled at institutions of higher education (IHEs) the right to form or join social organizations, including single-sex social organizations. In addition, the bill prohibits IHEs that participate in federal student aid programs from taking actions that require or coerce students or social organizations to waive their rights; taking adverse actions against students who are members of single-sex social organizations, or against single-sex social organizations, based solely on the membership practice of limiting membership to only individuals of one sex; or placing recruitment restrictions on single-sex social organizations, which are not imposed upon other student organizations, without the written agreement of the organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2019
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions of the low-income housing tax credit and renames it as the affordable housing credit . The bill increases the per capita dollar amount of the credit and its minimum ceiling amount beginning in 2019 and extends the inflation adjustment for such amounts. The bill modifies tenant income eligibility requirements and the average income formula for determining such income. It also revises rules for student occupancy of rental units and tenant voucher payments and prohibits any refusal to rent to victims of domestic abuse. The bill further modifies the credit to establish a 4% minimum credit rate for certain housing projects, repeal the qualified census tract population cap, prohibit local approval and contribution requirements, increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households, increase the credit for certain bond-financed projects designated by state agencies, eliminate the basis reduction for properties that receive certain energy-related tax benefits, and increase the population cap for difficult development areas (i.e., areas with high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area median gross income). The bill also includes Indian and rural areas as difficult development areas and modifies other requirements relating to casualty losses, acquisition credits, and foreclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2019
Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2019 This bill repeals specified limitations, for purposes of Medicare participation, on self-referrals by newly constructed or expanded physician-owned hospitals.
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 · 22 May 2019
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act This bill modifies the Conrad 30 Waiver program, which incentivizes qualified foreign physicians to serve in underserved communities. It also extends statutory authority for the program through FY2021. Aliens coming to the United States under a J-1 nonimmigrant visa to receive medical training typically must leave the country and reside for two years abroad before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence. The Conrad program waives this requirement for individuals who meet certain qualifications, including serving for a number of years at a health care facility in an underserved area. The bill increases the number of waivers that a state may obtain each fiscal year from 30 to 35 if a certain number of waivers were used the previous year, and provides for further adjustments depending on demand. An alien physician may be employed at an academic medical center to meet the Conrad program's employment requirements if the alien's work is in the public interest, even if the medical center is not in an underserved area. Employment contracts for alien physicians under the Conrad program shall contain certain information, such as the maximum number of on-call hours per week the physician shall have to work. Certain alien physicians (along with the physician's spouse and children) shall be exempt from the direct annual numerical limits on immigration, including those physicians that have met certain requirements related to visas for physicians to serve in underserved areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
This resolution condemns the attacks on hospitals, medical personnel, and emergency responders by Syria and Russia and calls on all parties to (1) end the attacks on medical facilities; (2) cease targeting medical workers; and (3) allow unhindered medical assistance, humanitarian assistance, and medical evacuation of urgent cases to besieged areas. Additionally, the resolution calls on the Department of State to work with the international community to conduct full, prompt, impartial, and effective investigations of violations of international humanitarian law related to attacks on medical personnel and facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
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 May 2019
Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019 This bill requires the President, in consultation with relevant federal agencies, to develop a strategy to secure and protect U.S. fifth and future generations (5G) systems and infrastructure. Such strategy shall (1) ensure the security of 5G mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure within the United States; (2) assist mutual defense treaty allies, strategic partners, and other countries in maximizing the security of 5G systems and infrastructure; and (3) protect the competitiveness of U.S. companies, privacy of U.S. consumers, and integrity of standards-setting bodies against political influence.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety Act of 2019 or the VACCINES Act of 2019 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take a series of actions relating to vaccination rates and awareness. Specifically, the CDC must (1) develop a national surveillance system to monitor vaccination rates, and (2) conduct a national campaign to increase awareness of the importance of vaccines. Additionally, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee must assess national confidence in vaccines and update a specified 2015 report accordingly.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
Jake Laird Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to states to implement laws that authorize a law enforcement officer to seize firearms from a person if there is probable cause to believe the person is dangerous.
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 · 15 May 2019
Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings Act of 2019 or the PALS Act This bill makes a series of changes relating to health insurance coverage of screening mammography. Specifically, the bill requires that any provision of law referring to current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with respect to breast cancer screening mammography be administered as if (1) the provision referred to USPSTF recommendations last issued before 2009; and (2) those recommendations applied to any screening mammography modality, including any digital modality of such a procedure. This requirement shall also apply to the Veterans Health Administration's policy on mammography screening for veterans. In addition, the bill preserves Medicare coverage for screening mammography, without a requirement for coinsurance, and expands the definition of screening mammography to include any digital modality of such a procedure. Further, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may not decrease the frequency with which screening mammography may be paid by Medicare for a woman over 39 years of age. In 2009, the USPSTF updated its guidelines to recommend against routine screening mammography for women between 40 to 49 years of age and to recommend biennial, instead of annual, screening mammography for most women between 50 to 74 years of age. In 2015, through the appropriations process, a three-year moratorium was placed on implementing the guidelines; the moratorium was subsequently renewed until January 1, 2020.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to an applicant or employee; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they do not want, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under various statutes that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected job applicants or employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Lowering Prescription Drug Costs and Extending Community Health Centers and Other Public Health Priorities Act This bill addresses prescription drugs and extends several health care, research, and workforce programs. Currently, a generic drug manufacturer is awarded 180 days of exclusivity on the market if it is the first applicant to file an application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the exclusivity period begins upon the first applicant's commercial marketing. The bill authorizes the FDA to approve a subsequent generic drug application prior to the first applicant's first date of commercial marketing if certain conditions are met. The bill prohibits a brand-name, generic, or biosimilar drug manufacturer from entering into certain agreements to resolve or settle a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug or biological product. Such an agreement, with specified exclusions, is a violation of the bill if the filer of the subsequent generic application receives something of value and agrees to limit or forego research, development, manufacturing, marketing, or sales of the generic drug or biological product. The developer of a drug or biological product, such as a generic or biosimilar version of a drug, may bring a civil action against the license holder of an approved drug if the holder has declined to make available sufficient quantities of the approved drug for the developer's testing. The bill also extends several health care, research, and workforce programs, including the National Health Service Corps, through FY2020.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
This bill specifies that certain Medicare payment rules applicable to imaging services shall apply to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry services used in bone mass scans beginning in 2019. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must establish national minimum payment amounts for such services.
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.
![Official portrait of Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001284_200.jpg)