United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the President should revoke the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to William Henry (Bill) Cosby in 2002. Additionally, it amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to fraudulently wear or publicly display a Presidential Medal of Freedom that has been revoked. A violator is subject to a fine, up to one year in prison, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2018
Iran Payments Accountability Act of 2018 This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to determine if the Government of Iran uses certain funds to: (1) sponsor any foreign terrorist organization or Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, (2) engage in violence or hostilities against U.S. civilians or service members, (3) conduct military operations in Syria, or (4) facilitate illicit narcotics activities. The applicable funds are those received by Iran as sanction relief or as a cash payment from the United States in 2016. The Department of State must demand repayment of funds from the Government of Iran if the ODNI determines funds were used for such actions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2018
Know the Cost Act of 2018 This bill prohibits a health insurance plan or pharmacy benefits manager from restricting a pharmacy from informing an enrollee of any difference between the cost of a drug under the plan and the cost of the drug without health insurance coverage. (Such restrictions are commonly referred to as gag clauses.)
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
This bill terminates certain limitations regarding drug rebates under Medicaid. Currently, the maximum rebate that drug manufacturers must pay under Medicaid for single-source and innovator multiple-source drugs is 100% of the average manufacturer price of the drug. The bill specifies that this limitation only applies to rebate periods that begin before January 1, 2019.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Expresses opposition to the completion of Nord Stream II, the gas pipeline that would transport natural gas from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. Urges the President to support European energy security through a policy of diversification to lessen reliance on Russia. Supports the imposition of sanctions with respect to Nord Stream II.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Our Communities, Our Choices Act of 2018 This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to require consultation with state and local elected officials and a public hearing before awarding grants or contracts for housing unaccompanied alien children in a facility that is not on federal property.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Turkey International Financial Institutions Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to: oppose the extension by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development of loans or financial or technical assistance to Turkey or to any entity for a project in Turkey, and work with other donor countries to develop a lending policy with Turkey that advances human rights. Treasury may waive the IFC restriction for projects to diversify Turkey's energy resources and lessen its dependence on Russian or Iranian oil or gas. Such restrictions: shall terminate after the President certifies to Congress that Turkey is no longer arbitrarily detaining or denying freedom of movement to U.S. citizens (including dual citizens) or locally employed staff of the U.S. mission to Turkey, and shall not apply to loans or financial or technical assistance for humanitarian purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents. Expresses support for the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against the Iranian regime.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6199) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include certain over-the-counter medical products as qualified medical expenses, and providing for proceedings during the period from July 27, 2018, through September 3, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 184) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on medical devices, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6311) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to modify the definition of qualified health plan for purposes of the health insurance premium tax credit and to allow individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market to purchase a lower premium copper plan.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2018
Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2018 This bill makes sending bad faith patent demand letters an unfair or deceptive act in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. A patent demand letter is a written communication claiming that the recipient may be liable for patent infringement. "Bad faith" means making knowingly false or misleading statements, making claims with reckless disregard for the truth, or omitting information with the intent to deceive. Bad faith representations under the bill include false or misleading claims about the sender's right to assert the patent, whether lawsuits have been filed against the recipient or others, and whether others have purchased a license to exercise the patent. It is also bad faith to make written demands for compensation for invalid patents, or to demand compensation without identifying the ultimate parent entity of the letter sender. The sender has an affirmative defense that it acted in good faith, by proving its misstatements or omissions were unintentional and it made an error in spite of procedures to avoid such errors. The bill preempts state laws relating to patent assertion communications. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general can bring actions to enforce these provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2018
This bill modifies the requirements for the premium assistance tax credit and allows all individuals to purchase catastrophic health plans in the individual market. (Under current law, the premium assistance tax credit is provided to eligible individuals and families to subsidize the purchase of health insurance plans on an exchange established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.) The bill modifies the credit to: make the credit available for catastrophic qualified health plans and plans that are not offered through an exchange, but otherwise meet the requirements for qualified health plans; prohibit advance payments of the credit from being made for a health plan that is not enrolled in through an exchange; and prohibit the credit from being used for health plans that cover abortions (other than abortions necessary to save the life of the mother or abortions with respect to a pregnancy that is the result of an act of rape or incest). The bill also modifies the requirements for minimum essential health benefits to allow all individuals purchasing health insurance in the individual market to purchase a lower premium catastrophic plan. (The plans are currently limited to individuals who are under 30 or qualify for a hardship or affordability exemption.)
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2018
Health Savings Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health savings accounts (HSAs), to require the bronze and catastrophic health plans described in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be treated as high deductible health plans, which are required to participate in an HSA.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Preventing Unionization of Revenue Service Employees Act or the PURSE Act This bill excludes employees of the Internal Revenue Service from provisions of federal personnel law allowing federal employees to organize, bargain collectively, and participate in labor organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2018
Protect Kids and Parents Act This bill requires that a child of alien parents or legal guardians who are asylum applicants must be detained in the same facility. A "child" is defined as an individual who has not reached the age of 18, has no permanent immigration status, and was in the custody and presence of a parent or legal guardian when the parent or legal guardian was detained for illegally entering the United States. The bill also: directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase the total number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration staff attorneys; directs Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase the total number of DHS personnel who process asylum applications; requires DOJ and DHS to establish procedures for expedited consideration and processing of asylum applications; requires expedited removal of asylum applicants whose applications have been denied; establishes a strong presumption in favor of family unity; requires DHS to publish guidance for locating separated children; and requires the Government Accountability Office to study, and report on, the prosecution of asylum seekers between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2018
Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend protective custody over alien children under age 18 who are accompanied by a parent and apprehended at the border or are seeking admission to the United States at a port of entry. DHS must temporarily house an alien child under age 18 in a family residential center during the pendency of civil or criminal proceedings. DHS must increase the number of available beds in family residential centers. The Department of Justice must increase the number of immigration judge teams to conduct prioritized proceedings for accompanied alien children and families apprehended at the southwest border or who are seeking admission to the United States at a port of entry
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6) to provide for opioid use disorder prevention, recovery, and treatment, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5797) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States to provide under Medicaid services for certain individuals with opioid use disorders in institutions for mental diseases; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6082) to amend the Public Health Service Act to protect the confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2018
Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act or the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act This bill makes several changes to state Medicaid programs to address opioid and substance use disorders. Specifically, the bill: modifies provisions related to coverage for juvenile inmates and former foster care youth, establishes a demonstration project to increase provider treatment capacity for substance use disorders, requires the establishment of drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries, establishes drug review and utilization requirements, extends the enhanced federal matching rate for expenditures regarding substance use disorder health home services, and temporarily requires coverage of medication-assisted treatment. The bill also alters Medicare requirements to address opioid use. Specifically, the bill: exempts substance use disorder telehealth services from specified requirements, requires the initial examination for new enrollees to include an opioid use disorder screening, modifies provisions regarding electronic prescriptions and post-surgical pain management, requires prescription drug plan sponsors to establish drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries, and requires coverage for services provided by certified opioid treatment programs. The bill also addresses other opioid-related issues. Specifically, the bill: establishes and expands programs to support increased detection and monitoring of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, and increases the maximum number of patients that health care practitioners may initially treat with medication-assisted treatment (i.e., under a buprenorphine waiver). Additionally, the bill temporarily eliminates the enhanced federal matching rate for Medicaid expenditures regarding specified medical services provided by certain managed care organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2018
Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act of 2018 This bill prohibits certain conduct to facilitate doping fraud (i.e., the use of a performance-enhancing drug to gain an unfair competitive advantage) at a major international competition. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful to knowingly and intentionally: participate in doping fraud; administer a performance-enhancing drug; manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess a performance-enhancing drug with the intent to commit or attempt to commit doping fraud; or retaliate against an individual who discloses evidence of doping fraud. The bill sets forth civil remedies and criminal penalties—a fine and a prison term of up to five years—with respect to a violation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2018
Increasing Access to Care Act This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to eliminate restrictions on who may purchase catastrophic health plans. Catastrophic health plans do not cover any benefits, other than three primary care visits per year, before the deductible is met; such plans are generally characterized by lower premiums and higher deductibles. Currently, only individuals who are younger than 30 years of age or who have a hardship exemption may purchase such plans.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2018
State of Modern Application, Research, and Trends of IoT Act or the SMART IoT Act This bill directs the Department of Commerce to conduct a study on the state of the Internet-connected devices industry (commonly known as the Internet of Things) in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of H.R. 5895 (Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019) and H.R. 3 (Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act).
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2018
Condemns Russia's destabilizing behavior in Ukraine and the region. Calls on the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and its associated international community to: (1) continue investigations into illicit Russian efforts to secure the World Cup, and (2) condemn Russia's transgressions against international law and FIFA values.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5515) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (S. 204) to authorize the use of unapproved medical products by patients diagnosed with a terminal illness in accordance with State law, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (S. 2155) to promote economic growth, provide tailored regulatory relief, and enhance consumer protections.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Creating Opportunities that Necessitate New and Enhanced Connections That Improve Opioid Navigation Strategies Act of 2018 or the CONNECTIONS Act This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide technical assistance and award grants in order to: (1) improve the efficiency and use of state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), achieve community or health system interventions relating to controlled substances (e.g., prescription guidelines), and promote new approaches to responding to emerging public health crises; and (2) improve the timeliness, comprehensiveness, and usefulness of reported overdose data. The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to alter requirements relating to PDMPs. Among other changes, the bill: (1) repeals requirements regarding grant formulas, database standards, and authorized data disclosures; and (2) authorizes federal support for specific improvements regarding use, data reporting, and intrastate and interstate interoperability. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the progress of states in implementing PDMPs that are consistent with such improvements.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act This bill aligns federal privacy standards for substance use disorder patient records more closely with standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, including authorized disclosures and penalty structures for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
21st Century Tools for Pain and Addiction Treatment Act This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise how it will address the challenges and barriers of developing non-addictive medical products to treat pain or addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Stop Illicit Drug Importation Act of 2018 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit the importation of certain drugs or destroy illegally imported or hazardous drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 TITLE I--FEES RELATING TO ANIMAL DRUGS This bill addresses the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect new animal drug (brand name animal drug) and generic animal drug user fees. Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 (Sec. 103) The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to reauthorize through FY2023 the authority of the FDA to collect and use brand name animal drug user fees. The FDA must not collect fees for (1) supplemental applications that are submitted solely to add the animal drug application number to the label of the drug, and (2) applications for genetically engineered animals that are intended to produce human medical products. The bill revises the total amount of revenue brand name animal drug user fees can generate. The bill also revises the requirements for calculating adjustments to revenue amounts based on changes in the workload for reviewing brand name animal drug applications. (Sec. 104) The bill extends requirements for the FDA to report to Congress on achieving goals related to the animal drug development and review processes and implementation of the authority to collect brand name animal drug user fees. (Sec. 107) The bill terminates the authority of the FDA to collect brand name animal drug user fees on October 1, 2023. TITLE II--FEES RELATING TO GENERIC ANIMAL DRUGS Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 (Sec. 202) The bill reauthorizes through FY2023 the authority of the FDA to collect and use generic animal drug user fees. The FDA must not collect fees for supplemental abbreviated applications that are submitted solely to add the generic animal drug application number to the label of the drug. The bill revises the total amount of revenue each type of generic animal drug user fee must generate. The bill also revises the requirements for calculating adjustments to revenue amounts based on changes in the workload for reviewing generic animal drug applications. (Sec. 203) The bill extends requirements for the FDA to report to Congress on achieving goals related to the generic animal drug development and review process and the implementation of the authority to collect generic animal drug fees. (Sec. 206) The bill terminates the authority of the FDA to collect generic animal drug user fees on October 1, 2023. TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (Sec. 301) Brand name and generic animal drug applications must be submitted electronically beginning in FY2019. Additionally, applications for conditional approval of brand name animal drugs for minor use and minor species must be submitted electronically beginning in FY2019. (Minor use drugs are for intended uses in major species [horses, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, turkeys, and chickens] for diseases that occur infrequently or in limited geographic areas and in only a small number of animals annually.) (Sec. 302) Product labeling for certain unapproved brand name animal drugs for minor species must include the index number in order to be marketed. (Sec. 303) The bill prohibits the sale of brand name animal drugs that do not include the FDA application number. (Sec. 304) The bill authorizes the FDA to grant conditional approval of a brand name animal drug not intended for a minor use or minor species if (1) the drug is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition or addresses an unmet animal or human health need, and (2) the FDA determines that a demonstration of effectiveness of the drug would require a complex or particularly difficult study or studies. The FDA must issue guidance or regulations that provide further details regarding the criteria for conditional approval. The bill terminates this conditional approval authority on October 1, 2028. The Government Accountability Office must study the effects of the conditional approval pathway for brand name animal drugs. (Sec. 305) The FDA must issue guidance on how to evaluate certain elements of investigations as part of the animal drug application process, and how drug sponsors may obtain feedback from the agency on technical issues before submitting an application. (Sec. 306) The FDA must review investigations conducted in foreign countries when acting on a petition for a food additive intended for use in animal food. The FDA must also issue guidance on the voluntary pre-petition consultation process for such food additives.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2018
Peter, Ellie, and Grayson Victims of Illegal Criminal Entry Act of 2018 or the VOICES Act of 2018 This bill establishes new criminal offenses and penalties related to illegal reentry into the United States after deportation or removal.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2018
Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Stephen Michael Gleason.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize through FY2023 the program that provides payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2018
Support Technology and Research for Our Nation's Growth and Economic Resilience Patents Act of 2018 or the STRONGER Patents Act of 2018 This bill makes several changes to the patent law, including the procedures that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office uses to conduct administrative patent validity reviews.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 2018
Foreign Influence Transparency Act This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to limit the exemption from foreign agent registration with the Department of Justice for a person engaging in activities in furtherance of religious, scholastic, academic, or scientific pursuits or of the fine arts to only those activities that do not promote a foreign government's political agenda. The Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended to require institutions to report to the Department of Education a gift or contract from a foreign source whose annual value is $50,000 or more. The fair market value of in-kind-gifts is included in such limit. Currently, a report is due if the annual value is $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with a foreign source.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2018
Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2018 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to substantially revise how over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are approved.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4566) to amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to provide relief to nonbanks from certain stress test requirements under such Act; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5247) to authorize the use of eligible investigational drugs by eligible patients who have been diagnosed with a stage of a disease or condition in which there is reasonable likelihood that death will occur within a matter of months, or with another eligible illness, and for other purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2018
Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act or the EMPOWER Care Act This bill amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend funding through FY2022 for the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and to otherwise revise the program. (Under this program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must award grants to state Medicaid programs to assist in rebalancing states' long-term care systems.)
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2018
Supports: (1) U.S.-Israel cooperation to counter Iran's destabilizing activities, (2) enhancing Israel's deterrence capabilities, (3) including Israel in the first tier of countries receiving strategic trade authorization, and (4) the U.S. declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2018
This bill designates: (1) the federal building and U.S. courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the "George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse," and (2) the jury room located in that courthouse as the "Marcel C. Notzon II Jury Room."
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2018
Keep Young Athletes Safe Act of 2018 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award a grant to an eligible nonprofit nongovernmental entity to support oversight of the United States Olympic Committee, each national governing body, and each paralympic sports organization with regard to safeguarding amateur athletes against abuse. An entity receiving a grant must demonstrate that it has: (1) nationally recognized expertise in preventing and investigating emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in the athletic programs of these sports organizations; and (2) the capacity to oversee regular and random audits to ensure that their policies and procedures to prevent the abuse of amateur athletes are followed correctly.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2018
Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exempt, from specified requirements and restrictions under that Act and other laws, the provision of certain unapproved, investigational drugs to a terminally ill patient who has exhausted approved treatment options and is unable to participate in a clinical trial involving the drugs. The manufacturer or sponsor of an eligible investigational drug must publish annual summaries on any use of the drug in accordance with these provisions. The bill limits the liability of a sponsor, manufacturer, licensed physician, clinical investigator, or hospital that provides, or declines to provide, an eligible investigational drug to an eligible patient in accordance with the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018
Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2018 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds for specified educational purposes. Children of active duty service members who reside in a local education agency that receives payments under the Impact Aid Program or who reside within the boundaries of a federal military installation are eligible to receive funds.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 This bill extends Military Financing Program grants for Israel through FY2023. The Department of Defense shall conduct a joint assessment with Israel regarding: (1) precision guided munitions needed by Israel in a sustained armed confrontation with Hezbollah and other armed groups and terrorist organizations, and (2) related U.S. assistance and resupply planning. The President may utilize the Special Defense Acquisition Fund to transfer precision guided munitions and related defense articles and services to reserve stocks for Israel. Authorities for loan guarantees and the war reserves stockpile for Israel are extended through FY2023. The Department of Homeland Security shall establish a seven-year grant program with Israel to support: (1) cybersecurity research and development, and (2) commercialization of cybersecurity technology. The U.S. Agency for International Development may enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel to advance common goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, economic growth, education, and health. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall continue to work with the Israel Space Agency to pursue peaceful space exploration and science initiatives. The President may enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to carry out research and joint production of defense articles and services to detect and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., drones) that threaten the United States or Israel. The bill states that it is U.S. policy to ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Economic Exclusion Act This bill expands sanctions against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The President shall report to Congress regarding: foreign and domestic supply chains that significantly aid the IRGC; Iranian state-owned entities that provide support to terrorist entities, including Mahan Air; and foreign persons owned or controlled by the IRGC, including companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange or companies with a value in excess of $100 million. The bill states that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization and similar international bodies as long as Iran remains a state sponsor of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018
This joint resolution extends the sympathies of Congress to the family of the Reverend William (Billy) F. Graham, Jr., and honors his life, his ministry, and his contributions to North Carolina, the United States, and the moral and religious life of millions of people.
![Official portrait of Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001248_200.jpg)