United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2020
Pandemic Healthcare Access Act This bill preserves the eligibility of health savings account (HSA) participants covered by any health plan during the coronavirus emergency period. The coronavirus emergency period is the period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the later of (1) the last day on which a presidential declaration of emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) is in effect, or (2) the last day on which a presidential declaration of national emergency under the National Emergencies Act with respect to the coronavirus is in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2020
Increasing Hospital Capacity to Fight the Coronavirus Act of 2020 This bill allows unapproved capital expenses that are made by health care facilities during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to be included in federal payment determinations under Medicare and Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 or the TM Act of 2020 This bill makes several changes to trademark law, such as by providing new mechanisms for opposing and canceling trademark registrations at the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and by making it easier to secure an injunction. The bill authorizes a third party to submit evidence to the PTO to oppose an application for a federal trademark registration. The bill establishes a procedure for any party to petition the PTO to expunge a registration for a trademark that has not been used in commerce. The bill also establishes a procedure for any party to petition the PTO to reexamine any trademark registration on such nonuse grounds. The PTO may also initiate such an expungement or reexamination proceeding. If a plaintiff has prevailed in court in asserting certain trademark rights, that plaintiff shall be entitled to a presumption that the plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm for purposes of determining whether the plaintiff is entitled to a permanent injunction. If a trademark plaintiff is seeking a preliminary injunction, that plaintiff is entitled to this presumption upon a court finding that the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits of the case. Under current law, a plaintiff must establish irreparable harm to secure an injunction. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on PTO efforts to address false and inaccurate claims in trademark registrations and applications.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020
Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations Act of 2020 This bill provides statutory authority for certain restrictions on conditions for financial assistance and program participation imposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with respect to faith-based organizations. Specifically, HHS shall not impose specified conditions on faith-based organizations regarding the receipt of HHS funds or the participation in HHS programs, such as requirements to disclose religious affiliation, if those conditions are not imposed on organizations that are not faith-based. In addition, HHS shall not require any organization to refer a beneficiary who objects to the religious character of that organization to an alternative provider. States and local governments that administer HHS funds must adhere to these requirements, as well. Under current law, these restrictions apply to HHS financial assistance and programs through an executive order concerning the administration of federal grants and programs related to faith-based organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020
Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-commerce Act of 2020 or SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 This bill establishes that an electronic commerce platform shall be liable for trademark infringement by a third-party seller of goods that implicate health and safety unless the platform takes certain actions. Specifically, the platform may be contributorily liable if the seller uses a counterfeit mark in connection with selling, offering, or advertising such goods on the platform. The platform may avoid such liability by taking certain actions, including (1) requiring the seller to be available for service of process in the United States, (2) verifying the seller's identity and contact information, (3) requiring the seller to agree to not use counterfeit marks with goods sold on the platform, (4) implementing technical measures to prescreen listings on the platform and remove listings for goods being sold with a counterfeit mark, and (5) implementing policies to remove and ban repeat offenders.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the social, economic, and historic contributions that Minor League Baseball has made to American life and culture.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
This bill revises the tax deduction for interest on education loans to provide that the $2,500 limitation on such deduction shall apply separately to each taxpayer claiming the deduction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2020
Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for purposes outside the United States related to abortion. Specifically, the bill prohibits funding to certain foreign or domestic organizations that perform or promote abortions, furnish or develop items intended to procure abortions, or provide financial support for an entity that conducts such activities. Current U.S. policy prohibits the provision of federal funds to a foreign nongovernmental organization unless it agrees to not perform or actively promote abortions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Statement of Harm to the American Majority Act or the SHAM Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of the use of funds and loss of productivity relating to the impeachment and trial of President Donald Trump.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2020
Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment Act or the Military SAVE Act This bill addresses care for covered veterans who are seeking counseling, care, or services related to sexual trauma determined by a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professional to have occurred while the veteran was on active duty or in active or inactive training. A covered veteran is a veteran who is (1) enrolled in the VA health care system; or (2) not enrolled in the VA health care system but is otherwise entitled to hospital care, medical services, or extended care services due to a specified disability. The bill requires the VA to provide hospital care, medical services, and extended care services to a covered veteran at a non-VA provider under the Veterans Community Care Program if such veteran is seeking counseling, care, or services related to such sexual trauma. The decision to receive such care from a non-VA provider shall be at the election of the veteran. The VA must provide information regarding the counseling, care, and services available through the VA to the covered veteran who is seeking counseling, care, or services related to sexual trauma. The bill also authorizes the VA to provide counseling and treatment for any condition determined to have resulted from a sexual trauma that occurred while the covered veteran was on active duty or in active or inactive training (previously only psychological trauma was eligible).
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2020
Empowering Immigration Courts Act This bill authorizes immigration judges to impose a fine for contempt in accordance with the criminal code. Currently, the Department of Justice is authorized to prescribe regulations providing immigration judges with such authority, but has not done so.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2020
Danger Pay for U.S. Marshals Act This bill prohibits the Department of State from denying a request from the U.S. Marshals Service for danger pay. (Danger pay is a form of additional compensation for federal employees who are working in a foreign area and who are under threat of physical harm or imminent danger as a result of civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions.)
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
This bill prohibits sharing U.S. intelligence with countries that permit within their national borders the use of Huawei fifth generation telecommunications technology. (Huawei is a Chinese telecommunications company with suspected ties to the Chinese government.)
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Personalized Care Act of 2020 This bill revises provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs), including to redefine eligible individual for HSA purposes to allow increased participation in HSAs, increase the limit on contributions to HSAs, permit the payment of health insurance premiums from HSAs, include within the definition of qualified medical expenses periodic fees paid for medical services and amounts paid by a member of a health care sharing ministry, treat periodic provider fees as deductible medical expenses, allow payment of over-the-counter medicines or drugs from HSAs, and lower the 20% penalty for nonqualified distributions from HSAs to 10%. .
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
This resolution condemns the actions of Iran with respect to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. It also expresses support for the protestors in Iran and condemns Iran for killing citizens protesting their government. In addition, it calls on Iran to refrain from using violence and to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
This resolution states that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is unable to perform an essential part of her administrative duties and is consequently incapacitated. Furthermore, such incapacity creates a vacancy in the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
This resolution (1) disapproves of the Speaker of the House of Representatives' decision to refuse to transmit to the Senate the two articles of impeachment adopted on December 18, 2019, and (2) demands that the Speaker immediately transmit the articles to the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era Act This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from monitoring the contents of a privileged electronic communication between an incarcerated person and his or her legal representative.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training (PARTT) 147 Act of 2019 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish requirements for issuing aviation maintenance technician school certificates and associated ratings. Among other requirements, the bill sets forth application requirements for a certificate to operate an aviation maintenance technician school, including that applications must include a description of the manner in which the school's curriculum will ensure students are capable of attaining a mechanic certificate and associated ratings; establishes facility and instructor requirements for each school; directs each school to establish and maintain a quality control system that provides procedures for recordkeeping, assessment, issuing credit for experience, issuing of final course grades, ensuring sufficient number of instructors, granting of graduation documentation, and corrective action for addressing deficiencies; and requires schools to maintain a pass rate of at least 70% for students who take the written, oral, or practical (or any combination thereof) FAA mechanic tests.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Interstate Milk Freedom Act of 2019 This bill prohibits federal regulation of the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk or milk products packaged for direct human consumption under specified circumstances. Specifically, the prohibition applies if (1) such products would be considered adulterated or misbranded or otherwise in violation of federal law solely because they are unpasteurized; (2) the products are allowed by the state of origin to be distributed for direct human consumption by any means; (3) they are produced, packaged, and moved in compliance with the laws of such state; and (4) they are moved from the state of origin with the intent to transport them to another state that allows the distribution of such products for direct human consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2019 This bill prohibits, subject to certain exceptions, the practice of product hopping, which is presumed when a drug manufacturer obtains removal of a drug from the Food and Drug Administration's approved drug list, discontinues a drug, or markets a reformulation of an already approved drug during a certain period after which the manufacturer has been notified that a competing drug manufacturer has applied for generic drug approval.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Gigabit Opportunity Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the designation of qualified gigabit opportunity zones in low-income communities and to provide tax incentives for investments in the zones. Governors may submit nominations for a limited number of qualified gigabit opportunity zones in low-income communities to the Department of the Treasury for certification and designation. Governors must give particular consideration to areas that are facing obstacles to economic development due to a lack of geographic broadband coverage or speed; are the focus of mutually reinforcing state, local, or private economic development initiatives; are poised for economic growth that requires access to high speed broadband for commercial purposes; and represent the areas of a state where such service would result in the highest return on investment. For eligible taxpayers who sell certain broadband services, the bill allows (1) deferrals, reductions, or exemptions from taxes on capital gains invested in certain property used to provide broadband services in a zone (depending on how long the property is held); and (2) immediate expensing of the costs of the property. The bill also allows tax-exempt private activity bonds to be used for certain broadband projects in the zones. Within one year of enactment of this bill, the Federal Communications Commission must publish a Uniform Model Broadband Deployment Act containing laws for the state regulation of the deployment of broadband services. Qualified zones must either adopt the Act or laws comparable to the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1201 Sycamore Square Drive in Midlothian, Virginia, as the "Dorothy Braden Bruce Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2019
This resolution recognizes the value of military working dogs and specifically honors the military working dog assigned to the raid of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It also honors and celebrates the actions of the U.S. Special Operations Forces on October 26, 2019.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15 East Market Street in Leesburg, Virginia, as the "Norman Duncan Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act This bill creates new federal crimes related to the performance of an abortion on an unborn child who has Down syndrome. It subjects a violator to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. It also authorizes civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief. A woman who undergoes such an abortion may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
Cold War Service Medal Act This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served during the Cold War. The medal may be awarded to service members who (1) served on active duty for at least 24 consecutive months during the Cold War, from September 2, 1945, to December 26, 1991; (2) were deployed outside the continental United States for at least 30 days during the Cold War; (3) were members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces and were called or ordered to active duty to participate in exercises or operations directly related to the Cold War ; or (4) performed such other service in the Armed Forces during the Cold War as DOD may prescribe.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
Honest Elections Act This bill modifies registration requirements for foreign agents who engage in political activities, requires that certain disclosures be made in online political communications, and prohibits a state from receiving certain election assistance funds if the state allows ballot harvesting or voting by noncitizens.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
Open and Transparent Impeachment Investigation Resolution This resolution gives Members of the House of Representatives nonparticipatory access to all committee proceedings related to matters referred to by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, in her announcement of September 24, 2019, initiating an impeachment inquiry against President Trump.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2019
Judicial Travel Accountability Act This bill requires a judicial officer to annually disclose (1) the source, description, and value of certain gifts; (2) a detailed description of meetings and events attended, including the names of other known attendees; and (3) total expenses for transportation, lodging, and meals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019 This bill directs the President to impose sanctions related to Turkey. The President shall impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on (1) specified officials of Turkey's government, such as the president and vice president of Turkey; (2) any foreign person that knowingly sells to, provides support to, or conducts a transaction with Turkey's armed forces; and (3) any foreign person that supplies goods or services that support petroleum production for use by Turkey's armed forces. The President may temporarily stop the application of such sanctions upon certifying to Congress that Turkey (1) is not operating in certain parts of Syria without U.S. support, and (2) has withdrawn its troops and Turkey-supported rebel groups from occupied areas. The President shall impose additional sanctions on Turkey based on Turkey's purchase of a surface-to-air defense system from Russia. No funds may be obligated or expended to transfer to Turkey's armed forces any U.S. defense articles, services, or technology.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
National World War II Memorial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the memorial and the service and sacrifice of American soldiers and civilians during World War II. All surcharges received from the sale of such coins shall be paid to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to support the National Park Service in maintaining and repairing the memorial, and for educational and commemorative programs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Support And Value Expectant Moms and Babies Act of 2019 or the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved. Under the bill, an already-approved drug intended to terminate a pregnancy may be dispensed to a patient only with a prescription. Furthermore, the FDA may not approve any labeling change that would authorize (1) using the drug after 70 days of gestation, or (2) dispensing the drug by any means other than in-person administration by the prescribing health care practitioner. The FDA must also impose additional restrictions on such already-approved drugs, including by (1) requiring the prescribing health care practitioner to receive a special certification, (2) prohibiting the practitioner to also act as the dispensing pharmacist, and (3) requiring the practitioner to have the ability to provide surgical intervention to the patient. The bill also rescinds any investigational use exemption already granted to such a drug if the bill would have prohibited the FDA from granting the exemption. (Currently, the FDA may grant an exemption to certain market approval requirements if a drug is intended solely for use in safety and effectiveness investigations.)
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2019
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder through a method where veterans train service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2019
Broadband Interagency Coordination Act of 2019 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Department of Agriculture to enter into an interagency agreement to coordinate the distribution of federal funds for new broadband deployment.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2019
American Energy First Act This bill addresses offshore and onshore oil and gas resources, and the use of renewable energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and other federal lands. Among other things, the bill allows states with an established permitting and regulatory program to manage certain federal permitting and regulatory responsibilities for oil and gas development on federal lands within their borders; limits the President's authority to prohibit oil and gas leasing on the OCS; establishes a revenue sharing framework to distribute revenues collected from oil and gas leasing on the OCS to certain states (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alaska); provides a mechanism for states to receive their entitled percentage of sales, bonuses, royalties, and rentals for all public land or deposits located in the state; requires the Department of the Interior to establish certain federal land as geothermal and wind energy leasing priority areas; and limits the authority of Interior to declare a moratorium on the leasing of federal lands for oil and gas activities unless such moratorium is authorized by Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 2019
This concurrent resolution recognizes the 35th anniversary of the Mexico City policy, which prohibits foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. global-health assistance from performing or promoting abortion as a method of family planning. The resolution expresses support for the codification of this policy in U.S. law.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2019
Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2019 This bill establishes that licensing a trademark or trademark registration for use by a related company does not contribute to establishing an employment relationship between the licensor and the licensee, nor does a licensor's exercise of control over how the licensed trademark is used.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 This bill revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education. Specifically, the bill makes postsecondary education courses and programs (e.g., apprenticeship programs) that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree eligible for federal student aid funding if the programs and courses are accredited by a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Department of Education. The bill also requires institutions to publish certain enrollment and financial aid information, such as (1) the percentage of former financial aid recipients who are employed at various intervals following graduation, and (2) the average amount of total federal student loan debt accrued upon graduation. The Government Accountability Office must compile and study all such information published by institutions and submit a report containing the results. In addition, the bill consolidates federal student loans into one student loan program and eliminates loan forgiveness for borrowers. Lastly, the bill requires an institution that receives federal student aid funding to pay a default rate fine that is based on the default rate of loans made to its students.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Modern Worker Empowerment Act This bill requires the use of common law rules in defining "employee" under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the inclusion of any Social Security or tier I railroad retirement benefits in gross income for income tax purposes. The bill also: (1) appropriates funds to cover reductions in transfers to the Social Security and Railroad Retirement Trust Funds resulting from the enactment of this bill, and (2) expresses the sense of Congress against using tax increases to provide revenue necessary to carry out this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 117 West Poythress Street in Hopewell, Virginia, as the "Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Building."
![Official portrait of Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/69825a92eb30d32718993747_200.jpg)