United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2019
Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2019 or the CONTRACT Act of 2019 This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity. Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the social security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period. The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 2019
International Violence Against Women Act of 2019 This bill provides for a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The bill establishes in the Department of State an Office of Global Women's Issues, which shall be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. The Ambassador-at-Large shall (1) coordinate U.S. government efforts regarding gender equality and the advancement of women and girls in foreign policy, and (2) develop or update periodically a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment who shall direct policies, programs, and funding regarding gender equality and women's empowerment. The bill requires that U.S. assistance made available for humanitarian relief, conflict mitigation, and post-conflict reconstruction prevents and responds to violence against women and girls. The Department of State shall also identify incidents that occur during armed conflict and implement emergency responses.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 2019
This resolution acknowledges the maternal health crisis disproportionately affecting American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women that has led to high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. The resolution calls for urgent funding increases for the Indian Health Service, Tribally Operated Health Centers, Urban Indian Organizations, and Native Hawaiian health care programs to improve access to high-quality maternal health, prenatal care, and family planning services. Additionally, the resolution recognizes the federal government's failure to uphold tribal treaty rights pertaining to the provision of adequate health care services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Finally, the resolution calls for the prioritization of policy for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women to reduce long-standing barriers to maternal health and family planning services.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
Closing the Homework Gap Through Mobile Hotspots Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish the Mobile Hotspot Grant Program. Under the program, the NTIA may provide grants to eligible institutions (e.g., elementary and secondary schools, universities, Indian Tribes, or libraries) to facilitate a mobile hotspot program that provides students with a portable hotspot device for connecting to the internet. The NTIA shall prioritize institutions that will provide hotspots to the highest number of low-income students and, to the extent practicable, shall disburse at least 5% of grant funds to Indian Tribes and 5% to U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 This bill establishes requirements to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Specifically, the bill sets a national goal of achieving a 100% clean economy (i.e., economy-wide, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions) by no later than 2050. Each federal agency must develop and implement a plan to rapidly achieve the national goal. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must monitor, evaluate, and report on the progress of the United States in achieving the national goal. In addition, the EPA must establish the Clean Economy Federal Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the EPA on one or more interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for the United States to achieve before achieving the national goal. After obtaining the committee's recommendations, the EPA must recommend to Congress one or more interim goals.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2019 This bill authorizes additional funding for various housing assistance programs. Specifically, the bill authorizes additional funding for public housing agencies to maintain and improve public housing buildings; states and communities to reduce the risk of flood damage to housing; very low-income residents to improve and modernize rural housing; Indian tribes to develop housing and housing services; nonprofit organizations and community development financial institutions to conduct activities related to affordable housing and economic development; state housing finance agencies to provide supportive housing for individuals with disabilities; private nonprofit organizations to provide supportive housing for the elderly; and states, counties, and cities to develop and preserve affordable housing. The bill also requires that specified portions of funding made available under the bill be used for water and energy efficiency. In administering such funding made available under the bill, the relevant federal agencies must consult with grantees and recipients and meet with state and local government officials for the purpose of recommending and promoting funding opportunities and initiatives to include minority and women's business enterprises in such grant activities.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
This resolution expresses support for the principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance, memorializing the lives lost to anti-transgender violence this year. The resolution also recognizes that current trends of increased violence, particularly against transgender women of color, are unacceptable. The resolution supports efforts to study, respond to, and prevent violence against transgender people. Finally, the resolution affirms the principle that every person is endowed with basic human rights and also recognizes the bravery and resilience of the transgender community as it fights for equal dignity and respect.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act of 2019 or the ECHO 2019 Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program that supports specified health care services in rural or medically underserved areas. Specifically, HHS must award grants to health care entities serving rural areas, health-professional shortage areas, medically underserved populations, or Native Americans for (1) specified videoconferencing technology that connects health professionals with specialists (e.g., chronic-disease, mental-health, and substance-use disorder specialists), (2) retaining health care providers, and (3) increasing access to health care services.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Green New Deal for Public Housing Act This bill addresses energy efficiency and workforce development in the context of public housing. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must award grants to public housing agencies (PHAs) and other eligible entities under a variety of new programs, including programs for facilitating workforce development and high-income employment transition; conducting physical needs assessments and subsequent energy efficiency retrofits; and making upgrades, replacements, and improvements for energy efficiency, building electrification, and water quality upgrades. Recipients of these grants must provide relocation assistance for residents who are displaced during construction and must ensure that they can return to their homes once retrofitting is completed. A certain percentage of the employment positions generated by these grant programs and other specified federal grant programs must be filled by low-income individuals, and a specified percentage of certain contracts associated with these programs must be awarded to businesses owned by residents of public housing. The bill also repeals a provision that prohibits a PHA from using HUD funds to construct or operate new public housing units if doing so would result in the PHA owning or operating more units than it did on October 1, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act This bill establishes formal sexual assault and harassment policies for the transportation industry. Among other things, the bill requires certain passenger transportation carriers, including passenger airlines and vessels, buses, commuter and intercity passenger railroads, and transportation network companies (e.g., Uber or Lyft) to establish formal policies, training, and reporting structures regarding sexual assault and harassment; sets forth civil penalties for individuals who physically assault or sexually assault-or threaten to assault transportation personnel; directs the Department of Transportation to collect information on the number of sexual assault and harassment incidents reported by the carriers and make such information publicly available; and expands the reporting process for individuals involved in transportation sexual assault or harassment incidents by allowing such individuals to report allegations to law enforcement in a manner that protects their privacy and confidentiality.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Openness in Political Expenditures Now Act or the OPEN Act This bill requires each corporation that submits regular and periodic reports to shareholders to (1) include information about certain political activities during the time period covered by the report, and (2) provide copies of reports disclosing political activities to the Federal Election Commission. The bill also prohibits an organization from obtaining tax-exempt status under 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code if its expenditures on covered political activities exceed certain thresholds in a taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Environmentally Responsible Pipelines Act of 2019 or the SAFER Pipelines Act of 2019 This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities; prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing; makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves; directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders; increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from knowingly and willfully to knowingly or recklessly ; requires advanced leak-detection that can identify leak locations and amounts released on gas pipelines; and directs the Department of Transportation to finalize a rule on gas gathering lines.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act This bill addresses safety standards related to foreign aircraft repair stations. Among other things, the bill requires that all foreign aircraft repair stations be subject to at least one unannounced safety inspection each year; requires air carriers to submit monthly reports to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with respect to maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alternations of an aircraft; sets forth minimum qualifications for mechanics and others working on U.S. registered aircraft at foreign repair stations; and establishes a moratorium on FAA certification of new foreign aircraft repair stations if certain regulations are not implemented within one year.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the use or possession of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The bill imposes on persons who possess or use such traps in the system (1) for a first offense, a civil fine of up to $500 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; and (2) for subsequent offenses, a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both such a civil fine and imprisonment. The bill makes any body-gripping traps that are possessed or used in violation of this bill, and any wildlife captured by the use of such traps, including the pelts and raw fur, subject to civil forfeiture. Persons found to be in violation of such prohibition shall pay all associated court costs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Respect Graduate Student Workers Act This bill prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from finalizing a specified rule or making a similar rule that excludes student workers at private universities from the definition of employee under federal labor laws. (Under current law, students paid for services provided at universities in connection with such students' studies are considered employees.)
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Counseling for Career Choice Act This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to states to develop and implement comprehensive school career counseling programs that provide students with effective postsecondary education planning and career guidance services. The bill requires each program to be aligned with a statewide counseling framework that (1) encompasses the middle grades through grade 12 and postsecondary education, and (2) is supported by at least five stakeholders that include at least one business or industry and at least one local educational agency or secondary school. Grant funds shall, among other things, be used to train and hire school counselors; identify regional workforce trends and postsecondary options available in the state; establish, improve, or coordinate postsecondary opportunities; recommend curricular improvements to better align curricula with workforce trends and available postsecondary opportunities; establish partnerships with one-stop centers; leverage the resources and emerging technologies being developed by stakeholders to support the counseling framework; and evaluate secondary and postsecondary outcomes for individuals served by the career counseling programs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act This bill authorizes the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia in commemoration of the commitment and service represented by women who worked on the home front during World War II. The foundation shall be solely responsible for the acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, establishing the memorial. The bill prohibits federal funds from being used to pay any expense for the establishment of the memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
GSA Lease Transparency Act of 2019 This bill directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to annually complete an audit of active leases of space in federal buildings in which at least 20% of a building is leased to any entity pursuant to any provision of law. Each audit must determine whether the federal government has received all rent, revenues, and anything of value due according to the provisions of each lease. The GSA must report completed audits to Congress. Also, for any lease that becomes effective on or after the enactment of this bill, the GSA must require that the lease contain audit rights for the GSA and its Inspector General.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Put Patients First Act This bill prohibits the application of the rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 21, 2019, that strengthens the enforcement of conscience and anti-discrimination laws related to the rights of covered health care providers to refuse to participate in certain procedures, such as abortions, sterilization, or assisted suicide.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Fairness for Local Veteran Cemeteries Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide a grant under the Veteran Cemetery Grants Program to a county to establish, expand, improve, operate, or maintain a county-owned veterans' cemetery. Under current law, such grants are only authorized to be issued to states, tribal organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. The VA is only able to provide such grants under certain circumstances. Specifically, grants are only authorized if the state in which the county is located does not have a state-owned veterans' cemetery or the state did not apply for a grant in the previous year. Additionally, a county must demonstrate that it has the resources necessary to operate and maintain its cemetery. The VA must give priority to state-owned cemeteries in situations where both the county and the state apply for a grant in the same year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act This bill authorizes the establishment of a National Global War on Terrorism Memorial in the area of the National Mall.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
US Navy SEAL SCPO Tyrone Snowden Woods Ceremony Invitee Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State to establish policies allowing a member of a diplomatic mission to designate next-of-kin who will be invited to and entitled to attend the member's memorial service in the event of the member's death while in service of the United States. If no such designation is made, then all of the member's next-of-kin shall be invited to the memorial service.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
This joint resolution eliminates the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. The amendment was proposed to the states in House Joint Resolution 208 of the 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972. The amendment shall be part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
Protecting Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assign, for purposes of the disability compensation program, a disability rating of total to a veteran who meets certain parameters and is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to a service-connected disability. Specifically, the VA may make such a disability determination if a veteran has a service-connected disability rated at least 60%, or has two or more service-connected disabilities with one being at least 40% and a combined total of at least 70%. The VA may also make a determination on the disability rating in circumstances where a veteran meeting the specified parameters maintains marginal employment (income is less than the poverty threshold), or if the veteran maintains substantially gainful employment (exceeds the poverty threshold) and the VA determines that the rating is appropriate. The bill prescribes what disabilities may be considered as one disability (e.g., disabilities incurred or aggravated as a prisoner of war). The VA may not consider the age of a veteran or eligibility for retirement benefits when making any determination related to disability rating.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
Fair and Clear Campaign Transparency Act This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to require certain online public inspection files to be made available to the public in a machine-readable format that supports automated searching, bulk downloading, aggregation, manipulation, sorting, and analysis. Online public inspection files (including political files that contain records of requests to purchase broadcast time by or on behalf of candidates for public office or to communicate a message relating to a political matter of national importance) are files that must be uploaded to the internet by television broadcast stations, AM or FM radio broadcast stations, cable operators, direct broadcast satellite service providers, or satellite digital audio radio service providers.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
Honest Campaigns Act of 2019 This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revise its sponsorship identification rules. Specifically, the FCC must require a disclosure announcement for broadcast or origination cablecasting matter that is political or that involves the discussion of a controversial issue of public importance to include the names of significant donors to the person whose identity is required to be disclosed in such an announcement.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2019 This bill establishes the option for states, or groups of states, to apply to waive certain federal health insurance requirements and provide residents with health insurance benefits plans through a state-administered program. Such programs must cover 95% of the residents in the state within five years and plan benefits must be at least as comprehensive and affordable as the coverage under the equivalent federal program. State programs are supported with funds from the federal programs the state programs replace, which may include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Federal Employee Health Benefits program, certain federal tax credits, and premium-assistance funds, among others. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to appoint an Independent Assessment Panel for Comprehensive Care to review and recommend whether to approve state applications. Each approved state program must be independently reviewed every five years to evaluate changes in health benefits access, quality, and coverage, including whether the state has met the 95% coverage requirement. The federal government must pay all health insurance costs for American Indians and Alaska Natives who enroll in a plan through a state insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2019
Online Privacy Act of 2019 This bill establishes certain online privacy rights for personal information (including contents of communications) and certain requirements for data processors, service providers, and third parties. The bill also establishes the U.S. Digital Privacy Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2019
Supply Our Soldiers Act of 2019 This bill provides postal benefits to certain active duty service members. It directs the Department of Defense to provide for a program under which vouchers (used for postal-free mailings) are provided to members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty and who are either (1) serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, or another hostile fire area designated as eligible for hazardous duty pay; or (2) hospitalized at a military medical facility as a result of such service. The benefits program shall apply during FY2020-FY2025.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
This concurrent resolution calls for an end to the consumption and trade of dog and cat meat and urges nations to adopt and enforce laws banning that trade.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Diabetes Prevention Semipostal Stamp, with all proceeds being transferred to the National Diabetes Prevention Program.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act This bill prohibits or reduces spending for several nuclear weapons programs within the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2019
This bill revises the land claims of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. In particular, the bill specifies that only the tribe's claims to the 84 acres of land known as the Thompson Strip, rather than the tribe's claims to any lands within Oregon, are extinguished. Additionally, the bill prohibits gaming on any real property obtained by the tribe as part of a land claim settlement approved by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 2019
Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act This bill modifies immigration and naturalization procedures for noncitizens who are members or veterans of the Armed Forces. Specifically, the bill requires interagency coordination to (1) identify such individuals who are the subject of immigration removal proceedings or who have already been removed; and (2) naturalize them as citizens or otherwise change their status, as appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
For the 99.8 Percent Act This bill imposes increased tax rates on decedent estates, gifts, and generation-skipping transfers. Estates with a value of over $1 billion are taxed at a 77% tax rate. The basic exclusion amount is reduced to $3.5 million. The bill increases (1) to $3 million the reduction in valuations of farmland for estate tax purposes and adjusts such increased amount for inflation, and (2) to $2 million the maximum estate tax exclusion for contributions of conservation easements. The bill requires (1) consistent basis reporting for property acquired by gift and transfers in trust, and (2) executors of estates and donors of gifts required to file a gift tax return to disclose to the Department of the Treasury, and to recipients of any interest in an estate or a gift, information identifying the value of each interest received. The bill sets forth estate valuation rules for certain transfers of nonbusiness assets and limits estate tax discounts for certain individuals with minority interests in a business acquired from a decedent. The bill expands rules for valuing assets in grantor retained annuity trusts to require that (1) the right to receive fixed amounts from an annuity last for a term of not less than 10 years and not more than the life expectancy of the annuitant plus 10 years, and that such fixed amounts not decrease during the first 10 years of the annuity term, and (2) the remainder interest have a value when transferred that is not less than the the greater of 25% of the fair market value of the trust property or $500,000. The bill also sets forth rules for the application of transfer taxes to a grantor trust (a trust in which the grantor retains control over the trust assets and has the right to receive income from the trust). The bill eliminates the generation-skipping transfer tax exemption for any trust whose termination date is not greater than 50 years after its creation. The bill modifies the gift tax exclusion for annual gifts (currently, $14,000).
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
This resolution recognizes (1) the contributions of American wines and distinctive American wine-growing regions; and (2) the value of promoting wines from the regions, including those protected by American Viticultural Area designations or other appellations of origin.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2019
Support UNFPA Funding Act This bill authorizes annual contributions to support the core functions and programs of the United Nations Population Fund for the five fiscal years following the bill's enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
College Affordability Act This bill reauthorizes and revises the Higher Education Act of 1965, including to revise federal student financial aid programs, consolidate federal student loans and expand loan forgiveness , increase college access and success for certain students, and revise accountability measures. Specifically, the bill revises financial aid programs, including to (1) increase the maximum federal Pell Grant award, (2) provide incentives for states to fund public institutions of higher education (IHEs), and (3) increase and make permanent funding for minority-serving IHEs. The bill also revises federal student loan programs, including to (1) replace existing student loan repayment plans with one income-based repayment plan and one fixed repayment plan, (2) allow existing borrowers to lower their payments by switching to the new plans, and (3) expand public service loan forgiveness programs (e.g., TEACH grants) and create appeal processes for denied applications. In addition, the bill increases college access and success for certain students (e.g., students with low-income, children, or the disabled) through investments and practices, such as student support services and accelerated learning opportunities. Finally, the bill revises accountability measures for IHEs (including for-profit IHEs), job training programs, college accrediting agencies, and lenders. In particular, the bill updates the performance goals of the Office of Federal Student Aid and requires the Department of Education to be responsible for the oversight of the office.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of 2019 This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to examine efforts by the Regional Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the National Marine Fisheries Service to prepare and adapt fisheries for the impacts of climate change.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2019
Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act of 2019 This bill prohibits federal agencies and nonprofit entities that conduct federally funded health care research from providing a patent for a drug based on such research until the entity receiving the patent enters into a reasonable pricing agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2019
Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act or the SHIELD Act This bill establishes a duty to report election interference from foreign entities, applies existing campaign advertising requirements to online advertisements, and generally limits political spending and election interference by foreign entities. Specifically, a political committee must report certain foreign contacts involving an offer of unlawful election assistance to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Election Commission. The bill establishes criminal penalties for violations of these requirements. Existing requirements for political advertisements and electioneering communications apply to internet and digital advertisements, including requirements related to disclosures and contributions. Additionally, large online platforms must maintain a public database of certain political advertisements. The bill places limitations on political spending by foreign entities. Specifically, foreign entities may not (1) contribute to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda, or (2) make disbursements for certain internet activity referring to a candidate or a political issue. A candidate is prohibited from offering to share nonpublic campaign information with certain foreign entities. The bill also prohibits (1) the dissemination of false statements regarding federal elections or public endorsement, or (2) the intentional hindering of voting or registering to vote. The bill establishes criminal penalties and a private right of action with respect to these prohibitions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2019
This bill permanently extends the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to make grants for the transportation of highly rural veterans to health care facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2019
Veterans' Right to Breathe Act This bill provides a presumption of service connection to burn pit-exposed veterans for certain diseases. Under a presumption of service connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. A burn pit-exposed veteran is a veteran who was supporting a contingency operation on or after January 1, 1990, and was stationed at a location where an open burn pit (an area used for burning solid waste in open air without equipment) was used.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2019
Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program. Under the program, grants may be awarded for providing and expanding study abroad opportunities for undergraduate students.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This joint resolution nullifies a rule issued by the Department of Education (ED) on September 23, 2019. The rule revised the process for a student loan borrower to obtain a discharge from a student loan if an institution of higher education misrepresented a material fact. Among other requirements, the 2019 rule requires each borrower to apply to ED for a defense to repayment. However, under the previous 2016 rule, an application could be submitted on behalf of an entire group (e.g., veterans).
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2019 This bill expands transportation benefits for veterans and beneficiaries related to travel to certain Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, including Vet Centers.
![Official portrait of Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000191_200.jpg)