United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize for FY2018-FY2023 school-based health centers (health clinics that provide physical and mental health services for children and adolescents during school hours).
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2018
Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2018 This bill requires the House of Representatives and the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. merchant mariners of World War II, in recognition of their service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2018
Maritime Border Security Review Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to Congress a maritime border (i.e., the transit zone and the borders and territorial waters of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) threat analysis. The report must identify and describe current and potential terrorism and criminal threats from individuals and groups seeking to enter the United States through the maritime border and improvements needed at U.S. seaports and at the maritime border. In preparing the threat analysis, DHS must consider and examine factors such as technology needs and challenges, the geographic challenges of the maritime border, and the impact of recent natural disasters on border security activities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2018 or the BURMA Act of 2018 This bill provides humanitarian assistance for Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh and imposes sanctions on Burmese military or security officials responsible for serious human rights abuses. The bill provides humanitarian assistance for Burma, Bangladesh, and the surrounding region, including assistance for the Rohingya minority. The Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall jointly submit to Congress a strategy for promoting economic growth in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2018
Kittens In Traumatic Testing Ends Now Act of 2018 or the KITTEN Act of 2018 This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the Department of Agriculture from using cats in experiments that may cause pain or stress, unless the pain or stress is a result of a physical exam or training program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Supports the designation of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month to increase public knowledge of the disease, raise awareness about the prevention of tick bites, and advance the vision of finding a cure through critical research.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2018
Securing Our Schools Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for securing elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education from homeland security threats.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2018
Postal Operations To be Unbiased and Sensible (POTUS) Act of 2018 This bill requires the U.S. Postal Service to require post offices to display the official portraits of the President and Vice President.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2018
Honors Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub for excellence in his professional baseball career and for his entrepreneurship, humanitarian work, and philanthropy.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2018
Burn Pits Accountability Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the military departments to evaluate whether each member of the Armed Forces has been (1) based or stationed where an open air burn pit was used to dispose of waste, or (2) exposed to toxic airborne chemicals. Members located where an open burn pit was used or exposed to toxic airborne chemicals must be enrolled in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, unless the member elects not to enroll. The evaluations must be included in periodic health assessments, physical exams conducted immediately prior to separation from active duty, and deployment assessments. DOD must share the results of the evaluations with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2018
No Enforcement, No Grant for Sanctuary Cities Act of 2018 This bill prohibits a sanctuary jurisdiction from receiving federal funds under the state criminal alien assistance program for the fiscal year in which it was determined to be a sanctuary jurisdiction by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "Sanctuary jurisdiction" means a state or political subdivision that has a statute, ordinance, policy, or practice that prohibits or restricts a government entity or official from: sending, receiving, maintaining, or exchanging with a federal, state, or local government entity information regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status; or cooperating with a lawful DHS request to comply with a detainer for or notification about an individual's release. A state or political subdivision shall not be deemed a sanctuary jurisdiction based solely on having a policy whereby its officials will not share information or cooperate with a DHS request to comply with a detainer for an individual who is a crime victim or witness.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2018
Flooded Homeowner Financial Relief Act of 2018 This bill exempts certain property from the National Flood Insurance Program's mandatory purchase requirement. Specifically, a flood-hazard-area property that is part of a binding agreement for open-space conversion under an approved buy-out program shall be exempt from the requirement to purchase flood insurance.
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 · 11 April 2018
Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 This bill extends access to Department of Defense commissaries and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) facilities to Purple Heart recipients, veterans with a service-connected disability, Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, and veteran caregivers. (Commissaries are grocery/department stores on military installations that sell food and some household items. MWR facilities offer a range of services on bases including libraries, outdoor recreation, dining, golf courses, and sports and fitness centers.)
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2018
Never Again Education Act This bill authorizes the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund for the Department of Education (ED) to: (1) award grants to eligible entities to carry out Holocaust education programs, and (2) conduct periodic regional workshops to provide teachers with technical assistance on how to incorporate Holocaust education within state and local education standards. The fund may accept donations and in-kind contributions. ED shall: (1) create and maintain a Holocaust education program website containing resources for middle grades and high schools; and (2) establish the Holocaust Education Advisory Board to advise on developing application criteria for the fund's grants, advise on content for the Holocaust education program website, and lead efforts to solicit donations for the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 25 2nd Avenue in Brentwood, New York, as the "Army Specialist Jose L. Ruiz Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 116 Main Street in Dansville, New York, as the "Staff Sergeant Alexandria Gleason-Morrow Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 2018
Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize for FY2020-FY2024 and revise the national toll-free phone number, public awareness campaign, and grant program relating to poison control centers. Among other changes, the bill: supports enhancements of the national toll-free phone number, such as texting capabilities and improved location accuracy; expands the public awareness campaign to include education about information that is available from poison control centers regarding drug misuse; and authorizes poison control centers and professional organizations to use grant funds for preventing and treating the misuse of opioids and other drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2018
Planes Ensuring Total Safety Act or the PETS Act This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration to promulgate regulations: (1) prohibiting the storage of a live animal in an overhead compartment of a flight in air transportation, and (2) establishing fines for a violation of such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, as the "Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018
Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a three-year demonstration program awarding grants to hospitals and emergency departments to develop, implement, enhance, or study alternative pain management protocols and treatments that promote limited use of opioids in emergency departments.
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 · 1 March 2018
USA Workforce Tax Credit Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax credits for charitable contributions to certain nonprofit organizations with the exclusive purpose of providing: (1) workforce development and apprenticeship training, or (2) scholarships for elementary and secondary education expenses of students from households with income that does not exceed 200% of the median gross income. The bill limits the credits to specified amounts for individuals and corporations. It also: (1) imposes a tax on workforce development, apprenticeship training, and scholarship granting organizations that fail to distribute a specified portion of their receipts; and (2) establishes a $2 billion annual volume cap for the tax credits allowed under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2018
Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2018 This bill repeals the provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that directs the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate and auction the 470-512 MHz band (referred to as the "T-Band spectrum").
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 2018
DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2018 This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) national cybersecurity and communications integration center to maintain cyber hunt and incident response teams to provide, upon request, assistance including: (1) assisting asset owners and operators in restoring services following a cyber incident; (2) identifying cybersecurity risk and unauthorized cyber activity; and (3) mitigation strategies to prevent, deter, and protect against cybersecurity risks. DHS may include private sector cybersecurity specialists on such teams, and must continually assess and evaluate the teams and their operations and report specified metrics to Congress. No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018
Challenges & Prizes for Climate Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a Climate Solutions Challenges program for carrying out competitions that award cash and other incentives for climate and energy solutions, such as: capturing carbon and converting the carbon into a beneficial use, achieving transformative increases in energy efficiency, achieving implementation or grid integration of advanced energy storage technology, providing approaches to mitigating or adapting to the effects of climate change, and providing data analytics on the climate and related phenomena.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018
Protecting Our Communities from Gang Violence Act of 2018 This bill denies immigration benefits to aliens determined to be criminal gang members, criminal street gang members, or gang supporters. No such alien may file an immigration petition, affidavit of support, or be permitted to assume custodial care of an unaccompanied alien minor. The bill, absent countervailing evidence, revokes the citizenship of an individual who: was naturalized after December 24, 1952, and within 10 years after naturalization becomes a member of a criminal gang or other organization in which membership at the time of naturalization would have prohibited such individual's naturalization.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2018
Advancing Cutting Edge Research Act or the ACE Research Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the National Institutes of Health's unique research initiatives to include cutting-edge research that: (1) fosters scientific creativity and increases fundamental biological understanding leading to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of diseases and disorders; or (2) is urgently required to respond to a public health threat. (Unique research initiatives may be supported through transactions other than contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2018
Giving Retirement Options to Workers Act of 2018 or the GROW Act This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize a new composite multiemployer pension plan, which combines features of defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans. Under a composite plan, employer contributions are set at a fixed rate. Benefits are based on a formula, are paid to participants in the form of life annuities (except for benefits that may be immediately distributed from certain plans with a low value), and may be reduced based on the plan's funded status. The plan sponsor must take corrective actions through a realignment program whenever the plan's projected funded ratio is below 120% for the plan year. The realignment program may include measures such as benefit reductions or proposed contribution increases. A composite plan is not covered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) or required to pay PBGC premiums. The plan sponsors are also not subject to liability for withdrawing from the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2018
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the requirements for tax-exempt bonds, to reinstate the exclusion from gross income for interest on certain bonds issued to advance refund another bond. The exclusion was repealed for bonds issued after 2017. (A refunding bond is a bond used to pay principal, interest, or the redemption price on a prior bond issue. An advance refunding bond is issued more than 90 days before the redemption of the refunded bond.)
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2018
Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security to designate the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, previously known as the Environmental Measurements Laboratory. The laboratory shall: (1) conduct tests, evaluations, and assessments of current and emerging technologies for emergency response providers; (2) conduct research and development on radiological and nuclear response and recovery; and (3) act as a technical advisor to emergency response providers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2018
Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 or the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise and reauthorize through FY2028 the Secure Our Schools grant program. This grant program provides grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to improve security, including the placement and use of metal detectors and other deterrent measures, at schools and on school grounds.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2018
LEOSA Training Extension Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to permit states to reduce the frequency (currently, once during the most recent 12-month period) with which a retired law enforcement officer must meet firearms training standards to be certified to carry a concealed firearm across state lines.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2018
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act This bill requires the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine whether a state substantially provides public safety officers or employees: the right to form and join a labor organization; recognition by public safety employers of the employees' labor organization, agreement to bargain with the organization, and reduction of any agreements to writing in a contract or memorandum of understanding; the right to bargain over hours, wages, and terms and conditions of employment; and binding interest arbitration to resolve an impasse in collective bargaining negotiations. The bill makes the authority responsible for: (1) determining the appropriateness of units for labor representation; (2) supervising elections; (3) conducting hearings and resolving complaints of unfair labor practices; and (4) protecting the right of employees to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or to refrain from doing so. An employer, public safety officer, or labor organization may not engage in a lockout, sickout, work slowdown, strike, or any other organized job action that will measurably disrupt the delivery of emergency services and is designed to compel an employer, public safety officer, or labor organization to agree to the terms of a proposed contract.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2018
Defending Economic Livelihoods and Threatened Animals Act or the DELTA Act This bill directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to work with Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, and in partnership with donors, the private sector, and local, regional, and nongovernmental entities, to develop a strategy to: (1) promote sustainable natural resource and wildlife management practices in the greater Okavango River Basin, (2) protect migration routes of elephants and other threatened wildlife species, (3) combat wildlife poaching and trafficking, (4) address local health needs, and (5) catalyze economic growth.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2018
Securing Our Schools Act of 2018 This bill establishes a pilot program under which the Department of Justice may award one-year grants to local education agencies for the purpose of purchasing and installing devices that allow for the immediate notification of appropriate officials in case of emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2018
SALT Prepayment Deductibility Act This bill specifies that, for the purpose of the federal tax deduction for certain state and local taxes, amounts paid in 2017 for real property taxes assessed for 2018 must be treated as paid or accrued within 2017. (Under current law, individual deductions for certain state and local taxes are limited during 2018-2025 to $10,000 per year for individuals or $5,000 for married individuals filing a separate return.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2018
Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act This bill directs the President to identify and impose sanctions against senior members of the government of Iran and other persons who are responsible for or complicit in committing serious human rights violations, or engaging in censorship, the diversion of goods intended for the people of Iran, or public corruption. The President shall identify and impose U.S. entry and financial sanctions against persons who are responsible for or complicit in the politically-motivated intimidation, detention, or trial of: (1) U.S. citizens or legal permanent resident aliens in Iran; or (2) Iranians, Iranian residents, or persons of Iranian origin outside of Iran. The President shall impose U.S. entry sanctions against specified family members of identified persons. The Department of State shall submit to Congress a strategy to prevent elements of the Iranian regime from engaging in hostage-taking or the prolonged arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens or legal permanent resident aliens. The bill authorizes the consolidation of certain Iran-related reports.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 2018
Stands with the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against an oppressive, corrupt regime. Condemns the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, corruption, and destabilizing activities abroad. Notes the statements of support for the protestors from key allies and calls on all democratic governments and institutions to support the Iranian people's right to live in a free society. Demands that the Iranian regime abide by its international obligations with respect to human rights and civil liberties. Urges the Administration to use targeted sanctions and work to convene United Nations Security Council and United Nations Human Rights Council emergency sessions to condemn the Iranian regime's human rights violations and establish a mechanism by which the Security Council can monitor such violations. Encourages the Administration to expedite the license of communications technology to Iran to improve the Iranian people's ability to speak freely. Calls on companies to reject regime requests to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms. Supports efforts by the people of Iran to promote the establishment of basic freedoms that build a freely elected and democratic political system. Urges the President and the Department of State to work with the international community to ensure that human rights violations are part of all multilateral or bilateral discussions with and regarding Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 Market Street in Saugerties, New York, as the "Maurice D. Hinchey Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Acknowledges: (1) the importance of the U.S.-Egypt partnership in advancing common interests, and (2) Egypt's regional role as a partner in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Recognizes the necessity for Egypt's leaders to take steps toward education reform that prioritizes impartial instruction of all religions and political reform that prioritizes human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Urges the government of Egypt to: (1) enact reforms to ensure that Coptic Christians are given the same rights and opportunities as all other Egyptian citizens; (2) end the culture of impunity for attacks on Christians; and (3) arrest, prosecute, and convict individuals who carry out such attacks.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins that are emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC, and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States. All sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges, which shall be distributed to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of the State of Israel Act This bill states that it is U.S. policy to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should recognize the sovereign status of an undivided Jerusalem as Israel's capital, (2) recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and transferring the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv will signal U.S. commitment to Israel, (3) the President and the Department of State should affirm as a matter of U.S. policy that Jerusalem must remain Israel's undivided capital, (4) the President should implement the provisions of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and begin the process of relocating the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and (5) U.S. officials should refrain from actions that contradict U.S. law on this subject. The bill states that any official U.S. government document that lists countries and their capital cities should identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The President shall relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem by January 1, 2019. The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is amended to eliminate the President's authority, effective January, 1, 2018, to waive certain funding limitations for State Department acquisition and maintenance of buildings abroad until the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Music Modernization Act of 2017 This bill amends the copyright law to create a statutory blanket license for making and distributing nondramatic musical sound recordings, including through digital delivery. The blanket license allows digital music services to distribute sound recordings covered by the license without negotiating for the rights for each individual recording, as long as the music service complies with the license's requirements, such as paying the required royalties.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Disapproves of the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/ES-10/L.22 on December 21, 2017, which rejects U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Affirms the December 6, 2017, presidential proclamation recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and directing the Department of State to prepare to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Urges the President to direct the State Department to report to Congress on the status of U.S. assistance provided to countries that voted to adopt such resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pedophilic Robots Act of 2017 or the CREEPER Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to broaden the prohibition on importation or transportation of obscene materials. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime to import, or knowingly use a common carrier or interactive computer service to transport in interstate or foreign commerce, a child sex doll.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Recovering America's Wildlife Act This bill amends the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to direct the Department of the Treasury to transfer, beginning in FY2018, revenues from energy and mineral development on federal lands totaling $1.3 billion to the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount of the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund, to be available without further appropriation. The bill revises the requirements governing how the funds from the subaccount may be used, including by requiring funds to be used to develop, revise, and implement state wildlife conservation strategies. The bill expands the allowable uses of the subaccount, including by allowing funds to be used for managing invasive and nuisance species and for law enforcement activities that are directly related to the conservation of species of the greatest conservation need. Funds apportioned from the subaccount may not be conditioned upon the provision of public access to private lands, waters, or holdings. The bill specifies what types of funds and donations states may use to meet matching fund requirements. The bill revises the formula used to determine how funds are distributed to states.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2017
National Commission on Scleroderma and Fibrotic Diseases Act of 2017 This bill temporarily establishes a National Commission on Fibrotic Diseases within the National Institutes of Health that must recommend improvements regarding fibrosis and fibrotic disease research.