United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Early Detection to Stop Infant Abuse and Prevent Fatalities Act This bill establishes a three-year grant program to detect and prevent the abuse of infants under seven months old. Specifically, health services organizations, including multidisciplinary partnerships, receiving such grants must develop (1) best practices to assist medical professional in identifying, assessing, and responding to potential abuse and (2) strategies to improve communication between child protective services agencies and individuals that report infant abuse. Funding also may be used to address injuries resulting from infant abuse and to raise awareness about infant abuse within the health and child care community.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
This bill makes permanent the reduction in the adjusted gross income threshold that must be exceeded before a taxpayer is allowed to claim an itemized tax deduction for medical expenses. (In 2017, the threshold was temporarily reduced from 10% to 7.5% for 2017 and 2018. This bill makes the 7.5% threshold permanent.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which supports state lifespan respite care services (i.e., services for family caregivers of children and adults with special needs). The bill requires each state agency that is awarded a grant under the program to report any data required by the Department of Health and Human Services for program monitoring and evaluation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Saudi Arabia Human Rights and Accountability Act of 2019 This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to report to Congress about the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and imposes related sanctions. The report shall present evidence about whether any current or former government official of Saudi Arabia had advanced knowledge of the killing, ordered the killing, or was involved in tampering with related evidence. It shall also list foreign persons that the ODNI has high confidence were responsible for Khashoggi's death, materially assisted in causing the death, or impeded any investigations into the death. The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security shall bar such foreign persons from entering the United States and revoke visas belonging to such persons. The State Department shall report to Congress about the extent to which Saudi Arabia is responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and about U.S. actions to address such violations. The report shall also describe the publication by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education of intolerant educational materials and U.S. actions to encourage an end to the production and use of such materials.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Clean Energy Production Parity Act of 2019 This bill modifies the tax credit for investments in energy property to make qualified fuel cell property (certain fuel cell power plants) that uses an electromechanical process or includes a linear generator assembly eligible for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Ensuring FEDVIP and FLTCIP Coverage During Shutdowns Act This bill prohibits the termination of federal-employee dental, vision, and long-term-care insurance coverage as a result of unpaid premiums or other periodic charges in the event of a lapse in appropriations that results in an employee being furloughed or an excepted employee working without pay. This includes supplemental dental, vision, and long-term-care insurance policies.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Ensuring FEHBP Coverage During Shutdowns Act This bill provides statutory authority to allow federal employees to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB), or make changes to their enrollment due to a qualifying life event, during a lapse in appropriations for the federal government. Specifically, the bill designates the FEHB services as excepted services under the Anti-Deficiency Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State to review its guidance governing U.S.-Taiwan relations and to reissue such guidance to the relevant executive branch departments and agencies. It also directs the State Department to report to Congress on the results of the review and on the implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act, which states that it is U.S. policy to allow and encourage engagement between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. The bill states that Taiwan is an important part of U.S. strategy in the region and urges the United States to conduct regular transfers of defense articles to enhance Taiwan's self-defense capabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act or the TRACED Act This bill implements a forfeiture penalty for violations (with or without intent) of the prohibition on certain robocalls. The bill also removes an annual reporting requirement for enforcement relating to unsolicited facsimile advertisements. The bill requires voice service providers to develop call authentication technologies. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shall promulgate rules establishing when a provider may block a voice call based on information provided by the call authentication framework, but also must establish a process to permit a calling party adversely affected by the framework to verify the authenticity of their calls. The FCC shall also initiate a rulemaking to help protect a subscriber from receiving unwanted calls or texts from a caller using an unauthenticated number. This bill requires the Department of Justice and the FCC to assemble an interagency working group to study and report to Congress on the enforcement of the prohibition of certain robocalls. Specifically, the working group will look into how to better enforce against robocalls by examining issues like the types of laws, policies, or constraints that could be inhibiting enforcement. The bill requires the FCC to initiate a proceeding to determine whether its policies regarding access to number resources could be modified to help reduce access to numbers by potential robocall violators.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
This resolution affirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances will remain cornerstones of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. It encourages increasing engagement between the United States and Taiwan and states that the President should conduct regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan. (The United States made the Six Assurances to Taiwan in 1982, stating that it will not pressure Taiwan to negotiate with China and that it has not agreed to consult with China prior to any arms sales to Taiwan.)
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Fair Licensing Access for Governments Act of 2019 or the FLAG Act of 2019 This bill allows for the registration of trademarks that contain the flag or insignia of a country, state, or municipality if the entity represented by the flag or insignia gives written consent. Currently, such trademarks may not be registered, regardless of consent.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2019 This bill modifies definitions relating to homeless individuals and homeless children or youth as used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to verify eligibility for HUD homeless assistance programs and to align them with the definitions of "homeless" used to verify eligibility for other federal assistance programs. The definitions are amended to increase access to federal homeless programs by homeless children, youth, and families. The community-wide homeless management information system shall be made publicly available on HUD's website.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
This resolution condemns attacks on education settings, including violence against schools, sexual violence against children in schools, and recruitment of children into armed forces from schools. The resolution affirms U.S. government commitments to support education services for children affected by conflict and calls on the U.S. government to monitor attacks on education settings and to provide support for the inclusion of refugee children in host-country education systems.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2019
Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 This bill modifies the requirements for employer-provided retirement plans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and other tax-favored savings accounts. With respect to employer-provided retirement plans, the bill modifies requirements regarding automatic enrollment and nonelective contributions; tax credits for small employers that establish certain plans; loans; lifetime income options; the treatment of custodial accounts upon termination of section 403(b) plans; retirement income accounts for church-controlled organizations; the eligibility rules for certain long-term, part-time employees; required minimum distributions; nondiscrimination rules; and minimum funding standards for community newspaper plans. The bill also includes provisions that treat taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments as compensation for the purpose of an IRA, repeal the maximum age for traditional IRA contributions, treat difficulty of care payments as compensation for determining contribution limits for retirement accounts, allow penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans if a child is born or adopted, expand the purposes for which qualified tuition programs (commonly known as 529 plans) may be used, reinstate and increase the tax exclusion for certain benefits provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders, increase penalties for failing to file tax returns, and require the Internal Revenue Service to share tax information with U.S. Customs Border Protection to administer the heavy vehicle use tax.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2019
Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a two-year pilot program to study the effectiveness of nonprofit post-traumatic growth programs to determine (1) the outcomes of such programs in contrast to traditional models of mental health care, (2) the possible integration of such nonprofit programs into VA mental health care programs, and (3) the budgetary impact of such integration. Post-traumatic growth is the positive psychological change that can result from struggling with traumatic events. The bill makes veterans who are not at immediate risk of attempting suicide and not participating in traditional mental health treatment eligible for such program.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2019
Apprenticeship Hubs Across America Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Labor to implement a program to award grants to workforce intermediaries (certain national, regional, state, or local entities that facilitate the establishment of registered apprenticeship programs) to enable them to engage a variety of stakeholders to support, develop, and implement registered apprenticeship programs.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2019
Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act of 201 9 This bill limits the aggregate amount of a partner's annual tax deductions for qualified conservation contributions of a partnership to 2.5 times the partner's adjusted basis in the partnership. (Under current law, a "qualified conservation contribution" is the contribution of a qualified real property interest to a qualified organization exclusively for conservation purposes.) The limitation applies for the first three taxable years after the individual becomes a partner in the partnership. It does not apply to certain family partnerships.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to complete a study reviewing how federal agencies address barriers to participation in federally-funded cancer clinical trials by individuals from underrepresented populations and provide recommendations for addressing such barriers.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State to include additional information in its annual report to Congress on intercountry adoptions. The reports shall contain (1) a list of countries that have laws that prevent or prohibit adoptions by American parents, (2) various information related to such prohibitions, and (3) what steps the State Department has taken to help such countries reopen intercountry adoptions.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Taxpayer First Act of 2019 This bill modifies requirements for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding its organizational structure, customer service, enforcement procedures, management of information technology, and use of electronic systems. The bill includes provisions that establish the IRS Independent Office of Appeals to resolve federal tax controversies without litigation; require the IRS to develop a comprehensive customer service strategy; continue the IRS Free File Program; exempt certain low-income taxpayers from payments required to submit an offer-in-compromise; modify tax enforcement procedures that address issues such as the seizure of property, issuing a summons, joint liability, referral for private debt collection, and contacting third parties; establish requirements for responding to Taxpayer Advocate Directives; permanently authorize the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grant Program; modify procedures for whistle-blowers; establish requirements for cybersecurity and identify protection; prohibit the rehiring of certain IRS employees who were removed for misconduct; allow the IRS to require additional taxpayers to file returns electronically; and increase the penalty for failing to file a return. The bill requires the IRS Commissioner to appoint a Chief Information Officer, modifies the requirements for managing information technology, and authorizes streamlined critical pay authority for certain IRS information technology positions. The bill also requires the IRS to implement an Internet platform for Form 1099 filings, a fully automated program for disclosing taxpayer information for third-party income verification using the Internet, and uniform standards and procedures for the acceptance of electronic signatures.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act This bill establishes in the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women's history museum. Such museum shall be named by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. The bill establishes a council, that, among other things, shall make recommendations to the board on the planning, design, and construction of the museum. The board shall designate a site for the museum, with priority given to a site that is on or near the National Mall.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Authorization Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a cybersecurity advisory committee within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to consult on the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, and security directives pertinent to the mission of CISA.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Protect Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act of 2019 This bill revises loan seasoning requirements related to a refinanced Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) housing loan. Under current law, the VA is prohibited from guaranteeing a refinanced home loan until the date that is the later of (1) the date on which the sixth monthly payment is made, or (2) the date that is 210 days after the first payment is made. This bill modifies this date to (1) when the borrower has made six consecutive monthly payments, or (2) 210 days after the first payment is due.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
PFAS Detection Act of 2019 This bill sets forth requirements for detecting and sampling perfluorinated compounds. Perfluorinated compounds are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain perfluorinated compounds, such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and fire-fighting foams. The bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a performance standard for the detection of perfluorinated compounds. Using such standard, the USGS must carry out a nationwide sampling to determine the concentration of perfluorinated compounds in estuaries, lakes, streams, springs, wells, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and soil. The sampling data must then be used to inform and enhance assessments of exposure, likely health and environmental impacts, and remediation priorities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act This bill addresses certain driftnet fishing. (Driftnet fishing is a method of fishing in which a gillnet composed of a panel or panels of webbing, or a series of such gillnets, is placed in the water and allowed to drift with the currents and winds for the purpose of entangling fish in the webbing.) Currently, the use of large-scale drift gillnets with a total length of 2.5 kilometers or more is prohibited in the United States. The bill expands the definition of large-scale driftnet fishing to prohibit the use of gillnets with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater. This expanded prohibition does not apply within the U.S. exclusive economic zone for five years. The Department of Commerce must conduct a transition program to facilitate the phase out of large-scale driftnet fishing and to promote the adoption of alternative fishing practices that minimize the incidental catch of living marine resources. Commerce must award grants to program participants.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Preserving Patient Access to Compounded Medications Act of 2019 This bill addresses regulations governing compounding pharmacies. The bill expands the circumstances under which a drug may be compounded (i.e., manufactured at small scale) to allow pharmacists and physicians to compound drugs for administration to patients in an office or clinical setting, in accordance with state law. (Compounded drugs are not required to meet certain federal requirements regarding manufacturing, labeling, or approval.) Dietary supplements may be used in the compounding of a drug. The bill exempts from interstate distribution limits the dispensing of a compounded drug from the facility where it is compounded to a patient or health facility. The bill limits the scope of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections of compounding pharmacies to certain equipment, materials, containers, and labeling. This aligns the scope of inspections of compounding pharmacies with the scope of inspections of other pharmacies. (Currently, the scope of inspections of compounding pharmacies is the same as the scope of inspections of drug manufacturers.) The bill also eliminates the requirement for compounding pharmacies to register with the FDA as drug manufacturers.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Lymphedema Treatment Act of 2019 This bill includes certain lymphedema compression treatment items as covered durable medical equipment under Medicare. (Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling that is caused when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act of 201 9 This bill allows an additional tax deduction for a portion of the cost of installing mechanical insulation property. The bill limits the amount of such deduction to the lesser of (1) 30% of the cost, or (2) the reduction in energy loss from the installed mechanical insulation property compared to property that meets the minimum requirements of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard 90.1-2007. The bill allows the cost of mechanical insulation property that is placed in service to replace insulation property to be treated as a deductible business expense in the current taxable year. The bill defines "mechanical insulation property" as insulation materials, facings, and accessory products (1) placed in service in connection with a mechanical system which is located in the United States and of a character subject to an allowance for depreciation; and (2) utilized for thermal requirements for mechanical piping and equipment, hot and cold applications, and heating, venting and air conditioning applications which can be used in a variety of facilities. The bill also allows a tax deduction for capital expenditures related to mechanical insulation property.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Puerto Rico Admission Act This bill establishes a process to enable the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico to be admitted into the Union as a state. Not later than 90 days after enactment of this bill, the President shall issue a proclamation announcing that Puerto Rico is admitted into the Union on equal footing with other states. All of the territory laws in force in Puerto Rico on the enactment date shall (1) continue in force and effect in the state, except as modified by this bill; and (2) be subject to repeal or amendment by the legislature and the governor of Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Keeping Our Manufacturers from Being Unfairly taxed while Championing Health Act or KOMBUCHA This bill exempts the production of kombucha for consumption or sale from excise taxes imposed on alcoholic beverages. Kombucha is a beverage that (1) is fermented solely by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast; (2) contains not more than 1.25% of alcohol by volume; (3) is sold or offered for sale as kombucha; and (4) is derived from sugar, malt or malt substitute, tea, or coffee, and not more than 20% other wholesome ingredients.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Women's History and Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Quarter Dollar Coin Program Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue quarter-dollar coins in commemoration of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of each coin shall be emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of a prominent woman who was a resident of a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. Such coins shall be issued in alphabetical order of the area represented, starting with the state of Alabama. Treasury shall initiate a program to promote collection of the coins and recognition of their subjects, and strike and make available for sale silver bullion coins that are the exact duplicates of the coins.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019 This bill repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that limit payments for medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, health flexible spending arrangements, and health reimbursement arrangements to only prescription drugs or insulin (thus allowing distributions from such accounts for over-the-counter drugs). The bill also allows the accounts to pay for menstrual care products.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Net Price Calculator Improvement Act This bill establishes requirements concerning the information that must be provided to prospective students about the cost of an institution of higher education (IHE). Specifically, the bill establishes the minimum requirements for the net price calculator that an IHE must include on its website. An IHE's net price is the average yearly price actually charged to first-time, full-time undergraduate students receiving student aid at the school after deducting such aid. It authorizes the Department of Education to develop a universal net price calculator that enables users to answer one set of questions and receive net prices for several IHEs and compare those prices.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) the United States should support the safe return of displaced indigenous people of the Nineveh Plain and Sinjar to their ancestral homeland; and (2) the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga should work to more fully integrate all communities, including religious minority communities, to counter current and future terrorist threats.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Ocean Acidification Innovation Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009. The bill authorizes a federal agency with a representative serving on the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification to carry out a program that awards prizes competitively for innovative efforts to research or respond to ocean acidification. Priority must be given to establishing programs that address communities, environments, or industries that are in distress due to the impacts of ocean acidification.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Protect Our Liberian Community Act of 2019 This bill establishes that a national of Liberia shall be deemed to have registered for temporary protected status as of April 1, 2019, for three years, if the national registered for such status at any time and was present in the United States on March 30, 2019, under deferred enforced departure. Temporary protected status is available to nationals of certain designated countries, and such aliens shall have work authorization not be removed from the United States while the status is in effect. Liberia's designation was terminated as of May 21, 2017. The President has granted deferred enforced departure status to Liberian nationals, which prevents their removal from the country and provides work authorization, until March 30, 2020. Individuals with temporary protected status under this bill shall have employment authorization for the three-year period, and any lapse of authorization between April 1, 2019, and the enactment date of this bill shall not affect the validity of such an individual's employment authorization document.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Medicaid Bump Act This bill increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to 90% with respect to increased state Medicaid program expenditures for mental and behavioral health services.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
DUI Reporting Act of 2019 This bill revises reporting requirements related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must provide a list to the Department of Transportation (DOT) identifying each state that is appropriately reporting to a federal repository arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bill requires DOT to withhold national priority safety program grant funds for impaired driving countermeasures from a state that does not appear on the most recent list provided to DOT by DOJ.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Small Employer Retirement Savings Auto-Enrollment Credit Act This bill allows a three-year $500 business-related tax credit for eligible small employers who include and maintain an automatic contribution arrangement in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. An "eligible employer" is an employer with no more than 100 employees who received at least $5,000 of compensation from the employer for the preceding year.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Younger Onset Alzheimer's Act This bill makes individuals with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease (i.e., individuals who experienced onset of the disease before age 60) eligible for certain federal grants and programs that support older adults. Under current law, these grants and programs serve only individuals 60 and older.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act This bill provides for the refinancing or deferral of certain federal student loans. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education to establish a program to refinance the outstanding principal, interest, and late charges on federal student loans in order to give borrowers fixed interest rates equal to the 10-year Treasury note rate plus one percentage point. Further, the bill eliminates origination fees on the loans. In addition, the bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internship or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Supporting Children of the National Guard and Reserve Act This bill expands the military student identifier program to include students of parents who serve in reserve components of the Armed Forces, not just active duty members. The military student identifier program provides educators with information about the educational experience of children of members of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of the Congress regarding the benefits that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies provide to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
National Senior Investor Initiative Act of 2019 or the Senior Security Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Senior Investor Taskforce within the Securities and Exchange Commission. The taskforce must report on topics relating to investors over the age of 65, including industry trends and serious issues impacting such investors, and make recommendations for legislative or regulatory actions to address problems encountered by senior investors. The Government Accountability Office must report on the financial exploitation of senior citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act This bill requires the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and state Medicaid programs to provide 12-month continuous enrollment for eligible individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
Improving HOPE for Alzheimer's This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct outreach to health care practitioners regarding comprehensive care planning services that are available under Medicare for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The CMS must report on its outreach efforts, as well as on the number of beneficiaries receiving such services and any barriers to access.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
IDEA Full Funding Act This bill reauthorizes, and makes appropriations for the grant program under, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to assist states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_pa_1_fitzpatrick_brian_200.jpg)