United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
College Operational Reporting of Emergencies involving teens and Young adults Safety Act of 2023 or the COREY Safety Act of 2023 This bill expands reporting requirements included in the annual security report provided to current and prospective students and employees of each institution of higher education (IHE). Specifically, the bill requires each IHE to include in its report statistics concerning the occurrence on campus of accidents that result in serious physical injury or death in the following categories: transportation on foot or via bikes, scooters, skateboards, longboards, or motor vehicles; slips and falls, in the aggregate and from low heights, mid heights, and high heights; alcohol or drug overdoses; choking or drowning; any other specific category of accidents identified by the IHE; and all other accidents. The IHE must also include in the report (1) a description of any plans to address deficient or dangerous facilities on campus that have caused serious physical injury or death; and (2) a statement containing the names, addresses, and distances from campus of the closest trauma centers or other hospitals. Additionally, the bill changes the name of the report from annual security report to annual campus safety report . Further, the bill requires the annual report to be published on the IHE's public website. The report must be written and organized in a manner that is easily understandable by students and families. The Department of Education must issue guidance to IHEs regarding the implementation of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2023 This bill modifies the discount given by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on single-family mortgage-insurance premium payments for first-time homebuyers who complete a financial management counseling program. Under current law, the maximum discount for these homebuyers is 2.75% of the original insured principal obligation of the mortgage (compared to 3% for other homebuyers). The bill instead requires that the discount for these homebuyers be 25 basis points (0.25% of the original insured principal obligation of mortgage) lower than the amount otherwise established by the FHA. The bill also specifies that first-time homebuyers must complete the financial-management counseling program prior to applying for a mortgage or entering into a sales agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act This bill modifies the Conrad 30 Waiver program, which incentivizes qualified foreign physicians to serve in underserved communities. It also extends statutory authority for the program for three years from this bill's enactment. Aliens coming to the United States under a J-1 nonimmigrant visa to receive medical training typically must leave the country and reside for two years abroad before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence. The Conrad program waives this requirement for individuals who meet certain qualifications, including serving for a number of years at a health care facility in an underserved area. The bill increases the number of waivers that a state may obtain each fiscal year from 30 to 35 if a certain number of waivers were used the previous year, and provides for further adjustments depending on demand. An alien physician may be employed at an academic medical center to meet the Conrad program's employment requirements if the alien's work is in the public interest, even if the medical center is not in an underserved area. Employment contracts for alien physicians under the Conrad program shall contain certain information, such as the maximum number of on-call hours per week the physician shall have to work. Certain alien physicians (along with the physician's spouse and children) shall be exempt from the direct annual numerical limits on immigration, including those physicians that have met certain requirements related to visas for physicians to serve in underserved areas.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2023 This bill accelerates to the enactment date of this bill the deferral of tax (currently, after December 31, 2027) on sales of employer stock to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) sponsored by S corporations. It also eliminates the limitation on the amount that may be deferred. The Department of the Treasury must establish the S Corporation Employee Ownership Assistance Office to foster increased employee ownership of S corporations. The office must provide education and outreach about the benefits of employee ownership of S corporations and technical assistance to assist S corporations in sponsoring ESOPs. The bill directs the Department of Labor to appoint an Advocate for Employee Ownership.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
This concurrent resolution calls on Russia to immediately release American citizen Marc Fogel and expresses that he has served more time in prison than his crimes can justify. It also urges Russia to respect Mr. Fogel's human rights and to provide full consular access to him while he remains in detention.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2023 This bill modifies programs and activities that support access to behavioral health services, with a focus on crisis services and the 9-8-8 telecommunication system that provides callers with mental health or suicide crisis support and resources. For example, the bill establishes a national suicide prevention media campaign and grant programs to support crisis call centers and the behavioral health workforce. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a panel to develop recommendations for 9-1-1 dispatchers on how respond to callers experiencing behavioral health crises, including with respect to utilizing the 9-8-8 system. The bill also expands coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), private insurance, and insurance programs for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and federal employees to include crisis response services.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Medicaid Bump Act This bill increases the Medicaid federal matching rate, also known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), for behavioral health expenses that exceed prior levels (i.e., as of March 31, 2019). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must specify which services are eligible for the increased FMAP. States must use funds to supplement state funding for programs in effect as of April 1, 2021, and to increase the capacity, efficiency, and quality of services.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Urban Waters Federal Partnership Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for the Urban Waters Federal Partnership Program. Under the program, the Environmental Protection Agency and other specified agencies must reconnect urban communities, particularly urban communities that are overburdened or economically distressed, with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act This bill adds requirements regarding the availability of training that the Department of Agriculture provides under current law for local food service personnel in schools. The training must be scheduled primarily during regular, paid working hours; offered in-person whenever appropriate; and incorporate hands-on training techniques. If the training is scheduled outside of working hours, food service personnel must be informed about the necessity of scheduling the program and compensated for attending the program. Personnel may not be penalized for failing to attend a program outside of working hours.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Scientific Integrity Act This bill revises provisions regarding the release of scientific research results by federal agencies. Each agency that funds, conducts, or oversees scientific research must (1) adopt and enforce a scientific integrity policy that includes certain requirements, such as restricting scientific conclusions from being based on political considerations; and (2) submit such policy to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for approval. Agencies must make their policies public, submit them to Congress, and periodically update them with OSTP's approval. The Government Accountability Office shall review implementation of the policies. Each agency shall (1) appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer, (2) establish a process for dispute resolution consistent with the scientific integrity policy, and (3) establish a specified training program for current and new employees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act This bill allows the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program. The program may guarantee loans to support new investments in the start-up or expansion of projects in the United States that will increase U.S. food supply chain capacity to aggregate, process, manufacture, store, transport, wholesale, or distribute food. In awarding loan guarantees under this bill, USDA must give preference to loans for projects that create jobs in economically distressed communities or to help create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. USDA must prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this program. The bill specifies that USDA must use the amounts made available to carry out this bill to supplement, and not supplant, funds provided under other federal, state, or local law.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Member Business Loan Expansion Act This bill revises requirements related to the terms and lending limits of certain credit union loans. Specifically, the bill (1) allows the National Credit Union Administration Board to lengthen the maturity term of certain loans made by a credit union, and (2) raises the credit limit for credit union member businesses under which such loans are excluded from overall credit union lending limits. Finally, the bill expands the definition of a community financial institution by (1) allowing insured credit unions to qualify, and (2) raising the average asset limit. (Community financial institutions are subject to reduced asset requirements for purposes of Federal Home Loan Bank membership.)
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2023
Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes and provides additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The bill also modifies the SCBGP outreach and state plan requirements. Under the block grant program, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides grants to the state departments of agriculture to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops (i.e., fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture). Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the SCBGP through FY2028. The bill also requires that SCBGP grants be made based on priorities jointly identified by specialty crop producers, producer groups, and state program administrators to achieve the program's purpose. Further, the bill requires that the plan a state must submit to USDA under the program indicate how outreach to, and consultation with, specialty crop stakeholders will be achieved.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2023
Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act of 2023 This bill authorizes advance appropriations for several covered appropriations accounts of (1) the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education within the Department of the Interior, and (2) the Indian Health Service within the Department of Health and Human Services. The advance appropriations provide new budget authority that first becomes available for the first fiscal year after the budget year. The covered accounts within the Bureau of Indian Affairs are (1) Operation of Indian Programs, (2) Contract Support Costs, (3) the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program, (4) Construction, and (5) Payments for Tribal Leases. The covered accounts within the Bureau of Indian Education are (1) Operation of Indian Education Programs, and (2) Education Construction. The covered accounts within the Indian Health Service are (1) Indian Health Services, (2) Contract Support Costs, (3) Payments for Tribal Leases, and (4) Indian Health Facilities. The bill also requires the President's budget and the supporting documents submitted to Congress to include detailed estimates related to the advance appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2023 This bill expands Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy that is provided by (1) a physician who is not a primary care physician; or (2) other health care providers (e.g., physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and approved counseling programs, if provided upon a referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner. Currently, such therapy is covered only if provided by a primary care practitioner. The bill also allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of custom fabricated breast prostheses following the surgical removal of the breast (i.e., a mastectomy), including replacements of such prostheses. Currently, Medicare covers surgically implanted breast prostheses, as well as some external breast prostheses (e.g., post-surgical bras).
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Dietary Supplements Access Act This bill allows expenditures from health savings accounts and flexible spending and health reimbursement arrangements for dietary supplements (i.e., products, other than tobacco, intended to supplement the diet that bear or contain either vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, or an amino acid, and are labeled as dietary supplements).
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
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 · 20 July 2023
Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act This bill provides for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of certain tobacco cessation services. Specifically, the bill provides for coverage, without cost-sharing, of diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services and pharmacotherapy, including prescription and nonprescription tobacco cessation agents, that are provided under medical supervision and in accordance with specified guidelines. It also applies a 90% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for such items and services for five years.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Strengthening Efforts to End Violence Against Children Act of 2023 This bill modifies the framework for providing foreign aid to programs that support vulnerable children by expanding the goals of these programs and requiring additional reports. Specifically, aid may be provided to programs that (1) support family care for vulnerable children and extend protective services to children living outside of family care; (2) promote the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect through preventative and responsive programming; and (3) provide lifesaving protection and interventions for vulnerable children in emergency settings. The bill also requires the President, among other reporting requirements, to develop and submit to Congress a strategy for coordinating, implementing, and monitoring assistance programs for children in adversity, submitting a review to Congress every 4 years afterwards.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End Act of 2023 or the CHANGE Act of 2023 This bill specifies that Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical examinations must include the use of an approved tool from the National Institute of Aging to detect cognitive impairment, as well as associated documentation of the tool that was used and the results.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers for five years without undergoing additional screening requirements, unless the state has an agreement with other states that governs coverage of children with medically complex conditions that is in accordance with specified guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Among other requirements, a qualifying provider must (1) serve individuals under the age of 21; (2) have previously been screened for Medicare participation or for participation in the Medicaid program of the state in which the provider is located; and (3) have been determined by the CMS or state Medicaid program to pose a limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2023 This bill directs the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to award competitive grants to state agencies under a home delivery pilot program for participants in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). (The CSFP works to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious Department of Agriculture foods.) Under the pilot program, a state agency must distribute grant funds to an eligible entity (i.e., a local agency or subdistributing agency) to operate projects that facilitate home delivery of commodities to CSFP participants. Grant funds may be used for costs associated with transportation and distribution of commodities to CSFP participants, staffing required to operate home delivery services, and home delivery outreach to CSFP participants or potential participants. A state agency must prioritize eligible entities that serve CSFP participants who reside in rural areas. A state agency must also submit an annual report to FNS about the project, including best practices regarding the use of home delivery to improve the effectiveness of the CSFP.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Cease Animal Research Grants Overseas Act of 2023 or the CARGO Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the National Institutes of Health from awarding support for any research that uses live animals unless the research occurs in the United States (including U.S. territories and possessions).
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Community News and Small Business Support Act This bill allows certain small businesses and employers of journalists tax credits for advertising in local media and for the wages of not more than 1,500 local news journalists in any calendar quarter. Specifically, the tax credit for advertising in local media allows small businesses with less than 50 full-time employees a limited credit for the expense of advertising in a local newspaper, or in any licensed broadcast radio or television station that serves a local community. The credit for the wages of a local news journalist is a payroll tax credit that takes into account wages not exceeding $12,500 in any calendar quarter.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2023 or the BARK Act of 2023 This bill provides civil and criminal liability protections for the donation of pet food and pet supplies under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. (The act shields persons that donate and distribute food to nonprofit organizations from liability for injuries caused by those donated products, with exceptions.) Specifically, the bill limits liability for persons or gleaners arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of food or pet supplies that are donated in good faith by the person or gleaner to a nonprofit organization, state, or local government for direct distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. Gleaner means a person who harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to a nonprofit organization, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner. Further, the bill limits liability for a nonprofit organization, state, or local government arising from donated items received from a person or gleaner in good faith for direct distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. The bill also specifies that the existing exception that permits a person, gleaner, or nonprofit organization to be held liable for acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or intentional misconduct applies to the liability protections established by this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Reporting Instances of Non-authorized Grift Act of 2023 or the RING Act of 2023 This bill requires creditors to establish a hotline for assisting consumers who are 50 years of age or older to resolve billing errors and mitigate fraud. Consumers who call the hotline must have the option to receive assistance from a live English- or Spanish-speaking individual and not from an automated system.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
This resolution applauds and expresses support for the continued cooperation between the United States and the European Union in thwarting Hezbollah's terrorist activities. It also urges the European Union to designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Senior Nutrition Task Force Act of 2023 This bill establishes a task force to identify ways to increase access to healthy foods and otherwise address hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition among older adults and adults with disabilities. Members of the task force include representatives from relevant federal agencies, advocacy organizations, and affected populations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Artificial Intelligence and Biosecurity Risk Assessment Act This bill requires the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response to assess the risks posed by artificial intelligence in developing novel pathogens, viruses, bioweapons, or chemical weapons and to address these risks through related initiatives and activities, such as by including the risk assessment in the National Health Security Strategy (a coordinated strategy among federal, state, and local entities to address public health emergencies).
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of 2023 This bill increases the authorization of appropriations for the Department of Defense in carrying out research, development, test, and evaluation activities, on a joint basis with Israel, to establish capabilities for countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The bill also requires DOD to report to Congress on the status of U.S.-Israeli cooperation to counter UAS capabilities and to provide an assessment of the UAS threat to the United States and Israel from Iran and associated proxies of Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Main Street Tax Certainty Act This bill makes permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) Qualified business income is defined as the net amount of qualified items of income, gain, deduction and loss with respect to any trade or business, excluding capital gains or losses, dividends, interest income, or income earned outside the U.S.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2023
This resolution expresses support for the government of the United Kingdom's continued determination to bring about the restoration of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. The resolution also calls on all participants to honor their obligations under the agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2023
Mercury 13 Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the Mercury 13 in recognition of their accomplishments as part of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees (FLATs) Program (a privately funded project testing women pilots for astronaut fitness in the 1960s), their work for gender equity, and their example of women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2023
This resolution recognizes the important role that local nutrition programs supported through the Older Americans Act of 1965 play in addressing senior hunger, malnutrition, and isolation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2023
Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs Reauthorization Act or the SIREN Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise modifies a grant program for improving emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas. The modifications include requiring the use of grant funds to train EMS personnel on caring for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders in emergency situations and permitting the use of grant funds to acquire overdose reversal drugs and devices.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2023
Federal Mechanical Insulation Act The bill directs federal agencies to identify energy saving and water saving measures, such as the installation of mechanical insulation property, in certain annual energy and water evaluations of federal buildings. Thus, the bill allows the installation of mechanical insulation property (e.g., thermal insulation) to be considered an energy or water efficiency measure that may be used in federal buildings under the National Energy Conservation Policy Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2023
Rural Wellness Act This bill prioritizes behavioral and mental health treatment services under certain rural development grant and loan programs. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2028 the set-asides and prioritizations for substance use disorder treatment services under the Department of Agriculture's (1) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, (2) Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, and (3) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. Under the community facilities program, the bill prioritizes direct loans and grants for the development of behavioral and mental health services facilities, including facilities that provide treatment services. Further, loans and grants provided under the program may be used to develop facilities and systems to provide telehealth services for behavioral and mental health treatment. Under the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, the bill prioritizes grants for behavioral and mental health education and treatment. Under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program, the bill includes a 17% set-aside for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services (currently a 20% set-aside).
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2023
Interactive Federal Review Act This bill revises the environmental review process for federal-aid highway projects. Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must encourage recipients of federal highway funding to utilize interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms when carrying out environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); select at least 10 federal-aid highway projects to demonstrate the use of interactive, digital, cloud-based platforms in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes under NEPA; and publish technology-neutral best practice guidance to encourage sponsors of projects that receive federal funds from DOT to use an interactive, digital, cloud-based platform in carrying out the environmental impact analysis and community engagement processes required under NEPA.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_pa_1_fitzpatrick_brian_200.jpg)