United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2023
Fair and Open Competition Act or the FOCA Act This bill prohibits federal construction contracts or controlling documents for federally supported construction projects from requiring or prohibiting project labor agreements. Such documents also may not discriminate against or give preference to a bidder or contractor who signs or refuses to sign a project labor agreement. An agency may exempt a project from this prohibition to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve the national security.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2023
Public Health Emergency Medical Supplies Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill expands certain authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) to respond to public health emergencies. Specifically, during a public health emergency, any medical equipment or supplies determined by the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Homeland Security to be scarce and critical materials essential to the national defense may be deemed as such by the President, and funds available to implement the DPA may be used for the purchase, production, or distribution of such medical equipment or supplies. Further, during a public health emergency, the President and federal agencies may take specific actions to support the production of such materials or supplies, including with respect to supply chains, private-sector coordination, needs assessments, and overall strategies. The bill provides for enhanced reporting under the DPA during a public health emergency. Additionally, a report required under the DPA for FY2023 and FY2024 shall include the percentage of contracts awarded to small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2023
Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023 This bill imposes sanctions on persons (individuals and entities) involved in forced organ trafficking and authorizes the Department of State to revoke the passports of individuals convicted of certain crimes related to organ trafficking. Specifically, the President must report to Congress a list of persons that facilitate (1) forced organ harvesting, or (2) trafficking in persons for organ harvesting. For each person on the list, the President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions. Furthermore, the State Department may deny or revoke the passport of an individual who has been convicted of a federal crime of knowingly transferring any human organ for valuable consideration for use in human transplantation, if the individual (1) is subject to imprisonment or supervised release resulting from that conviction, and (2) used a passport or crossed an international border when committing that crime.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2023
This bill modifies an existing requirement for the Department of State to review and report on its guidance to federal agencies on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. (The U.S.-Taiwan relationship has been unofficial since 1979, when the United States established diplomatic relations with China and broke them with Taiwan.) Current law requires the State Department to conduct a one-time review of its guidance governing relations with Taiwan and report to Congress on this review. Under this bill, the State Department must review that guidance and report to Congress every two years while the guidance is in effect. The reports to Congress must (1) describe how the guidance takes into account certain considerations, such as the sense of Congress that Taiwan is governed by a representative government peacefully constituted through free and fair elections; and (2) identify opportunities and plans to lift self-imposed restrictions on relations with Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2023
Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act This bill addresses fraud and overpayments of pandemic unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, including by providing incentives for states to investigate and recover overpayments of these benefits. Specifically, the bill allows states to retain 25% of any recovered fraudulent overpayments. These retained funds may be used for modernizing unemployment compensation systems and information technology, reimbursing administrative costs, hiring fraud investigators and prosecutors, and for other program integrity activities. Additionally, the bill allows states to retain 5% of any overpayments of regular and extended UI benefits. A state must, in order to retain these overpayments, certify that it has met certain conditions for data matching. Next, the bill extends from 3 to 10 years the time during which states can recover overpayments of pandemic UI benefits. Further, the bill extends flexibilities for states to hire temporary staff on a noncompetitive basis to identify, pursue, and recover fraudulent overpayments. The bill also extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions related to UI fraud. Finally, the bill repeals a section of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (as amended by the American Rescue Plan of 2021) that provided funding for UI program integrity activities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2023
Bank Service Company Examination Coordination Act of 2023 This bill requires the coordination of state banking agencies with federal banking agencies in regulating and examining the activities of bank service companies. It also allows for the sharing of information related to examinations and regulations between federal and state agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2023
Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act or the GUARD VA Benefits Act This bill imposes fines on individuals for soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving any unauthorized fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. The attempted commission of such offenses is also punishable by fine.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2023
PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act This bill requires the Department of State to take actions to stop China from being classified as a developing country by international organizations. (Generally, international organizations provide developing countries certain rights and beneficial treatment. For example, the World Trade Organization provides developing countries with so-called special and differential treatment , which includes measures that aim to increase trading opportunities for those countries.) Under this bill, the State Department must advocate for international organizations to (1) change China's status from developing country to upper middle income country, high income country, or developed country; (2) develop a mechanism to change China's status to developed country if no mechanism currently exists; or (3) ensure that China does not receive preferential treatment or assistance as a result of having developing country status. The President may waive this requirement if doing so is in the national interest of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2023
CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act This bill limits the ability of the Federal Reserve to (1) provide direct services to individuals, and (2) use a central bank digital currency. A central bank digital currency is a digital currency (e.g., Bitcoin or Ether) issued by a government-backed central bank. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Federal Reserve and the Federal Open Market Committee from using any central bank digital currency to implement monetary policy. In addition, a Federal Reserve bank is prohibited from offering products or services directly to an individual, maintaining an account on behalf of an individual, or issuing a central bank digital currency directly to an individual. The Federal Reserve must (1) consult with each Federal Reserve bank with respect to any central bank digital currency study or pilot program, and (2) issue quarterly reports on the findings and determinations of any such study or program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2023
250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and shall only be used for the purposes of supporting the mission of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2023
This resolution mourns the loss of life in Turkey (Turkiye) and Syria caused by the earthquakes in Turkey on February 6, 2023. The resolution also (1) applauds the work of humanitarian aid and rescue workers on the ground; and (2) condemns the efforts by the Assad regime of Syria to exploit the disaster to evade international pressure and accountability, including by preventing the United Nations from providing assistance through border crossings between Turkey and Syria.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 2023
TCJA Permanency Act This bill makes permanent provisions affecting individual and business taxpayers that were enacted in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. The bill makes permanent reductions in individual and capital gain tax rates. The bill increases the standard tax deduction for individual taxpayers. It also increases and modifies the child tax credit and raises the contribution base for the tax deduction for charitable contributions. The bill allows additional contributions to ABLE accounts (tax-exempt accounts designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save and pay for disability-related expenses). It exempts from taxation combat zone benefits of members of the Armed Forces serving in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and limits the deduction for moving expenses to active duty members of the Armed Forces. Additionally, the bill expands the types of elementary and secondary school expenses eligible for payment from qualified tuition programs (529 programs); lowers to $750,000 the amount of mortgage debt eligible for an interest expense tax deduction; reinstates after 2024 the exclusion of income from the gross income of student loan borrowers for loan debt discharged due to death or total and permanent disability; makes permanent the limitation on the tax deduction for state and local taxes and denies a deduction for foreign real property taxes; makes permanent the tax deduction of the income of certain pass-through business entities; repeals the tax deduction for personal tax exemptions and the exclusion of employer-provided bicycle commuter fringe benefits; terminates certain miscellaneous itemized tax deductions; doubles the estate and gift tax exemption amount; and makes permanent the increase of the alternative minimum tax exemption amount for individual taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2023
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 This bill expands federal enforcement of criminal offenses related to organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically refers to large-scale retail theft and fraud by organized groups of professional shoplifters, or boosters, who make money by stealing merchandise and reselling it for a fraction of the retail cost. First, with respect to criminal offenses involving the transportation of stolen property across state lines and the sale or receipt of stolen goods, the bill broadens the scope of conduct that qualifies as offenses. Additionally, the bill makes the offenses predicate offenses (i.e., underlying offenses) for prosecutions under the federal money laundering statute and authorizes the criminal forfeiture of any property representing or traceable to the gross proceeds obtained as a result of an offense or a conspiracy to commit an offense. Second, with respect to criminal offenses involving theft from an interstate or foreign shipment, the bill makes an offense an underlying offense for prosecution under the federal money laundering statute and authorizes the criminal forfeiture of any property representing or traceable to the gross proceeds obtained as a result of an offense or a conspiracy to commit an offense. Finally, the bill establishes a center—the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center—within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate the federal law enforcement activities related to organized retail crime.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2023
This resolution supports the designation of Boy Scouts of America Day in celebration of the 113th anniversary of the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Labor rule concerning the fiduciary duties with respect to employee benefit plans. Under the rule issued on December 1, 2022, plan fiduciaries may consider climate change and other environmental, social, and governance factors when they make investment decisions and when they exercise shareholder rights, including voting on shareholder resolutions and board nominations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2023
National Cold War Center Act of 2023 This bill designates the museum located at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, as the National Cold War Center.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2023
This resolution condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents. The resolution also expresses support for the people of Iran who are legitimately defending their rights for freedom against repression and condemns the killing of Iranian protesters by the Iranian regime.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2023
Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act This bill expands the eligibility criteria for an accredited investor for purposes of participating in private offerings of securities to include an individual determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to have qualifying professional knowledge through educational or professional experience. (Certain unregistered securities may only be offered to accredited investors.) The SEC is directed to revise the definition of accredited investor in Regulation D (which exempts certain offerings from SEC registration requirements) to conform to changes in this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2023
This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2023
Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the service that working dogs provide to society. The designs of the coins minted under this bill shall be emblematic of the contributions of working dogs to society, including in detection, military service, therapy, and assistance. Treasury may issue coins only during the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2025. All sales of coins shall include a surcharge, which shall be paid to America's VetDogs for general expenses associated with the fulfillment of its mission.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2023
Chinese CBDC Prohibition Act of 2023 This bill prohibits money services businesses (e.g., currency exchange providers or money order issuers) from engaging in transactions involving a central bank digital currency issued by China. Central bank digital currencies are digital currencies issued by a government-backed central bank.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2023
International Nuclear Energy Financing Act of 2023 This bill requires the U.S. Executive Director at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (and the U.S. Executive Director at any other international financial institution deemed appropriate) to support financial assistance for the generation and distribution of nuclear energy, consistent with U.S. national security interests.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2023
This resolution demands that the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China (CPC) immediately release Mark Swidan. The resolution also condemns the Chinese government and the CPC for denying Swidan access to U.S. diplomats and independent and competent medical care. Swidan is a U.S. citizen who was convicted of drug-related charges in China and sentenced to death. A U.N. working group on arbitrary detention considers Swidan's detention arbitrary and in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2023
This resolution calls for the Department of State to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern for egregious violations of religious freedom. It also states that the President should appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region with the rank of Ambassador to monitor and combat atrocities there.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2023
Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act or the HEAL Act This bill directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to study and report on Holocaust education efforts in states, local educational agencies (LEAs), and public elementary and secondary schools. Among other elements, the study must (1) determine whether states and LEAs require Holocaust education as part of the curriculum taught in public elementary and secondary schools, (2) identify the standards and requirements relating to Holocaust education, and (3) identify the types of instructional material used to teach students about the Holocaust.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2023
Special Drawing Rights Oversight Act of 2023 This bill imposes additional restrictions on the U.S. government's authority to vote on Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocations at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (The SDR is an international reserve asset maintained by the IMF based on contributions from IMF member countries. SDRs may be exchanged between member countries and may also be exchanged for currencies.) Under current law, U.S. representatives to the IMF may not vote for SDR allocations to the United States beyond an amount authorized by statute unless Congress authorizes such a vote. This bill further reduces the allocation amount that U.S. representatives to the IMF may vote for without congressional approval. Furthermore, U.S. representatives to the IMF may not vote for SDR allocations to a country if the President finds that the country's government has (1) committed genocide in the last 10 years, or (2) repeatedly supported international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2023
Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act of 2023 This bill requires additional reporting regarding the domestic and foreign financial activity of specified Chinese officials. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of the Treasury, upon a determination by the President that a threat to the interests of the United States exists resulting from actions by China, to (1) report to Congress on funds held by certain members of the Chinese Communist Party, including the total amount of funds, a description of the funds, and a list of related financial institutions; and (2) brief Congress on how these funds were acquired and any illicit or corrupt means employed to acquire or use the funds. The bill also allows Treasury to prohibit significant transactions between U.S. financial institutions and these individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2023
Securing America's Vaccines for Emergencies Act of 2023 or the SAVE Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the President to make payments to manufacturers to increase supply-chain security if doing so is important to the national defense. The President must submit a strategy to Congress that includes (1) a plan to use authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to ensure the supply of medical materials essential to the national defense; and (2) plans to diversify, and address vulnerabilities in, supply chains for essential medical materials. The President must submit to Congress annual progress reports through FY2025 evaluating the implementation of the strategy.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2023
International Financial Institutions Governance Act of 2023 This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of the Treasury to waive, on a case-by-case basis, statutory requirements that govern the U.S. Executive Directors at international financial institutions with respect to their use of the voice and vote of the United States. Treasury must periodically issue a report that (1) lists each waiver issued since the previous report, if any; (2) describes the project or policy that each waiver applied to; (3) provides a detailed explanation of the reasons for each waiver; and (4) includes a determination that each waiver allowed Treasury to more effectively advance U.S. interests at the institution involved. Treasury must review existing statutory requirements and submit any recommendations to revise or sunset the requirements with the objectives of strengthening U.S. leadership, facilitating multilateral cooperation, reflecting changing conditions, and advancing the U.S. national interest.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2023
21st Century Dollar Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a strategy to facilitate the position of the dollar as the primary global reserve currency. Treasury must submit a report that includes (1) steps taken to implement this strategy, legislative recommendations, and efforts by major foreign central banks to create an official digital currency; and (2) an evaluation of the role of the renminbi (the official currency of China) in international payments and foreign exchange reserves.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2023
Putting Investors First Act of 2023 This bill requires a proxy advisory firm to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and prohibits an unregistered proxy advisory firm from using interstate commerce to provide proxy-voting advice, research, analysis, or recommendations to any client. With respect to these firms, the bill (1) establishes procedures for both registration and termination of registration; (2) requires each firm to employ an ombudsman, designate a compliance officer, and publicly disclose conflicts of interest; (3) allows issuers to assess and comment on proxy voting recommendations; and (4) prohibits unfair, coercive, or abusive practices. The bill establishes a private right of action against a proxy advisory firm that endorses an approved proposal that is not supported by the issuer and is found to be illegal.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 2023
Fighting Oppression until the Reign of Castro Ends Act or the FORCE Act This bill prohibits removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism until the President makes the determination that a transition government in Cuba is in power.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 2023
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 20 23 This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking. Specifically, the bill establishes a congressional approval process for a major rule. A major rule may only take effect if Congress approves of the rule. A major rule is a rule that has resulted in or is likely to result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. The bill generally preserves the current congressional review process for a nonmajor rule.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 2023
Settlement Agreement Information Database Act of 2023 This bill requires executive agencies to submit information regarding settlement agreements to a public database. Specifically, an agency must submit information regarding any settlement agreement (including a consent decree) entered into by the agency related to an alleged violation of federal law. If an agency determines that information regarding an agreement must remain confidential to protect the public interest, the agency must publish an explanation of why the information is confidential.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2023
No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2023 This bill modifies provisions relating to federal funding for, and health insurance coverage of, abortions. Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions or for health coverage that includes abortions. Such restrictions extend to the use of funds in the budget of the District of Columbia. Additionally, abortions may not be provided in a federal health care facility or by a federal employee. Historically, language has been included in annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions—such language is commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment. Similar language is also frequently included in appropriations bills for other federal agencies and the District of Columbia. The bill makes these restrictions permanent and extends the restrictions to all federal funds (rather than specific agencies). The bill's restrictions regarding the use of federal funds do not apply in cases of rape, incest, or where a physical disorder, injury, or illness endangers a woman's life unless an abortion is performed. The Hyde Amendment provides the same exceptions. The bill also prohibits qualified health plans from including coverage for abortions. Currently, qualified health plans may cover abortion, but the portion of the premium attributable to abortion coverage is not eligible for subsidies.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2023
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act This bill establishes requirements for the degree of care a health care practitioner must provide in the case of a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion. Specifically, a health care practitioner who is present must (1) exercise the same degree of care as would reasonably be provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure the child is immediately admitted to a hospital. Additionally, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with the degree-of-care requirements must immediately report such failure to law enforcement. A health care practitioner who fails to provide the required degree of care, or a health care practitioner or other employee who fails to report such failure, is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. An individual who intentionally kills or attempts to kill a child born alive is subject to prosecution for murder. The bill bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive under this bill and allows her to bring a civil action against a health care practitioner or other employee for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2023
This concurrent resolution condemns recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches and calls on the current presidential administration to use appropriate law enforcement authorities to support their safety.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2023
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. It prohibits a bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless it has been approved by a majority roll call vote of each chamber. The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. Congress may waive these requirements due to a declaration of war or a military conflict that causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2023
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines. Specifically, an individual who is eligible to carry a concealed firearm in one state may carry or possess a concealed handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. It sets forth requirements for the lawful concealed carry across state lines. The bill preempts most state and local laws related to concealed carry and establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by interference with a concealed-carry right established by this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2023
Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act or the FIND Act This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into contracts with an entity that discriminates against firearm trade associations or businesses that deal in firearms, ammunition, or related products. Specifically, the bill requires a federal agency to include in each contract for the procurement of goods or services awarded by the agency a clause requiring the prime contractor to certify that it (1) has no policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association; and (2) will not adopt a policy, practice, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association during the term of the contract. The bill establishes (1) a similar requirement with respect to subcontracts, and (2) penalties for violations. The bill makes such prohibition inapplicable to a contract for the procurement of goods or services that is a sole-source contract.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Labor rule concerning the fiduciary duties with respect to employee benefit plans. Under the rule issued on December 1, 2022, plan fiduciaries may consider climate change and other environmental, social, and governance factors when they make investment decisions and when they exercise shareholder rights, including voting on shareholder resolutions and board nominations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2022
Consumer Information Notification Requirement Act This bill requires federal financial regulators to set forth rules regarding data breaches. Specifically, these rules must require financial institutions, banks, and other specified entities to notify customers of breaches likely to result in identity theft, fraud, or economic loss.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2022
This bill expands the information allowed when calculating whether an acquisition or disposition of a subsidiary is significant for purposes of required financial disclosures by publicly traded companies. Currently, an acquisition or disposition is considered significant when the company's investment in the subsidiary is calculated to exceed 10% of the aggregate worldwide market value of the company's voting and non-voting common equity. Under the bill, this market value may additionally include applicable trading value, conversion value, or exchange value of all of the company's outstanding classes of stock, including preferred stock and non-traded common shares that are convertible into or exchangeable for traded common shares.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2022
Review the Expansion of Government Act or as the REG Act This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to periodically review final rules to determine if a revision, including a repeal, of a rule is (1) necessary to ensure the rule is authorized under law; (2) necessary to comply with the law; or (3) necessary or appropriate to facilitate capital formation, to maintain fair and orderly markets, or to protect investors.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2022
Putting Investors First Act of 2022 This bill requires a proxy advisory firm to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and prohibits an unregistered proxy advisory firm from using interstate commerce to provide proxy-voting advice, research, analysis, or recommendations to any client. With respect to these firms, the bill (1) establishes procedures for both registration and termination of registration; (2) requires each firm to employ an ombudsman, designate a compliance officer, and publicly disclose conflicts of interest; (3) allows issuers to assess and comment on proxy voting recommendations; and (4) prohibits unfair, coercive, or abusive practices. The bill establishes a private right of action against a proxy advisory firm that endorses an approved proposal that is not supported by the issuer and is found to be illegal.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2022
Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Act of 2022 This bill requests the President to issue an annual proclamation designating Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. The bill also designates the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag as a symbol of the commitment of the United States to recognizing citizens held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2022
This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of the Treasury to waive, on a case-by-case basis, statutory requirements that govern the U.S. Executive Directors at international financial institutions with respect to their use of the voice and vote of the United States. Treasury must periodically issue a report that (1) lists each waiver issued since the previous report, if any; (2) describes the project or policy that each waiver applied to; (3) provides a detailed explanation of the reasons for each waiver; and (4) includes a determination that each waiver allowed Treasury to more effectively advance U.S. interests at the institution involved. Treasury must review existing statutory requirements and submit any recommendations to revise or sunset the requirements with the objectives of strengthening U.S. leadership, facilitating multilateral cooperation, reflecting changing conditions, and advancing the U.S. national interest.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2022
Consumer Financial Education and Empowerment Act This bill establishes within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau a program to award allocations to state governments, local governments, and other entities for financial literacy programs. Programs eligible for awards may include education regarding credit, student loan debt, homeownership, investments, retirement, or tax planning.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001072_200.jpg)