United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020
Food Worker Pay Standards Act This bill prohibits the federal government from purchasing any meat, meat food product, poultry, poultry food product, or processed food produced by workers in the United States who are compensated at a rate lower than the prevailing rate for wages and fringe benefits for such workers in their locality. The Department of Labor shall determine the prevailing rates and in determining such rates shall take into account any applicable existing collective bargaining agreements in the locality. In no case shall a prevailing rate established pursuant to this bill supersede a worker's wages and benefits agreed to in a collective bargaining agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020
Hmong and Lao Refugee Deportation Prohibition Act of 2020 This bill defers the removal of qualified individuals to Laos for 72 months beginning from this bill's enactment. To qualify for deferral, an individual must (1) be born in Laos or the French colonial administration that preceded the present-day country of Laos, (2) have been ordered removed to Laos before this bill's enactment, and (3) have resided in the United States on or before January 1, 2011. An individual receiving deferral under this bill shall be authorized for employment.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Major Richard Star Act This bill provides that a combat-disabled uniformed services retiree with fewer than 20 years of creditable service may concurrently receive, without reduction veterans' disability compensation, and retired pay or combat-related special compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Charter Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency Act or the COAT Act This bill requires state educational agencies, in order to receive certain federal funds, to ensure that each contract between a charter school located in the state and a private charter management organization includes certain compliance requirements. Specifically, such organization must annually disclose certain information to the Department of Education (ED), including the identity of each charter school it operates or manages, the amount expended on operations and administration, information about its contracts, and an audited income statement. ED must publish such information on its website. Additionally, such organization must hold board meetings that are open and accessible to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 West Maple Street in Holly, Michigan, as the "Holly Veterans Memorial Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Gender Inclusive Passport Act This bill requires the Department of State to permit an applicant for a passport, passport card, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad to use an unspecified (X) gender designation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2020
Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act This bill amends several appropriations laws to remove limitations on the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to conduct activities related to the administration of federal firearms laws. Specifically, the bill removes provisions that limit the use of firearms tracing data, prohibit the imposition of a requirement that firearms dealers conduct a physical inventory, and require national instant criminal background check records to be destroyed within 24 hours.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Fracking Ban Act This bill phases out hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process to extract underground resources such as oil or gas from a geologic formation by injecting water, a propping agent (e.g., sand), and chemical additives into a well under enough pressure to fracture the geological formation. The bill prohibits federal agencies from issuing permits for the expansion of fracking or fracked oil and natural gas infrastructure, including infrastructure intended to extract, transport, or burn natural gas or oil. In addition, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to complete a survey of all oil and natural gas wells to identify the wells where fracking is, or has been, used. The survey must include a variety of data, including data on the proximity of fracking operations to inhabited structures (e.g., homes or schools). Beginning on February 1, 2021, the bill revokes permits for wells where fracking is, or has been, used within 2,500 feet of inhabited structures. The bill bans all fracking on onshore and offshore land by 2025. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Labor to establish a Just Transition Committee to make recommendations on ensuring the health and safety of individuals residing in, and the prosperity of, natural gas- and oil-producing regions during the phaseout of fracking.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2020
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 This bill sets forth requirements related to waste and recycling collection systems for a variety of products and materials, including plastics. The bill makes certain producers of products (e.g., packaging, paper, single-use products, beverage containers, or food service products) fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting the products after consumer use. In addition, the bill establishes (1) minimum percentages of products that must be reused, recycled, or composted; and (2) an increasing percentage of recycled content that must be contained in beverage containers. Beginning on January 1, 2022, the bill phases out a variety of single-use products, such as plastic utensils. The bill also sets forth provisions to encourage the reduction of single-use products, including by establishing programs to refund consumers for returning beverage containers and by establishing a tax on carryout bags. The bill creates a temporary moratorium on new or expanded permits for facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency must publish guidelines for a national standardized labeling system for recycling and composting receptacles. Producers must include labels on their products that are easy to read and indicate whether the products are recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Finally, the bill establishes limitations on the export of plastic waste to other countries.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2020
Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development for Underfunded Projects Act or the BUILD UP Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation to set aside at least 30% of funds from its BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant program for cities with populations of between 10,000 and 75,000, whether or not one or more of such cities are considered part of an urbanized area as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2020
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the recognition and observation of International Parental Child Abduction Month to raise awareness of and opposition to this occurrence.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Electric Vehicle Freedom Act or the EV Freedom Act This bill establishes a national network of publicly available electric vehicle charging stations along public roads and the National Highway System in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2020
This resolution reaffirms support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The resolution urges the United States to continue to be a leader in promoting nonproliferation through specified measures.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2020
This resolution commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp and honors survivors of the Holocaust, as well as members of the Allied forces who liberated Auschwitz. The resolution urges the United States to improve efforts to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry and intolerance.
United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Canada should not allow a permanent nuclear waste repository to be built within the Great Lakes Basin and that the President and the Department of State should work with Canada to (1) prevent the construction of such a repository, and (2) craft a solution for the long-term storage of nuclear waste that is safe, responsible, and does not threaten the Great Lakes.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill withdraws approximately 234,328 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. The area is adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States shall be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill. The Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020 This bill establishes new requirements to expand the availability of information on domestic terrorism, as well as the relationship between domestic terrorism and hate crimes. It authorizes domestic terrorism components within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to monitor, analyze, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism. The domestic terrorism components of DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must jointly report on domestic terrorism, including white-supremacist-related incidents or attempted incidents. DHS, DOJ, and the FBI must review the anti-terrorism training and resource programs of their agencies that are provided to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. It creates an interagency task force to analyze and combat white supremacist and neo-Nazi infiltration of the uniformed services and federal law enforcement agencies. Finally, it directs the FBI to assign a special agent or hate crimes liaison to each field office to investigate hate crimes incidents with a nexus to domestic terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
This resolution encourages the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain and strengthen requirements that keep waterways clean. It also encourages the EPA to end or reverse administrative actions that weaken requirements protecting the nation's waters.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2020
Access to Counsel Act of 2020 This bill establishes various protections for aliens in certain immigration-related proceedings or inspections. When an alien is undergoing certain types of inspections or is subject to a removal, exclusion, or deportation proceeding, the alien shall be entitled to representation by counsel of the alien's choice, at no cost to the government. The current statute only states that an alien is entitled to representation in removal proceedings. If such an alien is subject to detention or inspection at a port of entry and cannot meet with counsel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shall provide for remote communication with counsel. If such an alien has been denied access to counsel, the alien may not submit paperwork to abandon lawful permanent resident status or to withdraw an application for admission. The detention of an individual at a port of entry or a CBP or ICE facility shall (1) be limited to the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions necessary, and (2) include access to food, water, and restrooms.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2020 This bill prohibits the incidental taking (e.g., capturing or killing) of migratory birds by commercial activities unless the activity is authorized under a permit or is identified as posing de minimis risk to migratory birds. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must regulate such incidental taking, including by (1) issuing general permits for certain industries, (2) creating a mitigation fee for any incidental taking of migratory birds, and (3) identifying categories of de minimis risk activities that are exempt from liability for the taking of migratory birds. In addition, the FWS must establish and maintain a research program: (1) to evaluate the impacts of commercial activities on birds, (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices and technologies to avoid or minimize such impacts, and (3) to develop new or improved best management practices and technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
This concurrent resolution directs the President to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran unless (1) Congress has declared war or specifically authorized such use in statute, or (2) such use is necessary and appropriate to defend against an imminent armed attack upon the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
PFAS Safe Disposal Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the disposal procedures for materials containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as PFAS) or aqueous film forming foam. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. For criminal penalty purposes, materials containing PFAS shall be considered hazardous waste.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
No War Against Iran Act This bill prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress has either declared war or enacted specific statutory authorization for such use. An exception is made for a presidential exercise of power to introduce Armed Forces into hostilities (or situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated) when there is a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States. The bill further states that no prior authorizations of military force (e.g., against Iraq) may be construed to authorize the use of military force against Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 23 December 2019
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2019 This bill indefinitely extends Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients for individuals who do not have other coverage. Under current law, Medicare coverage is limited to 36 months following a transplant.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
This resolution condemns the restriction of internet access across Africa and urges African governments to employ specified measures to ensure the integrity and security of their telecommunications infrastructures. The resolution also encourages telecommunications providers and businesses operating in Africa to facilitate open and secure access to the internet.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
Lower Insulin Costs Now Act This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue to review applications for certain biological products under an earlier review process, notwithstanding recent FDA guidance. (A 2009 law established a new procedure for approving biological products but allowed certain products in an already approved product class to receive approval under the earlier procedure until March 23, 2020; subsequently, in December 2018, the FDA issued guidance stating that an application filed under the earlier procedure that is not approved by March, 23, 2020, will not be approved.) The bill requires the FDA to continue reviewing an application filed not later than March 23, 2019, under the earlier procedure, even if it was not approved as of March 23, 2020. Such an application not approved after October 1, 2022, shall be deemed withdrawn. Such an approved application shall be deemed a biological product license.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
This resolution condemns Russia for its interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and ongoing disinformation campaigns. The resolution reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine in its efforts to combat Russian interference and military aggression.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
New Way Forward Act This bill makes changes to immigration enforcement, including ending mandatory detention in certain cases. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall not enter into or extend any contract with any public or private for-profit entity to own or operate a facility to detain aliens in DHS custody. The bill provides for various protections related to detaining aliens, such as (1) requiring DHS to make an initial custody determination and establish probable cause within 48 hours of taking an alien into custody, (2) establishing in hearings related to such determinations a presumption that the alien be released, and (3) requiring immigration judges to impose the least restrictive detention conditions necessary. A DHS officer may not interrogate a person as to immigration status based on factors such as the person's race, religion, sexual orientation, or spoken language. The bill removes mandatory detention requirements for certain aliens, such as asylum seekers with a credible fear of persecution. Removal proceedings against certain aliens previously admitted into the United States must commence within five years of the alien becoming deportable or inadmissible. The bill also removes certain crime-related grounds of inadmissibility and deportability. The bill gives immigration judges discretion to provide relief from removal if the removal is not based on certain crime-related grounds. State or local officers are prohibited from performing certain immigration enforcement functions, such as apprehending aliens. The National Crime Information Center database shall not contain an alien's immigration information. The bill repeals provisions providing criminal penalties for improper entry or reentry into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2019
This resolution expresses support for the bilateral relationship between the United States and the African Union and encourages greater collaboration with the African Union to ensure socioeconomic transformation across the continent. The resolution also acknowledges the cultural and social contributions of Americans of African descent to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2019
This resolution recognizes the security challenges faced by India in Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution urges India to employ certain measures to uphold human rights and refrain from the use of violence against minority groups, protestors, and detainees.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma Act of 2019 or the Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to local educational agencies and nonprofit organizations for the purpose of reducing suspension and expulsion of students (i.e., exclusionary disciplinary practices). The bill requires ED to collect data on exclusionary discipline in schools. It also establishes a joint task force to end school pushout.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2019 or the CROWN Act of 2019 This bill prohibits discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin. Specifically, the bill prohibits this type of discrimination against those participating in federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. Persons shall not be deprived of equal rights under the law and shall not be subjected to prohibited practices based on their hair texture or style. The bill provides for enforcement procedures under the applicable laws.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act or the AIM HIGH Act This bill creates a commission to develop voluntary guidelines for postsecondary electronic instruction materials and related technologies. Specifically, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the Secretary of Education must establish an independent commission to (1) develop and issue voluntary accessibility guidelines for postsecondary electronic instructional materials and related technologies, (2) develop a model framework for pilot testing such materials and technologies, and (3) produce an annotated list of information technology standards. The Department of Education must review and, as appropriate, update the voluntary guidelines, pilot testing framework, and information technology standards every five years.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 2019
International Violence Against Women Act of 2019 This bill provides for a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The bill establishes in the Department of State an Office of Global Women's Issues, which shall be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. The Ambassador-at-Large shall (1) coordinate U.S. government efforts regarding gender equality and the advancement of women and girls in foreign policy, and (2) develop or update periodically a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. The bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment who shall direct policies, programs, and funding regarding gender equality and women's empowerment. The bill requires that U.S. assistance made available for humanitarian relief, conflict mitigation, and post-conflict reconstruction prevents and responds to violence against women and girls. The Department of State shall also identify incidents that occur during armed conflict and implement emergency responses.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 This bill establishes requirements to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Specifically, the bill sets a national goal of achieving a 100% clean economy (i.e., economy-wide, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions) by no later than 2050. Each federal agency must develop and implement a plan to rapidly achieve the national goal. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must monitor, evaluate, and report on the progress of the United States in achieving the national goal. In addition, the EPA must establish the Clean Economy Federal Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the EPA on one or more interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for the United States to achieve before achieving the national goal. After obtaining the committee's recommendations, the EPA must recommend to Congress one or more interim goals.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
This resolution recognizes sexual violence against girls as a serious global issue. The resolution encourages the implementation of certain measures to protect girls from abuse, including (1) increased international efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation and cutting, and (2) the widespread dissemination of surveys that measure levels of sexual violence.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the International Olympic Committee should officially recognize Jim Thorpe's athletic achievements as the sole Gold Medalist in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon events and correct these inaccuracies in the official Olympic books.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Fair Warning Act of 2019 This bill bars an employer from ordering a site closing or mass layoff until 90 calendar days after the employer has served written notice of such an order to (1) each representative of the affected employees as of the time of the notice or each affected employee, (2) the Department of Labor and the governor of the state where the site closing or mass layoff is to occur, and (3) the state or entity designated by the state to carry out rapid response activities. No notice shall be required if the site closing or mass layoff is because of any natural disaster, such as a flood, earthquake, or a drought ravaging the farmlands of the United States. Labor shall maintain a guide of benefits and services that may be available to affected employees, including unemployment compensation, trade adjustment assistance, COBRA continuation coverage, and early access to training services and other services, including counseling services.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Green New Deal for Public Housing Act This bill addresses energy efficiency and workforce development in the context of public housing. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must award grants to public housing agencies (PHAs) and other eligible entities under a variety of new programs, including programs for facilitating workforce development and high-income employment transition; conducting physical needs assessments and subsequent energy efficiency retrofits; and making upgrades, replacements, and improvements for energy efficiency, building electrification, and water quality upgrades. Recipients of these grants must provide relocation assistance for residents who are displaced during construction and must ensure that they can return to their homes once retrofitting is completed. A certain percentage of the employment positions generated by these grant programs and other specified federal grant programs must be filled by low-income individuals, and a specified percentage of certain contracts associated with these programs must be awarded to businesses owned by residents of public housing. The bill also repeals a provision that prohibits a PHA from using HUD funds to construct or operate new public housing units if doing so would result in the PHA owning or operating more units than it did on October 1, 1999.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Safe Skies Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to modify a specified DOT final rule relating to flight crew member duty and rest requirements so that the requirements under that rule apply to all-cargo flight crew members to the same extent they apply to air passenger flight crew members.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Protecting Social Workers and Health Professionals from Workplace Violence Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations for providing safety measures to social workers, health workers, and human services professionals performing services placing such individuals in high-risk and potentially dangerous situations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Respect Graduate Student Workers Act This bill prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from finalizing a specified rule or making a similar rule that excludes student workers at private universities from the definition of employee under federal labor laws. (Under current law, students paid for services provided at universities in connection with such students' studies are considered employees.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Fair Access for Individuals to Receive Leave Act or the FAIR Leave Act This bill repeals the limitation on the aggregate number of workweeks of leave husbands and wives employed by the same employer may be entitled to under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Put Patients First Act This bill prohibits the application of the rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 21, 2019, that strengthens the enforcement of conscience and anti-discrimination laws related to the rights of covered health care providers to refuse to participate in certain procedures, such as abortions, sterilization, or assisted suicide.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
This resolution reaffirms the goals of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, which include ensuring international reproductive rights and the right to bodily autonomy for all people. The resolution urges the United States to demonstrate its commitment to these goals.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
Excellence in Maternal Health Act of 2019 This bill expands initiatives to address maternal health in rural areas and promote innovation in the field. Specifically, the bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish rural obstetric networks for improving outcomes in birth and maternal morbidity through collaboration, training, and program evaluation. HRSA also must award demonstration program grants to (1) train physicians, medical residents, and other practitioners to provide maternal and obstetric services in rural communities; and (2) support academic programs that develop or provide training to improve maternal care in rural areas. Further, the bill adds maternal health services as part of the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. The bill also makes a series of changes to the research and reporting requirements of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Government Accountability Office with respect to data on maternal health outcomes. Additionally, the bill establishes grants to (1) develop best practices to reduce preventable maternal mortality; (2) train health care professionals about reducing and preventing discrimination when providing maternal health services; (3) support the collaboration of professionals across health settings with respect to maternal health; (4) establish evidence-informed, integrated health care services for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. HRSA also must contract with an independent research organization to study and make recommendations to accredited school training programs about discrimination and implicit and explicit biases.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
This joint resolution eliminates the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. The amendment was proposed to the states in House Joint Resolution 208 of the 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972. The amendment shall be part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.