United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2022
Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act This bill updates policies and procedures related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances. Specifically, the bill extends the eligibility period for VA hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for combat veterans who served after September 11, 2001, and were exposed to toxic substances, radiation, or other conditions, including those who did not enroll to receive VA care during the eligibility period. The VA must incorporate into its existing health care screening a screening to help determine potential exposures to toxic substances during military service. Among other requirements, the VA must also provide annual training to health care and benefits personnel with respect to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances; analyze total and respiratory disease mortality in veterans who served in specified locations on specified dates; conduct an epidemiological study on the health trends of veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001; conduct a study to determine trends in the rates of the incidence of cancer in veterans; publish a list of VA resources for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, families and caregivers of such veterans, and survivors of such veterans who are receiving death benefits; and report on the data quality of the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record and its usefulness in supporting veterans in receiving VA health care and benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2022
This bill requires the military departments to reinstate individuals (upon their request) who were involuntarily separated from the Armed Forces solely based on their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Such individuals must be reinstated in the grade they held prior to the separation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2022
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4744 Grand River Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the "Rosa Louise McCauley Parks Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 2022
Protecting Infrastructure and Promoting Environmental Stewardship Act or the PIPES Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish standards for flushable wipes and require wipes that are marketed as being flushable to comply with those standards. The bill provides for civil penalties for noncompliance.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2022
Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act of 2022 This bill requires an abortion provider to notify the National Human Trafficking Hotline if the provider has a reasonable suspicion that the patient is a victim of trafficking. It also requires each abortion provider to complete annual training on how to identify and respond appropriately to individuals who are at risk of or who have experienced trafficking. The bill establishes penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2022
This resolution addresses the need for improvements to broadband infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, and the role of specified federal agencies in making such improvements.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2022
St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes Waterways Protection Act This bill includes specified rivers that serve as connecting channels between Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior as part of the Great Lakes for purposes of the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise. (This is a collaborative research program administered by the Coast Guard that examines the impacts of, and responses to, oil spills in freshwater environments.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2022
This resolution condemns the terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022. It also expresses support for the affected community, commends the actions of law enforcement and emergency responders, and reaffirms a commitment to combat hate, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and violence against Jewish Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2022
Putin Accountability Act This bill imposes sanctions pertaining to Russia and addresses related issues. The President must impose sanctions, with some exceptions, on individuals and entities that knowingly and directly provide specialized financial messaging services to Russia's central bank (or enables access to such services); entities responsible for constructing, financing, or operating Nord Stream 2 (a pipeline constructed to increase Russian natural gas exports) and the corporate officers and controlling shareholders of such entities; individuals and entities in Russia involved in kleptocracy, Russian government activities to subvert U.S. democratic institutions and interests, or Russian government disinformation campaigns against the United States; and entities that are Russian state development corporations, as well as any officials of such an entity. The President must impose property-blocking sanctions on such individuals and entities and also visa-blocking sanctions on the individuals. The President must also (1) issue regulations to prohibit U.S. individuals and entities from dealing in Russian sovereign debt; and (2) issue a determination as to whether certain specified Russian individuals meet the criteria to be subject to sanctions under various authorities, including this bill. The Department of State must (1) designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, and (2) report to Congress a determination of whether Russia-affiliated armed entities in the Donbas region of Ukraine meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. The bill prohibits expending funds to engage with Russia's government on cyber issues or arms control negotiations until certain conditions have been met.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2022
No Mandates Act This bill prohibits federal agencies and certain entities that receive federal funding from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations. Specifically, federal agencies may not issue rules, regulations, or guidance that require an individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The bill also prohibits requiring a COVID-19 vaccination to access federal property and services or congressional grounds and services. Additionally, an entity that received federal COVID-19 relief funds or receives other federal funds after this bill's enactment may not require a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of providing any service to an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2021
Falun Gong Protection Act This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons that are knowingly responsible for, are complicit in, or have engaged in the involuntary harvesting of organs in China. The sanctions shall not apply to certain activities, such as authorized U.S. intelligence or law enforcement activities. The President must (1) maintain an updated list of foreign persons subject to the sanctions, and (2) impose the sanctions according to the most recent version of the list.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2021
Stop Federal Vaccine Mandates for Employees Act This bill prohibits the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from issuing any emergency temporary standard that requires an employee to receive a drug, vaccine, or other biological product.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2021
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that tax-exempt fraternal benefit societies provide critical benefits to the people and communities of the United States and their work should continue to be promoted.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2021
Preventing Mandates on Toddlers Act This bill prohibits federal funds from being used to implement or enforce the Department of Health and Human Services' rule titled Vaccine and Mask Requirements To Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start Programs , published on November 30, 2021, or any substantially similar rule, regulation, or agency statement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2021
Saving Americans From Executive Reach in Travel Act or the SAFER Travel Act This bill prohibits executive branch agencies and private entities from imposing a vaccine mandate against COVID-19 on individuals traveling within the United States on commercial public or private transportation, including air, rail, commercial motor vehicles, vessels, or other public or private forms of transportation. Additionally, the bill prohibits executive branch agencies from requiring a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States to enter into a period of quarantine related to COVID-19 after having traveled on any commercial public or private transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2021
Protecting International Pipelines for Energy Security Act This bill requires the President to obtain the approval of Congress before revoking a permit or other authorization required under executive orders for constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining an oil or natural gas pipeline, an electric transmission facility, or a border-crossing facility.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2021
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from taking specified actions against a member of the National Guard based on whether the member has received a COVID-19 vaccine. Specifically, DOD may not (1) involuntarily discharge or discipline the member, (2) withhold pay or benefits from the member, or (3) prohibit the member from participating in training or using equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2021
Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act This bill prohibits expending federal funds for legal settlements to individuals who violated certain laws relating to the proper time and place to enter the United States, if the settlement pertains to claims based solely on the lawful detention of such an individual as part of a family unit after the individual's entry into the United States at the southern border after January 20, 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2021
Public Safety Enhancement Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program. Additionally, the bill requires a certain amount of funds made available under the COPS grant program to be used for the hiring and retention of law enforcement officers.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2021
Crucial Communism Teaching Act This bill directs the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to develop a civic education curriculum and oral history resources for high school students to promote understanding of certain political ideologies (e.g., communism and totalitarianism) that conflict with principles of U.S. democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2021
Conscience Protection Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for certain protections for health care providers that refuse to participate in abortions based on religious beliefs or other convictions. Health care providers include individual professionals, medical facilities, health insurance organizations, and social services providers that refer clients to health care services. The federal government and entities that receive federal funding for health-related activities, including state and local governments, may not discriminate against a health care provider that refuses to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortions. Currently, similar requirements apply to various related activities, including certain employment or personnel decisions (the Church Amendments), abortion services training (the Coats-Snowe Amendment), qualified health plans offered through health insurance exchanges, and annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies (the Weldon Amendment). The HHS Office for Civil Rights must investigate complaints of this kind of discrimination. Furthermore, HHS may terminate or reduce HHS funding for health-related activities if a person or entity fails to comply with nondiscrimination requirements. Additionally, the Department of Justice or any entity adversely affected by such discrimination may bring a civil action to obtain appropriate relief. A plaintiff does not need to seek or exhaust administrative remedies before bringing the action. A plaintiff may also bring an action, including one for money damages, against a governmental entity. In many cases, principles of sovereign immunity shield states and some localities from these kinds of actions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2021
This resolution recognizes the two-year anniversary of the November 2019 massacre by Iran. The resolution also condemns the human rights atrocities committed against Iranians by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Finally, the resolution urges the Department of State to restore the recognized death toll of the November 2019 massacre to 1,500.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2021
This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Labor emergency temporary standard for preventing the transmission of COVID-19 in employment settings. Under the standard issued on November 5, 2021, employers with 100 or more employees must require their onsite employees to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2021
Our Veterans Earned It Act This bill prohibits members of the Armed Forces who refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from being denied a federal benefit they are entitled to by reason of their service in the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2021
Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act This bill increases the maximum amount authorized under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant program to $10,000 for veterans with a service-connected disability and $5,000 for those with disabilities that are not service-connected. The HISA grant program provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to veterans' (or service members') primary residence for specified purposes (e.g., allowing for entrance to their home). The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the dollar amount of the grant in accordance with inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2021
Patient Advocate Tracker Act This bill requires the Office of Patient Advocacy within the Veterans Health Administration to establish an information technology system that allows veterans or their representatives to electronically file a complaint with a patient advocate and review the status of a filed complaint.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2021
Veterans Patient Advocacy Act This bill requires the Office of Patient Advocacy within the Veterans Health Administration to ensure (1) there is not fewer than one patient advocate for every 13,500 veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, and (2) highly rural veterans may access the services of patient advocates. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the implementation of such policies.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2021
State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act This bill allows states, tribes, territories, and localities to use certain COVID-19 relief funds for new categories of spending, including for natural disasters and infrastructure projects. It also makes changes to expenditure deadlines and other aspects of this funding. Specifically, recipients may use funds for emergency relief from natural disasters and associated negative economic impacts of natural disasters. In addition, recipients may use a portion of their COVID-19 relief funds for designated infrastructure projects, such as nationally significant freight and highway projects. Furthermore, the bill allows recipients to expend COVID-19 relief funds on these types of infrastructure projects until September 30, 2026. Under current law, recipients must expend the funds by December 31, 2024. Other changes in the bill include (1) modifying eligibility and allocation requirements for funding set aside for counties and Indian tribes that are near public lands, (2) allowing Indian tribes an additional year to expend their COVID-19 relief funds, and (3) establishing a process for government entities to decline COVID-19 relief funds and requiring any declined funds to be used to reduce the federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2021
This resolution supports the designation of Macedonian American Heritage Month. Expresses warm congratulations and best wishes to all Macedonian people around the world as they mark Macedonian Independence Day. Praises the integral role of Macedonian Americans in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2021
This resolution (1) supports the constitutional rights of parents to assemble and petition school boards, and (2) condemns the weaponization of federal law enforcement agencies against parents exercising their rights.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2021
This resolution recognizes the ultimate sacrifice of the unknown soldiers interred at Arlington National Cemetery and expresses gratitude and appreciation of all the members of the Armed Forces who have served during wars and peacetime. Additionally, the resolution commends all members of the 3d Infantry Regiment, specifically those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 2021
Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act This bill prohibits the National Institutes of Health from conducting or supporting research that involves testing on vertebrate animals in China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or other countries determined to be a foreign adversary.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2021
This resolution requests the President and directs the Department of State to transmit to the House of Representatives, not later than 14 days after the adoption of this resolution, copies of both classified and unclassified documents that refer or relate to certain information on the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, including reactions, concerns, or objections expressed by certain allies and partners; any agreement reached with the Taliban related to the evacuation of specified individuals; and numbers of specified individuals in contact with the State Department to request evacuation assistance from Afghanistan, from July 30, 2021, to the present.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2021
This resolution recognizes the dedication and courage of veterans, veterans' organizations, and private citizens who have worked and continue to work to evacuate U.S. persons and vulnerable Afghans from Afghanistan. The resolution also encourages the Department of State and Department of Defense to work with veterans' service organizations and their networks to evacuate those who remain in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2021
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Canada should not allow construction of a nuclear waste repository within the Great Lakes Basin and that the President and the Department of State should work with Canada to prevent such construction and craft a long-term solution for nuclear waste storage that does not threaten the Great Lakes.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2021
This resolution celebrates the contributions of small businesses in every U.S. community and supports the designation of National Small Business Week. Further, it supports efforts to provide small businesses with aid and assistance through certain programs and initiatives.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2021
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, 2023. 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 · 3 September 2021
Curriculum Review of Teachings Transparency Act or the CRT Transparency Act This bill requires a local educational agency, in order to receive certain federal education grants, to post on a publicly accessible website the curriculum for each grade level of its elementary and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 31 August 2021
Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2021 This bill restricts the use of telehealth for chemical abortions (also known as medication abortions). Specifically, it requires a provider who dispenses or prescribes medication for a chemical abortion to physically examine the patient, be physically present at the location of the chemical abortion, and schedule a follow-up visit. The bill provides an exception for a chemical abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, injury, or condition. The bill establishes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both—for a provider who does not comply with the requirements. A patient who undergoes a chemical abortion may not be prosecuted.
United States · United States Congress · 31 August 2021
This bill posthumously provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of the 13 service members who died on August 26, 2021, while stationed at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 2021
This concurrent resolution condemns and censures President Joseph R. Biden for the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which the resolution states was executed in a haphazard manner.
United States · United States Congress · 24 August 2021
Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021 This bill supports the use of biofuels (e.g., gasoline blended with ethanol) in vehicles, including by establishing a minimum octane standard for gasoline as well as making related biofuel requirements for vehicles, their fuels, and fuel infrastructure.
United States · United States Congress · 24 August 2021
This resolution condemns the President's failure to heed military and intelligence advisors about the speed and nature of the Taliban offense in Afghanistan and urges the President to commit to maintaining the evacuation operation as long as necessary to evacuate any U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or Afghan partner who requests evacuation assistance .
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2021
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 This bill revises provisions related to ocean shipping policies and is designed to support the growth and development of U.S. exports and promote reciprocal trade in the foreign commerce of the United States. Among other provisions, the bill sets forth requirements for operating a shipping exchange involving ocean transportation in the foreign commerce of the United States; prohibits ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators from retaliating or discriminating against shippers because such shippers have patronized another carrier, or filed a complaint; requires the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to publish and annually update all its findings of false certifications by ocean common carriers or marine terminal operators and all penalties assessed against such carriers or operators; requires ocean common carriers to adhere to minimum service standards that meet the public interest; directs the FMC to establish rules prohibiting ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators from adopting and applying unjust and unreasonable demurrage and detention fees; requires ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter on total import and export tonnage and the total loaded and empty 20-foot equivalent units per vessel that makes port in the United States; authorizes the FMC to initiate investigations of an ocean common carrier's fees or charges and apply enforcement measures, as appropriate; and revises annual reporting requirements for the FMC on foreign laws and practices to include practices by ocean common carriers.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2021
Promoting Opportunities in Skilled Trades Act or the POST Act This bill allows recipients of existing federal career and technical education funds to use those funds to raise awareness for skilled trade programs and other programs that prepare students for in-demand occupations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2021
Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution This concurrent resolution requires the congressional budget committees to conduct an annual joint hearing to receive a presentation from the Comptroller General regarding (1) the Government Accountability Office's audit of the financial statement of the executive branch, and (2) the financial position and condition of the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2021
Countering Communist China Act This bill addresses issues related to China, tax incentives, and other topics. The bill imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain entities and individuals that (1) are involved in acts of malign disinformation on behalf of a foreign government or political party, or (2) have engaged in a pattern of significant infringement of intellectual property belonging to a U.S. entity or individual. It also authorizes sanctions on developers and owners of software that makes unauthorized transmissions of user data to servers that are located in China and are accessible by China's government. The bill also provides tax incentives for relocating pharmaceutical, medical supply, or medical device manufacturing to the United States, including by allowing accelerated depreciation of nonresidential real property acquired in connection with such relocation; eliminates the five-year amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures scheduled to begin in 2022, thus allowing continued expensing of such expenditures in the taxable years in which they are incurred; prohibits an institution of higher education from receiving certain federal funds if the institution has a contractual partnership with an entity controlled by China's government or organized under China's laws; modifies presumptions and evidentiary standards in administrative patent validity challenges; bars China from asserting sovereign immunity in certain instances; requires U.S. representatives to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take certain actions, such as opposing any increase to the weight given to China's currency when determining the value of IMF Special Drawing Rights; and permanently rescinds unobligated funds previously made available for certain economic relief programs related to COVID-19.
