United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2023
Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023 This bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for Haiti. It also extends through FY2035 the duty-free treatment provided for certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti. The bill directs the President to proclaim such modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) that may be necessary to restore special tariff treatment to articles that lost such treatment due to prior modifications to the HTS.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2023
Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act or the MORE Act This bill decriminalizes marijuana. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. The bill also makes other changes, including the following: replaces statutory references to marijuana and marihuana with cannabis , requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees, establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs, imposes an excise tax on cannabis products produced in or imported into the United States and an occupational tax on cannabis production facilities and export warehouses, makes Small Business Administration loans and services available to entities that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses or service providers, prohibits the denial of federal public benefits to a person on the basis of certain cannabis-related conduct or convictions, prohibits the denial of benefits and protections under immigration laws on the basis of an event (e.g., conduct or conviction) relating to possession or use of cannabis that is no longer prohibited under the bill, establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses, and directs the Government Accountability Office to study the societal impact of cannabis legalization.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2023
This resolution honors the Thai garment workers who were freed from the El Monte, California, sweatshop in 1995 and the many legal, cultural, and policy changes that resulted from the sweatshop case. The resolution also recognizes the individuals who continue to fight against exploitative working conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2023
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Voting Rights Month, encourages people to uphold the right to vote, encourages Congress to pass certain voting rights legislation, recommends the development of a curriculum in public schools and universities regarding voting, expresses appreciation for the U.S. Postal Service having issued a special Representative John R. Lewis stamp, and invites Congress to allocate funds for public service announcements regarding elections.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2023
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights. A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years: 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself; or 3 or more violations occurred and the state administers the elections. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. The bill outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2023
Ban All Neurotoxic Organophosphate Pesticides From Our Food Act or the BAN OPs From Our Food Act This bill prohibits any organophosphate pesticides in food. (The Environmental Protection Agency banned chlorpyrifos, a type of organophosphate pesticide, from food in February 2022.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2023
Global WASH in Healthcare Facilities Act of 2023 This bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement an action plan to increase global access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities. USAID shall develop and submit to Congress such an action plan to (1) increase access to safe water in healthcare facilities; (2) enable handwashing at all points of care; (3) provide for the safe segregation, treatment, and disposal of healthcare and human waste; and (4) promote WASH behavior change.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
No Tax Breaks for Union Busting (NTBUB) Act This bill denies employers a tax deduction for any expenditures incurred for attempting to influence their employees with respect to labor organizations or labor organization activities, such as elections, labor disputes, and collective actions. The bill requires employers to report on their attempts to influence their employees with respect to labor organizations and their activities.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Education to (1) award grants to Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education (IHEs) to improve and expand innovative collaboration agreements between local educational agencies and IHEs to better serve Hispanic and Latino students, (2) provide technical assistance to such IHEs, and (3) contract with a third party to conduct an independent evaluation of grant activities. Such grants must be used for specific activities, such as improving school-based and institutional practices to prepare students for postsecondary education and addressing nonacademic needs of students that are barriers to college enrollment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2023
Collision Avoidance Systems Act of 2023 This bill allows for the use of a pulsating light system for vehicle braking. Specifically, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108 (Standard 108) must be deemed to allow for the use of a pulsating light system on covered vehicles (i.e., passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, and motorcycles). The Department of Transportation must issue regulations to update Standard 108 to (1) include performance-based standards for pulsating light systems, and (2) allow for the use of the systems on motor vehicles. As background, Standard 108 regulates all automotive lighting, signaling, and reflective devices. Under the bill, a pulsating light system includes a system for a high-mounted stop lamp in which the lamp pulses rapidly no more than four times and for no more than 1.2 seconds when the brake of the vehicle is applied and then converts to a continuous light (as a normal stop lamp) until the brake is released.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2023
Child Care Stabilization Act This bill provides additional funding through FY2028 for child care stabilization grants under which lead state agencies make subgrants to child care providers for personnel costs, facility costs, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and other costs related to providing child care services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
Humane Cosmetics Act of 2023 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, subject to civil penalties. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment. The bill specifies exceptions to these prohibitions, including if such animal testing (1) is conducted outside the United States to comply with a foreign regulatory authority; (2) is pursuant to a specified finding that there are no nonanimal alternatives to test the safety of a potentially dangerous cosmetic product or ingredient; (3) is of a product or ingredient for a drug or device subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); or (4) is required for a noncosmetic purpose pursuant to a state, federal, or foreign regulatory authority. Further, no animal-testing evidence may be used to establish the safety of a cosmetic product or ingredient that is regulated by the FDA after the effective date of this bill, subject to limited exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is caused by a hormone imbalance. Symptoms can include infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth, and acne.
United States · United States Congress · 1 September 2023
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a commemorative stamp should be issued by the U.S. Postal Service honoring the life and legacy of Lewis Howard Latimer.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 2023
Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the detention or removal of certain nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos. Specifically, this protection from detention or removal shall apply to nationals of these countries who (1) entered the United States on or before January 1, 2008, (2) have continuously resided in the United States since entry, and (3) are subject to a final order of removal. Such individuals shall also receive employment authorization. The bill also directs the Department of Justice to grant motions to reconsider or reopen the case of any non-U.S. national who was ordered removed, deported, or excluded from the United States between April 24, 1996, and this bill's enactment and who otherwise satisfies the requirements for protection from detention or removal under this bill. For these individuals, the bill also waives certain requirements that typically apply to motions to reconsider or reopen, such as deadlines for filing such a motion. Further, the Department of Homeland Security must provide individuals covered by the bill with notice of the bill's provisions. The notice must include instructions for filing a motion to reconsider and reopen removal proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 2023
The resolution supports the goals of Warehouse Worker Recognition Week, acknowledges that warehouse workers are frontline workers, and recommits to working together to support the needs of these frontline workers.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2023
Working for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Act of 2023 or the WISE Act of 2023 This bill expands eligibility for U nonimmigrant visas (victims of criminal activity) and addresses related issues. Generally, U visas are for victims of specified crimes (e.g., rape, trafficking, or domestic violence) who assist with the investigation or prosecution of the crime. The bill adds hate crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse as crimes that may qualify a victim for a U visa. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must provide work authorization to U visa applicants, whereas currently DHS may grant work authorization but is not required to do so. The bill also eliminates the annual numerical cap on U visas. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain individuals, including U visa applicants and T visa (victims of human trafficking) applicants, shall not be detained while the application is pending. Additionally, the bill provides immigration-related protections, such as by extending the admission period and providing work authorization, to the spouse or child of a nonimmigrant visa holder who subjected that spouse or child to battery or extreme cruelty. Further, the bill prohibits, with some exceptions for exigent circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection from conducting immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a school, health care facility, place of worship, or other location specified in the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2023
Assault Weapons Excise Act This bill imposes an additional 1000% excise tax on large capacity ammunition feeding devices and semiautomatic assault weapons. It exempts from such additional tax devices and weapons acquired by the United States or by a state or local government.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023
Original Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution This joint resolution designates a Slavery Remembrance Day annually and condemns slavery and its progenies.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023
Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights This resolution urges the United States to protect the civil and human rights of unhoused individuals, to establish regulations and enforcement tools to protect unhoused individuals from violations of civil and human rights, and to establish blanket legal protections for third parties providing goods or services to unhoused individuals. The resolution also urges the United States to establish a process to award appropriate damages, attorney's fees, and costs to a prevailing plaintiff in an action alleging a violation of the human and civil rights of unhoused individuals. Relatedly, the resolution urges the United States to allow the court in such an action to consider housing status and apply leniency in compiling records, receipts, and documentation from those plaintiffs. The resolution also expresses the intention of the House of Representatives to address the unhoused crisis in the United States by providing funding and imposing requirements on the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Enhancement for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2023 or the HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2023 This bill extends trade preferences for certain U.S. imports of textile and apparel products from Haiti. Specifically, the bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for Haiti. It also extends through December 19, 2035, the duty-free treatment provided for certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti. Furthermore, the bill also expands the definition of core labor standards to include a safe and healthy work environment. (Generally, in order to qualify for preferential treatment, the goods must come from a producer that complies with specified core labor standards. Currently, these core labor standards pertain to freedom of association, recognizing collective bargaining rights, eliminating forced labor, abolishing child labor, and eliminating employment discrimination.) Any interested party may file a request to have individual producers reviewed for compliance with the core labor standards and with Haitian labor standards and laws. The bill also requires the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to provide technical assistance to Haitian government agencies, employers, labor unions, and others to increase and diversify exports to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2023 or the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023 This bill authorizes grants and establishes other programs to improve data collection on stillbirths. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths, and HHS must issue guidelines for health departments and vital statistics units concerning the collection of stillbirth data. HHS must also develop educational awareness materials about stillbirths and make them publicly available. Furthermore, HHS must implement a fellowship program to provide training in perinatal autopsy pathology and otherwise support research on stillbirths and fetal autopsies. The bill also requires HHS to issue a report with educational guidelines on stillbirths and stillbirth risk factors.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2023 or the Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 This bill modifies enforcement provisions under the Animal Welfare Act, including by allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring civil actions against violators of the act for appropriate relief, such as removing animals, revoking violators' licenses, or issuing civil penalties. DOJ must use the penalties to pay for the temporary care for animals pending the disposition of civil or criminal proceedings that allege violations of the act with respect to such animals.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Public Housing Fire Safety Act This bill creates a grant program, to be administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, for public housing agencies to install automatic sprinkler systems in certain public housing projects.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Tax Fairness for Workers Act This bill allows an above-the-line tax deduction for union dues and expenses. (An above-the-line deduction is subtracted from gross income and is available whether or not a taxpayer itemizes other deductions.) The bill also reinstates the miscellaneous itemized tax deduction for unreimbursed expenses attributable to the performance of services as an employee (Under current law, all miscellaneous itemized deductions are suspended through 2025).
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Chyna Gibson Stop the Transgender Murder Epidemic Act of 2023 or the Chyna Gibson STME Act of 2023 This bill establishes a commission to address various issues facing gender-nonconforming, gender-expansive, and transgender women of color. The commission must be comprised of 13 members who are qualified based on their education, training, activism, or experience, particularly in the field of transgender studies and human rights. The commission may hold hearings and must report its findings and recommendations to Congress no later than 18 months after its first meeting.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Break the Cycle of Violence Act This bill establishes federal grant programs and related entities to support violence intervention initiatives. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants for coordinated community violence intervention initiatives in communities disproportionately impacted by homicides and community violence. HHS must also establish several related entities, including an Office of Community Violence Intervention to administer programs and activities related to violence intervention; the Community Violence Intervention Advisory Committee to advise and assist the office and HHS; and the National Community Violence Response Center to provide training and technical assistance, coordinate research, and develop data collection policies. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Labor to award grants for job training and workforce programs in communities disproportionately affected by gun violence to connect youth ages 16 to 24 to in-demand occupations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
National Office of New Americans Act This bill establishes the National Office of New Americans (NONA) within the Executive Office of the President to promote and support the integration of immigrants and refugees into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the United States. The NONA shall also establish the Federal Initiative on New Americans. The initiative shall establish a coordinated federal program to respond effectively to immigrant and refugee integration issues such as language learning, adult education and workforce training, health care, and naturalization.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act This bill expands the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to include additional drugs and drugs that are covered under private insurance. It also extends certain rebate requirements for covered drugs under Medicare to drugs that are covered under private insurance. Current law requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate maximum prices for brand-name drugs that do not have other generic equivalents and that account for the greatest Medicare spending; the CMS must eventually negotiate the prices of 20 drugs that are covered under Medicare in 2029 and each year thereafter. The bill requires the CMS to negotiate the prices of 50 drugs beginning in 2029. It also applies the negotiated maximum prices under the program to drugs that are covered under private health insurance, unless the insurer opts out. The CMS, Department of Labor, and Department of Treasury must publish a list of insurers that choose to opt out; insurers must also publicly disclose their decision to opt out. Current law also requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the CMS for brand-name drugs without generic equivalents under Medicare that cost $100 or more per year per individual and for which prices increase faster than inflation. The bill extends these requirements to drugs that are covered under private insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
This resolution condemns the Taliban’s ongoing human rights abuses against women and girls, members of religious and ethnic minorities, and members of other vulnerable groups in Afghanistan. It also encourages the Department of State to consider determining whether the Taliban have committed crimes against humanity in connection to their treatment of women and girls.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award supplemental grants to states for heart-disease research and awareness among communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, including the South Asian population of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act This bill establishes various grants and related programs that address sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the Health Resources and Services Administration must support training for health care providers who offer sexual and reproductive health care to individuals with disabilities, and educating individuals with disabilities about sexual and reproductive health care. The Administration for Community Living must establish a national center to provide recommendations, technical assistance, and other resources related to the provision of sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. The bill also authorizes support for medical schools, nursing schools, and other educational institutions that offer obstetrics and gynecology training programs to expand the number of individuals with disabilities entering the reproductive health care workforce. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must study the effectiveness and other aspects of reproductive health care services and programs for individuals with disabilities.
![Official portrait of Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001188_200.jpg)