United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2024
Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2024 This bill requires or authorizes certain actions related to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The bill requires the Department of Justice to appoint an assistant U.S. attorney in each judicial district to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of various crimes related to postal services (for example, assault on a postal service employee, breaking into a post office, or obstruction of mails). The bill also requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines to provide that the assault or robbery of a postal employee shall be treated the same as the assault of a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill authorizes appropriations for the USPS to install high security collection boxes and replace older versions of the universal mailbox key with electronic versions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2024
Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a final rule that prohibits certain discharges of plastic pellets and other preproduction plastic into waters of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2024
Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act or the SAFE Act This bill incorporates risk assessments and prevention services for falls into annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams under Medicare, as well as associated services provided by physical therapists and occupational therapists.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2024
Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue guidance for states on ways to increase education, training, recruitment, and retention of mental health and substance use disorder providers under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), particularly in rural and underserved areas.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2024
Creating Hospitality Economic Enhancement for Restaurants and Servers Act or the CHEERS Act This bill treats qualified energy-efficient draft property (energy efficient kegs) as energy efficient commercial building property for purposes of the tax deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings. It defines qualified energy-efficient draft property as property that is principally used in the trade or business of operating a restaurant, bar, or entertainment venue, and that is a stainless steel or aluminum container or related commercial tap equipment used to distribute or sell alcohol.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2024
Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act of 2024 This bill excludes specified medical debt incurred by Native Americans from credit reports. The bill applies to medical debt related to treatment authorized by an Indian Health Service facility and performed at a non-Indian Health Service facility and medical debt wrongfully charged by the Department of Health and Human Services. This type of debt must be excluded from a credit report if the medical debt was incurred as a result of services received in the last year or if the debt has been fully paid or settled. The bill also establishes a dispute process for such debt.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2024
This resolution recognizes Black History Month as an important time to reflect on the significant contributions of African Americans in the history of the United States, including in the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 2024
This resolution supports the designation of Barth Syndrome Awareness Day. Barth Syndrome is a rare, life-threatening genetic disorder of lipid metabolism that primarily affects males.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2024
Creating Hope Reauthorization Act of 2024 This bill extends until FY2029 a Food and Drug Administration program that awards priority review vouchers to manufacturers of drugs that treat rare pediatric diseases. (A priority review voucher entitles the voucher holder to priority review of a single human drug application.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2024
Protecting Front Line Multimission Hospitals Act of 2024 This bill allows for increased payment adjustments under Medicaid for certain hospitals that provide multiple types of services for Medicaid-eligible or uninsured individuals (i.e., multimission hospitals). Specifically, the bill allows hospitals to receive higher disproportionate share hospital payments under Medicaid for costs associated with physician services, emergency medical services, or services provided at federally qualified health centers or other clinical outpatient settings, if such services are provided to maintain a certain level of care under Medicaid. The hospital's patient population must meet certain higher indexes with respect to the number of Medicaid-eligible and uninsured individuals served. Additionally, state Medicaid programs must ensure that relevant payment plans for these hospitals support the financial viability of the hospitals and their ability to provide the requisite level of care under Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2024
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2024 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access to address the accessibility of the VA for individuals with disabilities. Prior to establishing the advisory committee, the VA must take action to abolish or consolidate advisory committees that are currently inactive.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2024
Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national mercury monitoring program. Under the program, the EPA must track and report on long-term changes of mercury concentrations in air, water, soil, and fish and wildlife. In addition, the EPA must establish an online database for mercury data.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2024
Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act This bill prohibits a credit reporting agency from providing a consumer's credit report to a third party in connection with a residential mortgage transaction unless (1) the third party provides documentation certifying that it has the consumer's consent; or (2) the third party has originated the mortgage, is the current loan servicer, or has a current specified banking relationship with the consumer.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2024
FDA Modernization Act 3.0 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a process that supports nonclinical testing methods for drug development that do not involve the use of animals. Specifically, the FDA must establish a pathway by which entities may apply to have nonclinical testing methods approved for use in a particular context. Qualifying methods must be intended to replace or reduce animal testing and to either improve the safety and efficacy of nonclinical testing or reduce the time to develop a drug. The FDA must issue its decision within 180 days of receiving an application. The FDA must also prioritize the review of applications for drugs that are developed using an approved nonclinical testing method. The FDA must annually post a report on its website that summarizes the results of the bill's implementation, including the number of applications received, types of methods that were approved, and the estimated number of animals saved as result of these methods.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2024
BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Reauthorization Act of 2024 This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 several programs that are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to support research and resources related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes (1) cooperative agreements with state, local, and tribal health departments to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias through education, early detection, caregiver support, and other avenues; (2) regional centers that raise awareness and support research regarding these conditions; and (3) data collection on the incidence and prevalence of these conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2024
Promote Affordable Rural Housing Act This bill extends from two years to five years the repayment term for certain loans to finance the purchase and development of housing sites for low- or moderate-income families under the Department of Agriculture Section 524 Rural Housing Site Loan program. Under the bill, the term development includes activities necessary to develop the land, such as surveying, architecture, and engineering.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2024
National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act or the NACIE Improvement Act This bill revises the membership and duties of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. Specifically, the bill requires the President to ensure that the council includes at least one member who is the president of a tribal college or university. Additionally, the bill requires the council to submit its annual report to the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of the Interior. ED and Interior must consider the council's report when preparing their budget materials.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2024
Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024 or the Autism CARES Act of 2024 This bill reauthorizes several programs that support autism education, research, and resources. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2029 (1) the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program that is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (2) activities administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support autism education, early detection, and intervention; and (3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee in HHS.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2024
Credit for Caring Act of 2024 This bill allows an eligible caregiver a tax credit of up to $5,000 for 30% of the cost of long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000 in a taxable year. The bill defines eligible caregiver as an individual who has earned income for the taxable year in excess of $7,500 and pays or incurs expenses for providing care to a spouse or other dependent relative with long-term care needs.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2024
Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act This bill provides statutory authority for the establishment of the Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration (SBA). The office must establish a working relationship with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations by targeting SBA programs relating to entrepreneurial development, contracting, and capital access to (1) establish or expand small businesses owned and controlled by individuals who are members of Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and (2) promote economic development in Indian country.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act or the EMPSA Act This bill excludes a spouse's income and resources when determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and disregards marital status when calculating the SSI benefit amount, for an adult who has a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability. (SSI is a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources meet basic needs.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Access to Family Building Act This bill provides a statutory right to access assisted reproductive technology (e.g., in vitro fertilization). Specifically, under the bill, individuals have the right to access assisted reproductive technology, and to retain all rights with respect to the use or disposition of reproductive genetic materials (e.g., eggs or sperm), without prohibitions or unreasonable restrictions. Health care providers and insurers also have the right to provide and cover these services, respectively. The bill does not affect state or local health and safety regulations that achieve their purpose in the least restrictive manner possible. The Department of Justice may bring civil actions against states, localities, or government officials or entities that enact or enforce limitations or requirements that violate this bill. Individuals and health care providers who are affected by violations may also bring civil actions for relief.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024
Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program to support operating projects for public transportation and related service improvements, particularly in underserved communities and areas of persistent poverty. Specifically, the bill requires DOT to allocate funding under the program for urbanized areas, states, and Indian tribes that are recipients of funds under either the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program or Formula Grants for Rural Areas program. Eligible recipients may use funding for operating costs associated with projects that improve public transportation service for transit-dependent populations and support increased transit ridership (e.g., service expansion, information technology enhancements, and workforce development). The bill requires DOT to apportion the funding so that recipients receive funds that are proportional to their share of operating costs. The bill also provides for an increased federal cost share for operating assistance for projects or programs carried out in areas of persistent poverty or underserved communities. DOT must set up a multimodal access measurement interface for public agencies to aid transit agencies in determining and reporting on access to jobs and essential services. A grant recipient must also (1) report specific information to the FTA for inclusion in the National Transit Database, and (2) survey transit riders and non-riding residents regarding transit service improvements. Further, the bill expands the purposes of the public transportation programs to include supporting public transportation's role in combating climate change through growing/retaining transit ridership.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2024
This resolution condemns acts of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, including those acts committed by Hamas on and since October 7, 2023. The resolution also calls on all nations to criminalize rape and sexual assault and hold accountable all perpetrators of sexual violence, including state and non-state armed groups.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 2024
This bill allows certain small businesses a new tax credit for 10% of their qualified drug threat mitigation research expenses. Such expenses include research into mitigating or treating the effects of specified drugs, including any emerging drugs, fentanyl, a fentanyl-related substance, or methamphetamine.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2024
Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 This bill extends and provides FY2024 funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides a monthly benefit that allows eligible low-income households to receive discounted internet service. The program also provides a one-time discount that may be used to purchase a connected device, such as a computer.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2024
Every Kid Outdoors Reauthorization Act This bill revises and permanently reauthorizes the Every Kid Outdoors Program, which provides passes for free access to federal lands and waters to certain students and accompanying individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 22 December 2023
Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2023 This bill expands coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, other specified federal health care programs, and private health insurance to include foods, vitamins, and individual amino acids that are medically necessary for the management of certain digestive and metabolic disorders and conditions.