United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
This bill requires flexible spending arrangements established for 2020 to provide for the rollover of unused benefits or contributions to 2021. It also permits plan participants to modify their election amount and extends the grace period for the 2020 plan year to 12 months after the end of such plan year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Holding China Accountable Act This bill prohibits certain Chinese nationals from receiving visas, requires higher education institutions to disclose certain foreign gifts, and restricts the use of foreign public accounting firms by foreign issuers of securities. Specified visas may not be issued to Chinese nationals seeking to enter the United States for the purpose of (1) studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field; (2) employment in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field; or (3) attending a business meeting, conference, or academic or cultural exchange that includes activities related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field. The bill also lowers the disclosure threshold regarding gifts to higher education institutions from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Additionally, the bill requires certain disclosures from foreign issuers of securities that use, for the required audit report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, a foreign public accounting firm that is not subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. If an issuer uses such a foreign public accounting firm, the issuer is generally prohibited from listing its securities on a national securities exchange.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 2020
Coronavirus Provider Protection Act This bill generally exempts health care professionals and related health care entities (e.g., hospitals and medical clinics) from liability for harm caused in the course of arranging or providing health care services during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 2020
Rural Broadband Acceleration Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modify the framework for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction, and it establishes a deadline for the FCC to create broadband service maps.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 2020
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to implement a program to provide financing of at least $1 billion for loans related to losses incurred as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to certain community-owned or private businesses that have contractual obligations for making lease, rent, or bond payments for publicly owned sports facilities, museums, and community theaters. Terms for such loans shall include (1) a 15-year term, (2) no requirement to provide collateral or a guaranty, and (3) a maximum loan amount of $25 million. An applicant for such a loan must make a good faith certification that, among other things, (1) the loan request is necessary to support the recipient's ongoing operations; and (2) the recipient will use the loan for purposes directly connected to contracted services, including performances and sporting events.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2020
This bill requires the Department of Defense to provide a National Guard member separating from active service after full-time duty in support of the government response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) with the transitional health benefits provided to a separating active-duty reservist.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
COVID-19 Accountability Act This bill authorizes sanctions in relation to the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. It also increases the research tax credit and imposes requirements related to the acquisition of items for the Strategic National Stockpile. The President shall periodically certify to Congress that the Chinese government (1) is cooperating with efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) has prohibited wet markets, and (3) has released and dropped all charges for anyone involved in protests in Hong Kong related to COVID-19. If the President cannot make such a certification, the President may (1) impose sanctions on Chinese government officials, entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and individuals affiliated with such entities; or (2) prohibit Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas (i.e., F and M visas) or exchange visitor visas (i.e., J visas). With respect to the research tax credit, the bill increases the alternative simplified credit from 14% to 20% of qualified research expenses above a certain threshold. The Department of Health and Human Services generally may not purchase personal protective equipment, critical medical supplies, or certain fabric products not produced in the United States for the Strategic National Stockpile. However, this restriction shall not apply if (1) there is not a sufficient amount of U.S.-produced items available at U.S. market prices when needed, or (2) the purchase is worth less than $150,000.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
Small Business Expense Protection Act of 2020 This bill amends the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide that tax deductions for ordinary business expenses and other tax incidents shall not be affected by the exclusion from gross income of amounts related to loan forgiveness received in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
Getting Americans Back to Work Act This bill prohibits an individual from receiving unemployment benefits, including pandemic unemployment compensation, during any week in an amount that exceeds that individual's average weekly wages prior to receiving such benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
Accelerate Long-term Investment Growth Now Act or the ALIGN Act This bill makes permanent the expensing of certain new business equipment. Expensing allows the deduction of the full amount of an expense item in the same taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2020
Protecting Life in Crisis Act This bill specifies that federal funds allocated for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) response efforts may not, in general, be used for abortions. Current law (specifically, language that has historically been included in certain appropriations bills, commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment) generally prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions. The bill also restricts the use of federal tax credits or other federal funding for health insurance coverage if the coverage includes abortions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Local Chamber, Tourism, and 501(c)(6) Protection Act of 2020 This bill modifies the Paycheck Protection Program implemented by the Small Business Administration in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to include certain entities and exclude certain individuals. Specifically, the bill expands the program to encompass organizations with 300 or fewer employees that (1) operate under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than a professional football league), or (2) are a destination marketing organization engaged in promoting communities and facilities to businesses and leisure travelers. The bill also narrows the definition of payroll costs under the program to exclude any compensation of an employee who is a registered lobbyist from the calculation for loan amounts or for allowable uses of funds provided under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2020
Landing Pass Extension Act of 2020 This bill allows a qualified alien crew member of a vessel to obtain a permit to land temporarily in the United States for up to 180 days, where currently such permits generally do not allow for stays exceeding 29 days. Specifically, an immigration officer may grant a crew member a 180-day landing permit if the officer is satisfied that the crew member (1) intends to depart within the prescribed period on a vessel other than the vessel the crew member arrived on, and (2) will perform ship-to-ship cargo transfer operations to or from a vessel engaged in foreign trade.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2020
This concurrent resolution establishes the Joint Select Committee on the Events and Activities Surrounding China's Handling of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to investigate and report to Congress and the executive branch, including recommendations on the origins and causes of the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19); certain coronavirus-related policies, decisions, and activities by the government of China; accountability for policies, decisions, and activities related to influencing the World Health Organization's response to the coronavirus outbreak; vulnerabilities in the U.S. domestic and global supply chain to combat a global pandemic due to reliance on Chinese manufacturing; information related to lessons learned from China's handling of the coronavirus; and actions the federal government should take in response to China's handling of the coronavirus.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2020
Holding the Chinese Communist Party Accountable for Infecting Americans Act of 2020 This bill allows foreign states to be sued in a U.S. court for physical or economic harms occurring in the United States as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus 2019). (Typically, a foreign state is immune from lawsuits filed against it in a U.S. court.) Specifically, a foreign state shall not have immunity from a lawsuit seeking damages for (1) the foreign state's spread of COVID-19, or (2) tortious acts intended to deliberately conceal or distort the existence or nature of COVID-19. If the United States is in discussions with a foreign state that is seeking to resolve claims related to COVID-19 against the foreign state, the Department of Justice may intervene and seek a stay in a case filed under this bill involving the foreign state.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2020
This resolution condemns the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, including China's censorship of doctors and journalists during the early days of the outbreak and its refusal to accept assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The resolution also calls for (1) China to publicly state that there is no evidence that COVID-19 originated from outside China, and (2) the World Health Organization to retract misleading statements of support for China's response to COVID-19.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2020
Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act of 2020 This bill extends liability protection for harm caused by acts or omissions by volunteer health care professionals in the course of providing certain health care services during specified public-health or national emergencies or major disasters. However, such liability protection shall not apply if (1) the harm was caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or (2) the health care professional provided services under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating drug.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act or the AQUAA Act This bill establishes national standards for sustainable offshore aquaculture. The bill directs the Department of Commerce to create an Office of Offshore Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to coordinate regulatory, scientific, outreach, and international issues related to aquaculture. The bill also establishes a unified permitting and review process for aquaculture operations. Commerce must establish a research and development grant program to promote research and extension activities, including to (1) create innovative design and engineering solutions to common obstacles within the aquaculture industry; (2) evaluate the role of genetics in relation to brood stock production, disease management, and interactions between cultured species and wild stocks; and (3) improve techniques for monitoring, assessing, and addressing environmental impacts of aquaculture and develop and evaluate methodologies to prevent, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse environmental impacts.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020
Coast Guard Retirement Parity Act This bill modifies the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund to pay for U.S. Coast Guard retirement and survivor benefit programs in the same manner as other branches of the military. Currently, Coast Guard retirement and survivor benefit payments come out of the yearly Coast Guard budget as a mandatory appropriation. Such payments are not paid in the event of a government shutdown; however, retirement benefits for other branches of the military are still paid through the Military Retirement Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2020
This resolution expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the designation of Desert Storm Veterans Day to honor and recognize the contributions of the veterans who served in Operation Desert Storm. The resolution also encourages state and local governments to designate a Desert Storm Veterans Day. The resolution supports the expeditious handling of claims by the Department of Veterans Affairs for Desert Storm veterans and urges that these veterans continue to receive high quality medical treatment for ailments associated with their service in Desert Storm.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act of 2020 This bill addresses toxic exposure of members of the Armed Forces deployed to Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2005. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct a study and report on such exposure. Based on the results of the study, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must determine (1) whether a positive association exists between such exposure and the occurrence of a diagnosed illness in humans, and (2) whether a presumption of service-connection is warranted. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. If the VA determines a presumption of service-connection is not warranted, notice must be published and include an explanation of the basis for the determination. The bill also requires the VA to remove previous presumptions if evidence indicates such presumption is not warranted. The bill requires the VA to establish and maintain a registry for individuals who were deployed to K-2 during the specified time frame. Finally, DOD must provide access to information upon request by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for purposes of a study regarding the effects of exposure to toxic substances at K-2.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 305 Highway 15 North in Pontotoc, Mississippi, as the "Lance Corporal Marc Lucas Tucker Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Guard and Reserve Hazard Duty Pay Equity Act This bill provides hazardous duty incentive pay to members of an Armed Forces reserve component or the National Guard who perform a parachute jump as an essential part of their military duty. Currently, only active duty members are entitled to hazardous duty incentive pay for performing such duties.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2020 This bill expands eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance. Specifically, the bill adjusts the type of service that entitles a member of the Armed Forces, reserves, or National Guard to such assistance. Under the bill, service by a reservist or National Guard member that is entitled to pay counts toward benefit eligibility. Such service includes training, active military service, inactive training, and general duty for which basic pay is warranted.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting Fentanyl Act This bill adds the entire category of fentanyl-related substances to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
This resolution condemns the actions of Iran with respect to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. It also expresses support for the protestors in Iran and condemns Iran for killing citizens protesting their government. In addition, it calls on Iran to refrain from using violence and to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
Fishery Failures: Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations Act This bill revises the review process for making fishery resource disaster determinations. Among other things, the bill maintains the authority of the Department of Commerce to determine the existence of a fishery disaster; sets forth requirements for initiating a request for a fishery resource disaster review; provides a 120-day time frame for Commerce to evaluate a request, beginning either upon receipt or at the close of the fishery season, if the fishery season closes; establishes criteria for Commerce to use when making a determination about whether a fishery resource disaster has occurred; lists eligible uses of fishery disaster relief funds, including for habitat conservation and restoration that reduce adverse impacts to a fishery; and revises reporting requirements for the biennial report on international compliance regarding foreign fishing and international fishery agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
This resolution recognizes and honors Smokey Bear's 75 years of service to the United States. The resolution also expresses support for Smokey Bear's commitment to preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and promoting forest health. Finally, the resolution encourages the Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council to explore ways Smokey Bear's message can be modernized to reflect current science and differentiate between unwanted human-caused wildfires and beneficial natural and prescribed fires.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2019
Regional Ocean Partnership Act This bill provides a mechanism for coastal states to participate in a Regional Ocean Partnership with one or more other coastal states that share a common ocean or coastal area. Specifically, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may designate a partnership as a Regional Ocean Partnership if it (1) is established to coordinate the interstate management of coastal resources; (2) focuses on the environmental issues affecting the ocean and coastal areas of the coastal states participating in the partnership; (3) complements existing state coastal and ocean management efforts on an interstate scale, focusing on shared regional priorities; (4) does not have a regulatory function; and (5) is not duplicative of an existing Regional Ocean Partnership. A Regional Ocean Partnership may use provided federal funds to award grants and enter into contracts for certain purposes, including to monitor the water quality and living resources of multistate ocean and coastal ecosystems.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2019
Discouraging Frivolous Lawsuits Act This bill revises requirements concerning (1) citizen suits under the Clean Water Act, (2) permits for wetlands, and (3) wetland mitigation. Litigation costs (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) must be awarded to the prevailing party, thus the bill removes a court's discretion to award the fees. A prevailing party is defined as the party that prevails on more than half of the claims at issue. In addition, the bill repeals the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny or restrict the use of any area as a disposal site for dredged or fill material when the discharge of those materials would have an unacceptable adverse effect on municipal water supplies, shellfish beds and fishery areas, wildlife, or recreational areas. Finally, the bill revises mitigation requirements. Current law requires compensatory mitigation to replace the loss of aquatic resource functions in a watershed when a permit to discharge dredged or fill materials into navigable waters has unavoidable impacts on aquatic resources. This bill prohibits government entities from carrying out compensatory mitigation in excess of existing regulatory requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2019
Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2019 or the CONTRACT Act of 2019 This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity. Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the social security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period. The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2019 This bill extends through 2021 the authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to lease its non-excess real property and related personal property.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act This bill provides that personnel of the Retired Reserve (comprising former National Guard and Reserve members) who are not yet age 60 but are receiving their retirement pay may purchase TRICARE health coverage for retired military personnel, rather than the presently allowed TRICARE Retired Reserve (which may have higher costs). The bill generally aligns the age for TRICARE health care benefits with the age at which retired National Guard and Reserve personnel begin receiving their retired pay. Under current law, Reserve Component personnel may retire below age 60, but not below 50, based on active duty performance.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2019 or the DESCEND Act of 2019 This bill addresses the use of descending devices to release reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. (A descending device is an instrument that will release fish at a depth sufficient for the fish to be able to recover from the effects of barotrauma.) Specifically, the bill requires commercial and recreational fishermen to possess a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone, the Department of Commerce to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and produce a report on discard mortality in the Gulf reef fish fisheries, and Commerce and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to develop guidance for reporting discards and associated mortality and develop a plan to assess the effectiveness and usage of barotrauma-reducing devices.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Coastal Resilience Research and Education Act This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate public institutions of higher education as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Resilience Research and Education. NOAA shall designate as a center only a public institution of higher education that, among other things (1) has demonstrated proven expertise in the physical, engineering, and environmental sciences, particularly research and education on the impacts of sea-level rise, coastal flooding, or shoreline erosion; (2) has demonstrated a commitment to understanding the socioeconomic impacts of climate change; and (3) is in a state that frequently experiences coastal flooding or shoreline erosion in connection with sea-level rise, severe coastal storms, or seawater intrusion into groundwater supplies. NOAA must review reports from the centers to ensure that their recommendations and guidance regarding sea-level rise, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, and related issues are communicated to relevant federal agencies. In carrying out this bill, NOAA may use (1) the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, (2) the Coastlines and People initiative, and (3) the National Sea Grant College Program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act This bill authorizes the establishment of a National Global War on Terrorism Memorial in the area of the National Mall.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act of 2019 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2019 This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Among other things, the bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive certain restrictions, such as geographic restrictions, for services provided in high-need health professional shortage areas; excludes mental health and emergency medical services, as well as services provided at rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and Indian Health Service facilities, from such geographic restrictions; and allows the CMS to generally waive coverage restrictions during national emergencies. Additionally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must report on information relating to the access of Medicare beneficiaries to telehealth services at home. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Responsible and Efficient Agriculture Destination Act This bill modifies exemptions from service hour requirements for drivers transporting agricultural commodities who are within a 150 air-mile radius from their destination. The bill allows this exemption to be utilized yearly rather than only during planting and harvesting seasons.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
This resolution supports the designation of National Dyslexia Awareness Month, and calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2019
Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality and Access Act of 2019 This bill establishes and modifies certain requirements relating to Medicare payments for ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services. Specifically, the bill (1) requires the payment system for ASC services to feature certain positive annual adjustments equivalent to those made with respect to hospital outpatient department (OPD) services; (2) revises quality reporting requirements to permit publicly available, side-by-side comparisons of quality measures for ASCs and OPDs in the same geographic area; and (3) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), when excluding requested procedures from the list of those approved to be performed in ASCs, to cite specified reasons for doing so. With respect to excluding procedures from the approved list for ASCs, the CMS may not cite as a basis for exclusion that a procedure can only be reported using an unlisted surgical procedure code. (Physicians sometimes use unlisted codes when performing new procedures or services if no existing code is adequately descriptive.)
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2019
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder through a method where veterans train service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2019
NASA Enhanced Use Lease Authority Act of 2019 This bill extends through 2029 and revises the authority of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) to lease its non-excess real property and related personal property. The bill expands the purposes for which NASA may enter such leases for in-kind consideration to include (1) maintaining, constructing, modifying, or improving facilities; (2) carrying out aeronautical and space research, development, testing, and evaluation activities; and (3) providing services to NASA, including launch services and payload processing services. The annual report with respect to such leasing shall include information on (1) the value and nature of in-kind consideration, and (2) the controls in place that ensure that NASA takes advantage of such consideration.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act This bill revises requirements regarding the sale and delivery of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-hookah, e-cigars, and vape pens). Specifically, the bill subjects the sale and delivery of these systems to certain requirements, including tax, licensing, and labeling requirements; prohibits the sale and delivery of these systems to anyone under the legal age to purchase tobacco products; and requires the U.S. Postal Service to implement regulations to prohibit the mailing of these systems. The bill does not apply to products approved by the Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation or any other therapeutic purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2019
Small Community Transit Improvement Act of 2019 This bill increases the amount of certain public transportation grants to be apportioned to urbanized areas with populations of less than 200,000 that meet or exceed one or more performance categories for small transit intensive cities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Livestock Protection Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a permit to a livestock farmer for the taking of black vultures during the calving or lambing season if it protects livestock from damage or loss. A permit holder must annually report to the state enforcement agency each taking of a black vulture.
![Official portrait of Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000601_200.jpg)