United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2017
Financial Transparency Act of 2017 This bill amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and other laws to require federal financial regulatory agencies to adopt specified data standards with respect to format, searchability, and transparency.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2017
Condemns the government of Iran for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners and for denying the evidence of crimes against humanity. Urges: (1) the Administration and U.S. allies to condemn the massacre and pressure the Iranian government to provide detailed information to the victims' families about their loved ones and their final resting places; and (2) the United Nations (U.N.) Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran and the U.N. Human Rights Council to create a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the massacre, gather evidence, identify the perpetrators, and bring them to justice.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2017
Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of State to submit a determination regarding whether the government of Pakistan, including any of its agents or instrumentalities, committed, conspired to commit, attempted, aided, or abetted: (1) any of specified acts constituting an act of or support for international terrorism, or (2) any other act that constitutes an act of or support for international terrorism. Within 30 days after making such a determination in the affirmative, the State Department shall report to Congress: (1) a determination on whether Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism, or (2) a detailed justification as to why Pakistan's conduct does not meet the legal criteria for such designation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2017
Cold War Service Medal Act This bill authorizes the military department concerned to issue the Cold War Service Medal to members of the Armed Forces who: (1) served on active duty for at least 24 consecutive months during the Cold War (September 2, 1945, through December 26, 1991), (2) were deployed outside the continental United States for at least 30 days during such period, (3) were members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces and were called or ordered to active duty to participate in exercises or operations directly related to the Cold War, or (4) performed other Cold War service as DOD may prescribe. Any such person who is already discharged or released from the Armed Forces shall be eligible only if the discharge or release was under honorable conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2017
Cancer Drug Coverage Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require group and individual health plans that cover anticancer medications administered by a health care provider to provide no less favorable cost sharing for patient-administered anticancer medications. This requirement applies to medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is prescribed based on a finding by the treating physician that the medication is medically necessary for cancer treatment and is clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, extent site, and duration. To comply with this requirement, health plans may not, for anticancer medications: (1) change or replace benefits to increase out-of-pocket costs; (2) reclassify benefits to increase costs; or (3) apply more restrictive limitations to orally administered medications than to intravenously administered or injected medications.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2017
RFS Reform Act of 2017 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel standard program. Beginning in 2017, the renewable fuel that is required to be blended into gasoline must be advanced biofuel, which cannot be ethanol derived from corn starch. This bill revises the renewable fuel standards by decreasing the total volume of renewable fuel that must be contained in gasoline sold or introduced into commerce for years 2017 through 2022. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must determine the target amount of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into transportation fuel based on the actual volume of cellulosic biofuel produced in the current year. The EPA must reduce the required volume of renewable fuel in transportation fuel by the same volume of cellulosic biofuel in the fuel. The EPA may not allow gasoline containing greater than 10% ethanol by volume to be introduced into commerce. Waivers that allow gasoline containing a greater percentage of ethanol are nullified.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2017
Renewable Fuel Standard Elimination Act This bill amends the Clean Air Act to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuel program, which requires transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2017
Seller Finance Enhancement Act This bill amends the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to exempt from certain licensing and registration requirements a person (other than a depository institution) that: (1) originates not more than 24 residential mortgage loans in a 12-month period, and (2) originates residential mortgage loans only with respect to property owned by the person. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury shall jointly study and report to Congress on specified issues related to seller financing.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2017
Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow members of the Ready Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces to make the maximum allowable contribution ($18,000 in 2017) to their Thrift Savings Plans (TSPs) without limiting the amount such members may contribute to a retirement plan based upon other employment. The bill also doubles the maximum allowable contribution amount to the TSPs of federal employees in the Ready Reserve who are not eligible to make contributions to any plan other than the TSP.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2017
American Community Survey Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to include in instructions for completing any survey relating to the Census a statement that answering any questions other than questions that elicit the name of the respondent, contact information, the date of the response, or the number of people living or staying at the same address where the respondent resides is optional. No person may be fined or otherwise compelled to answer questions in connection with the survey commonly known as the American Community Survey (except for the questions permitted by this bill).
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2017
Respect for Peace Corps Volunteers Act This bill amends the Peace Corps Act to allow the official seal or emblem and the name "Peace Corps" to be used on any death announcement, plaque, grave stone, or other grave marker of a former volunteer, officer, or employee of the Peace Corps.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2017
Community Financial Institution Exemption Act This bill amends the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to exempt community financial institutions from all rules and regulations issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). A "community financial institution" is an insured depository institution or credit union with less than $50 billion in consolidated assets. Under specified circumstances, and with the written agreement of the Federal Reserve Board and other specified federal banking agencies, the CFPB may revoke such an exemption with respect to a certain rule or regulation and a specific class of institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2017
This bill amends the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010 by requiring the U.S. Postal Service to make the stamp available to the public for at least 10 years rather than 6 years. The public must be given the choice of two stamps, one depicting an African elephant and another depicting a tiger.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2017
Federal Regulatory Certainty for Water Act This bill nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water Rule signed on May 27, 2015, which describes the scope of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act). Under this bill, the Clean Water Act applies to waters of the United States that are: (1) navigable-in-fact; or (2) permanent or continuously flowing bodies of water that form geographical features commonly known as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes that are connected to waters that are navigable-in-fact. Under this bill, the Act does not apply to: (1) waters that do not physically abut those waters of the United States through an actual and continuous surface water connection; (2) man-made or natural structures or channels through which water flows intermittently or ephemerally; or (3) wetlands (including playa lakes, prairie potholes, wet meadows, wet prairies, and vernal pools) that lack that continuous surface water connection. The aggregation of wetlands or waters may not be used to determine whether the wetlands or waters are navigable waters.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2017
Capital Access for Small Businesses and Jobs Act This bill amends the Federal Credit Union Act to allow a federal credit union, other than a low-income credit union, to receive payments on uninsured non-share accounts that: do not alter the cooperative nature of the credit union; are subordinate to all other claims against the credit union; are available to cover operating losses in excess of retained earnings and, to the extent so applied, will not be replenished; meet applicable requirements with respect to maturity; are subject to disclosure and consumer-protection requirements as determined by the National Credit Union Administration Board; are offered by a credit union that is sufficiently capitalized and well-managed; and are subject to such rules and regulations as the board may establish.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2017
Expresses concern about the detainment of Sandy Phan-Gillis in Guangxi Province, People's Republic of China, since March 2015. Encourages the Department of State and the intelligence community to jointly continue investigations and to consider all plausible explanations for Phan-Gillis's detainment. Urges the State Department and the intelligence community to: (1) coordinate investigations with the Chinese government and solicit information from appropriate regional affairs and law enforcement experts on plausible explanations, and (2) continue to work with and inform Congress and Phan-Gillis's family on efforts to recover Phan-Gillis and to resolve her detainment. Requests the immediate release of Phan-Gillis by the Chinese government.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2017
Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity for Children Act or the RACE for Children Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for sponsors of certain drugs and biological products for adult cancer to assess the use of their medications in pediatric populations. (Currently, applications for FDA approval of new medications or new uses of medications must include pediatric assessments of safety and effectiveness for claimed indications, with exceptions.) The pediatric assessment for medications, including orphan drugs, that are used to treat cancer in adults and target a molecule germane to pediatric cancer must assess the safety and effectiveness of the medication for pediatric cancer. The bill limits waivers of pediatric assessments for medications that target a molecule germane to a pediatric cancer for which there is a need for additional treatment options. The FDA may require the sponsor of an approved medication that targets a molecule germane to pediatric cancer to complete a pediatric assessment if: (1) the medication is used for a substantial number of pediatric cancer patients, or (2) there is reason to believe the medication would have a meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing therapies for pediatric cancer patients. The FDA committee that reviews requests for pediatric studies must implement a plan to achieve earlier submission of pediatric studies. (Currently, completion of pediatric clinical studies requested by the FDA extends the patents or marketing exclusivity period for a medication by six months, with exceptions.) The FDA must act within 120 days on proposed pediatric study requests and proposed amendments to requests.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2017
Orphan Products Extension Now Accelerating Cures and Treatments Act of 2017 or the OPEN Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to extend by six months the exclusivity period for a drug or biological product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when the product is additionally approved to prevent, diagnose, or treat a new indication that is a rare disease or condition (also known as an orphan disease). HHS may revoke an extension if the application submitted to the FDA for the new indication contained an untrue material statement. HHS must notify the public of products that receive this extension and patents related to those products. Products may receive only one extension under this bill. Extensions under this bill are in addition to other extensions. The bill applies only to products approved after enactment of this bill for a new indication that is a rare disease or condition.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2017
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 122 W. Goodwin Street, Pleasanton, Texas, as the "Pleasanton Veterans Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2017
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 N. Francisco Avenue, Mission, Texas, as the "Mission Veterans Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2017
Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act of 2017 This bill makes an individual who is eligible for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance program eligible for assistance with the fees for applying to institutions of higher education (IHEs). The amount of such assistance payable to an individual shall be the lesser of: (1) the total application fees charged to the individual by the IHEs, or (2) $750.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2017
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9155 Schaefer Road, Converse, Texas, as the "Converse Veterans Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 2017
Social Security Fairness Act of 2017 This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal the "government pension offset" and the "windfall elimination provision." Under current law, those provisions reduce OASDI benefits for individuals who receive a pension based on earnings in government employment that was not covered under the Social Security program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2017
Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-exempt charitable or educational organizations to make collegiate housing and infrastructure grants to certain tax-exempt social clubs (e.g., college fraternities and sororities) which apply such grants to their collegiate housing property. A "collegiate housing and infrastructure grant" is a grant to provide, improve, operate, or maintain collegiate housing property that may involve more than incidental social, recreational, or private purposes. The grant must be for purposes that would be permissible for a dormitory or other residential facility of the college or university with which the collegiate housing property is associated. The grant may not be used to provide physical fitness facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
No Hero Left Untreated Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a one-year pilot program to provide access to magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy to treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain, or opiate addiction. The VA shall: (1) carry out the program at up to two VA facilities, and (2) provide access to such therapy to more than 50 veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
United States and Israel Space Cooperation Act This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to continue to work with the Israel Space Agency in identifying and cooperatively pursuing peaceful space exploration and science initiatives in areas of mutual interest.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Taylor Force Act This bill prohibits certain assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 from being made available for the West Bank and Gaza unless the Department of State certifies that the Palestinian Authority: is taking steps to end acts of violence against U.S. and Israeli citizens perpetrated by individuals under its jurisdictional control, such as the March 2016 attack that killed former Army officer Taylor Force; is publicly condemning such acts of violence and is investigating, or cooperating in investigations of, such acts; and has terminated payments for acts of terrorism against U.S. and Israeli citizens to any individual who has been convicted and imprisoned for such acts, to any individual who died committing such acts, and to family members of such an individual.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Veterans Transplant Coverage Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) provide for an operation on a live donor to carry out a transplant procedure for an eligible veteran notwithstanding that the live donor may not be eligible for VA health care, and (2) provide for such an operation at a VA or a non-VA facility. The VA shall furnish to such a donor any care or services that may be required before and after conducting such procedure.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act of 2017 This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. government must ensure that capacity-building assistance to combat terrorist travel is coordinated among departments and agencies as well as with foreign implementing partners, and (2) such assistance should be prioritized for the highest-risk countries for travel by terrorists and foreign fighters. The Department of State shall submit to Congress biennially a foreign partner engagement plan that catalogues existing capacity-building initiatives abroad to combat travel by terrorists and foreign fighters and identifies areas for adjustment to align efforts with risk-based priorities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department shall accelerate the provision of appropriate versions of the following systems to foreign governments: U.S. Customs and Border Protection's global travel targeting and analysis systems; and the State Department's watchlisting, identification, and screening systems. DHS may provide, with specified exceptions, excess DHS nonlethal equipment and supplies (as well as related training) to a foreign government if that would: further U.S. homeland security interests; and enhance the recipient government's capacity to mitigate the threat of terrorism, infectious disease or natural disaster, protect lawful trade and travel, or enforce intellectual property rights. DHS shall: notify Congress before providing such systems, equipment, or supplies; and report to Congress annually through 2022 regarding foreign government efforts to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel. The State Department may suspend non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance to a foreign country identified in such a report as a country to which the minimum standards for serious and sustained efforts to combat terrorist and foreign fighter travel are applicable but whose government is not fully complying with such standards and is not making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Declares that combating corruption in the Northern Triangle must remain a top policy priority for the United States in Central America. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) are important contributions to such effort. Urges the government of Guatemala to continue to cooperate with CICIG and the government of Honduras to continue to cooperate with MACCIH. Urges the governments of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to: publicly support efforts to fight corruption, respect the independence of the judicial branch and the Office of the Attorney General, and ensure that such office in each Northern Triangle country receives sufficient domestic budget allocations in a timely manner to carry out core responsibilities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty Preservation Act of 2017 This bill states U.S. policy that: (1) Russian actions in violation of the the Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF treaty) constitute a material breach, (2) the United States is legally entitled to suspend the treaty, and (3) the United States should take certain actions to bring Russia into compliance. The bill authorizes additional appropriations for: (1) development of active defenses to counter ground launched missile systems, (2) counterforce and countervailing capabilities, and (3) missile system transfers to allied countries. The Department of Defense shall: (1) establish a program to develop a dual-capable road-mobile ground-launched cruise missile system with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers; (2) report on the feasibility of modifying the tomahawk, standard missile-3, standard missile-6, long-range stand off cruise missile, and Army tactical missile for ground-launch with such range; and (3) report on the AEGIS Ashore sites with anti-air warfare capability necessary in Asia and Europe to defend U.S. forces and allies from Russian ground launched missile systems. The Director of National Intelligence, every 90 days for five years, shall determine whether Russia has flight tested, produced, or possesses a system that is inconsistent with the treaty and that has reached initial operational capability and is, or is about to be, deployed. No funds may be obligated or expended to extend the New START Treaty after 2021, permit Russian flights over the United States or U.S. allies pursuant to the Open Skies Treaty, permit the approval of new implementation decisions through the Open Skies Consultative Commission, or approve any license to export an item or technology to a Russian person or entity unless the President certifies that Russia has eliminated all missiles that are in violation of, or inconsistent with, the INF treaty. The Department of State shall conduct a review of Russia's RS-26 ballistic missile system. Upon a determination that Russia has flight-tested, produced, or is in possession of certain missiles, the President shall suspend the application of the INF treaty to the United States and notify the other state parties to the treaty of Russia's material breach of, and the U.S. decision to suspend, the treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Child Abuse Accountability Enhancement Act This bill requires that retired pay otherwise payable to a member of the uniformed services shall be paid by the military department concerned to another person to the extent expressly provided in a child abuse garnishment order. "Child abuse garnishment order" means a final court decree that provides for garnishment to enforce a judgment rendered against the member for physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Stopping Mass Hacking Act This bill repeals an amendment to rule 41 (Search and Seizure) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure that took effect on December 1, 2016. The amendment allows a federal magistrate judge to issue a warrant to use remote access to search computers and seize electronically stored information located inside or outside that judge's district in specific circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to repeal specified limitations, for purposes of Medicare participation, on self-referrals by newly constructed or expanded physician-owned hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act of 2017 This bill sets forth amendments that would take effect in the case of the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the restoration of the provisions amended by those provisions. If the amendments take effect, the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and Internal Revenue Code are revised to maintain PPACA consumer protections. Specifically, the bill would maintain the: requirement for health insurance to cover preexisting conditions, requirement for health insurers to accept every employer and every individual applying for coverage, prohibition against health insurers discriminating against individuals based on health status factors, prohibition against collecting genetic information in connection with issuing health insurance, and requirements for workplace wellness programs connected to health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act of 201 7 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the tax credit for the rehabilitation of buildings and historic structures, to: (1) allow an increased 30% credit, up to $750,000, for projects with rehabilitation expenditures not exceeding $3.75 million, for which no credit was allowed in either of the two prior taxable years (smaller projects); (2) allow the transfer of tax credit amounts for smaller projects; (3) treat a building as substantially rehabilitated if rehabilitation expenditures exceed the greater of 50% of the adjusted basis of the building or $5,000 (currently, the greater of the adjusted basis of the building or $5,000); (4) reduce the required basis adjustment from 100% of the credit to 50% of the amount of the credit; and (5) limit the application of disqualified lease rules to tax-exempt use property.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2017
Calls on North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries to meet or exceed: (1) the 2% gross domestic product commitment to defense spending, and (2) the 20% commitment to defense expenditures on major equipment spending.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2017
Geolocational Privacy and Surveillance Act or the GPS Act This bill makes it unlawful to intentionally intercept the geolocation information of another person; intentionally disclose or use geolocation information knowing or having reason to know that it was obtained in violation of this bill; or intentionally disclose geolocation information knowing or having reason to know it was obtained as part of a criminal investigation with the intent to improperly obstruct with a duly authorized criminal investigation. There are several exceptions to this prohibition against intercepting geolocation information: (1) information obtained in the normal course of business, (2) information obtained while conducting foreign intelligence surveillance, (3) consent, (4) information readily available to the public, (5) theft or fraud involving the device, (6) issuance of a warrant, and (7) emergency circumstances. Geolocation information shall not be used as evidence in a legal proceeding when disclosure of such information would be in violation of this bill. The bill creates a civil cause of action for any person whose geolocation information is intercepted, disclosed, or intentionally used in violation of this bill. The bill makes it a criminal offense to knowingly and intentionally obtain, or attempt to obtain, global positioning system (GPS) records from a geolocation information service through fraud or by other means. It also makes it unlawful to intentionally and knowingly sell or transfer GPS records without the consent of the customer.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2017
Cell Location Privacy Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to knowingly use a cell-site simulator. A violator is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. The bill creates exceptions to allow a governmental entity to use a cell-site simulator in certain circumstances—pursuant to a warrant, to conduct electronic surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Service Act of 1978, or in an emergency situation. It prohibits the use of information unlawfully acquired from a cell-site simulator as evidence in a legal or official proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2017
Probation Officer Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to authorize a probation officer to arrest a person (i.e., a person other than the probationer) without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe the person forcibly assaulted or obstructed a probation officer engaged in the performance of official duties.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2017
Fairness in Firearm Testing Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to make a video recording of its entire process of examining and testing an item to determine whether it is a firearm (and if so, the type of firearm) or ammunition. The bill bars the ATF from editing or erasing any such recording. The ATF must make a digital video disc containing a copy of the recording available to: (1) a person requesting a copy who claims an ownership interest in such item, and (2) a defendant in a criminal proceeding involving such item. An item which the ATF has determined is a firearm or ammunition shall not be admissible as evidence unless: (1) the ATF has complied with the requirements of this bill to make its digital video disc available, or (2) such compliance has been waived in writing by the person against whom the item is offered as evidence.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2017
Extending Justice for Sex Crime Victims Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise the statute of limitations for a victim of a human trafficking offense or federal sexual offense to file a civil action to recover damages. Under current law, the statute of limitations is 10 years from the date the cause of action arose. This bill sets a 10-year statute of limitations from the date the victim discovers the offense or injury. Additionally, it extends the statute of limitations for a minor victim of a federal sex offense to file a civil action to 10 years (currently 3 years) from the date such individual reaches age 18.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2017
Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2017 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and maintain a voluntary registry of firefighters to collect history and occupational information that can be linked to existing data in state cancer registries. The registry must be used to improve monitoring of cancer among firefighters and to collect and publish epidemiological information regarding cancer among firefighters. The CDC should seek to include specified information in the registry, including the number and type of fire incidents attended by an individual. To collect information for the registry, the CDC may incorporate questions into existing public health surveys, questionnaires, and other databases. The CDC must: (1) develop a strategy to maximize participation in the registry; (2) develop guidance for states and firefighting agencies regarding the registry; (3) encourage inclusion in the registry of data on minority, female, and volunteer firefighters; and (4) seek feedback on the registry from nonfederal experts. The CDC must develop a process for making registry data available for research without a fee if findings or publications from the research are made public or available to stakeholders.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2017
Fourth Amendment Integrity Restoration in Surveillance Act of 2017 or the F.A.I.R. Surveillance Act of 2017 This bill specifies that an agreement between a federal and state or local law enforcement agency regarding the acquisition or use of a cell simulator device must require such state or local law enforcement agency to use the device in compliance with the federal agency's guidance and policies. The term "cell simulator device" means a device that: (1) simulates a cell tower to provide an electronic communication service, or (2) functions as a cell tower to locate cellular devices or identify their unique identifiers.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2017
Saracini Aviation Safety Act of 2017 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to issue an order to require: (1) the installation of secondary barriers, other than the cockpit door, to prevent access to the flight deck of each covered aircraft; (2) such barriers on the aircraft with a cockpit door to remain locked while the aircraft is in flight and the cockpit door separating the flight deck and the passenger area is open; and (3) such barriers on the aircraft without a cockpit door to remain locked as determined by the pilot in command. "Covered aircraft" is defined as a commercial aircraft: (1) equipped with more than 75 passenger seats, and (2) with a maximum gross takeoff weight of more than 75,000 pounds.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2017
Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act This bill expands the definition of "law enforcement officer" under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include: (1) federal employees not otherwise covered whose duties include the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted criminals and who are authorized to carry a firearm; (2) Internal Revenue Service employees whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns; (3) U.S. Postal Inspection Service employees; (4) Department of Veterans Affairs police officers; and (5) certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are seized-property specialists with duties relating to custody, management, and disposition of seized and forfeited property. The bill deems service performed by an incumbent law enforcement officer on or after the enactment date of this bill to be service performed as a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. The past service of such incumbents shall be treated as service performed by a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes only if a written election is submitted to the Office of Personnel Management within five years after the enactment of this bill or before separation from government service, whichever is earlier. An incumbent who makes an election before the enactment of this bill may pay a deposit into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to cover prior service. A law enforcement officer shall not be subject to mandatory separation during the three-year period beginning on the enactment of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2017
Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act This bill prohibits any person from exporting or reexporting electronic waste (specified items containing electronic components or fragments, including computers, televisions, video display devices, and consumer electronics) or exempted electronic waste items (tested, working used electronics, low-risk counterfeit electronics, or recalled electronics), except as specified. "Low-risk counterfeit electronics" means electronic components or items that: (1) have been subjected to destruction processes that render the items unusable for their original purpose; and (2) are exported as a feedstock, with no additional mechanical or hand separation required, in a reclamation process to render the components or items recycled consistent with the laws of the foreign country performing such process. A person may export or reexport exempted electronic waste items only if: the person is listed on a publicly available registry maintained by the Department of Commerce; for each export transaction, the person files specified electronic export information in the Automated Export System; the export or reexport of exempted electronic waste items otherwise complies with applicable international agreements and other U.S. trade laws; and the exempted items are accompanied by certain required documentation. Commerce may provide exceptions to the requirements of this bill under specified circumstances for exports or reexports of five items or fewer per transaction of electronic components intended for personal use, and of electronic components to a person or entity under the ownership or control of the person exporting or reexporting the components, with the intent that they be used for the purpose for which they were used in the United States. Any violator of this bill or regulations issued under it shall be subject to the same penalties as those applicable to violators of any other provision of the Export Administration Regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2017
Condemns North Korea's development of multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles. Urges the prompt deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea to counter North Korea's nuclear missile threat. Reaffirms: (1) U.S. support of a layered, interoperable, multi-tier missile defense system to protect Americans and allies on the Korean Peninsula; and (2) the U.S. commitment to its alliances and trilateral missile defense cooperation agreements with South Korea and Japan. Expresses support for: (1) continued U.S.-South Korea bilateral security cooperation and the consideration of additional measures to strengthen the alliance, including expanded foreign military sales, technology development, and joint exercises; and (2) the intelligence sharing agreement between Japan and South Korea signed on November 23, 2016, concerning the direct exchange of intelligence on North Korea threats. Calls upon: (1) China to pressure North Korean leaders to cease their provocative behavior, abandon and dismantle their nuclear and missile programs through the curtailing of vital economic support and trade that support the North Korean government, and comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions; and (2) the United States to apply all available economic sanctions, and cooperate with allies and other countries to impose additional sanctions, on North Korea.