United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
Ensuring Coverage for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions Act This bill establishes provisions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 relating to the guaranteed availability of health insurance coverage as well as prohibitions against discriminatory practices based on preexisting conditions or health status; the bill also prohibits related exclusions or limitations of benefits and establishes certain enforcement mechanisms.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 44160 State Highway 299 East Suite 1 in McArthur, California, as the "Janet Lucille Oilar Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2018
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to expand activities under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program to include: (1) gathering information on community resilience (i.e., the ability of a community to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to earthquakes); (2) publishing a systematic set of maps of active faults and folds, liquefaction susceptibility, susceptibility for earthquake-induced landslides, and other seismically induced hazards; and (3) continuing the development of the Advanced National Seismic System, including earthquake early warning capabilities. With respect to earthquake hazard reduction activities, the bill revises or expands the duties of: (1) the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction, (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), (3) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), (4) the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and (5) the National Science Foundation. The Government Accountability Office shall complete a review of federal earthquake hazard risk reduction efforts. NIST and FEMA must jointly convene a committee of experts to assess and recommend options for improving seismic safety standards for federal buildings. The USGS must submit to Congress a five-year management plan for the continued operation of the Advanced National Seismic System.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 2018 This bill addresses harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, including to: (1) increase the authorization of appropriations for the national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program and the action strategy of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia through FY2023, and (2) address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region of Florida. An algal bloom is a rapid growth of algae that may create toxic or hypoxic (severely low-oxygen) conditions that are harmful to humans, animals, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Inventor Protection Act This bill creates additional protections for patents wholly owned by their inventors, such as exempting such patents from administrative validity challenges and allowing inventors to sue for infringement in any district where the defendant is subject to that court's personal jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
National Overflight and New Onerous, Incessant Sound Elimination Act or the NO NOISE Act This bill adds to the list of matters the Department of Transportation must consider as being in the public interest and consistent with public convenience and necessity when developing aviation policy: (1) assigning and maintaining community concerns, including noise, as the second highest priority in air commerce; and (2) evaluating the implications of new air transportation services on affected communities before authorizing such services.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents. Expresses support for the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against the Iranian regime.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2018
Marijuana Data Collection Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and relevant state agencies, to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences in order to study the effects of marijuana legalization in states that have legalized marijuana for medicinal or non-medicinal use.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2018
Improving Science in Chemical Assessments Act This bill modifies procedures related to specified chemical assessments performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Specifically, chemical hazard identification and dose response assessments, currently performed by the Integrated Risk Information System program, must be performed by the appropriate EPA program office.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2801 Mitchell Road in Ceres, California, as the "Lance Corporal Juana Navarro Arellano Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2018
Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research program in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing that is focused on the development of tools to: (1) solve big data challenges associated with veterans' health care, and (2) support the Department of Veterans Affairs in identifying potential health risks and challenges. DOE shall carry out a pilot program to develop tools for big data analytics in order to advance artificial intelligence technologies to solve complex big data challenges.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2018
Chemical Assessment Improvement Act This bill modifies procedures related to specified chemical assessments performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Specifically, chemical hazard identification and dose response assessments, currently performed by the Integrated Risk Information System program, must be performed by the appropriate EPA program office.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2018
Supports the people of Iran's legitimate and peaceful protests against the Iranian regime. Condemns the Iranian regime's human rights abuses against the Iranian people.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
9/11 Memorial Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to award competitive grants for the continued operation, security, and maintenance of the on-site memorials to the events and victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Restoring America's Leadership in Innovation Act of 2018 This bill revises several parts of the patent law. The bill changes the U.S. patent system back to a first-to-invent system, where the first inventor to conceive of an invention is entitled to a patent. Currently, the first person to file an application that meets all the requirements is entitled to the patent, as a result of the 2011 Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Several types of administrative patent challenge proceedings are abolished, as well as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office body that decides those proceedings. This bill relaxes the standard of what constitutes patent-eligible subject matter. The only ineligible inventions shall be those that exist in nature independent or prior to human activity, or exist solely in the human mind. This bill limits what types of publications shall be treated as prior art that could be used to make an invention anticipated or obvious. This bill authorizes the USPTO to keep and spend all the fees that it collects.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2018
American Space Situational Awareness and Framework for Entity Management Act or the American Space SAFE Management Act This bill declares that it is U.S. policy to encourage the coordination of public and private sector science and technology activities to improve space situational awareness and space traffic management. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must submit a national civil space situational awareness and space traffic management science and technology plan to carry out this policy. NASA shall establish a Center for Civil Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management Science and Technology Excellence at a U.S. academic institution or institutions. The Department of Commerce shall establish a civil situational awareness program to furnish situational awareness services and information to, and obtain space situational awareness data and information from, specified eligible entities, including a state, a U.S. commercial entity, the government of a foreign country, or a foreign commercial entity. Commerce shall establish a civil space traffic coordination pilot program to facilitate communication, coordination, negotiation, and resolution among domestic and international civil spacecraft operators (including governmental and private entities operating those spacecraft) to improve the safety of spaceflight. Commerce must submit a report on the role that Commerce, including of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall have in the development of civil space traffic coordination standards to promote innovation and U.S. competitiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2018
National Quantum Initiative Act This bill directs the President to implement a National Quantum Initiative Program to, among other things, establish the goals and priorities for a 10-year plan to accelerate the development of quantum information science and technology applications. The bill defines "quantum information science" as the storage, transmission, manipulation, or measurement of information that is encoded in systems that can only be described by the laws of quantum physics. The National Science and Technology Council shall establish a Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, including membership from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to guide program activities. The President must establish a National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee to advise the President and subcommittee on quantum information science and technology research and development. NIST shall carry out specified quantum science activities and convene a workshop to discuss the development of a quantum information science and technology industry. The National Science Foundation shall: carry out a basic research and education program on quantum information science and engineering, and award grants for the establishment of Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education. The Department of Energy (DOE) shall carry out a basic research program on quantum information science. The Office of Science of DOE shall establish and operate National Quantum Information Science Research Centers to conduct basic research to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in quantum information science and technology.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2018
National Institute of Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through FY2019. NIST shall carry out specified quantum information science and technology activities and convene a workshop to discuss the development of quantum information science. NIST shall: enhance and expand its guidance and assistance to federal agencies in helping them to effectively use its Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity; expand fundamental and applied research to address key questions related to the measurement of privacy, security, and vulnerability of software tools and communications networks; and implement the recommendations in the December 2017 Road Mapping Workshop Report on Overcoming Barriers to Adoption of Composites in Sustainable Infrastructure. NIST shall continue to: support the development of artificial intelligence and data science; and conduct research on the expanded connectivity, interoperability, and security of interconnected systems and other aspects of the Internet of things. The bill grants NIST the authority to appoint scientific, engineering, and professional personnel regardless of the civil service laws to carry out research and development that requires the services of personnel who are specially qualified.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2018
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should: (1) abandon the One China Policy in favor of a One China, One Taiwan Policy that recognizes Taiwan's independence; and (2) begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2018
Calls upon the Chinese Communist Party to cease its persecution of Falun Gong. Supports the Tuidang Movement and its pursuit of a free and democratic government in China.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2018
Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act or the STATES Act This bill eliminates regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act for marijuana-related conduct and activities that are authorized by state or tribal law, subject to specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2018
Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2018 This bill requires the House of Representatives and the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. merchant mariners of World War II, in recognition of their service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2018
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the limitation on individual deductions for certain state and local taxes to $20,000 (currently $10,000) per year for individuals or $10,000 (currently $5,000) for married individuals filing a separate return.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2018 or the BURMA Act of 2018 This bill provides humanitarian assistance for Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh and imposes sanctions on Burmese military or security officials responsible for serious human rights abuses. The bill provides humanitarian assistance for Burma, Bangladesh, and the surrounding region, including assistance for the Rohingya minority. The Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall jointly submit to Congress a strategy for promoting economic growth in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2018
Restoring Community Oversight of Sober Living Homes Act of 2018 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to remove substance use disorder services from the list of essential health benefits that must be covered by health plans. The bill also amends the Fair Housing Act to address state and local zoning laws regarding recovery facilities (buildings that are occupied by individuals who are handicapped by drug addiction or alcoholism and that prohibit controlled substances and alcohol). The bill specifies that federal anti-discrimination laws do not bar any state or local zoning laws that prohibit recovery facilities in residential areas. Recovery facilities must also comply with all state and local zoning laws in order to receive federal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish a new, separate registration process for manufacturers of cannabis for research. The Drug Enforcement Administration must assess whether there is an adequate and uninterrupted supply of research cannabis and register additional manufacturers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
This bill specifies that certain Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs may award grants, and grantees may make subgrants, to local or regional nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations. The bill also specifies that SAMHSA may renew grants to residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women for up to five years.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2018
VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct and support research on the efficacy and safety of certain forms of cannabis and cannabis delivery for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system diagnosed with conditions such as chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder. Collected data shall be preserved in a manner that facilitates further research.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2018
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through FY2019. The bill authorizes NASA programs, activities, and reports, including those regarding the International Space Station (ISS); launch, crew, and cargo vehicle critical path redundancy; space suits; earth observation; land remote sensing data collection; Landsat systems; the Goddard Institute for Space Studies; in-space nuclear fission power; civil supersonic transportation research; unmanned aircraft systems research; commercially provided space products and services; commercial in-space infrastructure; and NASA-funded institutes. NASA shall: continue the operation of the ISS; establish a research office at the Johnson Space Center to build upon its expertise in human space flight missions for future challenges; partner with private sector and philanthropic organizations to search for technosignatures, such as radio transmissions, in the search for life's origin and future in the universe; establish the 21st Century Aeronautics Research Capabilities Initiative; more effectively and efficiently share its electromagnetic spectrum with U.S. nongovernmental entities operating or proposing to operate space objects; and restrict contracting with contractors who have a history of poor performance on space contracts. The bill extends NASA's authority to lease nonexcess properties through 2020. The National Space Council shall publish a report that relates the strategic national importance of space to the inherent risk of exploring and using it.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2018
Recognizes Estonia's, Latvia's, and Lithuania's 100th anniversary of independence, the 27th anniversary of their independence from the Soviet Union, and their political, economic, social, and military progress. Reiterates support for the European Deterrence Initiative as a means to enhance deterrence and increase military capabilities on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's eastern flank.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2018
Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Stephen Michael Gleason.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018
Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2018 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds for specified educational purposes. Children of active duty service members who reside in a local education agency that receives payments under the Impact Aid Program or who reside within the boundaries of a federal military installation are eligible to receive funds.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 This bill extends Military Financing Program grants for Israel through FY2023. The Department of Defense shall conduct a joint assessment with Israel regarding: (1) precision guided munitions needed by Israel in a sustained armed confrontation with Hezbollah and other armed groups and terrorist organizations, and (2) related U.S. assistance and resupply planning. The President may utilize the Special Defense Acquisition Fund to transfer precision guided munitions and related defense articles and services to reserve stocks for Israel. Authorities for loan guarantees and the war reserves stockpile for Israel are extended through FY2023. The Department of Homeland Security shall establish a seven-year grant program with Israel to support: (1) cybersecurity research and development, and (2) commercialization of cybersecurity technology. The U.S. Agency for International Development may enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel to advance common goals on energy, agriculture and food security, democracy, economic growth, education, and health. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall continue to work with the Israel Space Agency to pursue peaceful space exploration and science initiatives. The President may enter into a cooperative project agreement with Israel to carry out research and joint production of defense articles and services to detect and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., drones) that threaten the United States or Israel. The bill states that it is U.S. policy to ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2018
Creating Real and Useful Middle-Class Benefits and Savings (CRUMBS) Act of 2018 This bill excludes up to $2,500 of bonus income received by an employee in 2018 from being considered taxable earnings for the purpose of determining an employee's federal tax liability. The bill defines a "bonus" as wages paid in addition to the compensation ordinarily given, required, optioned, or obligated under an employment contract.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2018
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1075 North Tustin Street in Orange, California, as the "Specialist Trevor A. Win'E Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2018
Marijuana Effective Drug Studies Act of 2018 or the MEDS Act This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish a new, separate registration process to facilitate research involving marijuana and the commercial production of drugs made from marijuana. Specifically, the bill requires the Drug Enforcement Administration to register manufacturers and distributors to supply marijuana: (1) for use in research, and (2) for the commercial production of approved drugs containing or derived from marijuana.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins that are emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC, and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States. All sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges, which shall be distributed to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia. Condemns political violence in Cambodia and urges the cessation of human rights violations. Supports the decision announced by the Department of State on December 6, 2017, to restrict entry to the United States for individuals involved in undermining democracy in Cambodia. Urges: (1) the Department of the Treasury to consider placing all senior Cambodian government officials implicated in specified abuses on the List of Specially Designated Nationals maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control, and (2) Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party to end all harassment and intimidation of Cambodia's opposition and foster a political environment where democracy can thrive. Urges the Cambodian government to: (1) free Kem Sokha; (2) recognize the legitimacy of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and its members, including by reinstating the 55 CNRP officials elected to the National Assembly; and (3) respect freedom of the press and the rights of its citizens to freely assemble, protest, and speak out against the government. Supports efforts in Cambodia to ensure free and fair elections in 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
Student Security Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education and the Social Security Administration to jointly carry out a student loan forgiveness program that will forgive Federal Direct loans in exchange for delayed eligibility for old-age insurance benefits under the Social Security Act. In addition, the bill authorizes the transfer of amounts from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund into the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund if borrowing is necessary to pay full benefit payments from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the exclusion from gross income of income attributable to the discharge of student loan indebtedness to include indebtedness discharged under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2017
Saudi Educational Transparency and Reform Act This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress annually on educational materials published by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education. The report shall detail whether such educational materials include content that could be seen as encouraging violence and intolerance toward religious groups, including Muslims who hold dissenting views. The report shall also discuss related subjects, including the extent to which such materials are exported and efforts by the Saudi government to remove the intolerant content. The State Department shall issue such reports for 10 years, unless the State Department determines that the intolerant content has been completely removed. If such content is still included in Saudi Arabia's educational materials after 10 years, the State Department shall continue reporting to Congress for another 5 years.
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2017
This joint resolution nullifies the rule finalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on November 17, 2017, regarding payday, vehicle title, and other high-cost installment loans.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017
Uniting and Strengthening America by Reforming and Improving the Government's High-Tech Surveillance Act or the USA RIGHTS Act This bill amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to: require a warrant to collect communications of or about a U.S. person or a person inside the United States; require a warrant when a significant purpose of targeting foreigners is to collect communications of persons in the United States; prohibit the use of communications to or from, or information about, U.S. persons or persons in the United States in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding or investigation, with the exception of national security-related crimes; allow individuals who have a reasonable basis to believe their communications will be acquired and who have taken reasonable steps to avoid surveillance to challenge the constitutionality of surveillance in court; and require that all forms of technical assistance demanded by the government of electronic communications service providers be approved by a FISA court. The bill expands the mandate of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board to include review of all foreign intelligence activities and whistle-blower complaints. The bill extends the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to September 30, 2021.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017
No Abortion Bonds Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose taxes on state, local, and tax credit bonds that are used to provide a facility owned or used (for any purpose) by an abortion provider for more than 30 days during a year in which interest is paid on the bond. An entity is not considered an abortion provider solely as a result of performing abortions if: (1) the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (2) a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself. The Department of the Treasury may exempt certain hospitals from being considered an abortion provider by making the name of the hospital available on Treasury's public website.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017
75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 500,000 $1 coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The coins shall be emblematic of the sacrifices made by millions of people of the United States 75 years ago in bringing an end to World War II. The design on each coin shall represent the World War II Victory Medal, which was awarded to all 16 million U.S. military personnel who served from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. The bill requires all sales of such coins include specified surcharges, which shall be paid by Treasury to the congressionally designated National WWII Museum to fund its educational mission of telling the story of the U.S. experience in World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief Act This bill revises coastwise laws, commonly known as the Jones Act, that govern domestic transportation of merchandise or passengers by vessels. The Jones Act requires vessels transporting merchandise or passengers between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports be built in the United States, at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and mostly crewed by U.S. citizens. The bill exempts for five years vessels transporting merchandise between Puerto Rico and other U.S. ports from Jones Act requirements. The Government Accountability Office must report the economic impact of this bill on Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2017
Preserving Liu Xiaobo Legacy of Freedom & Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Liu Xiaobo and collectively to all those who have peacefully advocated for democracy and human rights in China in recognition of their achievements and contributions to freedom, human rights, and peace in China and globally. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the medal available for display, particularly at locations: (1) associated with the research of the Tiananmen Protests of 1989 and their violent suppression, and (2) dedicated to preserving the history of the Chinese pro-democracy movement.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2017
Commends the National Archives and Records Administration and its staff for working to comply with the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 and release all records related to President Kennedy's assassination by October 26, 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2017
Urges the President to: (1) permit the full public release of all remaining National Archives and Records Administration records pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and (2) reject any claims for the continued postponement of such release.
