United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2019
Harmful Algal Bloom Essential Forecasting Act This bill requires the Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System to continue to operate during a government shutdown by designating certain activities related to the system as excepted services under the Anti-Deficiency Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Flood Insurance Integrity Act of 2019 This bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review every four years the rate tables established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for implementing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The GAO must determine whether (1) the chargeable premium rates for flood insurance coverage are actuarially sound, based on standard actuarial practices used in the private sector; and (2) such chargeable premium rates are sufficient to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of NFIP. The bill also directs the GAO to review annually the process for establishing and updating flood insurance rate maps and determine the degree of accuracy of the mapping process.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
This resolution condemns the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and expresses sympathy for the victims' relatives. It also expresses concern for the continuing 25-year-long delay in the proper resolution of the case and supports accountability for the attack, including the Iranian and Hezbollah operatives involved.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Canadian Snowbird Visa Act This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to admit into the United States qualifying Canadian citizens as long-term nonimmigrant visitors. A qualifying Canadian citizen is an individual who (1) is at least 50 years old, (2) maintains a Canadian residence and owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of the individual's stay, (3) is not inadmissible or deportable, (4) will not engage in employment or labor for hire in the United States other than for a non-U.S.-based person or entity by whom the Canadian citizen was employed in Canada or for whom the Canadian citizen performed services in Canada, and (5) will not seek certain forms of assistance or benefits. A qualified individual may be admitted for up to 240 days during any single 365-day period. The spouse of such person may be admitted under the same terms, except that he or she is not required to separately satisfy the requirement for owning or renting a residence in the United States. The bill grants a person so admitted nonresident alien tax status.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2019
Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act This bill makes permanent, beginning in FY2020, funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The President shall annually submit to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2019
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 June 2019
Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 This bill establishes several prohibitions, requirements, and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, the bill prohibits MA plans from instituting additional prior authorization requirements for surgeries (including related items) that are furnished to a patient during other surgeries for which prior authorization was not required or was already received. Additionally, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
This resolution (1) recognizes World Oceans Day and affirms the individual and collective duty, both nationally and internationally, to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild our oceans and its resources; and (2) expresses commitment to increasing the investment of federal funds into scientific research and monitoring to better understand the changing oceans.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act This bill creates a framework under which states may receive federal elementary and secondary education funds on a consolidated basis and use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges of 2019 or the EQUITABLE Act of 2019 This bill generally restricts the use of a foreign public accounting firm by a foreign issuer of securities. The bill requires certain disclosures from a foreign issuer of securities that uses, for its required audit report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), 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. Specifically, an issuer that is not currently listed on an exchange and uses such a firm may not be listed. A currently-listed issuer will be delisted beginning in 2025 if the issuer uses such a firm for three consecutive years.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Challenges & Prizes for Climate Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a Climate Solutions Challenges program. Under the program, DOE must carry out competitions that award cash and other incentives for climate and energy solutions, such as capturing carbon and converting the carbon into a beneficial use, achieving transformative increases in energy efficiency, achieving implementation or grid integration of advanced energy storage technology, providing approaches to mitigating or adapting to the effects of climate change, or providing data analytics on the climate and related phenomena.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2019
Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act of 2019 This bill establishes a process for designating foreign actors as foreign intelligence threats to higher education. Specifically, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) must designate a foreign actor as a foreign intelligence threat to higher education if the foreign actor has committed, attempted to commit, or conspired to commit certain actions in connection with an institution of higher education (IHE), such as espionage, misuse of visas, or theft of trade secrets. Prior to making such a designation, FBI must submit notice to congressional leaders and the Department of Justice. Upon the designation of a foreign actor as such a threat, the Department of State must revoke the nonimmigrant visa issued to such foreign actor present in the United States, and the Department of Homeland Security must initiate removal proceedings against the foreign actor. The bill provides for judicial review and a process for revoking a foreign actor's designation as such a threat. It also requires an IHE to disclose to the Department of Education any gift or contract with a foreign intelligence threat, including the fair market value of the gift or contract.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the "Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019 This bill requires the President, in consultation with relevant federal agencies, to develop a strategy to secure and protect U.S. fifth and future generations (5G) systems and infrastructure. Such strategy shall (1) ensure the security of 5G mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure within the United States; (2) assist mutual defense treaty allies, strategic partners, and other countries in maximizing the security of 5G systems and infrastructure; and (3) protect the competitiveness of U.S. companies, privacy of U.S. consumers, and integrity of standards-setting bodies against political influence.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 This bill provides for the conservation and restoration of habitats that facilitate the movement of certain native or noninvasive species (e.g., fish, wildlife, or plant species) that may be at risk due to habitat loss or fragmentation. The bill establishes a National Wildlife Corridor System and provides for the designation and management of such corridors on federal land and water. A corridor means a feature of the landscape or seascape that (1) provides habitat or ecological connectivity, and (2) allows for movement or dispersal of native or noninvasive fish, wildlife, or plants. Indian tribes may nominate a corridor within their land to be included in a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. In addition, the bill establishes a Wildlife Corridors Stewardship Fund to receive donations for the management and protection of the corridors. It also establishes a wildlife movements grant program to encourage the passage of fish, wildlife, or plant species across a landscape or seascape. The National Coordination Committee, established by this bill, must recommend projects to fund under the grant program. The committee must also develop standards for regional wildlife movement plans to allow for better cross-regional collaboration. No fewer than four regional wildlife movement councils must be established. Among other things, the councils must submit to the committee regional wildlife movement plans as well as lists of funding priorities. Finally, the U.S. Geological Survey must establish a National Wildlife Corridors Database.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2019
This resolution condemns the government of Turkey's stated plan to acquire a missile defense system from Russia and expresses support for a U.S. government offer to sell an alternative system to Turkey instead. The resolution also calls for terminating Turkey's participation in the industrial program supporting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter if it acquires the Russian missile system.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2019
This resolution condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and officials and Iranian dissidents and expresses support for the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against the Iranian regime.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act This bill authorizes foreign assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the Northern Triangle), and requires the Department of State to devise strategies to address economic development, corruption, and other issues in those countries. It also requires reports on various related topics, including factors that drive migrants from those countries to the United States. A portion of the assistance authorized for the Northern Triangle shall be conditioned upon the receiving country taking various actions, including (1) informing its citizens of the dangers of the journey to the United States, (2) fighting human and drug trafficking, and (3) combatting corruption. The State Department shall devise strategies directed at the Northern Triangle region to (1) promote inclusive economic growth that addresses the underlying causes of poverty and inequality, (2) combat corruption, (3) strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, and (4) improve security conditions through means such as the professionalization of security services. The State Department shall designate a Senior Rule of Law Advisor for the Northern Triangle. The State Department shall also devise a strategy to work with Mexico to strengthen its southern border. The President shall impose sanctions on foreign persons determined to be involved in a significant act of corruption in a Northern Triangle country. Individuals who engage in such corruption shall be subject to property-blocking sanctions and barred from entering the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
Home Health Payment Innovation Act of 2019 This bill makes a series of changes relating to payment and coverage of home health services under Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA). Specifically, the bill allows the home-confinement requirement (also known as the homebound requirement) for home health services to be waived under Medicare and MA. Currently, as a condition of eligibility for such services, a physician must certify that an individual has difficulty leaving home without assistance (e.g., a wheelchair, special transportation, or help from another person) due to an illness or injury. The bill also alters the payment methodology under the Medicare prospective payment system for home health services, including by eliminating the requirement that such methodology include certain behavioral assumptions regarding the implementation of specified changes to units of payment and case-mix adjustment factors.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
National Right-to-Work Act This bill repeals those provisions of the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act that permit employers, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that is a union security agreement, to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment (including provisions permitting railroad carriers to require, pursuant to such an agreement, payroll deduction of union dues or fees as a condition of employment).
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and revises the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to expand services for preventing and treating child abuse. Specifically, the bill establishes requirements concerning collecting and exchanging data about child abuse and neglect. For instance, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to (1) establish uniform national standards for tracking and reporting child fatalities and near-fatalities resulting from maltreatment, and (2) develop an electronic interstate data exchange system that allows states to share information from their child abuse and neglect registries with other states. In addition, the bill addresses child abuse and neglect related to families impacted by substance use disorders, racial bias in the child protective services system, and child sexual abuse. Finally, the bill requires HHS to examine unregulated custody transfers and make recommendations for preventing, identifying, and responding to such transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Travel Advisor Retail Fairness Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to revise regulations to remove travel agencies from the partial list of establishments having no retail concept. An establishment having no retail concept may not claim the exemption from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Until Labor completes such a revision, a travel agency shall be considered an establishment having a retail concept.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2019 This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to carry out a pilot program to make grants to local governments to enhance the mapping of urban flooding and associated property damage and the availability of such mapping data to homeowners, businesses, and localities to enable them to minimize flooding risk. The grants may only be made to local governments in urbanized areas with populations greater than 50,000 or to stormwater management authorities in those localities. FEMA shall give priority to grant applicants in areas that (1) are highly vulnerable to a sea level rise, (2) include a military installation or other national security facility, or (3) have a population highly vulnerable to urban flooding and have an uneven capacity for flood mitigation and response efforts due to socioeconomic factors.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
National Museum of the American Latino Act This bill establishes the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian Institution. The purposes of the museum are to (1) illuminate Latino contributions to the story of the United States; (2) provide for the collection, study, research, publication, and establishment of exhibitions and programs related to Latino life, art, history, and culture; and (3) provide for collaboration with Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers and other museums and educational institutions in the United States and abroad to promote the study and appreciation of Latino life, art, history, culture, and its impact on society in the United States. The bill establishes a Board of Trustees for the museum to advise and assist the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian on all matters related to the administration and preservation of the museum. The Director of the museum shall manage the museum and may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals. The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services shall establish and carry out specified grant programs and a scholarship program, including a grant program to promote the understanding of the Latin American diaspora in the United States. The Board of Regents shall designate a site for the museum and is authorized to design and construct it.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 400,000 $1 silver coins that are emblematic of the women who played a vital role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Such coins may be issued during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. All surcharges received from the sales of such coins shall be paid to the American Women's History Initiative of the Smithsonian Institution.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Tobacco to 21 Act This bill prohibits the sale of tobacco products to (1) anyone under the age of 21, or (2) anyone under the age of 30 without photo identification of the purchaser's age. The Food and Drug Administration must enforce this prohibition by, for example, conducting undercover compliance checks, performing retailer inspections, and initiating enforcement actions for noncompliance. The bill establishes penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2019
Stop The Overuse of Petitions and Get Affordable Medicines to Enter Soon Act of 2019 or the STOP GAMES Act of 2019 This bill specifies factors that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must use in determining if a petition is submitted with the primary purpose of delaying the approval of a pending new or generic drug application. (Current law allows third parties, including interested parties, to file petitions asking the FDA to take various actions, such as to consider certain issues pertaining to an application for market approval for a drug; current law also allows the FDA to deny a petition that is submitted with the primary purpose of delaying approval of an application.) The factors include (1) whether the petitioner filed serial petitions raising issues that could have been known to the petitioner when an earlier petition was filed, and (2) whether the petition has any data or information to support its scientific positions. If the FDA finds that delay is the primary purpose of the petition, it must refer the matter to the Federal Trade Commission. A party filing a petition must do so within 60 days of when the party first learned of the information on which the petition is based.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 2019
Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act This bill address issues related to preventing and responding to oil spills. Among other things, the bill requires the Department of the Interior to consult with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) before approving an oil and gas lease program; authorizes the Department of Commerce to make grants to states to ensure sufficient oil spill planning and response capabilities; prohibits oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area, the South Atlantic Planning area, and the Straits of Florida Planning Area; sets forth provisions concerning Coast Guard responsibilities, including designating areas that are at heightened risk of oil spills and implementing measures to ameliorate that risk; establishes a Gulf Coast Regional Citizens' Advisory Council to advise on facilities and tank vessels; permits the U.S. Coast Guard or Commerce to request a National Transportation Safety Board investigation of certain accidents occurring in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); establishes inspection fees for OCS facilities; requires a comprehensive review of NOAA's capacity to respond to oil spills; directs the Coast Guard to evaluate and validate oil pollution containment and removal methods and technologies; requires NOAA to carry out a long-term marine environment monitoring and research program for the Gulf of Mexico; and directs the Coast Guard to publish within 12 hours an Incident Action Plan in response to an oil spill.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2019
Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing Act of 2019 or the FAIR Drug Pricing Act of 2019 This bill requires manufacturers to report about certain price increases for prescription drugs and biological products with a wholesale cost of at least $100 per month. Such reports must include, among other information (1) the percentage price increase, (2) a justification for such increase, (3) the price history of the drug, (4) the total cost to develop the drug, and (5) the total revenue and net profit generated from the drug.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act or the RAISE Act This bill eliminates the diversity visa program, replaces employment-based immigration programs with a points-based system, and imposes various limits on various types of immigration. Aliens that reach the minimum number of points may apply for a points-based visa. Points are awarded for various characteristics including age, English language proficiency, education level, and investments made in the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall periodically invite the highest scoring applicants to petition for visas. The bill limits eliminates various preference allocations (visa categories subject to various annual caps) for family-sponsored immigrant visas, such as those for the adult children of U.S. citizens. Only the spouses and children of U.S. citizens shall qualify as immediate relatives , whereas currently parents also qualify (visas for immediate relatives are not subject to direct numerical caps). The bill creates a nonimmigrant visa for such alien parents. The bill reduces the baseline annual cap for family-sponsored visas from 480,000 to 88,000 and revises the methods for calculating the cap. It also imposes a limit of 50,000 refugees admitted in any fiscal year. An alien who received needs-based public benefits shall not be naturalized as a U.S. citizen until the individual who signed the affidavit of support for the alien has reimbursed the federal government for such benefits. The bill imposes various reporting requirements related to the points-based system.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Forage Fish Conservation Act This bill addresses the management and conservation of forage fish. (A forage fish is any fish at a low trophic level that contributes significantly to the diets of other fish, marine mammals, or birds and serves as a conduit for energy transfer to species at a higher trophic level.) The Department of Commerce must establish guidelines to assist regional fishery management councils in (1) developing a list of unmanaged forage fish areas and prohibiting the development of any new forage fish fisheries until the potential impacts of such fisheries have been assessed; and (2) setting annual catch limits for forage fish fisheries that assess, specify, and reduce such limits by the diet needs of other fish species and marine wildlife. The bill adds shad (American shad and hickory shad) and river herring (blueback herring and alewife) to the list of managed stocks for the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act of 2019 This bill expands the child tax credit to allow a credit for an unborn child. The bill defines an "unborn child" as a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb. The credit may be claimed for the year immediately preceding the year of the child's birth, if the child is born alive on or before the due date for tax returns for the year. In certain cases in which a child is not taken into account for the credit for the year immediately preceding the year of the child's birth, the bill doubles the amount of the credit allowed for the year of the birth.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This bill repeals the deferral until sale of the duty owed on large yachts imported for sale at U.S. boat shows. It instead defers until sale the duty owed on certain used vessels used primarily for recreation and brought into the customs territory of the U.S. Generally, the duty must be paid within 15 days after the sale of a covered vessel to a U.S. resident. Posting of bond for this duty is not required upon a covered vessel's entry into the U.S. customs territory.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act This bill allows the President to provide duty-free treatment for certain apparel and textile articles imported from Mongolia.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Global Health Security Act of 2019 This bill directs the President to create the Global Health Security Agenda Interagency Review Council to implement the Global Health Security Agenda, an initiative launched by nearly 30 nations to address global infectious disease threats. The council's responsibilities include (1) providing policy recommendations on agenda-related goals, objectives, and implementation; (2) helping federal agencies with implementation; and (3) reviewing the progress and challenges in achieving U.S. commitments, including assistance to help other countries meet agenda targets. The bill also directs the federal agencies involved with the agenda to prioritize its implementation and to take certain steps to achieve that goal.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act This bill modifies provisions related to theft of firearms. Under current law, it is unlawful to steal a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, or from their business premises. This bill broadens the scope of unlawful conduct to also prohibit stealing a firearm from a gun range that rents firearms or a shooting club. An attempt to commit an offense is subject to the same penalties as a substantive offense. The bill modifies these penalties by increasing the maximum prison term.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Exposing the Financing of Human Trafficking Act This bill modifies the minimum standard for foreign government action toward the elimination of human trafficking. Specifically, an assessment of whether a government has made serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking shall include consideration as to whether the government vigorously investigates, seeks to prevent, and prosecutes financial crimes associated with such trafficking.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Department of Labor Accountability Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Labor to suspend, demote, or remove certain employees for poor performance or misconduct. It establishes requirements and procedures with respect to such adverse personnel actions, including the following: appeal rights, grievances arising from an adverse personnel action, recoupment of relocation expenses, and recoupment of bonuses and awards.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Department of Education Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education to suspend, demote, or remove certain employees for poor performance or misconduct. It establishes requirements and procedures with respect to such adverse personnel actions, including the following: appeal rights, whistle-blower protections, grievances arising from an adverse personnel action, recoupment of relocation expenses, and recoupment of bonuses and awards.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2019
E-2 Visa Improvement Act of 2019 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit a nonimmigrant E-2 alien (treaty investor) who has been in the United States in such status for at least 10 years and has created full-time employment for at least 2 individuals to apply for immediate employment-based immigrant status. Up to 10,000 such visas may be made available each fiscal year. Sons and daughters of E-2 aliens (or aliens seeking such status) can remain on their parent's visa as a child until age 26. Employment authorization may be granted at age 18.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 2019
Global Fragility Act This bill directs the Department of State to establish the interagency Global Fragility Initiative to stabilize conflict-affected areas and prevent violence globally, and establishes funds to support such efforts. The State Department shall devise a plan for the initiative, including its organizational structure and goals. The State Department shall lead in foreign policy, diplomatic, and political efforts. The U.S. Agency for International Development shall lead in development, humanitarian, and non-security policies. Other departments and agencies, including the Department of Defense, shall provide support as necessary. The State Department shall select priority countries and regions that are particularly at risk, and report to Congress 10-year plans for each. Each plan shall include information including descriptions of goals, plans for reaching such goals, and benchmarks for measuring progress. The State Department shall report to Congress every two years about the initiative's progress. The Government Accountability Office shall consult Congress every two years about opportunities to assess the initiative and recommend improvements. The bill creates the Stabilization and Prevention Fund to support efforts to stabilize conflict-affected areas, including areas at risk from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or other terrorist organizations. The bill establishes the Complex Crises Fund to support programs to address emerging, unforeseen, or complex challenges abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2019
Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 201 9 This bill allows tax credits for (1) energy storage technologies, and (2) battery storage technology. The bill expands the tax credit for investments in energy property to include equipment that (1) receives, stores, and delivers energy using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Internal Revenue Service; and (2) has a capacity of at least five kilowatt hours. The bill also expands the tax credit for residential energy efficient property to include expenditures for battery storage technology that (1) is installed on or in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, and (2) has a capacity of at least three kilowatt hours.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
This resolution recognizes the duty of the federal government to create a Green Real Deal to achieve robust, economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Protect European Energy Security Act This bill requires the submission of certain reports to Congress related to Russia's construction of two natural gas pipelines, the Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream. The Department of State shall report on (1) its efforts to promote energy security in Ukraine and the European Union and decrease their dependence on Russian energy sources, (2) its diplomatic efforts to oppose the pipelines, and (3) an estimate of European demand for natural gas from 2019 through 2023. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report on the impact of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline on (1) U.S. interests and security objectives; (2) European energy security and defense posture; (3) Russian influence in Europe; and (4) Ukraine, including the impact of reductions in transit fees due to the pipeline.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Authorization Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a cybersecurity advisory committee within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to consult on the development, refinement, and implementation of policies, programs, and security directives pertinent to the mission of CISA.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from offering any tract for oil and gas leasing or preleasing in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf planning area (North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Straits of Florida) or the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf planning area (Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California).
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Lymphedema Treatment Act of 2019 This bill includes certain lymphedema compression treatment items as covered durable medical equipment under Medicare. (Lymphedema is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling that is caused when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
No Federal Funding to Benefit Sanctuary Cities Act This bill prohibits a sanctuary jurisdiction from receiving federal financial assistance. The term "sanctuary jurisdiction" means a state or local government that prohibits or restricts (1) information sharing about an individual's immigration status, or (2) compliance with a lawfully issued detainer request or notification of release request. The bill authorizes a state or local government to comply with a detainer and limits the liability of a state or local government for complying with the detainer.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019
Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2019 This bill exempts traditional large and premium cigars from regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and from user fees assessed on tobacco products by the FDA.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2019
Fair and Open Competition Act or FOCA Act This bill prohibits federal construction contracts or controlling documents for federally supported construction projects from requiring or prohibiting project labor agreements. Such documents also may not discriminate against or give preference to a bidder or contractor who signs or refuses to sign a project labor agreement. An agency may exempt a project from this prohibition to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve the national security.