United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
This resolution recognizes both the cultural and religious significance of an autonomous Tibet. The resolution also presses for the assembly of a bipartisan, bicameral forum between Members of Congress and the Dalai Lama to discuss peaceful solutions to international conflicts.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Veterans Earned Transportation Act or the Vets ETA This bill permanently reauthorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program that provides transportation to and from VA facilities or other places in connection with vocational rehabilitation, for counseling, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3703 North Main Street in Farmville, North Carolina, as the "Walter B. Jones, Jr. Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act This bill authorizes the establishment of a National Global War on Terrorism Memorial in the area of the National Mall.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to arrange for the award of a single gold medal to the U.S. Army Ranger veterans of World War II in recognition of their dedicated wartime service. Following its award, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where it shall be available for display and research.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
This resolution acknowledges the important role of atomic veterans (i.e., veterans who participated in nuclear testing, were part of the military forces in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, or were held as prisoners of war near Hiroshima or Nagasaki). The resolution also supports the designation of National Atomic Veterans Day.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
This resolution supports the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to (1) increase energy resilience and infrastructure connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe; and (2) further the process of building a Europe that is undivided, secure, prosperous, and free.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
This resolution (1) expresses support for the designation of National Family Service Learning Week, (2) recognizes the importance of family service learning in cultivating civic engagement and community investment, and (3) encourages the public to support family service learning and community development programs. Family service learning is a multigenerational problem-solving approach that utilizes active participation to meet community needs and develop the skillsets of children and families.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act This bill establishes that a foreign-born child of a U.S. citizen member of the Armed Forces or government employee may automatically acquire U.S. citizenship even if the child is not residing in the United States. Currently, a foreign-born child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship if the child (1) has at least one parent who is a citizen, (2) is less than 18 years old, and (3) is residing in the United States in the citizen parent's legal and physical custody pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence. Under this bill, the third requirement is fulfilled if a foreign-born child is (1) living in the legal and physical custody of the citizen Armed Services member or government employee who has been stationed abroad (or the accompanying spouse of such a citizen), and (2) lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
Prudential Regulator Oversight Act This bill requires the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration to report semiannually and testify annually on their supervisory and regulatory responsibilities and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
VA Directly Returning Opioid Prescriptions Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that each VA medical center with an on-site pharmacy or a law enforcement officer has a physical location where patients may dispose of controlled substances medications.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
Cold War Service Medal Act This bill authorizes the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a service medal to members of the Armed Forces who served during the Cold War. The medal may be awarded to service members who (1) served on active duty for at least 24 consecutive months during the Cold War, from September 2, 1945, to December 26, 1991; (2) were deployed outside the continental United States for at least 30 days during the Cold War; (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 such other service in the Armed Forces during the Cold War as DOD may prescribe.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West in Castroville, Texas, as the "Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2019
National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act This bill establishes the National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security to address content on online and social media platforms that implicates national security concerns. Specifically, the commission shall identify, examine, and report on the ways online platforms have been used in furtherance or support of targeted violence or covert foreign state influence campaigns and how addressing such uses impacts users' free speech, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. Consistent with these purposes, the commission must analyze (1) online platforms' responses to such usage; (2) the impacts of algorithms and automated decision-making systems on the rights and privacy of users; and (3) the extent to which online platforms have transparent, consistent, and equitable policies and procedures to address violations of platform rules. The commission must then develop recommendations for how online platforms could address improper use through methods that are transparent and accountable while continuing to promote free speech and innovation on the internet and preserving individual privacy and civil rights. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must (1) research whether any connection exists between the use of online platforms and targeted violence; and (2) develop voluntary approaches that could be adopted by online platforms to address any correlations found while still preserving the individual privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of users.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8320 13th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, as the "Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2019
Protect our Elections Act This bill requires each state or local government entity responsible for the administration of federal elections to ensure that each election service provider (i.e., contractor or vendor) is a qualified provider with regard to (1) the ownership and control of the provider, (2) the provider's compliance with cybersecurity best practices, and (3) the provider's reporting of its ownership and control. The bill requires the entity to annually evaluate each provider. It also specifies reporting requirements for providers, subject to civil penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from operating, financing, or procuring foreign manufactured unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). DHS may waive the prohibition in specified circumstances for (1) the national interest of the United States; (2) counter-UAS surrogate testing and training; or (3) intelligence, electronic warfare, or information warfare operations, testing, analysis, and training.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
This resolution identifies women's cardiovascular health as an important health care issue. It recognizes that gender-specific differences in symptoms can impact health outcomes and costs, promotes increased awareness of these differences, and supports gender-specific cardiovascular health research, prevention, and treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
Pregnancy Discrimination Amendment Act This bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to expand protections against pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2019
Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act This bill limits which orphan drugs may be granted a market exclusivity period by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Generally, an orphan drug is one that is not economically viable because of the rarity of the disease that it treats; the sponsor of an FDA-designated orphan drug may be granted various incentives, such as a seven-year period in which the FDA may not grant market approval to a different sponsor for the same drug to treat the same disease.) Specifically, when determining whether to grant an exclusivity period to a drug that has orphan status due to low expected sales, the FDA shall consider the sales of all drugs from the sponsor that have the same core molecule or ion that is responsible for the drug's physiological or pharmacological action.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2019
Department of Homeland Security Mentor-Protege Program Act of 2019 This bill provides statutory authority for the mentor-protégé program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under which a mentor firm enters into an agreement with a protégé firm to assist the latter to compete for prime contracts and subcontracts of DHS.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2019
Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include integrating civil rights and civil liberties into all DHS programs and activities; conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments; initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities; leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; and engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities. The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL. The bill grants the CRCL the authority to issue subpoenas with the approval of the Secretary of DHS. The CRCL must report annually to the President.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
Dual Credit Innovation Act This bill directs the Department of Education to annually recognize with a Dual Credit Innovation Award eligible partnerships between an institution of higher education that provides a dual credit program and a local educational agency or high school. A dual credit program is a program offered by such a partnership through which a secondary school student who has not graduated from high school with a regular high school diploma is able to enroll in one or more postsecondary courses and earn postsecondary credit that (1) is transferable to the institutions of higher education in the partnership, and (2) applies toward completion of a degree or recognized educational credential.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2019
Libya Stabilization Act This bill provides for sanctions and aid related to the conflict in Libya. The bill provides statutory authority for an April 19, 2016, executive order imposing property- and visa-blocking sanctions on persons contributing to the violence in Libya. The President shall impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on any foreign person that (1) knowingly supports or engages in a significant transaction with a foreign person knowingly operating in Libya on behalf of Russia in a military capacity, (2) engages in significant actions threatening peace or stability in Libya, (3) misappropriates Libyan state assets or natural resources, or (4) is knowingly responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Libya. Such sanctions shall expire on December 31, 2024. The U.S. Agency for International Development may provide humanitarian assistance to individuals and communities in Libya, including urgently needed health assistance, food, and shelter. The Department of State shall work to strengthen Libya's democratic governance, including by providing assistance to (1) unify Libya's financial and governing institutions, and (2) ensure transparent and credible future elections in Libya. The Department of the Treasury shall vote and argue for international financial institutions to support an economic recovery in Libya that complements the establishment of democratic institutions and rule of law.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2019
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through 2030 the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program within the Department of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act This bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development to award at least 50% of the number of scholarships under the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program to Pakistani women for each of the calendar years 2020-2022.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2019 This bill expands research endowments available through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to include former centers of excellence at certain historically black colleges and universities and at biomedical and behavioral research institutions with a significant number of minority students.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Commerce to assist trusted companies (i.e., companies determined to pose no national security threat) and relevant stakeholders with participation in organizations that set standards for telecommunications, wireless devices, and related equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Support And Value Expectant Moms and Babies Act of 2019 or the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved. Under the bill, an already-approved drug intended to terminate a pregnancy may be dispensed to a patient only with a prescription. Furthermore, the FDA may not approve any labeling change that would authorize (1) using the drug after 70 days of gestation, or (2) dispensing the drug by any means other than in-person administration by the prescribing health care practitioner. The FDA must also impose additional restrictions on such already-approved drugs, including by (1) requiring the prescribing health care practitioner to receive a special certification, (2) prohibiting the practitioner to also act as the dispensing pharmacist, and (3) requiring the practitioner to have the ability to provide surgical intervention to the patient. The bill also rescinds any investigational use exemption already granted to such a drug if the bill would have prohibited the FDA from granting the exemption. (Currently, the FDA may grant an exemption to certain market approval requirements if a drug is intended solely for use in safety and effectiveness investigations.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2019
Yes In My Backyard Act This bill requires certain Community Development Block Grant program recipients to submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development information regarding their implementation of certain land-use policies (e.g., policies for reducing minimum lot size).
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2019
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder through a method where veterans train service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2019
This resolution urges Russia to present credible evidence of wrongdoing against U.S. citizen Paul Whelan or immediately release him. It also urges Russia to provide unrestricted consular access to Whelan and to ensure that he is afforded due process and universally recognized human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2019
Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to various forces in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, and the Hong Kong Government Flying Service. Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime control and detection technology and software. The prohibition shall not take effect if the President takes certain actions, such as certifying to Congress that the prohibited exports to a covered force other than the Hong Kong Police Force are required to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals. The Department of State shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.
United States · United States Congress · 30 August 2019
This resolution calls on the Hong Kong government to begin negotiations with protesters to address their five central demands, including the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill that prompted the protests and the complete implementation of universal adult suffrage. It also condemns (1) the Hong Kong government's use of force against the demonstrations; (2) the government's characterizations of the protests as "riots" and attempts to blame the United States for the city's political situation; and (3) the pro-Chinese government media's targeting of Julie Eadeh, the political counselor at the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, and her family. (Hong Kong is a part of China but has a mostly separate legal system, which includes protection for civil liberties including freedom from arbitrary imprisonment. Protests sprung up in opposition to the introduction of an extradition bill that critics say would allow extradition to jurisdictions that do not have such protections, in particular mainland China.)
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial 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 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro National League, a professional baseball league that was formed in response to African-American players being banned from baseball's major leagues. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission to promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion. All surcharges from sales of these coins shall be paid to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to fund educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 This bill revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education. Specifically, the bill makes postsecondary education courses and programs (e.g., apprenticeship programs) that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree eligible for federal student aid funding if the programs and courses are accredited by a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Department of Education. The bill also requires institutions to publish certain enrollment and financial aid information, such as (1) the percentage of former financial aid recipients who are employed at various intervals following graduation, and (2) the average amount of total federal student loan debt accrued upon graduation. The Government Accountability Office must compile and study all such information published by institutions and submit a report containing the results. In addition, the bill consolidates federal student loans into one student loan program and eliminates loan forgiveness for borrowers. Lastly, the bill requires an institution that receives federal student aid funding to pay a default rate fine that is based on the default rate of loans made to its students.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the "Aretha Franklin Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking. Specifically, the bill establishes a congressional approval process for a major rule. A major rule may only take effect if Congress approves of the rule. A major rule is a rule that results in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. In addition, the bill establishes a congressional disapproval process for a nonmajor rule. A nonmajor rule may only take effect if Congress does not disapprove of the rule.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Child Care Protection Improvement Act of 2019 This bill establishes an interagency task force, chaired by the Administration for Children and Families, to support states in conducting required criminal background checks for childcare staff members. Specifically, the task force must consult with relevant state agencies and develop recommendations and best practices. This includes evaluating how agencies are responding to interstate requests for information about staff, or prospective staff, who have lived in another state within the preceding five years. The task force must submit a final report with its recommendations within one year of the first meeting of the task force.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
This resolution commends the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and its partners for their contributions to ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The resolution also affirms previous U.S. commitments to provide 33% of the fund's budget, including for the Sixth Global Fund Replenishment, as demonstrated by legislation passed by the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Gold Star Children Act This bill broadens the categories of individuals eligible for veterans' preference in the civil service. Specifically, it makes children of certain permanently disabled or deceased veterans eligible for veterans' preference treatment in the federal civil service.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2019 This bill phases in a new funding formula for determining benefit amounts under the windfall elimination provision (WEP). (The WEP reduces Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits for those who receive pensions for certain non-covered employment.) The new formula adjusts an individual's total lifetime earnings based on the proportion of those earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes. It applies to individuals who (1) become eligible for old-age or disability benefits after 2060, and (2) have earnings from non-covered service performed in a year after 1977. Beneficiaries who become eligible for benefits between 2022 and 2060 receive the higher of their benefit calculated under the existing WEP or the new formula. In addition, certain beneficiaries currently impacted by the WEP receive an additional payment. The Social Security Administration must include non-covered earnings in Social Security account statements and must study the feasibility of partnering with certain pension systems to address data sharing issues related to non-covered pensions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Maximizing America's Prosperity Act of 2019 This bill establishes annual spending limits that are equal to specified percentages of potential gross domestic product (GDP). Potential GDP generally refers to the GDP that would occur if the economy were at full employment without inflation. The spending limits apply to all budget authority and outlays of the federal government excluding net interest.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
This resolution calls on the President and the Department of State to (1) make the repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws a priority in bilateral relationships between the United States and countries that have such laws; (2) designate countries that enforce such laws as countries of particular concern for religious freedom; and (3) oppose efforts by the United Nations to implement an international anti-blasphemy norm. The resolution also calls on the governments of countries that enforce such laws to amend or repeal them and to release anyone imprisoned pursuant to them.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019
No Pensions for Pedophiles Act This bill prohibits a federal employee from receiving federal retirement benefits if the employee has been convicted of certain crimes relating to the sexual abuse of children.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019
DHS Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate a DHS official as the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Coordinator to coordinate with relevant DHS offices and components on the development of policies and plans to counter threats associated with UAS (i.e., drones). The coordinator shall serve as the principal DHS official for disseminating information regarding counter-UAS technology to the private sector.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019
Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other specified agencies and departments, to develop, publish, and submit to Congress a national One Health Framework for coordinated federal activities under the One Health Program, which encourages collaborative efforts to help better prevent, prepare for, and respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks. The framework must (1) describe existing efforts and contain recommendations for building upon and complementing the activities of federal entities; and (2) establish specified goals, including advancing the scientific understanding of the connections among human, animal, and environmental health.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2019
Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of State to provide assistance and technical expertise to enhance U.S. leadership in international bodies that set standards for 5th and future generations of mobile telecommunications (5G) technology, such as the International Telecommunication Union. The State Department shall also work to increase the participation of allies, partners, and the private sector. (International bodies develop standards for certain technologies, such as those used in wireless data transmission, to ensure interoperability between different companies' products. Stakeholders, such as companies that manufacture equipment that uses such technologies or companies that hold relevant patents, typically participate in the standards-setting process.) The State Department shall report to Congress on (1) its strategy to promote U.S. leadership in the standards-setting bodies relevant to 5G technology; (2) its strategy for diplomatic engagement with allies and partners to share security-risk information related to 5G; and (3) China's activities in standards-setting bodies for 5G technology, including the scope and scale of such activities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019
Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter cooperative agreements or make grants to eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. To be eligible, an entity must (1) be a public or nonprofit private entity with the capacity to effectively administer a grant or cooperative agreement, (2) demonstrate that adequate financial support will be available to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness, and (3) agree to meet the VA's established requirements and demonstrate a capacity to meet such requirements.
