Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34]

Amendment directs the Secretary of the Army to release the interests of the United States in certain tracts of land located in Cameron County, Texas, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress

Recognizing March 31 as "César Chávez Day" in honor of the accomplishments and legacy of César Estrada Chávez.

United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2022

This resolution recognizes the accomplishments and example of Cesar Estrada Chavez. The resolution also encourages the people of the United States to commemorate his legacy and to always remember his rallying cry, "Si, se puede!" (which means "Yes, we can!").

Expressing support for designation of a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.

United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2022

This resolution expresses support for the designation of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. It also honors and recognizes the contributions of veterans who served in Vietnam.

Celebrating 200 years of United States diplomatic relations with Colombia.

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2022

This resolution celebrates the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Colombia. The resolution recognizes the vital strategic alliance between the United States and Colombia, built on a shared commitment to democracy. The resolution also celebrates the contributions made by Colombians and Colombian Americans to the United States.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1535 East Los Ebanos Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas, as the "1st Lieutenant Andres Zermeno Post Office Building".

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2022

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1535 East Los Ebanos Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas, as the "1st Lieutenant Andres Zermeno Post Office Building."

Condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2022

This resolution condemns the terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022. It also expresses support for the affected community, commends the actions of law enforcement and emergency responders, and reaffirms a commitment to combat hate, bigotry, anti-Semitism, and violence against Jewish Americans.

Invest to Protect Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2022

Invest to Protect Act of 2022 This bill directs the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award a grant to a local or tribal government that employs fewer than 200 law enforcement officers. Grant funds may be used for various activities, including to purchase body cameras, provide de-escalation training, and improve recruitment and retention.

Recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of the month of September 2022 as "PCOS Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2022

This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is caused by a hormone imbalance. Symptoms can include infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth, and acne.

Saving America's Future by Educating Kids Act of 2021

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2021

Saving America's Future by Educating Kids Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to develop and support implementation of an evidence-based, K-12 curriculum on the dangers of substances of misuse, including opioids, vaping, and synthetic drugs. ED must review and update the curriculum every two years. ED must award grants to state educational agencies to implement the evidence-based curriculum. In awarding these grants, ED must give priority to those states that have experienced the highest drug overdose death rates.

Calling on the United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2021

This resolution reaffirms unequivocal support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an alliance founded on democratic principles. The resolution also calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to adopt a new Strategic Concept for NATO that is clear about its support for shared democratic values and committed to enhancing NATO's capacity to strengthen democratic institutions within NATO member, partner, and aspirant countries. Finally, the resolution calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO headquarters.

Protect Minority Student Borrowers Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2021

Protect Minority Student Borrowers Act This bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of a credit applicant's institution of higher education (IHE). Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for a private educational lender to discriminate against a credit applicant based on the IHE that the applicant plans to attend, currently attends, or previously attended. The Department of Justice may bring a civil action against a private educational lender for violations. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the extent to which private educational lenders discriminate against applicants who attend minority-serving IHEs.

Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2021

Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Benjamin Berell Ferencz in recognition of his service to the United States and the international community during the post-World War II Nuremberg trials and his lifelong advocacy for international criminal justice and the rule of law.

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Rural Health Day.

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2021

This resolution expresses support for National Rural Health Day.

Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2021

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2021

Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act of 2021 This bill increases the standard mileage rate for the tax deduction for the charitable use of a passenger automobile. The bill increases the rate from the standard charitable rate of 14 cents per mile to the standard business mileage rate (56 cents per mile in 2021).

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1304 4th Avenue in Canyon, Texas, as the "Gary James Fletcher Post Office Building".

United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2021

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1304 4th Avenue in Canyon, Texas, as the "Gary James Fletcher Post Office Building."

Water Infrastructure for Rural and Impoverished Communities Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2021

Water Infrastructure for Rural and Impoverished Communities Act This bill makes rural communities with up to 30,000 residents eligible to apply, under certain conditions, for grants and loans for water and waste disposal infrastructure. (Current law limits eligibility to communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.) In making the grants and loans, the Department of Agriculture must prioritize communities in counties where at least 20% of the population has persistently lived in poverty.

To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the "Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building".

United States · United States Congress · 4 November 2021

Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the "Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building."

Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021

United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2021

Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021 This bill phases in a new funding formula for determining benefit amounts under the windfall elimination provision (WEP). The WEP reduces Social Security retirement and disability 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 Social Security benefits after 2061, and (2) have earnings from non-covered service performed in a year after 1977. Beneficiaries who become eligible for benefits between 2023 and 2061 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.

Commemorating the annual celebration of Día de los Muertos in the United States and around the world.

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2021

This resolution recognizes the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos. The resolution urges the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to promote policies that uphold the human dignity of each migrant person and put an end to migrant deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border. Finally, this resolution calls on the United States and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote policies focused on COVID-19 protections and ensure that all communities have equal access to these to put an end to COVID-19 related deaths.

DATA Privacy Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2021

Digital Accountability and Transparency to Advance Privacy Act or the DATA Privacy Act This bill establishes information security requirements for businesses that collect, process, store, or disclose information relating to at least 50,000 people in a 12-month period. The bill applies to information that may be linked to a specific individual or a device associated with a specific individual. It does not cover data related to employment or publicly available government records. Specifically, covered businesses must provide consumers with accessible notice of the business's privacy practices with respect to such information; and if meeting a certain revenue threshold, appoint a privacy officer to oversee compliance with the business's privacy practices. The bill further requires the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate rules requiring covered businesses to limit the purpose and amount of consumer data collection to reasonable business purposes, provide consumers with clear methods to opt-in and opt-out of such collection, and refrain from using such data for discriminatory purposes; provide consumers with a method to access, revise, transmit, and delete collected information; and establish information security standards based on the sensitivity and level of identifiability of the collected data, risk of exposure of such data, widely-accepted practices of securing such data, and cost and impact of implementing such practices. Finally, the bill requires the National Science Foundation, and other agencies, to support research of technology that increases the privacy and confidentiality of collected data.

State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2021

State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act This bill allows states, tribes, territories, and localities to use certain COVID-19 relief funds for new categories of spending, including for natural disasters and infrastructure projects. It also makes changes to expenditure deadlines and other aspects of this funding. Specifically, recipients may use funds for emergency relief from natural disasters and associated negative economic impacts of natural disasters. In addition, recipients may use a portion of their COVID-19 relief funds for designated infrastructure projects, such as nationally significant freight and highway projects. Furthermore, the bill allows recipients to expend COVID-19 relief funds on these types of infrastructure projects until September 30, 2026. Under current law, recipients must expend the funds by December 31, 2024. Other changes in the bill include (1) modifying eligibility and allocation requirements for funding set aside for counties and Indian tribes that are near public lands, (2) allowing Indian tribes an additional year to expend their COVID-19 relief funds, and (3) establishing a process for government entities to decline COVID-19 relief funds and requiring any declined funds to be used to reduce the federal deficit.

Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2021

Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust This bill makes changes to Social Security benefits, taxes, and other aspects of the program, including by raising the primary insurance amount, increasing the maximum taxable earnings that are subject to Social Security payroll taxes, and requiring Social Security account statements to be mailed unless the individual recipient opts for electronic delivery.

Recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity in wages paid to Latina women in comparison to men.

United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2021

This concurrent resolution recognizes the disparity between wages paid to Latina women, and its impact on women, families, and the nation and reaffirms Congress' commitment to supporting equal pay and to narrowing the gender wage gap.

To recognize the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2021

This resolution recognizes the ultimate sacrifice of the unknown soldiers interred at Arlington National Cemetery and expresses gratitude and appreciation of all the members of the Armed Forces who have served during wars and peacetime. Additionally, the resolution commends all members of the 3d Infantry Regiment, specifically those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.