United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) the relief measures to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) were required, (2) additional relief measures are required, and (3) further efforts to address COVID-19 must include measures and reforms to help Congress restore the federal government's long-term fiscal health once the pandemic ends and the economy regains its strength.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2020
American Families United Act This bill limits what constitutes a conviction for immigration purposes and contains other related provisions. (A conviction can in certain instances be grounds for denying an individual immigration benefits.) Under this bill, certain judgments of guilt, such as one that has been deferred, expunged, or invalidated, shall not be considered a conviction for immigration purposes. An order of probation without an entry of judgment shall also not count as a conviction. Similarly, a pardon shall render the underlying conviction null for immigration purposes. Furthermore, for immigration purposes, a term of imprisonment shall only include the actual period of incarceration ordered by a court. If a term of imprisonment is suspended for any length, the suspended time shall not be considered as part of the term of imprisonment. (An individual may be denied certain immigration benefits if the individual has been convicted for a crime with a certain term of imprisonment.) The bill also provides statutory authority for the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to, in certain instances, exercise discretion when enforcing immigration laws, such as waiving one or more grounds of inadmissibility or declining to order an alien removed. Such discretion may only be exercised on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian purposes or to preserve family unity and is subject to other limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2020
This resolution supports the designation of Oxi Day in commemoration of Greece's refusal to submit to the Axis Powers during World War II and notes that this resistance likely led to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany. (Greece's Prime Minister at the time, Ioannis Metaxas, had responded to Italy's demand for surrender with the single word Oxi! or No! )
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2020
This resolution supports the designation of National Dyslexia Awareness Month and calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2020
This bill expands allowable and forgivable uses of a loan made pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program, enacted to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), to include payment for any business software or cloud computing service that facilitates certain business operations or processes.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2020
This resolution supports the announcements of (1) the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain, and (2) the suspension of Israeli actions to apply sovereignty in parts of the West Bank. Further, it calls on each of these countries to encourage greater people-to-people normalization, and it calls on other Arab and Muslim countries to establish full relations with Israel. It also reaffirms the House of Representatives' support for a negotiated, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 2020
This resolution supports the designation of National Health Center Week and encourages Americans to participate in this week by visiting their local health center.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2020
This resolution states that Hong Kong's loss of judicial and political autonomy renders individuals residing in the United States vulnerable to a Chinese-controlled judicial system. The resolution urges the United States to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong until the reestablishment of Hong Kong's judicial independence can be certified.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Limit on the Expansion of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Act This bill establishes that the joint resolution authorizing the use of military force after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks shall not authorize the use of force in any country in which the Armed Forces are not engaged in hostilities under that authorization on the date this bill is passed.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Surface Transportation Advanced through Reform, Technology, and Efficient Review Act or the STARTER Act This bill addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, innovation, and resiliency programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Among other provisions, the bill extends FY2020 enacted levels through FY2025 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs; requires DOT to provide competitive grants for projects to provide parking for commercial motor vehicles on the federal-aid highway system; authorizes DOT to modify loan interest rates under the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program for borrowers impacted by COVID-19 (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019); specifies that projects that provide access to hospitals and health care providers in areas of limited public transportation options are eligible to be carried out as public transportation research projects; creates a public awareness campaign to reduce instances of driving while under the influence of prescription and over-the-counter medications; directs DOT to promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21; establishes new competitive grant programs to spur innovation of connected vehicle applications into practical and effective operational deployments, and to test the safe integration of automated driving system technologies into the on-road transportation system; and addresses projects to improve the resiliency of federal-aid highways and bridges on and off the National Highway System.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act of 2020 or the JUSTICE Act This bill addresses policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. The bill funds state and local grants, incentivizes state and local reporting on the use of certain policing practices, creates new federal offenses for certain misconduct, establishes a commission to study the conditions affecting Black men and boys, and establishes best practices and training requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 James Street in Reidsville, Georgia, as the "Senator Jack Hill Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2020
Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2020 This bill permits states to provide not more than two weekly payments of $600 to individuals who were eligible for pandemic unemployment compensation during any week after the enactment of this bill but who are no longer eligible as a result of becoming thereafter reemployed. A state may make such payments as a lump sum. Additionally, states participating in pandemic unemployment programs must (1) establish a process for employers to report when an individual refuses an offer of employment; and (2) provide individuals claiming unemployment benefits with notice of the state’s laws with respect to returning, or refusing to return, to work.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2020
Helping Gig Economy Workers Act of 2020 This bill temporarily permits digital marketplace companies (e.g., Lyft, DoorDash, Airbnb, etc.) to provide benefits to workers during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic without such actions establishing those workers as employees or independent contractors or establishing the company as a joint employer under federal, state, or local laws. This bill applies to digital marketplace companies that provide, among other things, financial assistance, health benefits, training, health checks and personal protective equipment to individuals working through such marketplaces during the period beginning on March 15, 2020, and ending on the later of June 30, 2021, or the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month. PCOS is caused by a hormone imbalance. Symptoms can include infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth, and acne. It recognizes the need for further research, improved treatment and care options, and a cure for PCOS. It also acknowledges the struggles affecting all women and girls afflicted with PCOS.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
This bill allows a participant in a health flexible spending arrangement to carry over any portion of the balance in such participant's account at the end of the 2020 plan year to the plan year beginning in 2021.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2020
Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act This bill makes previously unused immigrant visas available to nurses and physicians who petition for such a visa before the date that is 90 days after the end of the declared national emergency relating to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. The number of visas available shall be the total number of unused employment-based immigrant visas from FY1992-FY2020, up to 40,000. Of such visas, 25,000 shall be reserved for nurses and 15,000 for physicians. Certain family members may accompany the principal beneficiary of a visa provided under this bill, and visas for such family members shall (1) be made available from the unused visas from FY1992-FY2020, and (2) not be counted against the 40,000 cap. Visas provided under this bill shall be exempt from per-country limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2020
This bill provides $50 billion in FY2020 supplemental appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support agricultural producers impacted by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. The supplemental appropriations are designated as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits. USDA may not apply any payment limitations to payments made to producers using funding provided by this bill, except to ensure that the total payments made to producers do not exceed the total damages related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2020
This bill establishes the congressional COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) Aid Oversight Panel to report on the use and impact of COVID-19 aid on financial markets and institutions. The bill also authorizes the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program to audit and investigate COVID-19 aid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2020
Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2020 or the MONARCH Act of 2020 This bill provides support for the conservation of western monarch butterflies (the monarch butterfly population that overwinters along the coast of California and breeds across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah). Specifically, the bill establishes the Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must use amounts in the fund to provide grants for the conservation of such butterflies. In addition, USDA must transfer amounts from the fund to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2020
Freight Restriction Elimination for Safer Hauling Act of 2019 This bill allows a state to waive vehicle weight limitations for certain vehicles carrying perishable commodities or products on the Interstate Highway System within such state boundaries.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 2020
American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act of 2020 This bill addresses the use and regulation of fluorinated compounds in products and manufacturing, including by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to establish specified production and consumption baselines for the phase-down of specified fluorinated compounds.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2019
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act This bill redesignates the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Georgia as the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution This resolution implements recommendations made by the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. Among other things, the resolution establishes a centralized human resources program; revises orientation for Members-Elect; requires a survey of Members to determine the level of interest in establishing an academy to provide continuing education opportunities for Members; and requires reports on actions to address technology issues, the accessibility of legislative information, and the accessibility of U.S. Capitol buildings and grounds. The resolution authorizes the Committee on House Administration to carry out recommendations included in the reports.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Protecting Critical Services for Mothers and Babies Act This bill expands the application of rules for cooperative and small employer charity pension plans to include certain nonprofit medical-research organizations that have the primary purpose of delivering services to mothers and children. (These rules exempt specified employers from certain minimum funding requirements for employee pension plans.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2019 This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Among other provisions, the bill reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities; allows for limited safety-enhancing testing programs to evaluate innovative technologies and operational practices testing the safe operation of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities; authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a confidential and non-punitive voluntary information-sharing system to encourage collaborative efforts to improve inspection information feedback and information-sharing on best practices, processes, and technology deployments with respect to such facilities; establishes a Liquefied Natural Gas division within the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to ensure the safety and oversight of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, including small-scale LNG facilities, peak shaving facilities, and import or export facilities; creates a Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety and Training; increases staffing levels in the PHMSA to hire additional personnel with safety expertise; and directs DOT to initiate a study on technologies and measures that reduce the amount of natural gas released during venting and blowdowns of natural gas distribution systems and transmission pipelines.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Time to Rescue United States Trusts Act or the TRUST Act This bill establishes congressional rescue committees to develop recommendations and legislation to improve critical social contract programs. A critical social contract program is a federal program for which a federal trust fund is established (e.g., Social Security, Medicare, and federal highway programs), with outlays of at least $20 billion during the year preceding the year in which this bill is enacted, and for which the amount of dedicated federal funds and federal trust fund balances will be inadequate to meet the total amount of outlays of the program that would otherwise be made. Each rescue committee may develop recommendations and legislation to improve the program for which it was established, including by (1) increasing the duration of positive balances of the federal trust fund established for the program, and (2) providing for the solvency of the federal trust fund established for the program during a 75-year period. Congress must use specified expedited legislative procedures to consider legislation that is approved and submitted by the rescue committees.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
This resolution supports the designation of Oxi Day in commemoration of Greece's refusal to submit to the Axis Powers during World War II and notes that this resistance likely led to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany. (Greece's Prime Minister at the time, Ioannis Metaxas, had responded to Italy's demand for surrender with the single word Oxi! or No! )
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019 This bill directs the President to impose sanctions related to Turkey. The President shall impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on (1) specified officials of Turkey's government, such as the president and vice president of Turkey; (2) any foreign person that knowingly sells to, provides support to, or conducts a transaction with Turkey's armed forces; and (3) any foreign person that supplies goods or services that support petroleum production for use by Turkey's armed forces. The President may temporarily stop the application of such sanctions upon certifying to Congress that Turkey (1) is not operating in certain parts of Syria without U.S. support, and (2) has withdrawn its troops and Turkey-supported rebel groups from occupied areas. The President shall impose additional sanctions on Turkey based on Turkey's purchase of a surface-to-air defense system from Russia. No funds may be obligated or expended to transfer to Turkey's armed forces any U.S. defense articles, services, or technology.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
Creating Hope Reauthorization Act This bill permanently reauthorizes a Food and Drug Administration program that awards priority review vouchers to manufacturers of drugs that treat rare pediatric diseases. (A priority review voucher entitles the voucher holder to priority review of a single human drug application.)
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 · 6 August 2019
Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2019 This bill establishes that licensing a trademark or trademark registration for use by a related company does not contribute to establishing an employment relationship between the licensor and the licensee, nor does a licensor's exercise of control over how the licensed trademark is used.
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
ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2024 the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The bill expands the goals of ARPA-E to include the development of energy technologies that (1) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (2) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy. The bill also authorizes DOE to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate how well ARPA-E is achieving its goals and missions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
This bill establishes a point of order against legislation that increases long-term direct spending. The point of order may be raised in the House or the Senate against legislation that would cause a net increase in direct spending of more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-fiscal year periods beginning with the first fiscal year that is 10 fiscal years after the current fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Improving Transparency for the American People Act of 2019 This resolution expands the duties of the Clerk of the House of Representatives to include reporting on adoption of a standardized format for certain legislative documents, assessing funding and other resources needed to expedite and complete the legislation comparison project, and assigning unique identifiers to persons required to file lobbying statements or reports with the Clerk. The resolution requires the Clerk's website to include a database of the expiration dates of all federal programs and a database of certain recorded votes taken in committees, beginning with the 116th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
ARPA-E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019 This bill revises and reauthorizes requirements governing the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in the Department of Energy (DOE). This bill requires ARPA-E to overcome the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of transformative science and technology solutions to address energy, environmental, economic, and national security challenges. (Currently, ARPA-E must overcome barriers in the development of energy technologies.) The bill expands the goals of ARPA-E to include the development of energy technologies that provide transformative solutions to improve management of radioactive waste, improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of energy production, and address other challenges within the mission of DOE. The bill expands the responsibility of ARPA-E to accelerate novel early-stage research to include nonenergy research. ARPA-E must ensure that it does not fund an advanced technology project unless the prospective grantee has demonstrated sufficient attempts to secure private financing or that such project is not independently commercially viable.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019
IoT Readiness Act of 2019 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to ascertain the amount of spectrum necessary to meet rising demand by studying the growing usage of Internet of Things devices, which use a network to communicate and share data with other devices, and devices that utilize 5G networks.
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 · 22 May 2019
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act This bill modifies the Conrad 30 Waiver program, which incentivizes qualified foreign physicians to serve in underserved communities. It also extends statutory authority for the program through FY2021. Aliens coming to the United States under a J-1 nonimmigrant visa to receive medical training typically must leave the country and reside for two years abroad before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence. The Conrad program waives this requirement for individuals who meet certain qualifications, including serving for a number of years at a health care facility in an underserved area. The bill increases the number of waivers that a state may obtain each fiscal year from 30 to 35 if a certain number of waivers were used the previous year, and provides for further adjustments depending on demand. An alien physician may be employed at an academic medical center to meet the Conrad program's employment requirements if the alien's work is in the public interest, even if the medical center is not in an underserved area. Employment contracts for alien physicians under the Conrad program shall contain certain information, such as the maximum number of on-call hours per week the physician shall have to work. Certain alien physicians (along with the physician's spouse and children) shall be exempt from the direct annual numerical limits on immigration, including those physicians that have met certain requirements related to visas for physicians to serve in underserved areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
Remedies for Refusal of Repatriation Act This bill provides for penalties for countries that refuse or delay repatriation of certain nationals ordered to be removed from the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall establish procedures for determining whether a foreign country is systematically and unreasonably refusing or delaying repatriation of that country's nationals ordered removed from the United States who (1) have been convicted of a felony or crime of violence, or (2) are a threat to national security or public safety. The Department of State and DHS shall notify representatives of a country found to be engaging in such behavior that the United States may stop issuing visas to that country's nationals. If the country continues to systematically and unreasonably refuse or delay repatriation of the individuals described in this bill, the State Department shall stop issuing visas to nationals of that country.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 This bill provides for the automatic acquisition of citizenship for certain individuals adopted by a U.S. citizen. A child born outside the United States and adopted by a U.S. citizen shall automatically acquire citizenship upon meeting certain requirements, regardless of when the adoption was finalized. Currently, adoptees who were over the age of 18 on February 27, 2001, do not automatically acquire citizenship. An individual born outside the United States and residing in the United States shall automatically acquire citizenship if the individual (1) was adopted by a citizen before becoming 18 years old, (2) was physically present in the United States in the citizen parent's custody pursuant to lawful admission before becoming 18 years old, (3) never acquired citizenship before this bill's enactment, and (4) was lawfully residing in the United States on this bill's enactment date. An individual born outside the United States and residing outside the United States but who otherwise meets all of the requirements shall automatically acquire citizenship upon being physically present in the United States pursuant to lawful admission. Such an individual shall be subject to a background check. If the background check reveals the individual has committed a crime that was not properly resolved, the individual may not receive a visa unless the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State have coordinated with law enforcement to ensure that action was taken to resolve the issue.
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 · 10 May 2019
All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2019 This bill revises energy performance requirements for federal buildings, including by requiring agencies to begin installing energy and conservation measures that are life-cycle cost effective.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2019
This resolution celebrates the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, providing for women's suffrage. The resolution also reaffirms the desire of Congress to continue strengthening democratic participation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2019
Spending Safeguard Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish spending limits for direct spending programs that (1) are enacted or reauthorized after the enactment of this bill, and (2) do not have a specific level of authorized spending expressed as a dollar amount. The spending limits must be equal to (1) 120% of the cost of the program for defense, health, Medicare, income security, Social Security, and veterans benefits and services programs; and (2) 110% of the cost for any other program. The OMB must maintain a publicly available scorecard that displays the spending level for any program that is subject to the limits. The OMB and the President must submit specified reports to Congress comparing current spending to the limits. The bill prohibits obligations for programs that have reached the applicable spending limit. Agencies implementing programs listed on the OMB's scorecard must ensure that any contract, offer of benefits, or other material provided to program participants specifies that the program is subject to a spending limit that may impact future availability of funds to pay benefits.
