United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
This resolution expresses support for the designation of Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day. (A journeyman lineman is a person who builds and maintains electrical power systems.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that global warming has resulted in a climate emergency that demands a massive-scale mobilization of U.S. resources to halt, reverse, mitigate, and prepare for the consequences of the emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2019
Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate wind energy technologies and systems.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2019 This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop best practices for schools to establish behavioral intervention teams (i.e., experts who are responsible for identifying individuals of concern and addressing associated behavioral health issues so as to prevent harm to the individual or others). SAMHSA must also develop a list of providers with threat-assessment training to help school personnel implement the best practices.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Untraceable Firearms Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits and penalizes the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of a ghost gun. A ghost gun is a firearm that lacks a unique serial number.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Northern Triangle and Border Stabilization Act This bill authorizes assistance to the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to address the causes of migration to the United States and contains provisions related to the handling of such migrants. The Department of State shall create and implement a Northern Triangle strategy to (1) address crime and violence, (2) improve democratic governance, and (3) promote economic development and tackle extreme poverty. The State Department shall (1) help strengthen the capacity of Western Hemisphere countries to accept and care for refugees, and (2) establish Designated Processing Centers in various Latin American countries to process individuals seeking to migrate to the United States. At least 100,000 additional nationals from Northern Triangle countries shall be admitted as refugees each year from FY2020 through FY2024. The bill requires the hiring of additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, immigration judges, and related staff. The Department of Homeland Security shall establish standards of minimum care for individuals in CBP custody and additional guidelines and standards relating to children in CBP custody. The bill expands penalties related to smuggling and establishes criminal penalties for certain actions related to evading border controls. The bill contains various other immigration-related provisions, including (1) limits on when asylum applicants may be removed, (2) an expansion of alternatives to detention programs, and (3) a requirement that the Department of Justice provide counsel to children and particularly vulnerable individuals in immigration proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Redistricting Reform Act of 2019 This bill requires that congressional redistricting be conducted in accordance with a plan developed by (1) a state-established independent commission; or (2) if such a commission fails to enact a plan, a three-judge panel from a U.S. District Court.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from detaining a woman during pregnancy or postpartum recovery and must immediately release any detainee found to be pregnant, unless such woman presents an immediate and serious threat of hurting herself or others. A DHS detention facility may not use a restraint on a detainee who is known to be pregnant, including during labor, transport to a medical facility or birthing center, and delivery, or during postpartum recovery, except for medical or safety purposes. The bill requires DHS to use the least restrictive restraint necessary and prohibits certain specified restraint types, including four-point restraints and binding a detainee's hands behind her back. The bill prohibits DHS detention officers from being present during a pelvic exam of a detainee, labor, delivery, or treatment relating to a pregnancy, unless specifically requested by medical personnel. If a detention officer is requested by medical personnel, such officer shall be female, if practicable, and remain at a reasonable distance from the detainee. The bill requires that a pregnant detainee shall have access to health care services, including comprehensive services relating to reproductive health care and pregnancy.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2019 or the NO HATE Act This bill establishes various grants within the Department of Justice for states and units of local government to improve law enforcement activities to address hate crimes, including by improving the reporting of hate crime data to relevant national systems. It also allows a court to order, as a penalty for a violation of a federal hate crime statute, a defendant to participate in educational classes or community service related to the community harmed by the defendant's offense as part of a supervised release.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries Act or the LAB Act This bill revises the periods during which laboratories must report clinical diagnostic test information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for purposes of determining Medicare payment rates. The CMS must also contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to evaluate the methodology used to determine a specified laboratory fee schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2019 This bill prohibits commercial conversion therapy, which is a practice or treatment designed to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity or otherwise change behaviors, thoughts, or expressions related to gender or sexual attraction. This prohibition does not apply to treatment that assists an individual undergoing a gender transition or facilitates identity exploration and development.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2019 The bill requires the Financial Stability Oversight Council, prior to determining that a U.S. nonbank financial company shall be supervised by the Federal Reserve Board and therefore subject to certain prudential standards, to first determine that certain alternative actions would not mitigate the threat the company may pose to U.S. financial stability
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants for a period of three years to eligible entities for the provision of suicide prevention services to veterans and their families. Under the bill, eligible entities include tribally designated housing entities, community-based organizations, and other private entities that meet certain requirements. Entities must submit an application to receive financial assistance that includes a description of the services they propose to provide, among other elements. The bill requires the VA to equitably distribute grants across geographic regions and areas with the most need. Additionally, the VA shall give preference to entities that are experienced in providing suicide prevention services. Entities receiving funding must notify service recipients that funding is wholly or partially from the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2019 This bill prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their source of income, veteran status, or military status in the sale or rental of housing and other related real estate transactions and services.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
This resolution expresses support for (1) equal rights and protections for all people, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; and (2) the designation of LGBTQ Equality Day on June 26 to commemorate Supreme Court decisions handed down on that day in 2003, 2013, and 2015. The resolution also acknowledges the need for further legislation to ensure that people in the United States are free from all forms of discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that (1) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights are human rights and protected by the U.S. Constitution; (2) LGBTQ Pride Month should be celebrated; and (3) all Americans should be treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Restore Honor to Service Members Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to review the discharge characterization of a service member who was discharged on the basis of sexual orientation (i.e., on the basis of Don't Ask Don't Tell or a similar policy) if the service member requests such a review. If the service member's discharge is characterized as other than honorable, and if there were no aggravating circumstances that would have independently caused the discharge to be characterized as other than honorable, then DOD must change its characterization of the discharge to honorable.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Protecting People From Surprise Medical Bills Act This bill makes a series of changes relating to health care costs and billing practices. Among other things, the bill applies in-network cost-sharing requirements to certain emergency and related non-emergency services that are provided out-of-network; requires health insurers to include in-network and out-of-network deductibles, as well as out-of-pocket maximum limitations, on enrollee insurance cards; requires health insurers to provide online and print directories of in-network health care providers; and prohibits health care providers from billing individuals for services more than a year after such services are provided.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Wage Increase Fairness Act This bill prohibits any limitation on the amount of a minimum wage set pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, or of one set by a state or municipality pursuant to such Act. Furthermore, no state or municipality shall adopt any law or ordinance which has the purpose or effect of establishing a minimum wage that distinguishes, classifies, or establishes any requirement on an employer based on its status as excluded from the definition of enterprise under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act This bill requires federal agencies that collect information through a survey that includes demographic data (where subjects self-report information or a proxy provides information about the subject or responds for all persons in a household) to review existing data sets to determine in which data sets information about sexual orientation and gender identity is not included, and to assess needed changes in survey methods related to asking questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. Agencies that publish reports relying on survey demographic data must include information on sexual orientation and gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2019
Community-Based Independence for Seniors Act of 2019 This bill establishes a Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan demonstration program through which up to five eligible Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations shall provide home and community-based care to eligible Medicare beneficiaries. For purposes of the demonstration program, an eligible Medicare beneficiary must be ineligible for Medicaid and unable to perform two or more activities of daily living. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall establish payment rates for eligible MA plans under the demonstration program. Such payment rates are capped but shall be in addition to payments otherwise made to MA organizations with respect to such plans. The CMS shall also (1) help to educate eligible Medicare beneficiaries on the availability of the program, and (2) provide for program evaluation by an independent third party.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2019
Protections and Regulation for Our Students Act or the PRO Students Act This bill increases oversight of postsecondary educational institutions and provides consumer protections for students. Proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institutions of higher education (IHEs) must derive at least 15% of their revenue from non-federal sources or risk becoming ineligible for federal educational assistance funds. Postsecondary educational institutions must meet certain requirements regarding entrance counseling for first-time borrowers, disclosure of clinical training agreement terms, disclosure of a mandatory program review, and preparation of students upon successful program completion. The bill prohibits such institutions from using revenues derived from federal educational assistance funds for recruiting or marketing activities. The bill revises requirements governing IHEs that receive federal educational assistance funds, including to broaden the ban on institutions compensating employees based on their successes in securing either enrollments or student aid awards, prohibit predispute arbitration agreements in student loan contracts that waive the rights available to borrowers, and increase protections for whistleblowers who disclose institutional violations. The Department of Education (ED) must (1) establish a complaint tracking system, (2) conduct mandatory program reviews of institutions that pose a significant risk of failing to comply with certain requirements, and (3) recalculate the cohort default rate for institutions that engage in default manipulation and redetermine their eligibility for federal educational assistance funds. The bill expands the defenses that a borrower may assert for not repaying a student loan. ED may impose civil penalties on IHEs that engage in substantial misrepresentation or other serious violations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2019
Integration of Baseball Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins in recognition and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the integration of the game of baseball. All sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges. All surcharges received by Treasury shall be distributed to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with the understanding that the Hall of Fame shall work with the Jackie Robinson Foundation to develop and operate education programs about the integration of the game of baseball and to preserve artifacts related to the integration of the game.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2019
America's Call To Improve Opportunities Now for National Service Act or the ACTION for National Service Act This bill (1) converts the Corporation for National and Community Service into the National and Community Service Administration; (2) reauthorizes programs carried out by the administration; (3) establishes a National Service Foundation to accept and administer gifts on behalf of the administration; and (4) modifies the calculation of national service educational awards. Furthermore, the bill creates a 21st Century American Service Outreach Program to notify individuals age 17 and not more than age 30 about their eligibility to participate in national service programs,; increases living stipends for such volunteers and the cap on such full-time positions; provides a living allowance to members of the National Civilian Community Corps, under specified conditions; and provides an exclusion from gross income, for income tax purposes, for such educational awards and living allowances.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2019
Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2019 This bill prohibits strikes by certain individuals and requires the issuance of rules that provide for federal minimum standard collective bargaining rights and procedures. The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) shall determine for each state whether the laws of such state substantially provide for each of the minimum standard collective bargaining rights and procedures specified by this bill, including the right of public employees and supervisory employees to self-organize, form or join a labor organization, or collectively bargain. The FLRA must issue rules and take actions to establish and administer bargaining rights and procedures for those states that do not substantially provide for them. No employers, emergency services employees, or law enforcement officers may engage in a lockout, strike, or any other organized job action that would probably result in a measurable disruption of the delivery of emergency or public safety services. Furthermore, no labor organization may be the cause of a violation of such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2019
This resolution commends the people of Tunisia for their commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and free elections, and encourages Tunisia's political leaders to work together to accelerate economic reforms and anti-corruption measures. It also calls on the government to fully implement the Tunisian Constitution of 2014, which includes protections for civil liberties and the establishment of the Constitutional Court.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2019
Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act of 2019 or the HELP Separated Children Act of 2019 This bill provides protections for children whose parent or caregiver has been detained for immigration enforcement purposes. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and entities cooperating with DHS on immigration enforcement shall determine as soon as possible whether a detained individual is a parent or caregiver of a child in the United States. Detained parents and caregivers shall (1) have the chance to make at least two phone calls to arrange for child care; and (2) receive contact information for child welfare agencies, family courts, consulates, attorneys, and other relevant entities. DHS shall not transfer the detained individual to another geographical area until child care arrangements have been made, absent extraordinary circumstances. DHS shall (1) permit detained individuals regular contact with their children, and (2) give detained individuals the opportunity to participate in all proceedings impacting custody of their children.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2019
National Green Bank Act of 2019 This bill establishes a U.S. Green Bank to finance climate change mitigation and adaptation projects at the state and local level by capitalizing regional, state, and municipal green banks. The Department of the Treasury must issue green bonds to provide the bank with (1) an initial capitalization of $10 billion; and (2) additional capitalization, upon the bank's request, of no more than $50 billion in aggregate at any one time. The bill also establishes in the Treasury a revolving Green Bank Establishment Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2019
Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt Act or the POST GRAD Act This bill makes graduate and professional students eligible to receive subsidized Stafford Loans under the Federal Direct Loan Program beginning on July 1, 2019. Graduate and professional students have been ineligible to receive subsidized Stafford Loans since July 1, 2012.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
Lady Liberty Act of 2019 This bill sets a floor of 110,000 for the maximum number of refugees who may be admitted into the United States each fiscal year. Under current law, the President sets the annual cap on refugee admissions at the beginning of each fiscal year. (The cap for FY2020 is 18,000, and the cap for FY2019 was 30,000.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
Stopping Bad Robocalls Act This bill updates various policies and regulations relating to robocalls. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect consumer privacy as it relates to robocalls. The FCC must update regulations involving certain robocalls that are exempt from criminal liability to include specific requirements identifying classes of parties who may make such calls, parties who may be called, and how many times they may be called. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that a citation be issued prior to a forfeiture penalty being imposed in cases where violations involving illegal robocalls have been intentional and where inaccurate caller identification information has been provided. The bill also implements a three-year statute of limitation for such violations requiring notice, and a four-year statute of limitation where an intentional violation has occurred. The FCC must promulgate regulations to address requirements for effective call authentication technology as well as to establish a process to streamline the ways in which a private entity may voluntarily share with FCC information relating to an illegal call or text or for calls with misleading or inaccurate caller identification information. Finally, the bill requires the FCC to ensure robocall blocking services provided on an opt-out basis are provided free of cost with transparency and redress options for consumers and callers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
This resolution supports the designation of National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day. The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress injury; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress injury. The resolution also encourages officers of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress injury.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
To Offer Refugees College Help (TORCH) Act This bill requires states to charge in-state tuition rates for institutions of higher education to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders if they are lawfully in the United States. This requirement only applies to the first state where the individual lives after being admitted into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
This resolution celebrates U.S.-Armenia relations and honors the people of Armenia on their peaceful and constitutional leadership transition and the December 9, 2018, democratic parliamentary elections.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2019
Reliable Investment in Vital Energy Reauthorization Act or the RIVER Act This bill extends through FY2036 authorization and eligibility for the program of hydroelectric production incentives and incentive payments to the owners or operators of hydroelectric facilities at existing dams to make capital improvements directly related to improving efficiency.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2019
Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act of 2019 This bill allows income-eligible graduate students who received Pell Grants during their undergraduate education to utilize their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree, subject to the existing 12-semester duration limit. Currently, Pell Grants are available only to undergraduate students.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5186 Benito Street in Montclair, California, as the "Paul Eaton Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2019
Nuclear Energy Leadership Act This bill addresses nuclear energy innovation. Among other things, the bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to (1) establish a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement pilot program; (2) advance the research and development of domestic advanced, affordable, and clean nuclear energy; (3) develop a 10-year strategic plan for its Office of Nuclear Energy; (4) provide for a versatile, reactor-based fast neutron source; (5) establish a program to make available high-assay, low-enriched uranium for use in commercial or noncommercial advanced nuclear reactors; and (6) provide competitive grants to develop the capability to transport high-assay, low enriched uranium. DOE, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must jointly establish a University Nuclear Leadership Program to provide financial assistance for scholarships, fellowships, and research and development projects at institutions of higher education.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2019
Affordability is Access Act This bill establishes several requirements relating to health-insurance coverage of, and access to, over-the-counter contraceptives. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury to specify that private health-insurance plans must cover over-the-counter contraceptives that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), even without a prescription. Under current law, private health-insurance plans (with some exceptions) must cover FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, without cost-sharing requirements. The bill also prohibits retailers from interfering with an individual's access to oral contraceptives that are meant for routine, daily use and are FDA-approved for use without a prescription.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2019 This bill makes it unlawful to intentionally publish digital instructions for programming a three-dimensional printer to make a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Global Respect Act This bill imposes visa-blocking sanctions on foreign persons responsible for or complicit in violating the human rights of individuals due to actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. The President shall report and periodically update a list of foreign persons responsible for such human rights violations and apply sanctions accordingly. The Department of State shall designate at least one senior officer who shall be responsible for tracking violence and discrimination against individuals based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics in foreign countries.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
LGBTQ Essential Data Act This bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take measures to increase the frequency of collection of information on the sexual orientation and gender identity of deceased individuals through the National Violent Death Reporting System.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act This bill imposes requirements and standards related to the care of aliens in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. CBP shall conduct an initial health screening of each alien in custody to identify those with acute conditions and high-risk vulnerabilities and to provide appropriate healthcare. CBP shall conduct the screening within 12 hours of each alien's initial detention, and within 3 hours for certain priority individuals such as children, pregnant women, and those with disabilities. The bill imposes various requirements related to the services, personnel, and infrastructure for providing such screenings, such as providing interpreters, chaperones, and mental health treatment when necessary. CBP shall ensure detainees have access to drinking water, toilets, sanitation facilities, hygiene products, food, and shelter. The bill imposes certain standards relating to such requirements, such as the minimum amount of drinking water and space for each detainee. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall enter into memoranda of understanding with various emergency government relief agencies to address instances when surge capacity is necessary. The Inspector General of DHS shall conduct unannounced inspections of ports of entry, border patrol stations, and detention facilities and report the results to Congress. The Government Accountability Office shall assess CBP's management of such facilities and whether CBP and DHS processes are in compliance with this bill's requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
No Federal Funds for Public Charge Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out the proposed Department of Homeland Security rule entitled Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds . The rule makes aliens who are likely at any time to become a public charge and receive certain public benefits inadmissible.
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 · 11 June 2019
Transportation Emergency Relief Funds Availability Act This bill revises the treatment of deadlines for federal-aid highways and public transportation projects emergency relief funds awarded by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The bill repeals the current two-year deadline for emergency relief projects to advance to the construction obligation stage. DOT must allow up to six years for projects funded through an emergency relief program to advance to construction. The new six-year deadline starts following the date on which a disaster was declared by a state's governor or the President.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2019
Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis and requires the task force to make recommendations on how to use affordable housing to improve the effectiveness of federal programs and improve life outcomes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2019
Homeownership for Dreamers Act This bill prohibits federal mortgage providers from limiting insurance eligibility on the basis of the mortgagor's participation in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8520 Michigan Avenue in Whittier, California, as the "Jose Ramos Post Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits a federal criminal defendant from asserting, as a defense, that the nonviolent sexual advance of an individual or a perception or belief of the gender, gender identify or expression, or sexual orientation of an individual excuses or justifies conduct or mitigates the severity of an offense.