The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/677d83cbfdb6cf36bbb64998_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
1,651 records where Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act This bill repeals certain restrictions under Medicare and Medicaid that prohibit the approval of nurse-aide training and competency evaluation programs in skilled nursing facilities that have been subject to specified regulatory actions (e.g., civil penalties).
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Uncovering Foreign Influence in the United States Act of 2018 This bill establishes additional disclosure requirements for certain tax-exempt organizations that receive foreign source contributions. The bill also imposes an excise tax on a U.S. person who fails to disclose a political contribution that is made on behalf of or funded by a person other than a U.S. person or bona fide resident of a U.S. possession.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Ostomy Awareness Day. (Ostomy is type of surgery that creates an opening in the abdomen that allows for the removal of bodily waste when an individual has lost normal functions of the digestive or urinary systems due to birth defects, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other medical conditions.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Celebrates National Workforce Development Month. Commits to increasing the investment of federal funds to better address the employment and skills needs of workers and employers.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
Expresses the sense of Congress honoring Senator John McCain's legacy as one of the greatest patriots and statesmen in U.S. history.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2018
Recognizes the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act This bill amends the Act of April 12, 1941 (creating the White County Bridge Commission) to transfer a bridge over the Wabash River to the states of Illinois and Indiana without the condition of tolls.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 2018 This bill prohibits states from imposing a sales tax collection duty on certain remote sellers. A "remote seller" is a person without a physical presence in a state who makes a sale in the state. With respect to remote sellers, a state: (1) may not impose a sales tax collection duty for any sale that occurred before June 21, 2018, and (2) may only impose a sales tax collection duty for a sale that occurs after January 1, 2019. In the case of a small business remote seller (no more than $10 million in gross annual receipts in the United States), a state may not impose a sales tax collection duty on any person other than the purchaser if the sale is made: (1) on or after June 21, 2018; and (2) before the date that is 30 days after the states develop and Congress approves an interstate compact, applicable to the state and sale, governing the imposition of tax collection duties on remote sellers.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2018
Expresses support for the designation of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2018
Expresses support for: (1) the goals of researching new interventions to prevent and treat malaria; and (2) sustained or enhanced efforts so that once malaria is eliminated in a country, it does not return.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2018
Expresses support for the designation of Balance Awareness Week and recognizes the importance of raising public awareness about vestibular (inner ear balance) disorders.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2018
Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent several tax provisions that were enacted in 2017 and are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. The bill makes permanent provisions that: reduce individual tax rates, modify the taxation of the unearned income of children, allow a deduction for qualified business income of pass-through entities, increase the standard deduction, increase and modify the child tax credit, increase the limitation for certain charitable contributions, allow additional contributions to ABLE accounts (tax-favored accounts designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses), allow certain members of the Armed Forces in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt to receive combat zone tax benefits, exclude from gross income discharges of student loan debt due to the death or disability of the student, repeal the deduction for personal exemptions, limit individual deductions for state and local taxes, limit the mortgage interest deduction, double the estate and gift tax exemption amount, increase the alternative minimum tax exemption amount for individuals, and repeal or limit several other deductions and exclusions. The bill also: extends through 2020 the reduction in the adjusted gross income threshold for the medical expense deduction, modifies the capital gains tax brackets, and modifies tax filing requirements for married taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2018
Condemns all efforts to suppress information regarding the oppression and violence inflicted upon Burma's (Myanmar's) Rohingya civilians. Calls on the leader of Burma's civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, to release the jailed journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
The Employee Rights Act of 2018 This bill requires the selection of labor representatives for collective bargaining through secret ballot in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. It also provides for recertification of a bargaining unit if an employer asserts that turnover, expansion, or alteration by merger exceeds 50% of the unit. The bill also prohibits dues paid by an employee to a labor organization from being expended for any purpose not directly related to the organization's collective bargaining or contract administration functions unless the employee authorizes such expenditure in writing.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Retirement Savings Lost and Found Act of 201 8 This bill requires the Department of the Treasury and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to create an online Retirement Savings Lost and Found (RSLF) to assist individuals in locating certain employer-sponsored retirement accounts. The RSLF must provide plan participants or beneficiaries only with the ability to view contact information for the administrator of a plan that is sufficient to locate the plan. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to set forth additional reporting and notification requirements for retirement plans. Treasury and the SSA must take precautions to: (1) safeguard the privacy and security of participants' plan information, and (2) permit plan participants to opt out of inclusion in the RSLF. The bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the IRC to revise provisions that permit mandatory distributions of the balances of small retirement accounts using a rollover into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The bill modifies the investment options available for the distributions and increases the maximum account balance that may be subject to such a distribution. A plan must transfer unclaimed mandatory distributions that are $1,000 or less to the RSLF or to an IRA established by Treasury. The RSLF must invest funds received in Treasury securities and distribute the balance upon receiving an application from a plan participant or beneficiary.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Recognizes World Hepatitis Day. Expresses support for broad access to hepatitis treatments and for raising awareness of the risks and consequences of undiagnosed hepatitis infections. Calls for a robust governmental and public health response to protect the health of people in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2018
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 · 23 July 2018
Expresses support for the celebration of civic advocacy efforts on National Advocacy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2018
Old Glory Only Act This bill prohibits the flying of any flag other than the U.S. flag over U.S. diplomatic and consular posts.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2018
Faster Treatments and Cures for Eye Diseases Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot program through which vision impairment research projects are funded by specified bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Providing ESA Timing Improvements That Increase Opportunities for Nonlisting Act of 2018 or the PETITION Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to revise the process by which the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, reviews petitions to list a species on the endangered or threatened species list. Specifically, the bill establishes a process for the appropriate department to declare a petition backlog and discharge the petitions when there is a backlog.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Weigh Habitats Offsetting Locational Effects Act of 2018 or the WHOLE Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to revise the process by which the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, reviews an agency action to determine whether the action is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of an endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat of the species. Specifically, the bill requires the appropriate department, when making such a determination, to consider the offsetting effects of protection or conservation measures that are already in place or proposed to be implemented as part of the action.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Ensuring Meaningful Petition Outreach While Enhancing Rights of States Act of 2018 or the EMPOWERS Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to revise the process for listing, delisting, or reclassifying a species under the Act. Before submitting to the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, a petition to list a species as a threatened or endangered species, the petitioner must notify each county and state in which the species is located of the intent to submit a petition. Upon finding that the petition may be warranted, the appropriate department must solicit advice from each county and state in which the species is located. If a state or county advises that the listing is not warranted, then the appropriate department may not proceed with the listing unless the department demonstrates that the information submitted in support of the advice is incorrect and that the listing is warranted. The bill expands requirements regarding providing notice of a proposed regulation that determines whether a species is endangered or threatened, including by requiring the appropriate department to provide notice to each person who requests a notice. The appropriate department must justify a final regulation that conflicts with the advice of a state or county.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Localizing Authority of Management Plans Act of 2018 or the LAMP Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) to revise requirements governing cooperative management agreements to manage areas established for the conservation of endangered or threatened species. Under current law, the agreements are between states and the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate. This bill allows the appropriate department to enter into: (1) agreements with local governments, Indian tribes, or nonfederal persons; and (2) agreements to manage areas established for the conservation of species that are candidates for listing. The bill exempts the actions of preparing, approving, and entering into an agreement from environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The departments may: (1) delegate authority under the ESA to states that establish and maintain an adequate program for the conservation of endangered or threatened species that reside in the state, and (2) provide financial assistance to a state that has entered into an agreement with the department or to a state with delegated authority.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Permit Reassurances Enabling Direct Improvements for Conservation, Tenants, and Species Act of 2018 or the PREDICTS Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide statutory authority for requirements regarding habitat conservation plans, candidate conservation agreements, and safe harbor agreements. Those plans and agreements give nonfederal property owners incentives, such as assurances regarding resource use restrictions, if the owner contributes towards the recovery or conservation of an endangered species, a threatened species, or a species that is a candidate for listing as an endangered or threatened species. Under current regulations, a habitat conservation plan is required for entities to hold an incidental take permit for a project that may result in the incidental taking of an endangered or threatened species. Under candidate conservation agreements and safe harbor agreements, property owners enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to address the needs of endangered, threatened, or candidate species in exchange for assurances regarding resource use restrictions that might be imposed if circumstances change. Each incidental take permit, candidate conservation agreement, and safe harbor agreement must contain certain assurances governing permit revocation, changed circumstances, and unforeseen circumstances as prescribed by the bill. The departments may provide grants to individual private landowners to assist the landowners in carrying out candidate conservation agreements or safe harbor agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Less Imprecision in Species Treatment Act of 2018 or the LIST Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to revise the process for removing a species from the endangered or threatened species lists. The Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, must remove a species from the endangered or threatened species lists if Interior produces or receives substantial scientific or commercial information demonstrating that the species is recovered or that recovery goals set for the species have been met. The publication and notice of a proposed regulation to remove a species from the lists must consist solely of a notice of the removal. The bill establishes a process for removing species from the lists if they were erroneously or wrongfully listed. The bill prohibits a person from submitting a petition to list a species as a threatened or endangered species for 10 years if the person knowingly submitted a petition with information that was inaccurate beyond scientifically reasonable margins of error, fraudulent, or misrepresentative.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Stop Takings On Reserves Antithetical to Germane Encapsulation Act of 2018 or the STORAGE Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce from designating as critical habitat an area in a water storage, diversion, or delivery facility where habitat is periodically created and destroyed as a result of changes in water levels caused by the operation of the facility.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Land Ownership Collaboration Accelerates Life Act of 2018 or the LOCAL Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide statutory authority for programs that provide incentives for property owners of natural resources to agree to contribute towards the recovery or conservation of endangered or threatened species. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to enter into: (1) species recovery agreements with property owners who agree to contribute towards the recovery of an endangered or threatened species; and (2) species conservation contract agreements with property owners who agree to contribute towards the conservation of an endangered species, a threatened species, a candidate species, or a species with a comparable designation under state law. The departments must establish a program under which the departments may enter into habitat reserve agreements with property owners to protect or manage habitat for endangered or threatened species. The departments: (1) may provide conservation grants to promote the voluntary conservation of endangered species and threatened species by property owners, (2) must provide financial aid to alleviate the costs of complying with the Act, and (3) may provide technical assistance when requested to enhance the conservation effects of the grants or aid. The bill establishes a Habitat Conservation Planning Loan Program under which the departments may make no-interest loans to assist states and local governments in the development of habitat conservation plans.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Preventing Unionization of Revenue Service Employees Act or the PURSE Act This bill excludes employees of the Internal Revenue Service from provisions of federal personnel law allowing federal employees to organize, bargain collectively, and participate in labor organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Expresses support for the designation of National Sarcoma Awareness Week and National Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day. (Sarcoma is a malignant cancer that arises from certain tissues, such as bone or muscle. Leiomyosarcoma is a type of sarcoma that arises from smooth muscle tissue, most commonly originating in the uterus, stomach, intestine, or blood vessels.) Recognizes the challenges faced by sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients and commends the dedication of organizations, volunteers, researchers, and caregivers working to improve the quality of life of sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2018
Puerto Rico Admission Act of 2018 This bill establishes a process to enable the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico to be admitted into the Union as a state.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2018
History and Tradition Protection Act of 2018 This bill provides that, regarding a civil action for deprivation of rights under color of law, the remedies with respect to a claim shall be limited to injunctive and declaratory relief where the deprivation consists of a violation of a prohibition in the Constitution against the establishment of religion. No fees shall be awarded in proceedings in vindication of civil rights with respect to such a claim concerning the actions of states and localities. With regard to a claim brought against the United States or a federal official acting in his or her official capacity, the bill prohibits the award of reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys to the prevailing party.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2018
Expresses concern that Turkey's anticipated purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries threatens North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) interoperability. Encourages Turkey to realign its defense procurement strategy to comply with NATO.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2018
Expresses solidarity with and sympathy for the people of Guatemala after the June 3, 2018, eruption of the Fuego Volcano.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2018
Expresses support for National Men's Health Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2018
Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation to amend regulations on hours of service for commercial drivers who transport live covered animals (i.e., livestock, honey bees, insects, fish, and crawfish) within a 300 air-mile radius from where the on-duty time of the driver begins. The regulations must: (1) exclude from the driver's on-duty time certain activities, such as loading or unloading a commercial motor vehicle; (2) change the driving time requirement to a maximum of not less than 15, and not more than 18, hours within a 24-hour period; (3) permit the driver to take one or more rest periods during the trip, which shall not be included in the calculation of the driving time; (4) require the driver, after completion of the trip, to take a rest break for a period that is five hours less than the maximum driving time; (5) exclude from the calculation of the driving time up to two additional hours, if the driver is within 150 air-miles of the point of delivery; and (6) make inapplicable the requirement that the driver take a 10-hour rest period before driving.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2018
Condemns Russia's destabilizing behavior in Ukraine and the region. Calls on the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and its associated international community to: (1) continue investigations into illicit Russian efforts to secure the World Cup, and (2) condemn Russia's transgressions against international law and FIFA values.
United States · United States Congress · 29 May 2018
Bill Mulder and Ryan Larkin Posttraumatic Growth Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a two-year pilot program to study the effectiveness of nonprofit post-traumatic growth programs to determine: (1) the outcomes of such programs in contrast to traditional models of mental health care, (2) the possible integration of such nonprofit programs into VA mental health care programs, and (3) the budgetary impact of such integration. Veterans who are at risk of suicide and not participating in traditional mental health treatment are eligible for such program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2018
Expresses support for the designation of National Foster Care Month.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2018
Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018 This bill creates an exemption from electronic logging device requirements for motor carriers that own or operate 10 or fewer commercial vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Vietnam-Era Veterans Hepatitis C Testing Enhancement Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a one-year pilot program to make hepatitis C testing available to certain veterans at events organized by veterans service organizations. To be eligible, a veteran must have served in the active military, naval, or air service between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, and must have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. The program shall be carried out in two rural and three urban Veterans Integrated Service Networks (regional VA health care administrative areas). The VA shall expand the program to all networks if at least 350,000 veterans are tested for hepatitis C by the program's termination date.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
This bill establishes an Advisory Committee on Opioids and the Workplace to advise the Department of Labor on actions Labor can take to provide informational resources and best practices for addressing the impact of opioid abuse on the workplace and supporting workers abusing opioids. The bill terminates the committee after three years.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
Improving the Federal Response to Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorder Act This bill establishes the Interagency Task Force to Improve the Federal Response to Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorders to recommend ways to better coordinate the responses of federal agencies to substance use disorders and the opioid crisis. Specifically, the task force must: (1) identify options to coordinate existing grants and other resources relating to the effect of substance use disorders on youth and families; (2) identify opportunities for state and local partnerships to improve prevention and treatment services; and (3) publish an action plan, including a timeline for implementation, within nine months after enactment of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
Assisting States' Implementation of Plans of Safe Care Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide states with guidance and technical assistance regarding their plans under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act for assuring the safe care of infants affected by prenatal substance use.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide resources to early childhood care and education providers and other professionals working with young children on ways to recognize and respond to children who may be affected by a family member's or other adult's substance abuse. Such resources must include information on risk-assessment, age-appropriate care, and response options that support the whole family.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
Congratulates the American College of Emergency Physicians on its 50th Anniversary. Recognizes the accomplishments and contributions emergency physicians have made to advance the nation's health care system.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2018
Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2018 This bill requires the House of Representatives and the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. merchant mariners of World War II, in recognition of their service during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2018
Expresses support for the designation of National Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2018
Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services for Success Act This bill extends through FY2023 and revises the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant program, and the Child Care Entitlement (CCE) grant program. The bill modifies a variety of programmatic requirements as well as funding for the TANF program and related activities. Specifically, the bill: renames the program as the "Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services" program; revises requirements for initial assessments of individuals by state programs; requires state programs to use, and periodically review, individual responsibility plans; revises mandatory work requirements for program recipients; prohibits state programs from using grant funds for direct spending on child care services or child welfare activities; revises state programs' authority to use grant funds for other specified purposes; by FY2023, eliminates the option for state programs to use third-party contributions to satisfy certain maintenance-of-effort requirements; applies to state programs certain provisions of federal law regarding improper payment; limits state programs' option to carry over unobligated grant funds; eliminates the TANF Contingency Fund (which provides additional funds to states in economic distress); increases funding for CCE grants; modifies certain data and reporting requirements; and otherwise revises requirements related to the TANF program and related activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2018
Students Living Irrespective of Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2018 or the Students LIVE Act of 2018 This bill requires a landlord to treat veteran's educational assistance and benefits as income when determining whether the service member, veteran, or a spouse or child of a service member or veteran has sufficient income to enter into a lease. The bill makes violations of this bill punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.