United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Coal Council Certainty Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to reinstate the National Coal Council (NCC), which provided DOE with advice and guidance about policies concerning coal until its charter expired in November 2021. The bill permanently extends the NCC's original charter and thus prevents the reinstated council from expiring.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2023 or the ADVANCE Act of 2023 This bill sets forth provisions to develop and deploy advanced nuclear fuel for the United States and certain allied countries, restrict the possession or ownership of enriched uranium from Russia or China, clean up hazardous land, and establish related requirements. Specifically, the bill provides incentives for developing and deploying new nuclear technologies, such as reduced licensing fees and prize awards for deploying such technologies. It also extends through 2045 the indemnification policy under the Price-Anderson Act that limits liability related to the nuclear industry. It also requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to (1) develop a process that enables timely licensing of nuclear production facilities or utilization facilities at brownfield sites, and (2) establish an initiative to enhance preparedness and coordination with respect to the qualification and licensing of advanced nuclear fuel. NRC may hire specialized staff without regard to civil service laws to address its critical licensing or regulatory oversight needs. The NRC must also coordinate certain international nuclear activities and may establish an International Nuclear Reactor Export and Innovation Branch within the Office of International Programs. The bill allows certain foreign entities to receive licenses under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 for nuclear utilization facilities as specified by the bill. The bill also allows the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct activities to assist in cleaning up certain abandoned mining sites on tribal lands that are hazardous.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 2023
Securing Our Schools Act of 2023 This bill provides funding and resources to (1) strengthen security on school premises, and (2) provide access to student mental health resources. It also generally prohibits the use of federal funding provided by this bill for abortions. Specifically, the bill provides specified funds through FY2033 to the Department of Education (ED) for Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants. It also directs ED to use a portion of these funds to strengthen security on school premises. The bill reauthorizes through FY2029 the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and revises the program, including by increasing grant amounts for administrative costs and technical assistance. Further, the bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to pay for school resource officers and improve physical security at schools. Additionally, the bill transfers specified funds under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to ED to establish the Student Access to Mental Health Program Fund, through which ED must award grants to states to support the salary of a mental health professional in eligible schools; and specified unobligated funds under the ARP Act to support certain mental health programs of ED, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study on mental health providers in schools. The bill transfers specified unobligated funds that were provided to address COVID-19 to ED to carry out this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Small Airport Regulation Relief Act of 2023 This bill allows commercial service airports that do not meet the minimum passenger boarding requirement to continue to receive certain Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a limited time. The AIP provides grants for planning and development projects at public-use airports, including primary airports. Under current law, primary airports are generally commercial service airports that have more than 10,000 passenger boardings each year. Specifically, this bill creates a special rule for FY2024-FY2026 for commercial service airports that (1) had fewer than 10,000 passenger boardings during the calendar year used to calculate the apportionment, and (2) had 10,000 or more passenger boarding in calendar year 2019. For the purpose of AIP grant apportionment, the bill requires the FAA to use the number of passenger boardings at the airport during calendar year 2019, 2020, or 2021 (whichever had the highest number of passenger boardings).
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2023 or the Natural GAS Act of 2023 This bill modifies energy efficiency requirements under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to limit what the Department of Energy (DOE) may include in future rules related to the following natural gas appliances: gas water heaters, furnaces, boilers, kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens. Specifically, the bill requires DOE to certify that rules are not likely to result in a significant shift from gas appliances to electric appliances. DOE must also require a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards as part of the rulemaking process. In addition, the bill exempts certain small manufacturers of major household appliances from future energy efficiency standards for such appliances. Future rules for such appliances must require energy efficiency labels displayed at the point of sale to disclose full-fuel-cycle efficiency rather than point-of-use energy consumption. The bill also prohibits any future rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens from limiting the features (e.g., quick-to-boil times) and functionality available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
Ending China's Unfair Advantage Act of 202 3 This bill prohibits the expenditure of federal funds to implement the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer until the agreement is amended to remove China from the list of developing countries . The bill also prohibits the expenditure of federal funds to support the operations and meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until China is moved to the list of high-income countries that have more specific commitments regarding national plans, reporting, and assisting low-income countries.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 2023
National Plan to End Parkinson's Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a project to prevent and cure Parkinson's disease (a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements) and related conditions. Among other components of the project, HHS must (1) implement and periodically update a national plan to coordinate and guide efforts to prevent, slow the progression of, and cure the disease; and (2) improve diagnosis, treatment, and care of those with the disease. HHS must also annually assess the preparations for and response to the increased burden of Parkinson's disease. In addition, the bill establishes a council, comprised of federal and nonfederal stakeholders, to advise HHS on and make recommendations concerning the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease. The provisions of the bill terminate at the end of calendar year 2035.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
This resolution designates March 2023 as National Women's History Month. The resolution also recognizes the celebration of such month as a time to reflect on the contributions that women have made to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2023
Venezuelan Democracy Act This bill requires or authorizes various actions, including sanctions, targeting the current government of Venezuela and any nondemocratic successor government. The bill also authorizes certain types of assistance for the people of Venezuela and to support democracy-building efforts. Under this bill, the President (1) must impose property-blocking sanctions on Venezuela; and (2) may withhold U.S. foreign assistance or arms-related assistance from any country that provides assistance to the government of Venezuela. The bill also prohibits U.S. persons (individuals or entities) from engaging in transactions involving (1) the debt of Venezuela's government, or (2) any digital currency issued by Venezuela's government. Additionally, the Department of the Treasury must oppose Venezuela's admission to certain international financial institutions (such as the International Monetary Fund) and to withhold certain payments to such institutions if they approve loans or other assistance to Venezuela. Some of the actions required under this bill, including the imposition of sanctions, may be modified or suspended if the President determines that a transition government is in power in Venezuela. Criteria for a determination that a transition government is in power include full reinstatement of the National Assembly convened on January 6, 2016, and public commitments to organizing free and fair elections. Sanctions under this bill shall be terminated if the President determines that a democratically elected government is in power. Assistance under certain programs (such as assistance under the Food for Peace Act) may be provided to Venezuela once it has a democratically elected government.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the Department of Education on October 12, 2022, that suspends federal student loan payments and discharges debt.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2023
This resolution congratulates the people of Greece as they celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the independence of Greece. The resolution also (1) expresses support for the principles of democratic governance to which the people of Greece are committed, and (2) commends Greece's support for the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russian aggression.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2023
This resolution designates March 23, 2023, as National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2023
Technology Grants to Strengthen Domestic Mining Education Act of 2023 or the Mining Schools Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grant program to support domestic mining education. Under the program, DOE must award up to 10 grants each year to mining schools for recruiting and educating mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet future energy and mineral needs. In addition, the bill repeals the Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2023
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023 This bill extends death and disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) to certain public safety officers who suffer from exposure-related cancer while on duty and their survivors. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty and their survivors. The bill specifies that exposure-related cancer shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury in the line of duty if the public safety officer was exposed to or in contact with heat, radiation, or a carcinogen that is linked to an exposure-related cancer; the officer began serving as an officer not later than 5 years before the date of the diagnosis of an exposure-related cancer and the diagnosis occurred not later than 15 years after the last date of active service; and the exposure-related cancer directly and proximately resulted in the death or permanent and total disability of the officer. The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) must periodically review the definition of exposure-related cance r. It directs the BJA to add additional cancers to the definition under certain circumstances (e.g., a petition process).
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2023
This bill requires the Secretary of Energy to assign energy emergency and energy security functions to an Assistant Secretary, including responsibilities with respect to infrastructure and cybersecurity. The Department of Energy must ensure that such functions are performed in coordination with relevant federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2023
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors at certain multilateral development banks, such as the Asian Development Bank, to oppose providing a loan, financial assistance, or technical assistance to China. The executive directors must also advocate and vote to end lending and assistance to a country that has exceeded certain income thresholds.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2023
America's Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 This bill addresses issues regarding public recreation and access to recreation on federal lands and waters, including special recreation permits for outfitting and guiding. Among other provisions, the bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify long-distance bike trails and opportunities to develop or complete long-distance bike trails; USDA to issue guidance relating to climbing management for National Forest System land; Interior and USDA to identify and establish target shooting ranges within national forests and Bureau of Land Management districts; and Interior and the Forest Service to enter into an agreement with the Department of Commerce to foster the installation or construction of broadband internet infrastructure at developed recreation sites on federal recreational lands and waters. Interior and the Forest Service must conduct a single inventory and assessment of recreation resources for federal recreational lands and waters and publish the inventory and assessment for public comment. Interior shall establish a Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation. Interior and the Forest Service must (1) alert the public to closure or disruption of public campsites, trails, roads, and other public areas and access points; and (2) develop and make public a national strategy to increase the number of youth recreation visits to federal land. The bill provides for online collection of recreation fees and for the establishment of a digital version of America the Beautiful--The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2023
New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2023 This bill allows meat and poultry products inspected by State Meat and Poultry Inspection programs to be sold in interstate commerce. Under the inspection programs, the Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service allows states that meet certain requirements to inspect meat and poultry. The state-inspected products are currently limited to intrastate commerce, unless a state opts into a separate Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2023
American Innovation and Jobs Act This bill revises and expands the deductibility of research and experimental expenditures to allow immediate expensing of such expenditures. It also allows the amortization over a period of at least 60 months of certain other types of research and experimental expenditures not treated as expenses. The bill increases the maximum amount eligible for the tax credit for new and small businesses and increases to 20% the rate of the credit for business startups.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2023
Improving Access to Mental Health Act of 2023 This bill increases the Medicare reimbursement rate for clinical social worker services. The bill excludes clinical social worker services from the prospective payment system in which predetermined amounts form the basis for payment under Medicare. Additionally, the bill alters the definition of clinical social worker services as it relates to Medicare. Under current law, such services (1) include services performed for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, and (2) exclude services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility as a condition of the facility's participation in the Medicare program. The bill repeals these provisions and instead specifies that such services include certain types of health behavior assessment and intervention.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2023
Funding Affordable Internet with Reliable Contributions Act or the FAIR Contributions Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study and report on the feasibility of funding the Universal Service Fund through contributions from edge providers (i.e., providers of online content or services, such as search engines). The fund provides support for broadband and other telecommunications services to high-cost areas, schools and libraries, rural health care facilities, and the Lifeline program (an FCC program that provides a discount on phone and internet services for low-income consumers). The report must consider (1) the type and size of firms and services on which contributions could be assessed, (2) equity issues related to current versus alternative systems for contributing to the fund, (3) the effect of any change to the contribution system on the telecommunications bills of consumers, and (4) the sustainability of the fund and how to ensure that fund disbursements are consistent and predictable over time.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2023
Modification to Department of Defense Travel Authorities for Abortion-Related Expenses Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from providing certain funding related to abortion services. First, the bill terminates the DOD memorandum titled Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care (October 20, 2022). Such memo sets forth DOD policies and procedures in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization . Under the bill, DOD may not obligate or expend funds to carry out the objectives of the memo or any successor memo. Next, the bill prohibits DOD from providing any actual or necessary expenses of travel or transportation related to official travel for a member of the Armed Forces or a dependent of such a member who is seeking an abortion or any abortion-related service (except in the case of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger). The bill provides that limited access of a member of the Armed Forces or a dependent to an abortion or abortion-related services due to the member's duty location does not constitute an unusual, extraordinary, hardship, or emergency circumstance for which travel and transportation allowances may be provided (except in the case of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger). The bill also prohibits a member of the Armed Forces from taking convalescent leave or using an administrative absence for travel related to receiving an abortion or abortion-related service (except in the case of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger).
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2023
This resolution condemns China's Hong Kong national security law (officially called The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ) and related human rights abuses. The resolution also (1) supports the people of Hong Kong as they fight to exercise fundamental rights and freedoms; and (2) calls upon the Hong Kong government to drop all sedition and national security law-related charges and free all defendants immediately, including Jimmy Lai and Cardinal Zen.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the rule issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives titled Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached "Stabilizing Braces" and published on January 31, 2023. The rule establishes criteria for determining whether a firearm equipped with an attached stabilizing brace that facilitates shoulder fire is a rifle subject to regulation (e.g., registration) under the National Firearms Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2023
This resolution recognizes that Congress may not modify a resolution to amend the Constitution once it is submitted to the states for ratification or after its ratification deadline expires. The resolution further recognizes that the deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment expired, and so that amendment may not become part of the Constitution unless Congress reinitiates the entire amendment process outlined in Article V of the Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment guarantees equal rights and equality under the law regardless of sex. Congress approved it for ratification by the states in 1972, but only 35 states ratified it (out of the 38 needed) before the statutory deadline expired in 1982. However, an additional three states ratified it after the deadline.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2023
Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2023 or the PHIT Act of 2023 This bill allows a medical care tax deduction for up to $1,000 ($2,000 for a joint return or a head of household) of qualified sports and fitness expenses per year. The bill defines qualified sports and fitness expenses as amounts paid exclusively for participating in a physical activity, including (1) fitness facility memberships, (2) physical exercise or activity programs, or (3) equipment for a physical exercise or activity program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2023
Reduce Russian Uranium Imports Act This bill limits the importation of uranium from Russia. Specifically, it bans low-enriched uranium that is produced in Russia from being imported into the United States. However, the Department of Energy (DOE) may waive this ban if DOE determines that (1) no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium is available to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear reactor or a U.S. nuclear energy company, or (2) importation of the uranium is in the national interest. Any waiver issued must terminate no later than January 1, 2028. In addition, the bill establishes annual caps on the amount of low-enriched uranium that may be imported from Russia through 2027.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2023
This concurrent resolution declares that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over the air or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2023
Dollar-for-Dollar Deficit Reduction Act The bill establishes a framework to require legislation that increases or suspends the public debt limit to include spending reductions that are equal to or greater than the projected increase in debt that will occur under the legislation. The bill allows the spending reductions to be phased in over the period that includes the current and next 10 fiscal years. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of the Treasury to notify the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee when it determines that the federal government will reach the debt limit within 60 days without the implementation of extraordinary measures. The notification must also indicate when extraordinary measures may be necessary to prolong the funding of the federal government in the absence of a debt limit increase. In addition, the bill requires any formal presidential request to increase the debt limit to include (1) the amount of the proposed increase, and (2) proposed legislation to reduce spending by an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount of the requested increase. Finally, the bill establishes budget points of order that may be raised in the House of Representatives and the Senate against legislation that increases or suspends the debt limit and does not contain net spending reductions that are equal to or greater than the increase in the debt that will occur under the legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2023
Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the service that working dogs provide to society. The designs of the coins minted under this bill shall be emblematic of the contributions of working dogs to society, including in detection, military service, therapy, and assistance. Treasury may issue coins only during the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2025. All sales of coins shall include a surcharge, which shall be paid to America's VetDogs for general expenses associated with the fulfillment of its mission.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2023
This resolution reaffirms the interest of the United States in mutually beneficial relations with Mexico based on shared interests on security, economic prosperity, and democratic values. The resolution reaffirms support for stronger economic relations with Mexico, including to strengthen the resiliency of critical supply chains in North America and the Western Hemisphere in general. The resolution expresses deep concerns about the worsening investment climate in Mexico, and calls on the President to take meaningful actions to defend U.S. economic interests in Mexico and uphold the integrity of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The resolution also urges the President to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the border with Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2023
Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act This bill allows the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a Dementia Care Management Model that provides comprehensive care to Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Under the model, participating health care providers receive payment under Medicare for comprehensive care management services that are provided to individuals with diagnosed dementia, excluding Medicare Advantage enrollees, hospice care recipients, and nursing home residents. Required services include medication management, care coordination, and health, financial, and environmental monitoring, as well as trainings and other support services for unpaid caregivers. Providers must furnish services through interdisciplinary teams and must ensure access to a team member or primary care provider 24-7. The CMMI must set payments and determine quality measures for the model in accordance with specified requirements. The bill also allows the CMMI to design a similar model under Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2023
Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. To receive a grant, an entity must certify it will refrain from those activities during the grant period. The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness. It also exempts hospitals unless they provide funds to non-hospital entities that provide abortions. HHS must report annually on this prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2023
Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act This bill establishes requirements related to long-distance bike trails. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall identify not fewer than 10 long-distance bike trails that make use of existing trails and roads, and not fewer than 10 areas in which there is an opportunity to develop or complete such trails. Interior and USDA shall coordinate with stakeholders on the feasibility of, and identifying any resources necessary for, completing the development of the trails so identified; before identifying a trail or road as a long-distance bike trail, ensure that identifying a trail or road as a long-distance bike trail would not conflict with an existing use of the trail or road; and seek geographically equitable identification, development, and completion of long-distance bike trails.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2023
Credit Union Board Modernization Act This bill revises the required frequency of meetings held by a credit union's board of directors. Specifically, new credit unions and credit unions with a low soundness rating must meet monthly. All other credit unions must hold at least six meetings annually, with at least one meeting held during each fiscal quarter. Currently, all credit union boards must meet at least once a month.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2023
First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, collectively, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2023
Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act of 2023 This bill establishes requirements related to U.S. international energy strategy. Applications to export natural gas to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, Japan, and certain other countries must be granted on an expedited basis without modification or delay. The President must impose sanctions on a person (individual or entity) that provides certain equipment, investment, or services to the Russian government or related entities for constructing or servicing Russian energy export pipelines. The Department of State must report to Congress on a strategy to enhance the energy security of NATO member countries and increase U.S. energy exports to such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2023
World Health Organization Pandemic Treaty Implementation Resolution This resolution prohibits any international agreement that is drafted by the World Health Organization and relates to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response from legally binding the United States unless the Senate ratifies the agreement as a treaty. The bill also outlines requirements for negotiating and ratifying such an agreement. The Department of State must (1) consult closely and on a timely basis with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations while negotiating the agreement, and (2) designate at least two Members of that committee to serve as advisors to the negotiation. The State Department must consult with the advisors immediately before initialing the agreement and keep them fully apprised of the negotiations. Additionally, the President must submit to the Senate the agreement (and all annexes and related materials) within 60 days of signing it. The President must also certify that the submitted materials constitute the totality of the agreement and that adopting the agreement serves U.S. national interests. Members may object to the consideration of any legislation that implements the agreement until the President submits it to the Senate for ratification.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2023
Bureau of Land Management Mineral Spacing Act This bill expedites the permitting process for oil and gas drilling on federal land. Specifically, the bill bans the Department of the Interior from requiring a permit to drill for an oil and gas lease under the Mineral Leasing Act for an action occurring within an oil and gas drilling or spacing unit if (1) less than 50% of the minerals within the unit are minerals owned by the federal government, and (2) the federal government does not own or lease the surface estate within the area directly impacted by the action. However, this ban does not apply to certain tribal land. In addition, the bill requires state drilling applicants to notify Interior if their permit or plan would impact or extract federally owned oil or gas. Holders of oil or gas leases must notify Interior when they submit a state permit application to drill.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2023
National Right-to-Work Act This bill repeals those provisions of the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act that permit employers to make an agreement with a labor union to require employees to join such union as a condition of employment. Currently, at least 27 states have enacted laws prohibiting employers from compelling employees to become members of a union as a condition of employment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Graduation Reporting for Accuracy and Decision-Making Act or the GRAD Act This bill expands consumer information disclosure requirements related to student completion or graduation rates at institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs. Currently, such IHEs must disclose the completion or graduation rate of first-time, full-time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. This bill expands disclosure requirements to include the completion or graduation rates of non-first-time and half-time certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. The bill also sets forth new time periods for calculating the completion or graduation rates for programs of study that are less than four years.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule submitted by the Department of Commerce titled Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414 and published on September 16, 2022. The rule allows for the suspension of duties on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules (i.e., solar panels) that are completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam using parts and components manufactured in China that are not already subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
This resolution condemns those acting on behalf of Russia for committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people. It also calls on the United States, in cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union allies, to undertake measures to support the Ukrainian government to prevent acts of Russian genocide against the Ukrainian people. It also urges the President to impose sanctions on those responsible for or complicit in such acts of genocide.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Iran Nuclear Treaty Act This bill requires Senate approval of certain actions with respect to Iran's nuclear program. Specifically, the bill deems any agreement reached between the President and Iran relating to Iran's nuclear program to be a treaty that is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Further, the bill prohibits the President from (1) limiting the application of certain sanctions, or (2) refraining to apply such sanctions pursuant to an agreement unless the agreement is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate as a treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Stop Reckless Student Loan Actions Act of 2023 This bill limits executive authority to (1) suspend or defer federal student loan payments or interest accrual on such loans, and (2) cancel federal student loans. Specifically, the bill prohibits the President or the Department of Education (ED) from suspending or deferring federal student loan payments or the accrual of interest on such loans for borrowers with annual household incomes over 400% of the federal poverty line. Further, ED may only suspend or defer federal student loan payments or the accrual of interest for such loans for a total of 90 days after the declaration of a national emergency by the President. ED must submit recommendations to Congress on relief necessary for recipients of student financial-aid assistance. Additionally, the bill prohibits the President or ED from cancelling the outstanding balances or portions of balances on student loans due to the COVID-19 national emergency or any other national emergency. Executive or regulatory action to suspend or defer federal student loan payments or to cancel federal student loans shall be subject to congressional review. The bill also revises the definition of affected individual for purposes of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003 to exclude from relief under the act (1) an individual who resides or is employed in an area that is declared a disaster area in connection with a national emergency; or (2) an individual who suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a war, military operation, or national emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2023 This bill repeals provisions under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law) that limit, for purposes of Medicare participation, self-referrals by newly constructed or expanded physician-owned hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Internet Platform Accountability and Consumer Transparency Act or the Internet PACT Act This bill requires providers of interactive computer services (e.g., social media companies) to publish their policy explaining the types of content that is permissible on the service and provide a system for users to submit complaints about content that may violate the policy or involve illegal content. Further, providers must establish a process for removing certain content that violates their policies and notifying the information content provider about the removal, including a mechanism to appeal the removal. Providers also must publish a report every six months that details the instances in which the company took action with respect to content, including removing content, deprioritizing content, and suspending content provider accounts. The bill removes certain liability protections for providers if the provider has actual knowledge of illegal content on its service and does not remove the content within specified time frames. The bill provides for enforcement of these requirements by the Federal Trade Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2023
UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act This bill makes changes to U.S. foreign policy in matters concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). For purposes of this policy, the bill defines Palestinian refugee as a person who (1) resided from June 1946 to May 1948 in Mandatory Palestine (a region controlled by Britain until 1948), (2) was personally displaced as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, and (3) has not accepted citizenship or other permanent adjustment in status in another country. Furthermore, under U.S. policy, derivative refugee status may only extend to the spouse or minor child of such a Palestinian refugee. The bill withholds U.S. funding for the UNRWA unless the Department of State makes certifications concerning the UNRWA's staff, partners, and funding. Specifically, the State Department must certify that neither UNRWA staff and partners nor its funding and facilities are affiliated with terrorism or disseminating certain rhetoric, such as calling for the destruction of Israel or describing Israelis as occupiers or settlers . Additionally, the State Department must certify that the UNRWA is (1) subject to comprehensive independent financial audits, and (2) not affiliated with any financial institutions complicit in money laundering or terror financing. The State Department must also implement a plan to encourage other countries to align their UNRWA-related activities with U.S. policy objectives, including the phaseout of the UNRWA by resettling Palestinian refugees outside of Israel.