United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Accelerating the Development of Advanced Psychology Trainees Act or the ADAPT Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of services that are furnished by advanced psychology trainees. It also requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue guidance for states on coverage options for such services under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund Act of 2023 This bill establishes the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to fund the procurement, test, deployment, and post-deployment enhancements of aviation security checkpoint technology. The TSA must fund this program using airport passenger security fees that are currently collected by the TSA.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Freedom to Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls. Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday. The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections. The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act This bill expands Medicare coverage to permanently include services provided by a pharmacist, including incidental services and supplies, related to testing, vaccines, and treatment for COVID-19, influenza, and certain other illnesses. Specifically, the bill provides for continued coverage of pharmacist services relating to evaluation and management of patients for testing and treatment for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat), as well as vaccines for pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, influenza, or hepatitis B. It also generally provides for coverage of pharmacist services during a public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
HUBS for Veterans Act of 2023 This bill establishes a grant program to assist the transition of military personnel to civilian life. It directs the Department of Labor to carry out a five-year grant program for nonprofit organizations, state boards, or local boards to assist the transition of the following persons from Armed Forces service to civilian life: members eligible for preseparation counseling, former members who are transitioning to civilian life, and spouses of such members or former members. Funds must be used for a range of services and assistance, such as career and training services.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Reproductive Health Patient Navigator Act of 2023 This bill provides funding for patient navigator grants to assist individuals in accessing abortion services. The Department of Health and Human Services must award the grants to state, tribal, or local governments; nonprofits; or community organizations that offer unbiased and medically accurate programs, services, or activities to connect individuals with abortion services. Grant-funded activities include, among others, coordinating the scheduling, financing, and other logistics of abortion services. Further, the bill prohibits individuals, entities, and states from preventing or otherwise disadvantaging an entity that is eligible to receive a grant from carrying out activities to assist individuals with accessing abortion services, including in any state in which those services are not lawful. Such activities include providing (or assisting in the provision of) abortion care and other reproductive health services that are either (1) lawful in the state where the services are provided, or (2) provided to an individual who does not reside in the state where the services are provided. The Department of Justice may bring civil actions for violations; the bill also provides for a private right of action.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2023 This bill expands access to water resources for Native communities (i.e., Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities). Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Agriculture to make or insure loans and make grants to eligible entities (e.g., Native communities) for technical assistance to develop, use, and control water. Additionally, the bill allows the Indian Health Service to (1) provide and maintain essential sanitation facilities to community structures (e.g., schools, hospitals, and tribal offices), (2) provide technical assistance, and (3) provide financial assistance to operate and maintain water facilities that serve Native communities.The bill also increases the authorization of appropriations for the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program through FY2028.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End Act of 2023 or the CHANGE Act of 2023 This bill specifies that Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical examinations must include the use of an approved tool from the National Institute of Aging to detect cognitive impairment, as well as associated documentation of the tool that was used and the results.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers for five years without undergoing additional screening requirements, unless the state has an agreement with other states that governs coverage of children with medically complex conditions that is in accordance with specified guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Among other requirements, a qualifying provider must (1) serve individuals under the age of 21; (2) have previously been screened for Medicare participation or for participation in the Medicaid program of the state in which the provider is located; and (3) have been determined by the CMS or state Medicaid program to pose a limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Freedom to Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls. Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday. The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections. The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2023
LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of the coins shall be promptly paid by Treasury to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties for the objects and purposes related to the hosting of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and to aid in the execution of its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States. Treasury is encouraged to develop and execute a marketing and educational program to promote and sell the coins.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023
Hot Foods Act of 2023 This bill expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to permit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin recovery implementation programs to restore populations of certain endangered and threatened fish. The goal of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is to recover the humpback chub (Gila Cypha) , bonytail (Gila elegans) , Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) , and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) . The states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming are partners in the program. The goal of the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program is to recover the Colorado pikeminnow ( Ptychocheilus lucius ) and razorback sucker ( Xyrauchen texanus ). The states of Colorado and New Mexico are partners in the program. The bill expands the programs to include the recovery of threatened fish stock. Thus, the bill requires the Upper Colorado River program to continue efforts to restore populations of the humpback chub, which was reclassified from an endangered species to a threatened species in 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2023
Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2023 This bill modifies several tax provisions that refer to married couples to make the provisions equally applicable to legally married same-sex couples.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Bolts Ditch Act This bill allows additional entities—the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority—to access and use the Bolts Ditch and its headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado for the purposes of the diversion of water and use, maintenance, and repair of such ditch and headgate.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
This resolution expresses support for the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. The resolution r ecognizes that LGBTQ rights are human rights and protected by the laws of the United States and international treaties. Additionally, the resolution encourages the celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Shelter Act This bill allows individual and business taxpayers a new tax credit for 25% of qualified disaster mitigation expenditures. The credit is limited to $2,500 and $5,000 for individual taxpayers and business taxpayers respectively. The bill defines qualified disaster mitigation expenditures to include expenditures to modify or improve a dwelling unit located in an area in which a federal natural disaster declaration has been made within the preceding five-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act This bill requires prescription drug plans under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to include generic drugs and biosimilars on their formularies. Specifically, the bill requires plans that use formularies to include generic drugs and biosimilars on the formularies and without any requirements (e.g., prior authorization requirements) that are more restrictive as compared to those for brand-name drugs and biologics. Plans that use cost-sharing tiers must also have specific tiers for generic drugs and biosimilars, in accordance with certain limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act of 2023 This bill provides for activities to control invasive species on federal lands and waters. The Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and Forest Service may inspect and decontaminate watercraft entering and leaving federal land and water located within a river basin that contains a Bureau of Reclamation water project. The Bureau of Reclamation must establish a grant program to conduct inspections and decontamination of watercraft in reservoirs operated and maintained by Reclamation, including to purchase, establish, operate, or maintain a watercraft inspection and decontamination station. In carrying out the grant program, Reclamation shall coordinate with (1) states with Reclamation projects, (2) affected Indian tribes, and (3) the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
This bill allows for the separation of enterprise units (EUs) for fallow and continuous acreage of crops in counties under the Federal Crop Insurance Program. An EU is an insurance unit structure that consists of all insurable acreage of the same insured crop in the county in which a farmer has a share on the date coverage begins for the crop year. Separate EUs may be selected for a crop based on certain irrigation or cropping practices.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Expanding Access to Family Planning Act This bill provides, subject to specified conditions, funding through FY2033 for federally funded family planning services and clinics. In particular, the funds must be used for (1) grants and contracts that support the provision of family planning services, and (2) clinic infrastructure (e.g., construction and renovation of clinics). Clinics that receive funding to provide family planning services must offer each patient with a positive pregnancy test the opportunity for nondirective counseling on (1) prenatal care and delivery; (2) infant care, foster care, and adoption; and (3) pregnancy termination. This counseling must include referrals if requested by a patient. Additionally, if a funding recipient makes subawards for the provision of family planning services, the recipient may not prohibit an entity from participating in a subaward program for reasons other than the entity's inability to provide family planning services.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Refund Equality Act of 2023 This bill permits legally married same sex couples to amend their tax returns to file as married filing jointly for returns outside of the statute of limitations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023
Equality Act This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, federally funded programs, and other settings. Specifically, the bill expands Title II and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit public accommodations and federally funded programs, respectively, from discriminating based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It also includes stores, transit services, recreational facilities, and establishments that provide health care, accounting, or legal services as public accommodations under Title II. The bill also expands Title IV (desegregation of public schools) and Title VII (employment discrimination) to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity. (The Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII's prohibition of employment discrimination based on sex also prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.) The bill similarly expands the Fair Housing Act (discrimination in public and private housing) to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by creditors and with respect to jury selection. The bill defines sex for purposes of the aforementioned provisions to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 2023
Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act This bill allows for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that are used to screen for cancer across many cancer types, if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services determines such coverage is appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2023
Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2023 This bill prohibits anyone from interfering with a person's ability to access out-of-state reproductive health care. ( Reproductive health care is defined as medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services and care related to pregnancy, including the prevention or termination of a pregnancy, and other reproductive care.) Specifically, the bill prohibits anyone from restricting, discriminating against, or otherwise disadvantaging anyone who receives, provides, or assists with out-of-state reproductive health care that is legal in the state in which it is provided. The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations. The bill specifically waives any applicable governmental immunity and preempts any contravening state laws.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act or the REPO for Ukrainians Act This bill requires or authorizes various actions related to the confiscation and disposition of Russian sovereign assets (which include funds and other property of Russia's central bank, direct investment fund, or ministry of finance). Under the bill, the President must require U.S. financial institutions to notify the Department of the Treasury of any Russian sovereign assets located at such institutions. The President may confiscate any such assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Confiscated funds and the proceeds of liquidated property must be deposited into the Ukraine Support Fund established by the bill. The Ukraine Support Fund shall be available to the Department of State only to compensate Ukraine for damages caused by the Russian invasion, including by providing funds to an international body or mechanism for (1) reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Ukraine, (2) humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people, or (3) other purposes which support the recovery of Ukraine and the welfare of the Ukrainian people. The bill also directs the President to seek to establish, with foreign partners, an international mechanism to provide compensation to Ukraine using the Ukraine Support Fund and Russian sovereign assets confiscated by foreign partners. Additionally, the bill sets policy on related topics, such as specifying that the United States should lead an international sanctions regime to freeze Russian sovereign assets in conjunction with allies and partners.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2023
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2023 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Among other provisions, the bill permanently removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) and allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services; permanently allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); and allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to generally waive coverage restrictions during any public health emergency. Additionally, the CMS must post certain information about the effects of Medicare telehealth services on its website, including information about utilization, costs, and the outcome of services. The CMS must also (1) provide resources to health care professionals about the requirements for furnishing telehealth services under Medicare, including with respect to payment, patient privacy, and support for underserved populations; and (2) ensure certain quality measures are applied to telehealth services.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2023 This bill expands the earned income tax credit and makes the child tax credit fully refundable. The bill increases and makes permanent the earned income tax credit for taxpayers with no qualifying children and expands age limits for credit eligibility (currently, taxpayers must be at least 25 years of age and not older than 65). It lowers the age baseline of 25 years to 19 years and eliminates the 65 age limit). The bill increases the child tax credit amount and provides for monthly advance payments of such credit.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Right to Contraception Act This bill sets out statutory protections for an individual's right to access and a health care provider's right to provide contraception and related information. Contraception refers to an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives (i.e., a device or medication used to prevent pregnancy), fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures. Generally, the bill prohibits measures that single out and impede access to contraception and related information. However, a party may defend against a claim that a measure violates the bill's prohibitions by demonstrating, through clear and convincing evidence, that the measure significantly advances the safety of contraception and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The bill also specifies that the prohibition preempts inconsistent state and local laws and applies in spite of other federal laws, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. The Department of Justice, individuals, or health care providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act This bill specifically includes pharmacy services as part of covered home infusion therapy under Medicare. The bill also allows nurses and physician assistants to establish and review the plan of care for home infusion therapy.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2023
Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2023 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any qualified catastrophe mitigation payment made under a state-based catastrophe loss mitigation program. A qualified catastrophe mitigation payment means any amount received for making improvements to an individual's property for the sole purpose of reducing the damage that would be done to such property by a windstorm, earthquake, or wildfire.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2023
Global Technology Leadership Act This bill requires the President to establish an Office of Global Competition Analysis. The office must evaluate the leadership of the United States in science, technology, and innovation sectors that are critical to national security and the economy, particularly with respect to other countries that are its chief competitors. The office must analyze U.S. policies, research and development capabilities, and trends and trajectories related to technology and innovation. It must also assess threats and risks to U.S. interests in relation to other countries. The office must engage with federal agencies and the private sector to obtain relevant information, and it must report annually on its activities.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2023
Promoting Utilization and Economic Benefits from Land Optimization (PUEBLO) Act This bill requires the Department of the Army to close Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo County, Colorado, not later than one year after the completion of the chemical demilitarization mission in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty. The Department of the Army must carry out the closure and related property management and disposal of the depot in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990. The bill authorizes the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation within the Department of Defense to make grants and supplement other federal funds to support closure and reuse activities of the depot.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2023
This resolution recognizes June 2023 as Immigrant Heritage Month in honor of the contributions immigrants and their children have made to the United States. It also welcomes immigrants presently in the United States and individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States to contribute to the health, safety, diversity, and prosperity of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act of 2023 or the Innovative FEED Act This bill provides for the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances as food additives. The bill defines zootechnical animal food substance as a substance that is added to the food or drinking water of animals and that affects only the animal's gastrointestinal tract, with the intended purpose of affecting the byproducts of the animal's digestion, reducing foodborne pathogens, or altering the animal's gastrointestinal biome. The definition does not include substances that are used to treat or prevent diseases in animals, hormones, or active ingredients of animal drugs. Labels for zootechnical animal food substances must include a disclaimer that the substance may not be used to treat or prevent diseases in animals.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Protecting Air Ambulance Services for Americans Act of 2023 This bill authorizes payment changes under Medicare for air ambulance services based on certain collected data and requires additional reporting from providers of these services. Current law requires providers of air ambulance services to report certain information regarding general costs and utilization to the Department of Health and Human Services; private health insurers are also required to report information relating to coverage of these services. The bill authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise payment rates under Medicare for air ambulance services based on this data, and it requires providers of air ambulance services to specifically report information relating to costs and utilization under Medicare. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the data that is collected under current law requirements and to recommend changes to Medicare payment rates accordingly.