United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Enabling Farmers to Benefit from Processing Nutrition Programs Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a streamlined process for farmers and ranchers to provide benefits under certain federal nutrition programs (i.e., the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program). Specifically, USDA must establish a streamlined application process for farmers and ranchers to apply to be vendors under the nutrition programs, including by developing a single application for the programs or an information sharing system. USDA must also develop a streamlined process for these vendors to use standardized technology to process program benefits (such as a single piece of equipment or a mobile application). Further, USDA must ensure that the program benefit processing equipment and systems made available by a state agency is appropriate for the entity. For example, this includes ensuring wireless or mobile processing equipment and technology systems are appropriate for farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer markets.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
This resolution (1) recognizes the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in advancing independent living for individuals with disabilities; (2) pledges continued efforts to address remaining barriers for individuals with disabilities; and (3) calls on federal agencies to provide additional resources for individuals with disabilities with respect to economic self-sufficiency, community-based services, housing, telecommunication, and transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Global Press Freedom Act This bill establishes the Office of Press Freedom within the Department of State to advance the protection and well-being of members of the press abroad and to engage with foreign governments and global press freedom organizations concerning freedom of the press and of expression. The office must (1) coordinate efforts between relevant U.S. embassy personnel and press organizations or threatened individuals in situations in which press freedom is threatened abroad, (2) publicly and privately denounce oppression of the press abroad, and (3) recommend appropriate responses by the U.S. government when press freedoms are infringed upon. The office shall be headed by the Ambassador-at-Large for Press Freedom, who shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The State Department must ensure that there is a press freedom curriculum for the National Foreign Affairs Training Center to help Foreign Service officers better understand issues of press freedom and tools that are available to help protect journalists and promote freedom of the press norms. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on the implementation of the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009, including how the State Department prepares information for the reports on press freedom that are required by that act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Reserve Act or the RAPID Reserve Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with drug manufacturers to ensure adequate supplies of critical drugs that have vulnerable supply chains. (Under the bill, drugs are considered critical if they are likely to be needed during a public health emergency or if a shortage would pose a significant threat to the health care system or at-risk populations.) Contracted drug manufacturers must agree to (1) maintain at least a 6-month reserve of the active ingredient in a critical drug and of the finished product and to regularly replenish these reserves, (2) produce the ingredient and drug in a manner and quantity as specified in the contract, and (3) agree to transfer portions of the reserve, if necessary, to other manufacturers to meet manufacturing needs and allow HHS to control the allocation of reserves in the event of a public health emergency or other threat. HHS must publish a list of critical drugs and issue guidance on the criteria for determining this list and awarding contracts. HHS must give preference to domestic manufacturers for contracts. In addition, the Government Accountability Office must report on the capacity of domestic manufacturing with respect to critical drugs, including the ability to manufacture different dosage forms and drugs with various characteristics.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023 This bill establishes an alternative manure management program for eligible dairy and livestock producers and provides specified funds to the program for FY2024 through FY2028. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an alternative manure management program to award producers contracts to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Producers must implement management measures that include adopting pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage practices; a solid separation system (or installing a new, higher efficiency solid separation system); or scrape technologies, including vacuum technologies. USDA may provide a 100% federal cost share. Further, the bill caps the maximum payment to a person or legal entity in any five-year period at $825,000. USDA must prioritize contracts to entities that address public health concerns (e.g., air quality and water quality) associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities. Further, USDA must ensure geographical diversity when awarding contracts. USDA must also use a majority of the program's funds for small and mid-sized dairy and livestock operations, including beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The bill also includes composting practices as eligible projects under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. Finally, USDA must review practice standards for composting facilities and soil carbon amendments (e.g., compost) and develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost.
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 · 25 July 2023
Share the Savings with Seniors Act This bill limits cost-sharing for chronic care drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Chronic care drugs include blood glucose regulators other than insulin, anticoagulants, and other categories of drugs as specified in the bill. Specifically, for costs below the annual deductible, the bill caps cost-sharing for chronic care drugs at the net price of the drug (i.e., the negotiated price net of all manufacturer price concessions); for costs above the annual deductible and below the annual out-of-pocket threshold, cost-sharing must be based on a percentage of the drug's net price (if cost-sharing for that drug is tied to the price or cost of the drug).
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Strengthening Pharmacy Access for Seniors Act This bill prohibits prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers from restricting access to any covered drug under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to a subset of their network pharmacies except for limited access drugs. Limited access drugs are those for which the Food and Drug Administration has restricted distribution to certain facilities or physicians or for which dispensing requires extraordinary special handling, coordination, or education that a network pharmacy cannot meet. PDP sponsors must annually report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (1) a list of drugs that the PDP sponsor designated as limited access drugs, (2) the reasons for the designations, (3) information about relevant requirements for pharmacies with respect to these drugs, and (4) the types of pharmacies dispensing these drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Ensuring Fee-Free Benefit Transactions Act of 2023 This bill makes permanent the prohibition on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit transaction fees. The current prohibition expires at the end of FY2023. The bill also specifies that the prohibition applies to states (and any agent, contractor, or subcontractor of a state who facilitates the provision of SNAP benefits) for costs for fraud prevention tools, coverage of infrastructure costs, and other costs associated with updating the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) processing infrastructure.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act This bill prohibits a debt collector from threatening a service member with a reduction of rank, revocation of their security clearance, or military prosecution in the course of collecting a debt. The Government Accountability Office must report on the impact of this prohibition on the timely delivery of information to service members, military readiness, and national security.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act of 2023 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of certain audiology services. Specifically, the bill expands coverage to include diagnostic and treatment services that are furnished by audiologists and that would otherwise be covered if provided by a physician, including incidental services, regardless of whether such services are provided pursuant to a referral from, or under the supervision of, a physician or other health care practitioner.
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
Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2023 This bill expands and otherwise revises a program to support state procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables under the National School Lunch Program. Specifically, the bill (1) expands the number of participating states from a maximum of 8 to a maximum of 14; and (2) establishes additional requirements with respect to priorities, reporting, and evaluations, including with respect to socially disadvantaged populations and the program's economic impact. The bill provides funds for the program through FY2028.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2023
Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2023 This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for organic agricultural research. USDA must establish the Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative for USDA resources dedicated to organic agricultural research. Every five years, the initiative must survey USDA's organic agricultural research and produce a report, including findings and recommendations on expanding research and increasing coordination. USDA must take the findings and recommendations into consideration when preparing USDA's annual budget recommendations. The bill also reauthorizes, and increases funding for, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative through FY2028. Further, eligible grant projects are expanded to include (1) facilitating the identification and adoption of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices, and (2) identifying how organic agriculture can adapt to and mitigate climate change. The bill also reauthorizes, and extends funding for, USDA's organic production and market data initiatives through FY2028. The Economic Research Service must conduct an economic impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in accordance with the National Organic Program. USDA may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities relating to the transition from nonorganic into organic agricultural production systems. Further, the Agricultural Research Service must submit a report to Congress on the resources needed to maintain a proportion of certified organic agricultural land acreage for research so that it is equal to or greater than the organic agriculture industry’s market share of agricultural production.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2023
Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act This bill requires the Federal Reserve Board to carry out its duties in a manner that supports the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in employment, income, wealth, and access to affordable credit. The board must report on disparities in labor force trends as well as on plans and activities of the board to minimize and eliminate these disparities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Building Chips in America Act of 2023 This bill modifies and limits the review of certain semiconductor (i.e., microchip) projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Specifically, the bill exempts from NEPA and NHPA specified semiconductor projects that receive financial assistance under the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Next, the bill allows the Department of Commerce to serve as the lead agency for the review of a semiconductor project that receives such financial assistance but is not exempted from review under NEPA. A single environmental document and joint record of decision must be prepared for a semiconductor project. In completing the environmental review, Commerce may adopt a prior study or decision under certain circumstances. The bill also allows a state to assume the responsibility of an environmental review under NEPA for a semiconductor project. Finally, the bill sets a statute of limitations for certain claims under NEPA.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Stop Predatory Investing Act This bill denies taxpayers owning 50 or more single family properties any tax deduction for interest paid or accrued in connection with any single family residential rental property. It also disallows depreciation of residential rental property owned by such taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act This bill expands the scope of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to include research and activities to prevent stillbirths.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2023
Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take a series of actions relating to palliative-care training. Specifically, HHS must provide support for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Programs. The programs must support the training of health professionals in palliative and hospice care, including through traineeships or fellowships. In addition, HHS may provide support to medical schools, teaching hospitals, and graduate medical-education programs for training physicians who plan to teach or practice palliative medicine. HHS must also (1) provide Palliative Care and Hospice Academic Career Awards to health professional schools to promote the career development of academic hospice and palliative care specialists, (2) support individuals in specified fields who are pursuing an advanced degree in palliative care or related fields, and (3) award grants to nursing programs to train individuals in providing palliative care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must provide for a national education and awareness campaign to inform patients, families, and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care. The National Institutes of Health must expand national research programs in palliative care.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2023
IDEA Full Funding Act This bill provides permanent, mandatory funding for the grant program that assists states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
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
Keeping Military Families Together Act of 2023 This bill permanently extends certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial benefits provided to spouses and dependent children of veterans or active duty servicemembers. Specifically, the bill permanently requires the VA to furnish, upon request, memorial headstones or markers for spouses or dependent children of veterans or servicemembers who were serving on active duty at the time of the spouse’s or child’s death. Additionally, the bill permanently authorizes burial in any open national cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration for a spouse or dependent child of veterans or servicemembers who were serving on active duty at the time of the spouse’s or child’s death.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Recovering Executive Compensation Obtained from Unaccountable Practices Act of 2023 or the RECOUP Act of 2023 This bill establishes additional authorities for federal banking agencies and sets forth requirements for insured depository institutions with assets over a specified amount to address their safety and soundness. In the event of institutional failure, the bill establishes the authority to recover from a senior executive bonus compensation and profits from the sale of securities received during the 24-month period preceding the failure. Federal banking authorities also have the authority at an institution of any size to remove from office a senior executive in cases of gross negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or failure to carry out specified responsibilities. The bill also requires depository institutions and depository institution holding companies to adopt governance and accountability standards that promote safety and soundness, responsiveness to supervisory matters, and responsible management. In addition, the bill increases the cap on civil penalties for associated violations. It also expands certain violations to cover senior executives who recklessly (instead of knowingly ) violate the law. Finally, the bill requires various reports. Federal banking agencies must publish a report after the failure of an institution. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must report semiannually on the supervisory and regulatory policies and actions of the Board. After an insured depository institution enters receivership, the inspector general of the appropriate federal regulator must report on the regulator's supervisory performance with respect to that institution.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act This bill allows an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending disposition of charges (i.e., pretrial detainees) to receive health care benefits through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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
Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2023 This bill authorizes a grant program to provide assistance with travel-related expenses for those seeking an abortion. Specifically, the Department of Treasury may award grants to nonprofit or community-based organizations to provide assistance to those seeking abortions with round-trip travel, lodging, meals, and other travel-related expenses. Priority must be given to organizations that serve individuals who are in jurisdictions that have banned or severely restricted abortion access or who travel to another jurisdiction for an abortion, or organizations that have or plan to have programs in place that help individuals access abortion services. In order to qualify for a grant, organizations must assist individuals seeking abortions through unbiased and medically and factually accurate programs, services, or activities. Organizations may not discourage individuals from seeking abortions. Additionally, federal entities that implement the grant program may not participate in any state, tribal, or local antiabortion proceedings (e.g., prosecutions) in connection with grant services.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
This resolution designates June 2023 as African American Music Appreciation Month and recognizes the contributions of African Americans to the musical heritage of the United States.
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 · 22 June 2023
Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the National Firefighter Registry. This is a voluntary registry maintained by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health that collects relevant health and occupational information to better understand and reduce cancers among firefighters.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023
Work Without Worry Act This bill modifies eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for individuals who have a disability that began before age 22. Under current law, these individuals may obtain SSDI benefits based on the work record of a retired, disabled, or deceased parent. However, an individual with earnings after age 22 that exceed a specified monetary limit (i.e., constitute substantial gainful activity) permanently loses eligibility for such benefits. This bill allows individuals to retain eligibility for such benefits regardless of the amount of earnings after age 22. Additionally, individuals who apply for SSDI benefits on a parent's record and also independently qualify for Social Security benefits on their own record will receive the larger of the two benefit amounts.
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
1890s Advancing and Building Leadership and Excellence Opportunity Act of 2023 This bill expands the allowable areas of focus for Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions (1890 COEs) and reauthorizes the 1890 COEs program through FY2028. (The 1890 Institutions are historically Black colleges and universities that belong to the U.S. land-grant university system and receive federal funds through programs administered by the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.) The current areas of focus for 1890 COEs may also include climate change adaptation and mitigation; fostering forestry resilience and conservation; food safety, bioprocessing, and value-added agriculture; and the integration of the social sciences into the food and agricultural sciences. The bill also specifies that no more than 10 1890 COEs may be in the program. Currently, there is no maximum limit.
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 · 20 June 2023
Protect Patient Access to Pharmacies Act This bill establishes certain requirements with respect to payments to pharmacies by prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage. Specifically, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must ensure that payments sufficiently cover a pharmacy's costs to acquire and dispense covered drugs so as to enable the pharmacy to participate as a network provider. The CMS must (1) use relevant data from pharmacies with respect to acquisition and dispensing costs for covered drugs, (2) establish payment parameters, and (3) establish an appeal process for pharmacies about payments. The CMS must also evaluate the performance measures used by PDP sponsors for pharmacy price concessions or other performance fees and develop standardized performance measures.
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