United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
Increasing Health Coverage through HRAs Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services rule dated June 20, 2019, which provides for the integration of health reimbursement arrangements and other account-based health plans with individual health insurance coverage or Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
This bill authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia in honor of the members of the Armed Forces who have received the Medal of Honor. The foundation shall be solely responsible for the acceptance of contributions for, and the payment of expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work. Federal funds may not be used to pay any expenses for the establishment of the commemorative work. Upon completion, the national museum to honor Medal of Honor recipients shall be located in Arlington, Texas, and designated as the "National Medal of Honor Museum."
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2019 This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Among other provisions, the bill reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities; allows for limited safety-enhancing testing programs to evaluate innovative technologies and operational practices testing the safe operation of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities; authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a confidential and non-punitive voluntary information-sharing system to encourage collaborative efforts to improve inspection information feedback and information-sharing on best practices, processes, and technology deployments with respect to such facilities; establishes a Liquefied Natural Gas division within the Office of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to ensure the safety and oversight of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, including small-scale LNG facilities, peak shaving facilities, and import or export facilities; creates a Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety and Training; increases staffing levels in the PHMSA to hire additional personnel with safety expertise; and directs DOT to initiate a study on technologies and measures that reduce the amount of natural gas released during venting and blowdowns of natural gas distribution systems and transmission pipelines.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
This resolution recognizes addiction as a treatable, chronic medical disease and supports evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder and efforts to prevent and destigmatize addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Rebuilding Our Communities by Keeping aggregates Sustainable Act or the ROCKS Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a working group of federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders to conduct a study on the regulatory and legislative improvements necessary to preserve access to covered resources and reduce the costs and environmental impacts of infrastructure projects. ( Covered resources are materials used in the construction and maintenance of roads, buildings, and other facilities, including stone, sand, and gravel.)
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Corporate Governance Reform and Transparency Act of 2019 This bill requires a proxy advisory firm to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and prohibits an unregistered proxy advisory firm from using interstate commerce to provide proxy-voting research, analysis, or recommendations to any client. With respect to these firms, the bill (1) establishes procedures for both registration and termination of registration; (2) requires each firm to employ an ombudsman, designate a compliance officer, and file specified documents with the SEC; and (3) prohibits unfair, coercive, or abusive practices. The SEC must report annually on its website regarding registration applications and related matters.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
This bill revokes certain waivers of sanctions for nuclear activity in or with Iran, including for (1) the Arak reactor redesign, (2) the transfer into Iran of enriched uranium for the Tehran Research Reactor, and (3) the modification of centrifuge cascades at the Fordow facility.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3703 North Main Street in Farmville, North Carolina, as the "Walter B. Jones, Jr. Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to arrange for the award of a single gold medal to the U.S. Army Ranger veterans of World War II in recognition of their dedicated wartime service. Following its award, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where it shall be available for display and research.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2019
Designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2505 Derita Avenue in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the "Julius L. Chambers Civil Rights Memorial Post Office."
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act of 2019 This bill expands statutory provisions to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to request a law enforcement agency to detain an individual who has been arrested for violating any law (if the individual is believed to be an unlawfully present alien), where current provisions only explicitly authorize detainer requests for individuals arrested for violating controlled substances laws. The bill also modifies other related provisions. A law enforcement agency that has received a detainer request may hold the targeted individual for up to 48 hours. DHS may enter into agreements with law enforcement agencies to indemnify such agencies against claims for wrongful detention resulting from a detainer request. No provision of federal, state, or local law may restrict any government entity from (1) providing DHS with access to databases with information relating to issued detainers, or (2) holding an individual subject to a detainer. DHS shall periodically certify to Congress as to which state or local entities have not complied with a detainer request. Such entities shall be ineligible for compensation for costs related to honoring detainer requests. State and local entities that comply with DHS detainer requests shall have prioritized access to (1) certain law enforcement-related grants, and (2) certain excess federal property.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
School Security Enhancement Act This bill allows local educational agencies to use specified portions of Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants for planning and designing school buildings and facilities, installing infrastructure, and implementing other measures to strengthen security on school premises. The bill prohibits the use of grant funds for the provision of a firearm or training in the use of a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
CTE Outcome Data Enactment Act of 2019 or the CODE Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Education to report on data collection related to student participation and performance in career and technical education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act of 2019 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2019 This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Among other things, the bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive certain restrictions, such as geographic restrictions, for services provided in high-need health professional shortage areas; excludes mental health and emergency medical services, as well as services provided at rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and Indian Health Service facilities, from such geographic restrictions; and allows the CMS to generally waive coverage restrictions during national emergencies. Additionally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must report on information relating to the access of Medicare beneficiaries to telehealth services at home. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
This bill establishes additional requirements for prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors that use formularies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Specifically, the bill requires PDP formularies to include covered generic drugs and biosimilars for which the wholesale acquisition cost is less than that of the reference (i.e., brand-name) product. PDP sponsors must also establish specific cost-sharing tiers that apply lower cost-sharing requirements for such covered generic drugs and biosimilars as compared to those for brand-name products. The bill also prohibits PDP sponsors from instituting certain requirements relating to access to such covered generic drugs and biosimilars that are more restrictive than those for brand-name products (e.g., prior authorization requirements).
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
This joint resolution expresses support for the protection of the right to follow one's own religious beliefs under the First Amendment. The joint resolution also condemns government dictation of acceptable religious beliefs and declares any effort by the government to condition the receipt of the protections of the laws and Constitution of the United States an affront to the intention of the First Amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2019
Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with relevant agencies, to update pharmacist training materials to include information about how to verify the identity of individuals who pick up prescribed medications; it also permits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give preference, in awarding grants to states for overdose prevention, to states that maintain a prescription drug monitoring program and require dispensers of certain controlled substances to verify the identity of individuals who pick up prescribed medications.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
Timely ReAuthorization of Necessary Stem-cell Programs Lends Access to Needed Therapies Act of 2019 or the TRANSPLANT Act of 2019 This bill modifies and reauthorizes through FY2025 the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which provides support to patients who need a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant or umbilical cord blood transplant. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a periodic review of the science of using adult stem cells and birthing tissues in therapeutic treatments.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
This resolution condemns the persecution of members of any faith and calls on foreign governments to recognize the right of Christians to practice their faith without fear of persecution.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2019
This resolution recognizes (1) the contributions of American wines and distinctive American wine-growing regions; and (2) the value of promoting wines from the regions, including those protected by American Viticultural Area designations or other appellations of origin.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2019 This bill directs the President to impose sanctions related to Turkey. The President shall impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on (1) specified officials of Turkey's government, such as the president and vice president of Turkey; (2) any foreign person that knowingly sells to, provides support to, or conducts a transaction with Turkey's armed forces; and (3) any foreign person that supplies goods or services that support petroleum production for use by Turkey's armed forces. The President may temporarily stop the application of such sanctions upon certifying to Congress that Turkey (1) is not operating in certain parts of Syria without U.S. support, and (2) has withdrawn its troops and Turkey-supported rebel groups from occupied areas. The President shall impose additional sanctions on Turkey based on Turkey's purchase of a surface-to-air defense system from Russia. No funds may be obligated or expended to transfer to Turkey's armed forces any U.S. defense articles, services, or technology.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act or the PACT Act This bill imposes sanctions and various restrictions related to Turkey's military invasion of northern Syria. The President shall impose visa- and asset-blocking sanctions on specific Turkish officials connected to the invasion, including Turkey's Minister of National Defense. The Department of State shall report to the President and Congress as to (1) other Turkish officials involved with the invasion; and (2) foreign persons that knowingly provided defense articles, services, or technology to Turkey that could be used in the invasion of northern Syria. Such foreign persons shall also be subject to visa- and asset-blocking sanctions. The President shall impose financial sanctions on the large Turkish state-owned bank known as Halk Bankasi or Halkbank and on any financial institutions that the State Department determines to have knowingly facilitated significant transactions for the Turkish Armed Forces or Turkey's defense industry related to the invasion. The President shall impose sanctions on Turkey's government pursuant to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. A U.S. defense article, service, or technology may not be transferred to Turkey's government if it (1) is covered under the Arms Export Control Act, and (2) may be used by Turkey in military operations in northern Syria. The President may not exercise certain emergency waiver authority related to the Arms Export Control Act in relation to this prohibition. The bill calls for reports on (1) the national security impact of the invasion and, (2) the net worth of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
This resolution directs various committees of the House of Representatives to investigate whether Robert Hunter Biden's business dealings were ethical and proper given Joseph R. Biden, Jr.'s role as Vice President.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2019
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through 2030 the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program within the Department of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2019
International Insurance Standards Act of 2019 This bill prohibits parties representing the federal government in an international insurance agreement from agreeing to any standard unless it recognizes the existing U.S. system of regulation as satisfying that standard. In developing international insurance standards, the parties must coordinate with state insurance regulators. Parties representing the United States in such proceedings must consult with and notify Congress regarding the intention to participate in the negotiations, the nature and objectives of the negotiations, and the details of the agreement. Before entering into any agreement, the parties must report to Congress regarding the implementation and impact of the agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Fair Sugar Policy Act of 2019 This bill makes several modifications to the Department of Agriculture's sugar program. Among other modifications, the bill decreases the rate for price support loans, repeals the marketing allotments, revises the administration of import quotas, and repeals the Feedstock Flexibility Program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
Public-Private Partnerships for Prosperity (P4) Act This bill directs the General Services Administration to carry out a pilot program to enter into public-private partnerships to carry out projects to acquire space for public building purposes. The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a review of all such projects and submit a report to Congress that includes (1) a review and evaluation of the public-private partnerships executed and a comparison of such agreements to similar projects completed as government construction, and (2) recommendations on the use of public-private partnerships as options for meeting the space needs of the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
Flexibility Through Lower Expenses Health Care Act or the FLEX Act This bill provides statutory authority for certain short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans and association health plans. The bill permits short-term, limited-duration plans to provide coverage for a period of less than 12 months, not including extensions. Under current law, such plans are exempt from certain market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, such as coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions. The bill further permits groups or associations of employers to sponsor fully insured group health plans as if they were employers. Such plans may not discriminate based on the health factors of any prospective plan participant for the purpose of granting an employer's membership in the association or determining a participant's eligibility for benefits or premium amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
Cybersecurity and Financial System Resilience Act of 2019 This bill requires the Federal Reserve Board to annually report on efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures with respect to the Federal Reserve's functions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Support And Value Expectant Moms and Babies Act of 2019 or the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved. Under the bill, an already-approved drug intended to terminate a pregnancy may be dispensed to a patient only with a prescription. Furthermore, the FDA may not approve any labeling change that would authorize (1) using the drug after 70 days of gestation, or (2) dispensing the drug by any means other than in-person administration by the prescribing health care practitioner. The FDA must also impose additional restrictions on such already-approved drugs, including by (1) requiring the prescribing health care practitioner to receive a special certification, (2) prohibiting the practitioner to also act as the dispensing pharmacist, and (3) requiring the practitioner to have the ability to provide surgical intervention to the patient. The bill also rescinds any investigational use exemption already granted to such a drug if the bill would have prohibited the FDA from granting the exemption. (Currently, the FDA may grant an exemption to certain market approval requirements if a drug is intended solely for use in safety and effectiveness investigations.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Iron Dome Reinforcement Act of 2019 This bill prohibits certain foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) unless the Department of State certifies to Congress that the receiving entity (and its officials and agencies) has ceased paying compensation or benefits, other than benefits that are generally available to Palestinians, to the families of Palestinians killed in connection with committing an act of terrorism. The State Department shall periodically report to Congress on whether such requirements are being met. If they are not, foreign assistance that would have gone to the Palestinian Authority or the PLO shall be made available as assistance to Israel for its Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2019
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder through a method where veterans train service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2019
Virtual Apprenticeship Tax Credit Act of 2019 This bill allows employers a business-related tax credit for 30% of the qualified virtual training expenses paid during a taxable year, up to a maximum amount of $2,500. The bill defines "qualified virtual training expenses" as expenses related to developing or expanding an industry-recognized virtual apprenticeship program for elementary and secondary school students.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2019
Homeland and Cyber Threat Act or the HACT Act This bill allows claims in federal or state court against foreign states that conduct or participate in cyberattacks against U.S. nationals.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 2019
This concurrent resolution recognizes the 35th anniversary of the Mexico City policy, which prohibits foreign nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. global-health assistance from performing or promoting abortion as a method of family planning. The resolution expresses support for the codification of this policy in U.S. law.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro National League, a professional baseball league that was formed in response to African-American players being banned from baseball's major leagues. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission to promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion. All surcharges from sales of these coins shall be paid to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to fund educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 This bill revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education. Specifically, the bill makes postsecondary education courses and programs (e.g., apprenticeship programs) that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree eligible for federal student aid funding if the programs and courses are accredited by a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Department of Education. The bill also requires institutions to publish certain enrollment and financial aid information, such as (1) the percentage of former financial aid recipients who are employed at various intervals following graduation, and (2) the average amount of total federal student loan debt accrued upon graduation. The Government Accountability Office must compile and study all such information published by institutions and submit a report containing the results. In addition, the bill consolidates federal student loans into one student loan program and eliminates loan forgiveness for borrowers. Lastly, the bill requires an institution that receives federal student aid funding to pay a default rate fine that is based on the default rate of loans made to its students.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2019 This bill provides a private right of action against state and local jurisdictions with certain policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and contains additional provisions related to such jurisdictions. Currently, such cooperation is generally not required. An individual (or certain relatives of such an individual) who is the victim of any felony for which an alien has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced to a prison term of at least one year may sue a state or local jurisdiction if the jurisdiction failed to comply with (1) certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests related to arresting and detaining aliens, and (2) a DHS request to detain the alien in question or provide a notification about the release of the alien. A jurisdiction that accepts certain federal grants may not assert immunity in such a civil action. A jurisdiction (or employee of a jurisdiction) that complies with certain DHS detainer requests shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of DHS. A complying jurisdiction or employee of the jurisdiction shall not be liable in any lawsuit relating to compliance with such requests. In a lawsuit against an employee of the jurisdiction, the United States shall be substituted in as the defendant, and remedies shall be limited to provisions for bringing tort claims against the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Modernizing Disclosures for Investors Act This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow issuers of securities traded on a national securities exchange to meet quarterly financial disclosure requirements via an alternative method, such as through a press release or a shortened form. (Currently, such issuers must disclose information quarterly through Form 10-Q.)
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Taxpayer Identity Protection Act This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service to submit to Congress a report on the Taxpayer Identification Number Perfection Program, including an explanation of the extent to which the information could be used to identify individuals receiving wages without work authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Virtual Value Tax Fix Act of 2019 This bill allows an exclusion of gain or loss, for income tax purposes, on like-kind exchanges of virtual currency completed prior to 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor in North Carolina and South Carolina. The University of South Carolina, as the managing entity for the corridor, shall submit a Corridor Management Action Plan for the corridor.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2019 This bill prohibits third-party hotel-booking websites from marketing, or selling reservations for, a hotel room if the booking site states or implies that it is affiliated with the hotel owner or operator when it is not.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
This bill prohibits the Federal Reserve Board from developing, building, or implementing a real-time payment system until one year after submitting a report to Congress regarding such a system. This report must include a quantitative impact study.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2019
End Child Trafficking Now Act This bill imposes restrictions related to adult aliens being admitted into the United States with a minor. An adult alien shall not be admitted with a minor unless the adult (1) presents documents or witness testimony proving that the adult is a relative or guardian of the minor, or (2) submits to a DNA test that proves such a relationship. The Department of Homeland Security shall request a DNA test only if the required relationship cannot be established by documents or testimony. An adult alien who does not consent to a requested DNA test shall be inadmissible. If the required relationship cannot be established and the immigration officer believes the alien is guilty of a felony offense, the officer may arrest the alien adult. The bill makes it a crime for an alien adult to knowingly use a minor to whom the adult is not a relative or guardian to enter the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2019
Unlocking Capital for Small Businesses Act of 2019 This bill (1) requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to establish registration requirements for private-placement brokers that are no more stringent than those imposed on crowdfunding portals, (2) allows for membership in any national securities association for private-placement brokers, and (3) otherwise modifies provisions related to private-placement brokers and finders.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2019 This bill provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, Indian tribes, or territories; or (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019
Red Light Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to withhold from states allocations of federal highway funds in FY2020 and thereafter if such states enact laws to provide drivers' licenses or other identification cards to aliens unlawfully present in the United States.
![Official portrait of Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b001305_200.jpg)