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.
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 · 15 June 2023
End Government Shutdowns Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if any appropriations measure for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the fiscal year begins or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect. For an initial 120-day period, the bill provides appropriations to continue programs, projects, and activities for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year. The bill reduces the continuing appropriations by 1% after the first 120-day period and by an additional 1% for each subsequent 90-day period until the applicable appropriations legislation is enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Informed Student Borrowing Act of 2023 This bill revises and expands loan counseling for borrowers of federal student loans. Specifically, the bill requires an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student aid programs to provide loan counseling to a student borrower of a federal student loan at the first disbursement of a loan in each award year. Currently, an IHE must provide one-time entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. The bill also revises and expands required elements of loan counseling. For example, required elements of loan counseling must include (1) an explanation that the borrower must affirmatively determine and manually enter the federal loan amount that the borrower will borrow for each award year, and (2) sample monthly repayment amounts based on the standard repayment plan and the most commonly used income-driven repayment plan. Each IHE must ensure that student borrowers and parent borrowers manually enter the exact dollar amount of the loan that they wish to borrow for the year. If an IHE provides a student or prospective student with a financial aid award notification that includes funds under the Federal Work-Study Program, then the IHE must ensure that the notification includes an explanation that these funds are not directly awarded to the student or IHE and that such amounts must be earned through the student's completion of work over time.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2023
Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise Act of 2023 or the CREATE Act of 2023 This bill establishes the Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management within the National Science and Technology Council to plan and oversee efforts to (1) remove carbon dioxide from the air, ocean, and land; and (2) store such carbon. The interagency group must develop a strategic plan for federal research, development, and demonstration of technological carbon dioxide removal and storage. In addition, the interagency group must establish working groups to carry out a Carbon Removal Initiative that pursues such research, development, and demonstration across several federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau titled Small Business Lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) and published on May 31, 2023. The rule requires financial institutions to collect and report to the bureau credit application data for small businesses. On July 31, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ordered the bureau not to implement or enforce the rule until a related pending case is resolved.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2023
This resolution designates June 2023 as Great Outdoors Month. The resolution encourages all individuals in the United States to responsibly participate in recreation activities in the great outdoors.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2023
Protect Our Power Plants Act of 2023 or the POPP Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (1) a proposed rule issued on May 23, 2023, about greenhouse gas emissions from certain power plants that use fossil fuels; or (2) any substantially similar rule.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2023
Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2023 This bill modifies criminal penalties for an offense involving the theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, or from their business premises. Specifically, the bill does the following: increases from 10 to 20 years the maximum prison term, and creates a 3- or 5-year mandatory minimum prison term for an offense that occurs during the commission of a burglary or robbery. An attempt to commit an offense is subject to the same penalties as a substantive offense.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency rule relating to Federal "Good Neighbor Plan" for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (88 Fed. Reg. 36654) and published on June 5, 2023. The rule ensures that 23 states meet "Good Neighbor" standards required by the Clean Air Act by reducing pollution that significantly contributes to problems attaining and maintaining health-based air quality standards for ground-level ozone in downwind states.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2023
Promising Pathway Act This bill provides for expedited, provisional approval of drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions. Specifically, the bill allows for provisional approval of drugs that are used to treat, prevent, or diagnose a serious or life-threatening disease or condition for which premature death is likely without early medical intervention. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must evaluate applications within 90 days of receipt. The FDA may approve applications if there is early evidence, including real-world and real-time evidence, of the drug's efficacy, as well as substantial evidence of the drug's safety. Provisional approval is valid for two years and may be renewed for up to eight years. The FDA may withdraw provisional approval in the event of serious adverse health effects. Drug sponsors that receive provisional approval must require all patients receiving the drug to participate in an observational registry, through which the drug sponsor may collect and submit data relating to the drug until it is fully approved. Registries may be operated by the drug sponsor or another entity. The FDA must annually review these registries; sponsors of registries that fail to meet the bill's requirements are subject to civil penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services for Cancer Act of 2023 or the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and makes changes to the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. This program provides funding to states for breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for individuals who have low incomes, are uninsured, or otherwise lack access to such services.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Save Our Gas Stoves Act This bill places limits on energy conservation standards for kitchen ranges or ovens under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The Department of the Energy (DOE) may not prescribe or amend energy conservation standards for kitchen ranges or ovens if they would result in the unavailability of a product on account of the type of fuel the range or oven uses. In addition, DOE may not finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed rule titled Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Conventional Cooking Products issued on February 1, 2023, or any substantially similar rule. The proposed rule prescribes energy conservation standards for consumer conventional cooking products, including electric cooking tops, gas cooking tops, electric ovens, and gas ovens.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2023
Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act This bill addresses unfair trade practices by making various changes to U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty law. Antidumping provides relief to U.S industries and workers that are materially injured or threatened with injury due to imports of like products sold in the U.S. market at less than fair value, while countervailing duty provides such relief from imports of products subsidized by a foreign government or public entity. Specifically, the bill establishes a process for successive antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Successive investigations may be concurrent (an ongoing investigation of the same product) or recently completed (not more than two years before the date of the initiation of the successive investigation). Further, the bill establishes a time line for the Department of Commerce to issue determinations in successive investigations. Among other provisions, the bill authorizes Commerce to apply countervailing duty law to subsidies provided by a foreign government or public entity to a company operating in a third country, use another method for calculating the cost of production in specific circumstances, and require importers to provide a certification that the imported merchandise is not subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order. Additionally, the bill statutorily establishes procedures for Commerce to conduct circumvention inquiries, including by specifying the deadlines for preliminary and final determinations. The bill also provides statutory authority for Commerce to investigate currency undervaluation as a countervailable subsidy.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2023
Supporting Families through Addiction Act of 2023 This bill directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to certain nonprofits to develop or expand services for individuals with substance use disorders and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Veteran Caregiver Application and Appeals Reform Act of 2023 or the CARE Act of 2023 This bill modifies the administration of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). First, the bill provides that relevant medical specialists must be part of the application review process for veterans and their family members applying to participate in the program. Under current law, the VA must provide notifications regarding decisions affecting the furnishing of assistance to individuals who submit applications for the program and their family caregivers. The bill requires that the VA provide such notifications to individuals who are being reassessed for eligibility to continue in the program. Additionally, the bill requires that such notifications include all criteria used to determine eligibility for assistance and how the criteria were used to evaluate information provided in assessments to determine eligibility. The bill also requires the VA to report annually on the program. Finally, the bill requires the VA to establish a process through which it may recognize organizations and individuals to assist veterans, their family members, or caregivers, in navigating the programs and services of the Veterans Health Administration. The VA must solicit feedback and recommendations from relevant organizations in the creation of such a process. In order to be recognized under the established process, individuals and organizations must certify that no fee or compensation will be charged to individuals for the provision of assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
Advancing FASD Research, Services and Prevention Act or the FASD Respect Act This bill reauthorizes and modifies programs that are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including educational and research programs. The bill also establishes FASD Centers of Excellence to support FASD prevention, such as through screenings, public awareness campaigns, and trainings, particularly at the state and local levels.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2023
This resolution expresses support for the designation of DIPG Awareness Day. DIPG refers to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a terminal childhood brain cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Department of Defense Overdose Data Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report annually on the number of overdoses among servicemembers. DOD must also contract with a federally funded research and development center to prepare a report that includes, among other elements, an assessment of current barriers to determining overdose data. DOD must also establish standards for the distribution of, and training for the use of, naloxone (or other similar medication), opioid disposal materials, fentanyl test strips, and other materials to prevent or reverse overdoses, substance use disorder, or impacts related to substance misuse.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2023
Taliban Sanctions Act of 2023 This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on certain individuals related to Afghanistan. Specifically, the President must impose certain sanctions on foreign persons, including members of the Taliban, who (1) have directly or indirectly provided support for terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan; (2) are responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan; or (3) play a significant role in or provide support to international narcotics trafficking in Afghanistan. Required sanctions include, for example, property blocking and ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole into the United States. The Department of State shall use the voice and vote of the United States at the United Nations to maintain sanctions on the Taliban imposed pursuant to certain Security Council resolutions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 2023
Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act of 2023 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, post-graduation scholarship grants. The bill defines a post-graduation scholarship grant as any grant program that is established by a tax-exempt organization that, among other things, repays a portion of a student's education loan. To be eligible for these grants, a grant recipient must live and work in a community that has a bachelor's degree attainment rate below the state or national average.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
This resolution designates May 20, 2023, as Kids to Parks Day. The resolution recognizes the importance of outdoor recreation and the preservation of open spaces to the health and education of young people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Protecting Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services Act of 2023 This bill extends a specialized rate increase for Medicare payment of ground ambulance services in rural areas for an additional three years (until January 1, 2028) and provides for a higher rate increase for services furnished between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2028.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
Protect Our Law enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement Act of 2023 or the POLICE Act of 2023 This bill makes assaulting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder a deportable offense. Specifically, the bill makes deportable any non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) who has been convicted of (or admits to have committed) any act that constitutes the essential elements of any offense involving assault of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2023
This resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Department of Defense State Partnership Program and its outsized influence in developing and supporting enduring relationships around the world. The resolution also expresses deep gratitude for the service of members of the National Guard to the program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. (AM broadcast stations are often used to deliver emergency alerts and news and entertainment programming; some newer vehicles do not include AM equipment.) Specifically, this bill applies to motor vehicles manufactured in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce after the rule's effective date. The DOT rule must require all such vehicles to have devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations or digital audio AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. Prior to the effective date of the rule, manufacturers that do not include devices that can access AM broadcast stations as standard equipment must inform purchasers of this fact through clear and conspicuous labeling. DOT may assess civil penalties against any manufacturer that fails to comply with the mandate. The Department of Justice may also bring a civil action to enjoin a violation. Further, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on whether a reliable alternative communication system exists for delivering emergency alerts and consider the (1) cost to drivers and passengers of receiving communications through an alternative system, and (2) cost and time required to develop and implement an alternative.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
Combating BDS Act of 2023 This bill allows a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities using boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies. Such measures shall meet various requirements, including those related to written notice and comment. It also bars lawsuits against investment companies based solely on a company's decision to divest from entities that use boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill permanently (1) removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), (2) allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services, (3) 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 (4) expands coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
This resolution designates the week of May 14-May 20, 2023, as National Police Week. The resolution further recognizes law enforcement officers across the United States in the pursuit of preserving safe and secure communities; the need to ensure that such officers have the equipment, training, and resources necessary to protect their health and safety while they are protecting the public; and the law enforcement community for acts of sacrifice and heroism. The resolution expresses condolences and appreciation to the loved ones of each law enforcement officer who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2023
Upholding a Secure Postal System Act or the USPS Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to investigate nationwide patterns and instances of theft of mail and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) property and report to Congress. Any such report must include a description of any measures that the USPS has in place to address, and recommendations on how the USPS and Congress can combat, such theft.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2023
Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 This bill modifies funding for, and requires reporting about, a pediatric disease research initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Currently, this initiative receives funding through FY2023 from the 10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund. This bill directs certain penalties assessed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against pharmaceutical companies for specified violations to that fund. Additionally, the NIH must prioritize pediatric research that does not duplicate existing research activities when making allocations from the fund. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report to Congress about the research projects funded through the initiative.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2023
Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act or the SOAR Act This bill modifies requirements regarding special recreation permits for outfitting and guiding on federal recreational lands and waters, including by categorizing permits as transitional special recreation permits or as long-term permits. The bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue two-year transitional special recreation permits to a recreation provider for a new or additional reoccurring recreation service. Interior or USDA must issue a long-term special recreation permit, with a term of 5 or 10 years, to a recreation provider who has held no less than two transitional permits (or similar permits) and meets performance criteria. The departments may provide the flexibility to a permit holder to engage in another activity similar to the permitted activity under a permit. The departments must establish a pilot program to offer a single joint special recreation permit or commercial use authorization for a multijurisdictional trip. The bill requires the departments to evaluate and improve the process for issuing special recreation permits.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise modifies research and education programs for preventing premature births. In particular, the bill expands the scope of education programs for health care providers and the public to address the importance of screening for and treatment of chronic conditions as part of preconception and prenatal care. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an interagency working group to improve the coordination of programs and activities to prevent preterm birth, infant mortality, and related adverse effects. (Current law permits HHS to establish such a working group.) The bill also requires HHS to support a study carried out by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on matters related to premature births, such as the financial costs and factors that affect preterm birth rates.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act This bill addresses overpayments of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, including by providing incentives for states to investigate and recover these funds. Specifically, the bill allows a state to retain 25% of any funds recovered from fraudulent overpayments of certain UI benefits that were provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. These retained funds must be used for specified program integrity measures, such as modernizing UI systems and information technology and hiring fraud investigators. The bill allows a state to retain up to 5% of (1) any UI overpayment it recovers, except where the overpayment is due to state agency error; and (2) any unpaid employer contributions that the state recovers, if the state certifies that it has enacted certain fraud detection measures. A state must use the retained funds for specified purposes, such as deterring, detecting, and preventing improper payments. Additionally, the bill extends from 3 to 10 years the time during which states must recover overpayments of pandemic UI benefits through benefit offsets. The bill also extends from 5 to 10 years the statute of limitations for federal criminal charges or civil enforcement actions related to UI fraud. Further, the bill extends an exception to the federal requirement that state UI personnel be hired on a merit basis. The bill allows a state to hire temporary staff on a noncompetitive basis through December 31, 2030. Finally, the bill repeals a provision that provided funding to the Department of Labor for UI program integrity activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
This bill requires the Department of State to (1) submit to Congress any classified State Department cables or memos that express a dissenting opinion relating to the withdrawal of the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan, and (2) make publicly available unclassified versions of such cables and memos.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2023 This bill revises provisions of the low-income housing tax credit and renames it as the affordable housing tax credit . The bill increases the per capita dollar amount of the credit and its minimum ceiling amount beginning in 2023 and extends the inflation adjustment for such amounts. The bill modifies tenant income eligibility requirements and the average income formula for determining such income. It also revises rules for student occupancy of rental units and tenant voucher payments, and prohibits any refusal to rent to victims of domestic abuse. The bill further modifies the credit to increase state allocations of the credit; repeal the qualified census tract population cap; prohibit consideration of local approval and local government contribution requirements for housing projects; increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households; increase the credit for certain bond-financed projects designated by state agencies; eliminate the basis reduction for properties that receive certain energy-related tax benefits; and increase the population cap for difficult development areas (i.e., areas with high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area median gross income). The bill also includes Indian and rural areas as difficult development areas and modifies other requirements relating to casualty losses, tax-exempt bond financing, and foreclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
This resolution supports the designation of November 12, 2023, as National Warrior Call Day and encourages individuals to engage with warriors (i.e., members of the Armed Forces and veterans) to connect and provide support.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2023 This bill allows additional hospitals to qualify as critical access hospitals (CAHs) that receive special payment under Medicare. Currently, in order to qualify as a CAH under Medicare, a hospital must either (1) be located more than 35 miles (or 15 miles in mountainous regions or areas with only secondary roads) from another hospital, or (2) have been certified prior to January 1, 2006, by the state as a necessary provider of services in the area. The bill allows a hospital to also qualify if the hospital is a small, rural hospital that (1) serves a health professional shortage area, or a high number of low-income individuals or Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries; (2) has experienced financial losses for two consecutive years; and (3) attests to having a strategic plan to address financial solvency. The Government Accountability Office must study the effects of the bill's implementation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must subsequently establish a mechanism and issue guidance on how newly designated CAHs may transition to different payment models under Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2023
Back the Blue Act of 2023 This bill establishes new criminal offenses for killing, assaulting, and fleeing to avoid prosecution for killing a judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer. Additionally, the bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, judge, prosecutor, or firefighter or other first responder; broadens the authority of federal law enforcement officers to carry firearms; and limits federal court review of challenges to state court convictions for killing a public safety officer or judge.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2023
Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics Act of 2023 This bill establishes separate payment requirements for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services. The bill's requirements apply to diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals that have an average daily cost of $500 or more in 2024 and as adjusted based on a specified fee schedule factor in each year thereafter.
![Official portrait of Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c001047_200.jpg)