United States · United States Congress · 28 January 2020
This resolution recognizes (1) January 2020 as National Mentoring Month, and (2) the staff and volunteers at quality mentoring programs who help young people reach their full potential.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp and honors victims of the Holocaust. The resolution also calls on the United States to continue to work to end genocide and recommits to combatting all forms of anti-Semitism.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2020
This resolution congratulates the University of Charleston men's soccer team for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Men's Soccer Championship. The resolution recognizes the athletic program at that university for its achievement in both sports and academics.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting Fentanyl Act This bill places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Additionally, the bill prohibits the application of a mandatory minimum prison term for certain drug offenses involving fentanyl-related substances.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 This bill provides for security assistance to Israel and authorizes actions to further U.S.-Israel cooperation. Specifically, under the Foreign Military Financing Program, the bill makes no less than $3.3 billion annually available to Israel through FY2028. The bill also extends through FY2025 (1) authority to stockpile war reserves in Israel, and (2) loan guarantees to Israel for up to $9 billion. The President is authorized to transfer munitions from reserve stocks to Israel for its self-defense. Further, the President must report on steps to include Israel in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception, which authorizes exports, reexports, and in-country transfers in lieu of a license that would otherwise be required. Lastly, the President must establish and update contingency plans to provide Israel with defense articles and services necessary for its defense. The Department of State is authorized to (1) enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and cooperation with nations throughout the world; and (2) establish a program between the United States, Israel, and other countries or territories to provide for cooperation in the Middle East region by financing and cooperating in programs related to innovation and advanced technologies. Further, the United States is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with Israel and developing countries to identify and support local solutions for addressing sustainability challenges. The Department of Defense is authorized to carry out activities with Israel to establish directed energy capabilities that address threats to the United States, deployed forces of the United States, or Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2020 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. Activities may include (1) developing education, resources, and trainings on issues related to substance use disorders and family support; (2) reducing stigma; and (3) educating health care providers about substance use disorders in families.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
This resolution calls on the Speaker of the House of Representatives to immediately appoint impeachment managers and transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for disposition.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
This resolution commends the President, U.S. Armed Forces, and intelligence community in leading a strike against Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to countering global terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report on the policies and procedures relating to patient safety and quality of care and the steps the VA has taken to improve such care at VA medical centers. After any investigation or trial concludes, the VA must also report on the events involving deaths that occurred at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and the actions the VA has taken to prevent any similar reoccurrence.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Lawful Interstate Transportation of Firearms Act This bill revises criminal provisions related to the interstate transportation of firearms and ammunition. An individual may transport a firearm between two places (e.g., states) where it is legal to possess, carry, or transport the firearm. During transport, the firearm must be unloaded and secured or securely stored. Additionally, an individual may transport ammunition, or a detachable magazine or feeding device, between two places where it is legal to possess, carry, or transport the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device. During transport, the ammunition, magazine, or feeding device must not be loaded into a firearm and must be securely stored. The term transport includes staying in temporary lodging overnight; stopping for food, fuel, vehicle maintenance, an emergency, or medical treatment; and any other activities that are incidental to the transportation. The bill prohibits the arrest or detention of an individual for a state or local firearm or ammunition violation unless there is probable cause to believe the individual failed to comply with the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2019
Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act of 2019 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.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
Preventing Pill Mills Through Data Sharing Act This bill expands reporting requirements concerning the sale, delivery, or disposal of controlled substances that apply to drug manufacturers and distributors, including by extending the requirements to pharmacies and increasing the frequency of the reporting.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act or the NOPAIN Act This bill temporarily establishes separate payments for certain non-opioid treatments under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services and the payment system for ambulatory surgical center services. The bill applies to pain management treatments that are able to replace or reduce opioid consumption, as shown through clinical trials or data.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
America's Conservation Enhancement Act This bill reauthorizes or establishes several programs or Acts that conserve or manage wildlife, including by reauthorizing through FY2025 the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, and the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense grant program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Creating Opportunities And Leveraging Technologies for Coal Carbon Act of 2019 or the COAL TeCC Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish two programs concerning coal-derived carbon products. First, DOE must establish a program of research, development, and demonstration for carbon engineering solutions to enable new uses for coal-derived carbon for a variety of purposes, such as commercial, military, or medical purposes. Second, DOE must establish a pilot and demonstration program to accelerate the commercial deployment of coal-carbon products.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training (PARTT) 147 Act of 2019 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish requirements for issuing aviation maintenance technician school certificates and associated ratings. Among other requirements, the bill sets forth application requirements for a certificate to operate an aviation maintenance technician school, including that applications must include a description of the manner in which the school's curriculum will ensure students are capable of attaining a mechanic certificate and associated ratings; establishes facility and instructor requirements for each school; directs each school to establish and maintain a quality control system that provides procedures for recordkeeping, assessment, issuing credit for experience, issuing of final course grades, ensuring sufficient number of instructors, granting of graduation documentation, and corrective action for addressing deficiencies; and requires schools to maintain a pass rate of at least 70% for students who take the written, oral, or practical (or any combination thereof) FAA mechanic tests.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
This resolution congratulates and expresses pride in Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for successfully completing the first all-female spacewalk in history. The resolution also supports the efforts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to (1) fully integrate women into the astronaut corps, and (2) ensure that one of the next humans to walk on the Moon shall be a woman.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report on the policies and procedures relating to patient safety and quality of care and the steps the VA has taken to improve such care at VA medical centers. After any investigation or trial concludes, the VA must also report on the events involving deaths that occurred at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and the actions the VA has taken to prevent any similar reoccurrence.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Improving and Reinstating the Monitoring, Prevention, Accountability, Certification, and Transparency Provisions of Opportunity Zones or the IMPACT Act This bill provides statutory authority for annual reporting requirements by qualified opportunity funds and taxpayers investing in such funds and sets forth the information required in the reports. The bill imposes penalties for failure to comply with such reporting requirements. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to make publicly available annual reports on qualified opportunity funds, including, among other things, the number of such funds and the aggregate amount of assets held in such funds. Treasury must also provide additional information in every fifth year on the impacts and outcomes of a designation of a census tract as a qualified opportunity zone using specified economic indicators. Treasury must also establish procedures to protect against disclosure of return information that can be associated with any particular taxpayer or competitive or proprietary information.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Volunteer First Responder Housing Act This bill expands eligibility for assistance under the Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program with respect to qualified volunteer first responders.
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2019
Advancing Support for Working Families Act This bill allows individual taxpayers an election to advance up to $5,000 of the child tax credit in the year of birth or adoption of an applicable qualifying child (a child, other than an eligible foster child, who has a specified relationship to the taxpayer and meets certain age, residency, and support requirements). The bill sets forth a special rule for parents who do not qualify for the full refundable portion of the child tax credit. The advance amount for such parents is the lesser of $5,000, or 25% of their earned income amount for the taxable year. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on matters relating to taxpayers who make an election to advance the child tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
Better and Robust Screening Today Act or the BRST Act This bill revises revises coverage of primary and preventive health services for women under the TRICARE program to include the use of digital breast tomosynthesis in breast cancer screening.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
This resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 12 Moon landing. The resolution also honors the bravery and skill of Charles "Pete" Conrad, Jr., Alan Bean, and Richard F. Gordon, the crew of Apollo 12; commends the efforts of all of the individuals of the United States who contributed to the achievement of the Moon landing; and supports continued U.S. leadership in the exploration and use of space through human spaceflight.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
This resolution designates December 1, 2019, as Drive Safer Sunday. The resolution also encourages various entities and individuals to focus on safety while driving.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2029, modifies, and establishes new programs and activities under the Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding and other support to prevent and respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Among the bill's changes, it expands activities in rural areas and among tribal populations; addresses female genital mutilation; and establishes new protections to promote housing stability for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2019 or the Nutrition CARE Act of 2019 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for individuals with eating disorders. Such services must be furnished by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional pursuant to a referral from a physician, psychologist, or other authorized mental health professional.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act of 2019 This bill extends Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services to beneficiaries with pre-diabetes or risk factors for developing type-2 diabetes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2019 or the CONTRACT Act of 2019 This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity. Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the social security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period. The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Play by the Rules Act of 2019 This bill subjects certain merchandise from a nonmarket economy country (a foreign country that does not operate on market principles of cost or pricing structures) to existing antidumping or countervailing duty orders. The Department of Commerce shall include any merchandise from a nonmarket economy country that is only slightly altered in form or appearance within the class or kind of merchandise that is already subject to (1) an investigation, (2) an antidumping duty order, (3) a finding under the Antidumping Act of 1921, or (4) a countervailing duty order. Additionally, Commerce may include within the scope of an investigation, order, or finding any merchandise from a nonmarket economy country that is (1) slightly altered in form or appearance but was not previously included within the scope of such investigation, order, or finding; or (2) interchangeable with imports that are already subject to such investigation, order, or finding.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes, and extends funding for, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) through FY2029. The bill also makes other changes related to the institute, such as (1) requiring health insurance plans to cover routine costs for items and services furnished in connection with certain PCORI-funded clinical trials, and (2) directing the Government Accountability Office to review barriers experienced by PCORI researchers when conducting studies or clinical trials.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Opioid Workforce Act of 2019 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain medicine programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,000 positions over a five-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Rural Broadband Investment Tax Credit Act This bill allows a new tax credit for up to 10% of investment in qualifying broadband projects, subject to specified limitations. The bill includes in the definition of qualifying broadband project any project that is designed solely to provide broadband service to one or more rural areas in which more than 50% of households lack access to adequate broadband service.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Rural Broadband Financial Flexibility Act This bill allows the use of tax-exempt private activity bonds to finance qualified broadband projects. A qualified broadband project is any project that is designed solely to provide broadband service to one or more rural areas in which more than 50% of residential households do not have access to adequate broadband service. The bill also allows direct payments to issuers of broadband infrastructure bonds for 35% of the interest payable under such bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019 This bill accelerates and expands certain changes that are scheduled to take effect relating to the coverage of cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under Medicare. Currently, such programs require physician supervision. Effective January 1, 2024, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists may also supervise these programs. The bill expedites the effective date of these changes to January 1, 2021, and also allows these practitioners to administer programs in their offices, prepare and sign treatment plans, and prescribe exercise.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions relating to the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall carry out the program with the objective of providing hands-on research, training, and education programs with measurable outcomes in each state. NASA shall carry out the program through a space grant consortium in each state. The bill revises the purposes of the program to support space research programs that promote equally the state and regional STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) interests of each space grant consortium. NASA shall award grants to the lead institution of each state's space grant consortium to carry out at least three of six specified research, training, and education programs. The bill repeals certain provisions relating to the program, including provisions establishing the space grant review panel.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2019
Broadband Parity Act of 2019 This bill prohibits an agency from providing assistance to a broadband internet access service through a federal broadband support program unless the service to be assisted meets or exceeds (or will meet or exceed when deployed) minimum download and upload speeds established by the Federal Communications Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2019
National Purple Heart Honor Mission Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the mission of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The bill limits the issuance of such coins to the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2022. The bill prescribes surcharges for coin sales, which shall be paid to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Inc., to support the mission of such organization, including capital improvements to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2019
Hospice Care Improvement Act of 2019 This bill establishes survey requirements for, and enforcement mechanisms against, certified hospice programs under Medicare. Specifically, certified programs must undergo periodic surveys by a state, local, or approved accreditation agency, as specified; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must provide joint training for surveyors and programs, and must publish information relating to survey results on the Hospice Compare website. Surveyors must provide programs with educational materials to help them correct any found deficiencies. If the CMS finds that a program does not meet applicable standards, the CMS may impose intermediate sanctions, including suspended Medicare payments, temporary management, and additional training; such programs must also undergo more frequent surveys until they are found to be in compliance.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2019
This resolution affirms that (1) states maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands, (2) the President has no authority to declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on state and private lands, and (3) the President should not declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing on federal lands or lands held in trust for an Indian tribe unless such moratorium is authorized by Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2019
Bring Our Heroes Home Act This bill establishes at the National Archives a collection of records that relate to the fate or status of missing Armed Forces personnel. Each government office must identify and locate such records in its possession and transmit them to the Archives. The bill establishes a temporary board to ensure and facilitate the review, transmission, and public disclosure of such records. The bill generally makes such records public, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2019
Bipartisan American Miners Act of 2019 This bill transfers certain funds to provide pension and health benefits for retired coal miners who have been affected by issues such as coal company bankruptcies. The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the annual limit on transfers under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 exceeds the amount required to be transferred for existing obligations of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. The bill also increases the annual limit on transfers from $490 million to $750 million. The bill also adds miners affected by 2018 and 2019 coal company bankruptcies to the group whose retiree health benefits are taken into account in determining the amount that Treasury must transfer under current law to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan. Additionally, the bill allows in-service distributions under a pension plan or governmental section 457(b) plan at age 59-1/2. The distributions are currently permitted at age 62 for pension plans and at age 70-1/2 for governmental section 457(b) plans.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Girls' Leadership, Engagement, Agency, and Development Act of 2019 or the Girls LEAD Act This bill directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to jointly report to Congress a strategy to strengthen the participation of adolescents, particularly girls, in democracy, human rights, and governance. The State Department and the USAID shall (1) implement activities to achieve this goal, including activities to increase adolescent girls' civic and political knowledge and skills and address barriers to political participation; and (2) prioritize foreign assistance funding for democracy, human rights, and governance programs toward achieving the goals in this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
This resolution recognizes October 2019 as National Women's Small Business Month, honoring the role of women small business owners and entrepreneurs and encouraging the support and creation of women-owned small businesses.
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 resolution declares that (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Kay Hagan, former Member of the Senate; and (2) when the Senate adjourns on October 30, 2019, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Kay Hagan.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
This resolution designates October 2019 as National Dyslexia Awareness Month and calls on Congress, schools, and educational agencies to recognize that dyslexia has significant educational implications that must be addressed.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Time to Rescue United States Trusts Act or the TRUST Act This bill establishes congressional rescue committees to develop recommendations and legislation to improve critical social contract programs. A critical social contract program is a federal program for which a federal trust fund is established (e.g., Social Security, Medicare, and federal highway programs), with outlays of at least $20 billion during the year preceding the year in which this bill is enacted, and for which the amount of dedicated federal funds and federal trust fund balances will be inadequate to meet the total amount of outlays of the program that would otherwise be made. Each rescue committee may develop recommendations and legislation to improve the program for which it was established, including by (1) increasing the duration of positive balances of the federal trust fund established for the program, and (2) providing for the solvency of the federal trust fund established for the program during a 75-year period. Congress must use specified expedited legislative procedures to consider legislation that is approved and submitted by the rescue committees.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting Fentanyl Act This bill adds the entire category of fentanyl-related substances to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
This resolution recognizes the importance of education for the prevention of substance use disorder, encourages efforts to explore effective and sustainable treatment, and acknowledges those who support individuals who are in recovery.