United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2023
This resolution condemns Hamas in the harshest terms for its attacks on Israel. It also decries Hamas's abductions and threats against hostages and calls on the United States to lead a global campaign to demand the release of those hostages.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2023
United Negro College Fund, Inc. Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the United Negro College Fund, Inc. and its member institutions in recognition of its 80th anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2023
This bill reinstates any statutory sanctions against Iran that had been waived, reduced, or otherwise relieved pursuant to any agreement between the United States and Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2023
Supporting Early-childhood Educators' Deductions Act or the SEED Act This bill expands the tax deduction for the expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers to include early childhood educators.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2023
This resolution supports the designation of October 1 through October 7, 2023, as National 4–H Week and recognizes the important role of 4–H in youth development and education.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2023
This resolution calls on the Russian government to immediately release Evan Gershkovich. It urges all United States executive branch officials, in all interactions with the Russian government, to raise the case of Evan Gershkovich and press for his immediate release. The resolution further calls for the immediate release of Paul Whelan and expresses support for all American citizens and lawful permanent residents detained in Russia and abroad, including Marc Fogel and Vladimir Kara-Murza. The resolution also expresses sympathy and solidarity with the families of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and all other American citizens and lawful permanent residents wrongfully detained abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2023
Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023 This bill establishes a new investment tax credit in the amount of 30% of the basis of any hydropower improvement property. The bill defines hydropower improvement property as property that adds or improves fish passage at a qualified dam; maintains or improves the quality of the water retained or released by a qualified dam; promotes downstream sediment transport and habitat maintenance; upgrades, repairs, or reconstructs a qualified dam to meet safety and security standards; improves public uses of, and access to, public waterways impacted by a qualified dam; removes an obsolete river obstruction; or places into service an approved remote dam. Further, written approval for hydropower improvement property must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state or local officials prior to January 1, 2032. The bill also allows an election to claim the investment tax credit for qualified progress expenses for some types of hydropower improvement property in advance of such property being placed into service. Any investment tax credit amount claimed for qualified progress expenses reduces the amount of the investment tax credit that may be claimed once the hydropower improvement property is placed into service. The bill authorizes certain entities, including tax-exempt and governmental entities, to treat the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property as a payment of tax and receive a refund of any overpayment (also known as elective pay). Finally, the investment tax credit for hydropower improvement property may be transferred (i.e., sold).
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2023
Intelligence Community Workforce Agility Protection Act of 2023 This bill allows a current tax deduction for the moving and traveling expenses of an employee or new appointee of the intelligence community who moves due to a change in assignment that requires relocation. It also allows a current tax exclusion for such employees or appointees for moving expense reimbursements. Under current law, the tax deduction and exclusion for the moving expenses of other taxpayers are suspended for the period beginning in 2018 through 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2023
Head Start for Our Future Act This bill adds child development and early learning to the list of community services in which undergraduate, graduate, and professional students may participate under a federal work-study program. Students in work-study programs who serve in Early Head Start or Head Start programs must comply with specified requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2023
Senate Dress Code Resolution This resolution requires individuals on the floor of the Senate to wear business attire. For men, this includes a coat, tie, and slacks or other long pants. The resolution requires the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate to enforce this requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2023
American Workforce Empowerment Act This bill expands the types of programs that tax-preferred college savings plans (i.e., 529 plans) may fund with distributions, including preapprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, a program of high school career and technical education, and a recognized postsecondary credential.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2023
TAP Promotion Act This bill requires that pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program include a presentation that promotes the benefits available to veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also requires the VA to annually report on the presentation to (1) identify veterans service organizations that participate, (2) provide the number of members of the Armed Forces who attend, and (3) provide any recommendations for changes to the presentation.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2023
Stop Campus Hazing Act This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to report hazing incidents. Specifically, the bill requires each IHE to disclose hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies in its annual security report. The bill defines the term hazing to mean any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person against a student (regardless of that student's willingness to participate), that (1) is connected with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an organization (e.g., a club, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority); and (2) causes or is likely to contribute to a substantial risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the IHE or the organization, of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation. In addition, each IHE must develop and distribute as part of its annual security report a statement of policy regarding the following: (1) a comprehensive program to prevent hazing, which must include information on hazing awareness and hazing prevention; and (2) the IHE's current campus policies on hazing, which must include procedures that comply with specified collection and reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2023
Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King in recognition of her courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education, and society.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2023
Train More Nurses Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor to jointly report on existing grant programs that support the nurse workforce. The report must include recommendations on how to change the grant programs to (1) increase nurse faculty in underserved areas, (2) provide more pathways for experienced nurses to become faculty at schools of nursing, and (3) support pathways for licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2023
This resolution designates September 25, 2023, as National Lobster Day and encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2023
Rural Veterinary Workforce Act This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, student loan repayment or forgiveness assistance provided to veterinarians practicing in rural areas of a state.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to Dustoff crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2023
Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023 This bill increases the federal minimum wage, permanently establishes the E-Verify system and requires its use, and contains other related provisions. Specifically, the bill increases the minimum wage to $11 per hour, phased in over five years (six years for businesses with fewer than 20 employees), from the current rate of $7.25 per hour. The bill also phases in over three years an increase of the minimum wage for new employees younger than 20 years old from $4.25 to $6 per hour, and increases the length of time an employee may be paid this lower minimum wage. Both minimum wages shall be adjusted according to the rate of inflation every two years thereafter. The bill also requires employers to use E-Verify to electronically verify the employment eligibility of new employees, with phased-in deadlines that generally require all employers to comply within 18 months of this bill's enactment. This bill provides for various requirements related to E-Verify, including requiring employers to examine and verify certain identifying documents belonging to the employee. The bill increases civil penalties for various violations related to hiring, recruiting, and referring ineligible individuals. Repeated violators may be debarred from receiving federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. The bill also increases criminal fines for violators that engage in a pattern or practice of violations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act This bill prohibits the distribution of materially deceptive audio or visual media that is generated by artificial intelligence (AI) relating to federal candidates. The bill generally prohibits individuals, political committees, and other entities from knowingly distributing materially deceptive AI-generated audio or visual media of a federal candidate, or in carrying out a federal election activity, with the intent to (1) influence an election, or (2) solicit funds. This prohibition does not apply to certain entities, such as radio or television broadcasting stations that broadcast such media with disclosures as part of a bona fide newscast. The bill also permits a federal candidate whose voice or likeness appears in such materially deceptive AI-generated audio or visual media to bring a civil action for injunctive relief or damages.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act This bill increases resource limits used to determine eligibility for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSI is a federal assistance program that provides monthly cash payments to aged, blind, or disabled individuals with limited income and resources. Specifically, the bill increases the resource limits from $2,000 to $10,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $20,000 for married couples. The bill annually adjusts the limits for inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
This resolution designates the week beginning September 10, 2023, as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week and commends the contributions of direct support professionals who provide integral services to people with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2023
Allowing for Recreational Resources for Outdoor Wellness Act or the ARROW Act This bill authorizes the use of federal elementary and secondary education funds to purchase or use dangerous weapons for sports clubs, teams, training, or related activities provided for students. Current law prohibits the use of these funds to provide any person with a dangerous weapon or training in the use of a dangerous weapon. The bill specifies that this prohibition shall not apply to the use of these funds for sports clubs, teams, training, or related activities provided for students.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2023
Defending Hunters' Education Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the use of federal elementary and secondary education funds to purchase or use dangerous weapons for purposes of providing students with educational enrichment activities and instruction, such as archery, hunter safety education, or culinary arts. Current law prohibits the use of these funds to provide any person with a dangerous weapon or training in the use of a dangerous weapon. The bill specifies that this prohibition shall not apply to the use of these funds for permissible program activities that provide students with educational enrichment activities and instruction, such as archery, hunter safety education, or culinary arts.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule submitted by the Department of Education titled Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and published on July 10, 2023. The rule creates a new income-driven repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Snow Survey Northeast Expansion Act of 2023 This bill directs the Natural Resources Conservation Service to expand its Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program to northeastern states.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Financing Our Energy Future Act This bill expands the types of partnerships that qualify for treatment as publicly traded partnerships instead of as corporations for tax purposes. Under current law, partnerships that meet certain gross income requirements (i.e., at least 90% of the partnership's gross income in a taxable year consists of qualifying income) are excepted from being treated as a corporation for tax purposes. This bill expands the sources of income that are considered qualifying income and make a partnership eligible for such an exception. Specifically, the bill provides that income derived from the generation of specified alternative energy, alternative fuel projects, or the associated property, storage, or transportation for such projects (e.g., the conversion of renewable biomass into renewable fuel or the storage or transportation of such fuel) is considered qualifying income.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Improving Development and Distribution of Diagnostic Tests Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a strategic framework for making diagnostic tests available in the event of chemical, biological, or other threats, including public health emergencies involving infectious diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
State Executive Authority for Seasonal Occupations Needing Additional Labor Act or the SEASONAL Act This bill authorizes additional H-2B (temporary nonagricultural worker) visas to be issued to employers in a state with unmet labor needs. (H-2B visas are subject to an annual numerical cap.) Under the bill, a state may request a particular number of H-2B visas if (1) employers have requested visas in excess of the numerical cap for that fiscal year, and (2) a state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has been 3.5% or less (in 9 of the most recent 12 quarters). The state must also certify that (1) there is a persistent, unmet need for labor within the state, an occupational category, or an Economic Development District; and (2) the additional H-2B visas will not displace existing members of the state’s workforce or negatively affect average wages. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must issue the additional H-2B visas upon receiving a request that complies with this bill's requirements, to the extent that the receiving employers meet all the applicable requirements for such visas. Additionally, the bill requires DHS and the Department of Labor to annually report to Congress specified data about the bill's implementation, including the number of additional visas issued to each state. The bill sunsets four years after its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2023 or the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023 This bill authorizes grants and establishes other programs to improve data collection on stillbirths. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths, and HHS must issue guidelines for health departments and vital statistics units concerning the collection of stillbirth data. HHS must also develop educational awareness materials about stillbirths and make them publicly available. Furthermore, HHS must implement a fellowship program to provide training in perinatal autopsy pathology and otherwise support research on stillbirths and fetal autopsies. The bill also requires HHS to issue a report with educational guidelines on stillbirths and stillbirth risk factors.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2023 or the Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 This bill modifies enforcement provisions under the Animal Welfare Act, including by allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring civil actions against violators of the act for appropriate relief, such as removing animals, revoking violators' licenses, or issuing civil penalties. DOJ must use the penalties to pay for the temporary care for animals pending the disposition of civil or criminal proceedings that allege violations of the act with respect to such animals.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection and Prevention Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide its firefighters with medical testing and related services to detect, document, and prevent certain cancers. DOD firefighters may opt out of such testing or services. DOD must document certain information related to the offered testing and services, but must ensure personally identifiable information is removed prior to analyzing the information. DOD may share data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the knowledge and understanding of cancer occurrences among firefighters.
![Official portrait of Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c001035_200.jpg)