United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2018
Venezuela Humanitarian Relief, Reconstruction, and Rule of Law Act of 2018 This bill provides for humanitarian aid for the people of Venezuela, in light of the humanitarian and political crisis there. It also provides for (1) sanctions against those responsible for corruption and narcotics trafficking in Venezuela, (2) efforts to help rebuild the country's infrastructure and restructure its debt, and (3) efforts to otherwise address the humanitarian and political crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) deploy, operate, and maintain a continuous diagnostics and mitigation program to collect, analyze, and visualize security data and cybersecurity risk; (2) regularly deploy new technologies and modify existing technologies to improve such program; and (3) develop a comprehensive strategy to carry out the program. In carrying out the program, DHS must ensure that cybersecurity risk information, assessments, and analyses are provided in real time and program information is available to the DHS national cybersecurity and communications integration center.
United States · United States Congress · 4 September 2018
Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of State to periodically report to Congress regarding U.S. actions to strengthen Taiwan's international alliances around the world. The State Department may consider: supplementing or reducing the U.S. diplomatic presence to provide incentives to countries considering or taking steps to alter or downgrade ties with Taiwan; and expanding, reducing, or terminating economic and military assistance to countries that have reduced or are anticipating reducing ties with Taiwan. The State Department shall consult with Congress prior to taking any such action.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Sidney McCain, III, a Senator from Arizona. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on August 27, 2018, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 21 August 2018
Resolves that documents related to the events of September 11, 2001, should be declassified to the greatest extent possible so as to provide answers to survivors, the families of the victims, and the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2018
Missing Children's Assistance Act of 2018 This bill amends the Missing Children's Assistance Act: to revise the definition of "missing child" to mean an individual under 18 years of age whose whereabouts are unknown to the individual's parent (currently, legal custodian), to specify that a parent includes a legal guardian or an individual who functions as a parent (e.g., a grandparent), to revise the functions and duties of the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and to require the NCMEC to make publicly available the annual report on missing children and the incidence of attempted child abductions. The bill reauthorizes through FY2023: programs and activities for missing and exploited children, and audit requirements for grant recipients.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Paul Laxalt, former Member of the Senate. Extends deepest condolences and gratitude to his family. Honors Paul Laxalt's legacy, life, service to the Senate, and commitment to the people of Nevada and the United States. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on August 16, 2018, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Paul Laxalt.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Teachers and School LEADERS Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide professional development activities that prepare principals and other school leaders in high-need schools.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Designates July 26, 2018, as United States Intelligence Professionals Day, and acknowledges the courage, fidelity, sacrifice, and professionalism of the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2018
Sanction Terrorist Operations Using Human Shields Act of 2018 or the STOP Using Human Shields Act This bill provides for the imposition of sanctions on members of foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hizballah, and other foreign persons, agencies, or instrumentalities of foreign states with regard to use of civilians, other specially protected persons, or specially protected property to shield lawful targets from attack or to deliberately cause casualties to such persons or the destruction to such property during an armed conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2018
Lake Fannin Conveyance Act This bill directs the Forest Service, upon request by Fannin County in Texas, to convey approximately 2,025 acres of National Forest System land to the county.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2018
Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 This bill amends the federal criminal code make it a crime to knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, pay, or offer payment for referrals to a recovery home or clinical treatment facility, subject to limitations. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2018
Nicaragua Human Rights and Anticorruption Act of 2018 This bill directs the President to impose through December 31, 2021, property-blocking and U.S. entry sanctions against any foreign person, including any current or former Nicaraguan government official, who: has perpetrated or is responsible for directing significant acts of violence or human rights violations in Nicaragua against persons associated with the protests that began on April 18, 2018; is responsible for or complicit in directing significant actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in Nicaragua; or is a government official or a senior associate of such official who is responsible for or complicit in directing acts of significant corruption. The President may waive such sanctions for a one-year period if the Department of State certifies to Congress that Nicaragua is taking steps to strengthen democracy, combat corruption, and protect the rights of journalists and opposition political parties.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2018
This bill designates the J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Courthouse at 205 SE 5th Ave., Amarillo, Texas, as the "J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Mary Lou Robinson United States Courthouse."
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Commemorates the lives, careers, and service of the five victims of the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, Maryland. Honors the survivors of the attack and the families of the victims and pledges continued support for their recovery. Thanks law enforcement officers and other emergency first responders for their heroic actions. Reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to defending the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
CyberTipline Modernization Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill revises reporting requirements for electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers (providers) who report information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Currently, providers must report the facts and circumstances of incidents of apparent child pornography, of which they become aware, to NCMEC via the CyberTipline. This bill retains the existing reporting requirement and provides new authority for providers to also report the facts and circumstances that indicate a child pornography violation is imminent. Additionally, it makes various procedural changes to the reporting requirements, including to do the following: grant discretion to providers to determine what information to include in a report; permit (currently, require) the Department of Justice (DOJ) to designate foreign law enforcement agencies to receive CyberTipline reports from NCMEC; allow NCMEC to forward a report to a foreign law enforcement agency in certain circumstances, even if the foreign law enforcement agency has not been designated by DOJ; and provide explicit permission for a provider to disclose the contents of a report, including visual depictions, to law enforcement agencies, to NCMEC, or as necessary to respond to legal process. Finally, the bill revises and updates various statutory references, including to replace references to “images” with “visual depictions” to make reporting requirements applicable to videos, in addition to images.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018 This bill specifies that an offense involving lynching is a criminal civil rights violation. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a prison term, a fine, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress regarding the political influence operations of the government and Communist Party of China affecting the United States and up to five of its most impacted allies and partners.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2018
Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend protective custody over alien children under age 18 who are accompanied by a parent and apprehended at the border or are seeking admission to the United States at a port of entry. DHS must temporarily house an alien child under age 18 in a family residential center during the pendency of civil or criminal proceedings. DHS must increase the number of available beds in family residential centers. The Department of Justice must increase the number of immigration judge teams to conduct prioritized proceedings for accompanied alien children and families apprehended at the southwest border or who are seeking admission to the United States at a port of entry.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2018
Designates June 19, 2018, as Juneteenth Independence Day. Recognizes the historical significance and supports the continued celebration of Juneteenth Independence Day, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2018
Welcomes the opening of the new American Institute of Taiwan office in Taipei. Urges the executive branch to fully implement the Taiwan Relations Act, the Taiwan Travel Act, and other policy directives that strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2018
Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act of 2018 or STOP Act of 2018 This bill establishes requirements related to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) international mail shipments. Among other requirements, the bill requires USPS to gather advanced data on its shipments and share such information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and assesses a fee on on overseas inbound express mail.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2018
Commemorates the victims killed in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016. Honors the survivors of the attack and pledges continued support for their recovery.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes for FY2019-FY2023 grants for local and regional children's advocacy centers (CACs), as well as for technical assistance and training. CACs coordinate a multidisciplinary response to child abuse. The bill adds a new finding specifying the need for state chapters of CAC networks (1) to help local communities coordinate their multidisciplinary services, and (2) to provide oversight of, and training and technical assistance in, the effective delivery of evidence-informed programming. It modifies grants for regional CACs, including to add, as a new program objective, collaboration with state chapters; and to require regional CACs to assist local CACs, multidisciplinary teams, and state chapters, in addition to communities. It also modifies grants for local CACs, including to add, as a new grant purpose, promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary response to child abuse; to allow grants to support direct services for victims of human trafficking, in addition to victims of child pornography; and to require a portion of grants to be distributed to state chapters. The Department of Justice must report annually on efforts to monitor and evaluate the program activities of regional CACs and the extent to which both urban and rural populations are served by the regional CAC program. (Sec. 3) The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability under federal, state, and local law for people who make good-faith reports of child abuse or neglect or who provide related information or assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to make three changes to provisions governing civil claims for damages resulting from an act of international terrorism. First, the bill narrows the limitation on such claims that occur during an act of war. Current law bars claims for international terrorism that occur during an armed conflict between military forces. This bill specifies that designated foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists are not military forces. Second, the bill makes available any asset of a terrorist party seized or frozen under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for the satisfaction of court-awarded judgments against the terrorist party. Third, it allows federal courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over a foreign non-state defendant that accepts benefits from the United States (e.g., foreign assistance).
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to revise administrative and judicial dispute resolution procedures for initiating and resolving claims by employees alleging that employing offices have violated their CAA rights and protections, including protections against sexual harassment. The bill revises CAA provisions, including to: eliminate CAA counseling requirements and make mediation an employee's option before filing a claim with the Office of Compliance (OOC) alleging the violation; require current and former Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for compensatory damages included in an award or settlement resulting from the Member's alleged act of discrimination or retaliation; require referral to congressional ethics committees of final disposition of claims alleging CAA violations by Members of Congress and senior staff of employing offices; require non-congressional legislative offices that violate CAA requirements to reimburse the Treasury for resulting award or settlement payments; extend CAA nondiscrimination requirements and remedies to uncompensated legislative branch interns, detailees, and fellows; and provide OOC and CAA resources and services to employees outside of the Washington, DC area. The bill applies CAA rights and protections to the China Review Commission, the Congressional-Executive China Commission, the Helsinki Commission, the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development, and their employees. Non-congressional CAA employing offices must develop programs to train and educate employees about their CAA rights and protections and available procedures to consider alleged CAA violations. The bill renames the OOC the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Congratulates the people of Georgia on the 100th anniversary of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia. Condemns the Russian Federation's occupation of Georgian sovereign territory. Reaffirms U.S. support for Georgia's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Securing Flexibility to Treat Substance Use Disorders Act This bill provides statutory authority for states to receive federal Medicaid payment for monthly capitation payments to managed care organizations for services provided in institutions for mental diseases to enrollees aged 21 to 64. Such services must be provided for no longer than 15 days per month and in lieu of other services covered under the state Medicaid program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Better Military Housing Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to revise requirements for the monitoring and oversight of, and reporting for, the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI). Specifically, the bill requires DOD to use consistent measures for assessing the financial condition of MHPI projects and to assess the future sustainability of such projects relative to the goal of providing quality housing to members of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Enhancing Patient Access to Non-Opioid Treatment Options This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop guidance for states on non-opioid treatments that may be provided under Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Telehealth for Children’s Access to Services and Treatment Act or the TeleCAST Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on children's access to substance use disorder services under Medicaid. The report must include an analysis of: (1) state options to improve access, such as via telehealth services at school-based health centers in underserved areas; and (2) reimbursement rates for substance use disorder services. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must report on ways to reduce barriers to the use of telehealth services for children with substance use disorders under Medicaid. The report must include an analysis of the differences between telehealth and in-person services with respect to specified metrics (e.g., costs and quality of care).
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop guidance for states on how to obtain federal reimbursement under Medicaid for substance use disorder telehealth services, including services provided in school-based health centers.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Expanding Telehealth Response to Ensure Addiction Treatment Act or the eTREAT Act This bill expands the availability of substance use disorder telehealth services under Medicare. Under current law, telehealth services are generally covered under Medicare only if such services are received by beneficiaries at specified types of sites that are located in rural areas. The bill exempts substance use disorder telehealth services from these requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2018
This bill requires military departments to seek to relinquish jurisdiction over criminal offenses committed by juveniles on military installations to states and other appropriate jurisdictions. It also permits the federal government to consider prosecutions of felonies by juveniles committed on military installations where the federal government has concurrent jurisdiction with states and other governmental entities and the state prosecutor declines to bring charges.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2018
Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to collaborate with veterans service organizations to write a standard letter to be provided to individuals who owe debts to the VA. Such letter shall be written in plain language and shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation of: (1) why the individual owes such money, and (2) available options. The VA shall develop a method by which individuals may elect to receive debt notification letters by electronic means and shall ensure that the letter is delivered: (1) by both standard mail and electronic means to individuals who have made such election, and (2) only by standard mail to individuals who have not made such election.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2018
National Law Enforcement Museum 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 that are emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC, and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States. All sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges, which shall be distributed to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2018
Coastal Texas Protection Act This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the completion of the feasibility studies for flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration in the coastal areas of Texas.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2018
Congratulates the students, families, teachers, administrators, and staff of public charter schools across the United States for: (1) making ongoing contributions to public education, (2) making impressive strides in closing the academic achievement gap in U.S. schools, and (3) improving and strengthening the public school system. Expresses support for the ideals and goals of the 19th annual National Charter Schools Week.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Litigation Funding Transparency Act of 2018 This bill requires disclosure of a commercial entity with a contingency right to receive compensation in class action lawsuits and multidistrict litigation in federal court.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2018
Tools On Our Local Streets to Rehabilitate Communities Act or the TOOLS to Rehabilitate Communities Act This bill expands eligible activities under the Community Development Block Grant program to include creating or strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide resources to assist with authorized development or revitalization projects.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2018
Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act or the FIRST STEP Act This bill amends various provisions of law and sets forth new provisions: to require the Department of Justice to establish and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to implement a risk and needs assessment system to assess prisoner recidivism risk; guide housing, grouping, and program assignments; and incentivize and reward participation in and completion of recidivism reduction programs and productive activities; to modify the computation of good time credit; to allow federal correctional officers to securely store and carry concealed firearms on BOP premises outside the security perimeter of a prison; to limit the use of restraints on federal prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery; to require a prisoner to be placed at a facility not more than 500 driving miles away from the prisoner's primary residence; to require low-risk prisoners to be placed on home confinement for the maximum amount of time permitted; to reauthorize through FY2022 and modify eligibility for an elderly offender early release pilot program; to require the BOP to help prisoners obtain identification documents prior to release, to incorporate de-escalation procedures into training programs, and to make tampons and sanitary napkins available free of charge; to repeal the National Institute of Corrections; to authorize Federal Prison Industries to sell products to additional markets; to require probation and pretrial services officers to perform court-directed supervision of sex offenders conditionally released from civil commitment; to require auditors who monitor compliance with national prison rape standards be certified; and to require the BOP to establish pilot programs on youth mentorship and service to abandoned, rescued, or vulnerable animals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Substance Abuse Prevention Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes through FY2022 various health and law enforcement programs related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and the reduction of demand for illicit drugs. The bill reauthorizes, among others, the following: the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Drug-Free Communities Program, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and the Drug Courts Program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
This bill reauthorizes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act through FY2023. The Act provides services and support for victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence.
![Official portrait of Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c001056_200.jpg)