United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2020
This resolution designates the week of September 20-September 26, 2020, as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week and recognizes the sacrifices made by veterans and by the families of Armed Forces members who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend freedom and protect the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2020
Cost Recovery and Expensing Acceleration to Transform the Economy and Jumpstart Opportunities for Businesses and Startups Act of 2020 or the CREATE JOBS Act This bill allows permanent expensing of qualified property (i.e., property with a recovery period of 20 years or less and that is computer software, water utility property, or film, television, or live theatrical production property). It also modifies depreciation provisions for residential rental property and nonresidential real property. The bill repeals provisions for the amortization of research and experimental expenditures, thus providing for direct expensing of such expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
Safeguarding Americans from Coronavirus and Religious Exercise Discrimination Act or the SACRED Act This bill makes a state or local jurisdiction that discriminates against religious individuals or religious institutions ineligible to receive or use funds allocated, appropriated, or authorized to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, a state or local jurisdiction violates this bill's prohibition if it (1) enforces, or announces the intent to enforce, any law, regulation, policy, order, proclamation, or decree related to COVID-19 that discriminates against religious individuals or religious institutions; or (2) provides, or shows an intention to provide, funds to a separate jurisdiction that is ineligible to receive or use those funds because the jurisdiction has committed a violation. The Department of Justice shall determine whether a state or local jurisdiction is ineligible to receive or use such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
Protecting America From Spies Act This bill expands the grounds for barring aliens who have engaged in acts relating to espionage or sabotage from entering the United States. Specifically, any alien shall be inadmissible if the alien has engaged in or will engage in an act that (1) violates a U.S. law relating to espionage or sabotage; (2) would violate any U.S. law relating to espionage or sabotage if it occurred in the United States; or (3) violates any U.S. law prohibiting the export of goods, technology, or sensitive information. Currently, an alien shall be inadmissible if the alien seeks to enter the United States to engage in such an action. Furthermore, the bill expands these grounds of inadmissibility and other security-related grounds to cover the spouse or child of the barred alien if the act occurred in the last five years. The bill also modifies the authority of the Department of Justice to waive certain security-related grounds of inadmissibility for an alien applying for a nonimmigrant visa.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
This resolution declares that (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Lewis, a late Member of the House of Representatives; and (2) when the Senate adjourns on July 28, 2020, it will stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable John Lewis.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2020
Taiwan Fellowship Act This bill directs the Department of State to establish a program to provide two-year fellowships in Taiwan to qualifying U.S. government employees. Each program fellow shall work in (1) a Taiwanese government agency; or (2) a nongovernmental organization, such as the American Institute in Taiwan, whose interests are associated with the interests of the fellow's employing U.S. government agency. (The United States does not have official relations with Taiwan as a result of China's position that Taiwan is part of China. The American Institute in Taiwan is a private organization that has a contract with the State Department to represent U.S. interests in Taiwan and provide consular services.) The State Department and the American Institute in Taiwan shall select a nonprofit organization to implement the fellowship program.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2020
Addressing Missed-savings Opportunities for Retirement due to an Epidemic Act or the AMORE Act This bill allows a participant in a tax-preferred pension plan or individual retirement plan to make additional contributions to such plans for any taxable year beginning in 2021 or 2022 in an amount not exceeding the participant's unused 2020 contribution amount.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
Restitution for Economic losses Caused by Leaders who Allow Insurrection and Mayhem Act or the RECLAIM Act This bill provides for civil liability in certain instances against an official who recognizes a law enforcement-free zone and contains other related provisions. The bill defines such a zone as an area that law enforcement is entitled to access but is instructed to not access or only access in exceptional circumstances, but generally does not include instances where law enforcement temporarily withholds from an area in response to an imminent threat. An official shall be liable to a person who suffers certain physical harm or property damage from a third party's criminal act if, among other requirements, the official directed law enforcement to recognize a law enforcement-free zone and the criminal act and harm was foreseeable and occurred within the zone. An official who prohibits law enforcement from taking a law enforcement action that would prevent or mitigate physical harm or property damage related to a riot shall also be liable to a person who suffered harm or property damage caused during the riot, in certain instances. The bill also provides for triple damages in certain instances for an individual who prevails in a civil rights lawsuit against an official who recognized a law enforcement-free zone or prohibited a law enforcement action related to a riot. States and local government entities that receive certain law enforcement grants or disaster relief may not take certain actions such as (1) prohibiting law enforcement actions that would mitigate injuries to individuals or property from a riot, or (2) recognizing a law enforcement-free zone.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
This bill designates the area between the intersections of 16th Street, NW and Fuller Street, NW and 16th Street, NW and Euclid Street, NW in the District of Columbia as Oswaldo Paya Way .
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
School Choice Now Act This bill allows the Department of Education (ED) to establish an emergency education freedom grant program to assistance families with education expenses and prevent closures of private schools. It also allows tax credits for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations that provide assistance to families for private school tuition and home-schooling expenses. The Department of the Treasury, in coordination with ED, must establish, host, and maintain a web portal that lists all eligible scholarship-granting programs and provides other specified information.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2020
Ensuring Public Safety's Access to Airwaves Act of 2020 This bill repeals the requirement that the Federal Communications Commission reallocate designated spectrum currently used for public safety. Further, it requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, taking into account certain considerations, to identify a specified amount of federal spectrum that shall be reallocated for the provision of private commercial mobile and fixed wireless broadband internet access service.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Airport Infrastructure Readiness Act of 2020 or the AIR Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to apportion Airport Improvement Program funding for FY2022 and FY2023 to an airport sponsor based on the number of passenger boardings at such airport that would result in the highest apportioned amount during either calendar year 2018, calendar year 2019, or the full calendar year prior to the current fiscal year. Additionally, DOT shall not calculate a benefit-to-cost ratio with respect to an air traffic control tower participating in the Contract Tower Program on the basis of an annual aircraft traffic decrease in FY2020 and FY2021. Under the Contract Tower Program, air traffic control towers are staffed by employees of private companies rather than by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees. The FAA is required to perform a benefit-cost analysis to determine eligibility for participation in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2020
Stop Illegal Reentry Act or Kate's Law This bill increases criminal penalties for certain aliens who illegally reenter the United States after removal or exclusion. Generally, an alien who had been denied entry into or removed from the United States and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States without prior approval from the Department of Homeland Security shall be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. Current law requires a fine, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for such an alien. An alien who had been denied entry or removed three or more times and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States shall be fined, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. An alien who was convicted of an aggravated felony or convicted at least two times before removal or departure and who subsequently enters or tries to enter the United States shall be imprisoned at least five years and for up to twenty years, and may also be fined. Currently, there is no minimum term of imprisonment for an alien who reenters after a conviction for an aggravated felony, and there are no criminal penalties for a reentering alien who had been convicted at least two times (other than the penalties for illegal reentry generally).
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Loan Interest Forgiveness for Taxpayers Under a Pandemic Act of 2020 or the LIFT UP Act This bill modifies specified debt relief made available to small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the Small Business Administration must pay the principal, interest, and any associated fees that are owed on certain disaster loans made to small businesses prior and unrelated to COVID-19 for a six-month period.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act This bill modifies loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides for automatic forgiveness of a paycheck protection loan that is not more than $150,000 if the recipient submits a one-page form. Further, it prohibits any enforcement or other action against a lender relating to loan origination, forgiveness, or guarantee based on the lender's reliance on certifications or documentation submitted by a loan applicant or recipient.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
This resolution reaffirms the Senate's commitment to the historic partnership between the United States and Ecuador, and it supports actions to strengthen this bilateral relationship. Further, it recognizes President Moreno and his administration for committing to democratic values and commends President Moreno for taking steps to protect freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Ecuador.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
This resolution (1) extends condolences to the family and friends of David Dorn, (2) recognizes and honors David Dorn as a hero who lived a life of service to his community and others through the pursuit of justice and the protection of individuals in the community, and (3) expresses deep respect and appreciation for the selfless character and sacrifice of David Dorn.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act of 2020 or the JUSTICE Act This bill addresses policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. The bill funds state and local grants, incentivizes state and local reporting on the use of certain policing practices, creates new federal offenses for certain misconduct, establishes a commission to study the conditions affecting Black men and boys, and establishes best practices and training requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Equal Access to Care Act This bill temporarily authorizes a health care provider who is physically located and duly licensed in one state to provide telehealth services to individuals in one or more additional states in which the provider is not licensed during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of State to publish a list of countries that contract with Cuba's medical missions program and to consider, when determining a country's ranking for the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, whether the country participated in programs with foreign organizations that enable human trafficking. Cuba's overseas medical missions program employs health care professionals in more than 60 countries but has been included in the annual TIP Report for indicators of human trafficking in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
This bill expands the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), to encompass chambers of commerce and certain destination marketing organizations with 300 or fewer employees.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2020
This resolution expresses remembrance for the life of Otto Frederick Warmbier on the third anniversary of his death. The resolution condemns North Korea for his death and calls for sanctions against North Korea to remain fully implemented until North Korea commits to the suspension of its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2020
Work Safe Act This bill allows employers a tax credit for providing testing for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to disclose the COVID-19 weekly positive case rate for each state and the United States for the most recent calendar week.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill makes incentive payments incurred for expedited completion of certain federally financed airport development projects an allowable project cost standard.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
This resolution designates June 2020 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2020, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress. The resolution also encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements To Consumers Here In North America Act This bill allows accelerated depreciation of nonresidential real property acquired to relocate facilities for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical devices or supplies in the United States. It also allows an exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of relocation property that was used to manufacture medical products in a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
This resolution reaffirms the critical importance of the alliance between the United States and South Korea. The resolution encourages coordination between the two countries in certain areas and emphasizes that the United States Forces Korea remains prepared to counter third-party aggression.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic This bill expands the types of educational expenses that may be paid from a qualified tuition program (commonly known as a 529 plan) for students enrolled at or attending an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. It also permits payments of certain education expenses for home schooling during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the date the emergency period has ended. The bill also permits penalty free distributions from tax-preferred retirement plans for the period after February 29, 2020, and before January 1, 2021, if contributed to a 529 plan.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2020
This bill modifies the time limit from 150 days to 90 days to file a petition for judicial review of a permit, license, or approval for a highway or public transportation capital project.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2020
Federal Permitting Modernization Act of 2020 This bill revises environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for certain infrastructure projects. Specifically, this bill establishes deadlines for federal agencies to complete the environmental review of such projects. A court may not issue a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction against an agency or a project sponsor in connection with the review or authorization of an infrastructure project unless the court determines that (1) the environmental review has failed substantially and materially to comply with the requirements of NEPA, and (2) the failure cannot be cured by supplementing the environmental document or other mitigation and monitoring measures.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 This bill addresses the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the bill authorizes the VA to reallocate specified grant funds to provide homeless veterans and veterans participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program with transportation, assistance required for safety and survival, and communications equipment and services; collaborate with organizations to manage use of VA land for homeless veterans for living and sleeping; provide a maximum rate, in certain situations, for per diem payments that is three times the rate authorized for state homes for domiciliary care; provide amounts for additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to housing and services provided to homeless veterans; and waive certain inspection and safety code requirements to allow grant recipients and therapeutic housing facilities to make adjustments (e.g., facilitating social distancing or isolation needs). Per diem payments may be used to provide assistance required for safety and survival (e.g., food) for homeless veterans and formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility operated by a grant recipient or entity that receives per diem payments for furnishing services to homeless veterans. Finally, the bill requires the VA to ensure that veterans participating in or receiving services under a program for homeless veterans have access to telehealth services. The VA must ensure telehealth capabilities are available to such veterans, VA case managers, and community-based service providers.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Protecting Europe's Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020 This bill expands existing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in certain activities relating to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream energy pipelines. Current law generally imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that knowingly took actions such as selling or leasing vessels that engaged in pipe laying related to the pipelines. Under this bill, the President shall also impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in other specified activities, such as (1) providing underwriting services or insurance for such vessels, (2) installing welding equipment for such vessels, or (3) providing testing or inspection services for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2020
American Space Commerce Act of 2020 This bill allows a special allowance for bonus depreciation for qualified domestic space launch property and extends the termination of such allowance until the end of 2032. The bill defines qualified domestic space launch property as property placed in service before January 1, 2023, that is (1) a space transportation vehicle or payload that is launched from the United States, or (2) other property or equipment placed in service to facilitate a space launch from the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Hong Kong Autonomy Act This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source. The President may impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. Such sanctions are mandatory if an individual or entity is named in two reports. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution. The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
This resolution designates the Hong Kong national security law proposed by China as a violation of China's international obligations. The resolution calls on the United States to use all diplomatic means available to dissuade China from passing the law and rally free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Blocking Evasive Attempts to Manipulate Signals Act of 2020 or the BEAMS Act of 2020 This bill restricts the transfer of certain broadcast permits whereby a person may broadcast into a foreign country (e.g., Mexico or Canada) for the purpose of rebroadcasting into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Ending Medical Censorship and Cover Ups in China Act of 2020 This bill directs the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on persons responsible for various acts of censorship in China. Specifically, such sanctions shall apply to persons that engage in acts to (1) prohibit or limit the exercise of free expression and assembly in China, (2) penalize Chinese citizens for the public dissemination of accurate epidemiological information, or (3) limit access to media in China. The President shall periodically update the list of sanctioned persons, which shall be publicly available.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, and Protecting Talkies Act or the SCRIPT Act This bill limits the provision of financial and technical assistance for the production or funding of a film for screening in China. The President may only authorize the provision of technical support or access to an asset controlled by the federal government for, or authorize a federal agency to enter into a contract related to, the production or funding of a film by a U.S. company, if the company provides to the the Department of Commerce a list of all films produced or funded by the company whose content has been submitted, during a specified period, to a Chinese official or the Chinese Communist Party for evaluation for screening in China; enters into a written agreement with the President or the federal agency not to alter the content of the film in response to, or in anticipation of, a request by a Chinese official or the Chinese Communist Party; and submits such agreement to Commerce. The bill requires specified annual reports on the films disclosed pursuant to such limitation. The President may not authorize the provision of such support, access, or authorization of such a contract if (1) the film is co-produced by an entity located in China that is subject to conditions on content imposed by a Chinese official or the Chinese Communist Party, or (2) the company is listed in the most recent annual report.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act This bill requires enhanced vetting of Chinese nationals in the United States on student or exchange visitor visas and temporarily stops the issuance of such visas to Chinese nationals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall conduct comprehensive background checks on any Chinese national (unless the individual is enrolled in elementary or secondary school) residing in the United States on an F, M, or J visa to determine if the individual is a national security threat or attempting to illegally obtain COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine research. When performing such background checks, DHS shall consult with the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Department of Health and Human Services. DHS shall complete all such background checks within 120 days of this bill's enactment and may extend the deadline by 60 days if necessary. The State Department may not issue F, M, or J visas to Chinese nationals until DHS has reported to Congress the completed results of the background checks. DHS shall continuously vet any Chinese national holding an F, M, or J visa who has access to any COVID-19-related research, unless the individual is enrolled in elementary or secondary school.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
This resolution declares that the Senate (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Thomas Allen Coburn, former member of the U.S. Senate; (2) recognizes his life and achievements; and (3) expresses condolences to the family of the former Senator on his passing. Furthermore, this resolution declares that when the Senate adjourns on May 19, 2020, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Thomas Allen Coburn.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
Right to Test Act This bill authorizes a state's public health department, or another entity designated by the state's governor, to approve a diagnostic test or diagnostic device (e.g., a test for the virus that causes COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019) for use during a public health emergency. Unless requested by the governor of the state, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must not, during the emergency, engage in certain enforcement actions related to such a test or device. Not later than 180 days following the end of the public health emergency, the FDA must review and make a final determination concerning approval of the test or device.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and requires various reports on the topic. The President shall periodically report to Congress a list identifying foreign individuals and entities responsible for such human rights abuses. The President shall impose (1) property-blocking sanctions on the identified individuals and entities, and (2) visa-blocking sanctions on the identified individuals. The bill requires reports to Congress on (1) human rights abuses in Xinjiang; (2) efforts to protect U.S. citizens and residents, including ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals studying or working in the United States, from harassment and intimidation by the Chinese government; and (3) the Chinese government's acquisition and development of technology to facilitate internment and mass surveillance in Xinjiang. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall submit a classified report to Congress on (1) Chinese government policies in Xinjiang that constitute gross violations of human rights, and (2) the scope and scale of the detention and forced labor of Muslim minority groups in China.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Dust Off crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Allowing All to Serve Act This bill establishes a program to recruit up to 10,000 aliens who have relevant medical training and are lawfully present in the United States to provide health care services in federal facilities during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. The facilities are those owned or managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Expanding Medical Partnerships with Israel to Lessen Dependence on China Act or the EMPIL-DOC Act This bill authorizes a bilateral grant program with Israel to develop health technologies, with an emphasis on the use of technology, personalized medicine, and data in relation to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Technologies to be developed through this program include, among others, artificial intelligence, respiratory assist devices, and diagnostic tests. In addition, the program conditions funding on a matching contribution from the government of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
This resolution 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. The resolution supports the ideals and goals of the 21st annual National Charter Schools Week.
![Official portrait of Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c001098_200.jpg)