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United States · Official source
2,951 records where Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2018
This joint resolution extends the sympathies of Congress to the family of the Reverend William "Billy" F. Graham, Jr., and honors his life, his ministry, and his contributions to North Carolina, the United States, and the moral and religious life of millions of individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018
Poverty Measurement Improvement Act This bill requires the Bureau of the Census, for each of FY2019-FY2028, to conduct a new survey of income and poverty in the United States and to supplement and verify the information obtained using data from the most recent available Current Population Survey (CPS), data furnished by state and federal agencies that administer such benefits, and income-tax data. The Census Bureau shall include in the survey questions related to whether an individual has previously been incarcerated or is on probation. In addition, the Census Bureau shall: (1) collect data from the appropriate administering agencies regarding the income of, and federal means-tested benefits received by, individuals who have previously been incarcerated or are on probation; (2) produce tables and graphs showing for each year the poverty rates and related data calculated using the survey responses and other information collected; and (3) create a database that contains data from the survey, data from the most recent available CPS, and data furnished by administering agencies. State agencies that administer federal means-tested benefits shall report annually on the benefits received by each household. The Census Bureau must annually provide specified summary statistics comparing income levels to consumption habits.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018
Recognizes March 10, 2018, as Tibetan Rights Day and calls on the Department of State to fully implement the provisions of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2018
Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act or the FARM Act This bill amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to exempt air emissions from animal waste at a farm from specified release notification requirements, recordkeeping requirements, and associated penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2018
Cambodia Accountability and Return on Investment Act of 2018 This bill prohibits assistance for the government of Cambodia unless the Department of State certifies to Congress that Cambodia is taking steps to: (1) strengthen regional security and the enforcement of international sanctions against North Korea, and (2) respect Cambodia's Constitution. The State Department shall continue to restrict the U.S. entry of individuals involved in undermining democracy in Cambodia. The President may prohibit transactions of such individual's U.S.-sited or -controlled property and property interests. The United States shall oppose international financial institution loans and assistance to Cambodia, other than to meet basic human needs, until restrictions on Cambodian officials undermining democracy in Cambodia terminates. Funds are authorized for Khmer-language broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2018
Eric's Law This bill amends the federal criminal code to modify procedures with respect to capital sentencing hearings. If a jury at a capital sentencing hearing does not reach a unanimous recommendation on the defendant's sentence, then the court must order a new special sentencing hearing and impanel a new jury. If the new jury at the special sentencing hearing does not reach a unanimous recommendation on the defendant's sentence, then the court is prohibited from imposing a death sentence.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2018
Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury, in furtherance of efforts to prevent the financing of terrorism, money laundering, or related illicit finance and to make financial institutions' required compliance with sanctions more easily understood, to submit within 270 days and annually thereafter for the next two years a report regarding: the funds or other assets held in U.S. and foreign financial institutions that are directly or indirectly controlled by specified Iranian officials; any equity interest such official has in an entity on Treasury's list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons or in any other sanctioned entity; how such funds, assets, or equity interests were acquired and used; new methods used to evade anti-money laundering and related laws, including recommendations to improve techniques to combat illicit uses of the U.S. financial system by such officials. recommendations for revising U.S. economic sanctions against Iran to prevent Iranian officials from using funds or assets to develop and procure ballistic missile technology and commit human rights abuses; the effectiveness of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran and how Treasury assesses such effectiveness; and recommendations for improving Treasury's ability to develop and enforce additional economic sanctions against Iran if so ordered by the President. The unclassified portion of the report shall be made available to the public and posted on Treasury's website in downloadable English, Farsi, Arabic, and Azeri versions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2018
Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2018 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the qualifying service requirement of the teacher loan forgiveness program for certain military spouses who are borrowers under the Federal Family Education Loan program or the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program. Under current law, an otherwise qualified full-time teacher must complete five consecutive years of service to be eligible for the teacher loan forgiveness program. This bill permits a teacher who completes five full-time years of non-consecutive service to be eligible for loan forgiveness if the teacher was a qualified military spouse during a break in teaching service. A qualified military spouse is an individual who: (1) is a highly-qualified teacher at a high-need school, (2) is the spouse of a servicemember, (3) experienced a break in teaching service to relocate with servicemember spouse pursuant to military orders, and (4) resumed teaching the following year.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2018
Justice Served Act of 2018 This bill amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to add, as a purpose area under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, increasing the capacity of prosecutors to address the backlog of violent crime cases involving suspects identified through DNA evidence. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must allocate a specified percentage of grant funds for such purpose, subject to limitations. Additionally, of amounts made available over FY2019-FY2022 for a DNA analysis and capacity enhancement program and for other forensic activities, DOJ must allocate at least 5% for grants to prosecute cold cases involving violent crime, where suspects have been identified through DNA evidence.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2018
Designates the week of January 21-January 27, 2018, as National School Choice Week. Encourages all parents to learn more about the educational options available.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2018
Designates April 18, 2018, as Military Retiree Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2018
Earmark Elimination Act of 2018 This bill establishes a point of order in the Senate against considering legislation that includes an earmark. Under the bill, an "earmark" is a congressionally directed spending item, tax benefit, or tariff benefit targeted to a specific recipient or group of beneficiaries. The point of order may be waived by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn. If the point of order is successfully raised and sustained, the earmark shall be stricken from the legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2018
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The bill provides exceptions for an abortion: (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2018
Enhancing Educational Opportunities for all Students Act This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a state educational agency to allocate grant funds among local educational agencies based on the number of eligible children (children age 5 to 17 from a family with an income below the poverty level) enrolled in the public schools and the state-accredited private schools within each local agency's geographic jurisdiction. This bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow payment of home school expenses from Coverdell education savings accounts; (2) remove the dollar limitation on contributions to Coverdell education savings accounts and require such accounts to provide adequate safeguards to prevent contributions from exceeding the amount necessary to provide for the qualified education expenses of the account beneficiary; and (3) allow tax-exempt qualified tuition programs (529 tuition programs) to pay qualified pre-kindergarten, elementary, and secondary education expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 2018
Guidance Out Of Darkness Act or the GOOD Act This bill requires an agency to publish a guidance document on the agency's website on the day the guidance document is issued. All guidance documents issued by an agency during the last 10 years must be published in a single location on the agency's website. On the day a guidance document is rescinded, an agency must indicate that the guidance document is rescinded and the date on which it was rescinded.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 2018
Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act of 2018 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) expand nonimmigrant employer annual data reporting requirements to include all nonimmigrant worker categories and compensated cultural exchange, training, and business classifications; and (2) require that such information be made public. (Employment means employment in the United States and includes cultural exchanges, training, or business activities for which the nonimmigrant receives any form of compensation.) Expanded reporting requirements shall include information regarding: (1) age and gender of admitted nonimmigrants, (2) categories and numbers of visas issued and numbers of persons admitted under each visa, (4) blanket petitions, (5) nonimmigrant worker employers, and (6) citizens of nations with Compacts of Free Association with the United States who are authorized to reside permanently in the United States as nonimmigrants. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State, and the Department of Labor may revise forms or databases used to regulate nonimmigrant visas or grant nonimmigrant status. The State Department and Labor shall share report-related information with DHS.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2018
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent provisions included in P.L. 115-97 (commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) that: (1) reduced the individual tax rates, and (2) modified the taxation of the unearned income of children. The existing individual tax rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%) are currently scheduled to expire and revert to higher rates at the end of 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2018
Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2017 or the VET Protection Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to track the use of official time by VA employees without using estimates or time ranges. Official time is time granted to an employee under federal labor-management relations provisions to perform representational or consultative functions during which the employee would otherwise be in a duty status. The bill prohibits: (1) a VA employee from using official time to carry out political or lobbying activities; (2) specified health care employees, probationary employees, or employees above a certain salary level from using official time for any purpose; and (3) any VA employee from spending more than 25% of the time such employee would otherwise be in a duty status on official time. An exclusive bargaining agreement shall allow a VA employee to terminate a voluntary dues allotment at any time. A covered VA employee shall serve a two-year probationary period, after which the employee's supervisor shall determine within 90 days whether or not the appointment is permanent. A covered employee is any individual appointed to a permanent position within the competitive service or the Senior Executive Service and does not include specified health care practitioners.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2018
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent provisions included in P.L. 115-97 (commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) that: (1) reduced the individual tax rates, and (2) modified the taxation of the unearned income of children. The existing individual tax rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%) are currently scheduled to expire and revert to higher rates at the end of 2025.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2018
Condemns the government of Iran for: (1) funding terrorist organizations and activities; (2) oppression of its citizens; and (3) suppression of communication through interference with internet applications such as Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, and Twitter. Reaffirms: (1) the U.S. commitment to promoting the freedoms of speech and assembly as universal rights, and (2) U.S. support for the citizens of Iran to establish a freely elected democratic system.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017 This bill directs the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director at each international financial institution to oppose a loan for budget support for the government of Nicaragua unless the Department of State reports that Nicaragua is taking effective steps to (1) hold free elections; (2) promote democracy; (3) strengthen the rule of law; (4) combat corruption; (5) protect the right to freedom of expression; (6) protect the rights of indigenous people; and (7) protect the rights of political opposition parties, journalists, and other civil society activists to operate without interference.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Congressional Harassment Reform Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to: (1) require certain discrimination and harassment awareness and prevention training for Members of Congress, officers, employees, interns, fellows, and detailees; (2) extend CAA nondiscrimination requirements and remedies to legislative interns, fellows, and detailees; (3) revise CAA procedures for certain harassment and discrimination complaints; (4) require a Member of Congress to reimburse the Treasury if an employee receives an award or settlement for the Member's alleged act of discrimination or harassment, unless the Member's request for a nonreimbursement determination is approved; and (5) rename the Office of Compliance the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2017 This bill establishes tiered hiring preferences for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. The bill grants: (1) a 2-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed at least 6 years of service in a reserve component and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service, and (2) a 3-point preference to current members of a reserve component who have completed a least 10 years of service and were credited with at least 50 retirement points in each year of service. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on federal employment opportunities for members of a reserve component and the impact of this bill on the hiring of reservists and veterans by the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2017
Disaster Assistance Simplification Act This bill prohibits a recipient of a disaster-recovery grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development from denying an applicant for assistance, or reducing the amount of assistance offered to the applicant, on the basis that the applicant declined disaster-recovery relief assistance from the Small Business Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
National Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to provide for the establishment, sustainment, and operation of a complement to and backup for the timing component of the Global Positioning System (GPS). (GPS satellites contain atomic clocks that provide precise time data and allow GPS receivers to synchronize to those clocks.) The system must: (1) reduce critical dependencies on the GPS network; (2) ensure the availability of uncorrupted and non-degraded timing signals for military and civilian users if GPS timing signals are corrupted or otherwise unavailable; and (3) be land-based, operational in 2 years, and capable of operation for 20 years.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
Commemorates "A Century of Service," the 100th anniversary of the 2d Infantry Division on October 26, 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2017
Honors the life of Dr. Robert Lawrence, Jr., the first African-American astronaut selected for spaceflight.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2017
Strengthening Oversight of Iran's Access to Finance Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury, not later than 30 days after authorizing a U. S. or foreign financial institution to export or re-export a commercial passenger aircraft to Iran (or, for an authorization made after January 16, 2016, but before the enactment of this bill, not later than 60 days after such enactment) and every 180 days thereafter for the duration of the authorization, to submit to Congress a report containing: a list of financial institutions that have, after January 16, 2016, conducted transactions authorized in connection with such export or re-export; and either a certification that such transaction does not pose a significant money laundering or terrorism financing risk to the U. S. financial system and will not benefit an Iranian person who for the one year preceding the certification has knowingly transported weapons of mass destruction or has knowingly provided transportation services or material support for terrorism, weapons of mass destruction delivery system proliferation, or human rights abuses in Syria, and that any such institution had appropriate policies, procedures, and processes in place to avoid engaging in sanctionable activities; or a statement that the Treasury is unable to make such a certification and will, within 60 days after such determination, submit a report on non-certification to Congress. The President may waive the requirements of this bill for up to one year at a time upon certifying to Congress that: the Government of Iran has made substantial progress toward combating money laundering and terrorism financing risk emanating from Iran or has significantly reduced its destabilizing activities in the region or material support for terrorist groups; or such waiver is important to U.S. national interests.
United States · United States Congress · 28 November 2017
Educational Freedom Accounts Act This bill (1) establishes an educational savings account program for District of Columbia children who are eligible to receive a free public education in the District, but whose parents choose not to enroll them in a public school or home schooling; and (2) specifies the use of such funds, including for private schools.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal criminal code to modify procedures for determining the amount of mandatory restitution in child pornography cases. Additionally, the bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984: to direct courts to impose additional assessments on persons convicted of child pornography offenses; and to establish a Child Pornography Victims Reserve, within the Crime Victims Fund, where the additional assessments must be deposited.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Commends the Houston Astros for winning the 2017 Major League Baseball World Series championship title and for an outstanding performance during the 2017 Major League Baseball season.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Expresses the sense of Congress that it should be U.S. policy to: make the treatment of the Tibetan people an important factor in the conduct of U.S. relations with the People's Republic of China; consistent with the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, encourage the Chinese government to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet, publicly call for the release of those held prisoner for expressing their political or religious views in Tibetan areas, and establish an office in Lhasa, Tibet, to assist visiting U.S. citizens and monitor political, economic, and cultural developments in Tibet; appoint the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues at the rank of Under Secretary of State; revoke appropriate privileges of any Chinese official found responsible for impeding access of U.S. citizens to Tibet and ensure that reciprocal visa processing measures are occurring; continue to designate China as a country of particular concern pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998; and engage with appropriate Chinese officials to stop the demolition of Tibetan Buddhist religious institutions, revise religious and travel regulations to conform with international human rights standards, and ensure that Tibetan nomads are allowed to continue their way of life on the Tibetan Plateau and are not forcibly relocated into "socialist villages."
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2017
Commemorates the 75th anniversary of the loss of the San Antonio Rose and honors the memory of its crew.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2017
Senate Anti-Harassment Training Resolution of 2017 Requires each Senator and Senate officer, manager, employee, intern, fellow, and detailee to periodically complete training that addresses workplace harassment, including sexual harassment and related intimidation and reprisal prohibited under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. Requires the individual to complete such training within 60 days after: (1) adoption of this resolution; or (2) assuming a Senate position, if after such adoption. Deems individuals to have completed training if they completed training during the 115th Congress. Directs each office, including a joint commission or joint committee, employing Senate employees to certify whether covered individuals have completed such training during that Congress. Requires the Secretary of the Senate to publish the certification on its public website.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017
Cuban Airport Security Act of 2017 This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to brief Congress and the Government Accountability Office on specified aspects of security measures at each of Cuba's 10 international airports No U.S. air carrier that has entered into a covered agreement may employ a Cuban national beginning 30 days after enactment of this bill unless such carrier has publicly disclosed the full text of the agreement, and such nationals shall not have been recruited, hired, or trained by entities that are owned, operated, or controlled by Cuba's Council of State, Council of Ministers, Communist Party, Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Ministry of the Interior. A "covered agreement" means a formal agreement between a U.S. air carrier with passenger air service between any location in Cuba and any location in the United States and the Empresa Cubana de Aeropuertos y Servicios Aeronauticos or any other entity associated with the Cuban government. TSA shall develop a standard working document for all negotiations and agreements between the United States and foreign governments or partners regarding Federal Air Marshal coverage of flights to and from the United States. All such agreements shall be written and signed by the DHS Secretary. DHS shall notify Congress of any such agreement within 30 days of it being signed. The U.S. Ambassador or the Charge d'Affaires to the U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization shall pursue improvements to airport security, including introducing a resolution to raise minimum airport security standards.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017
Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish a reciprocal marketing approval process that allows for the sale of a drug, biological product, or medical device that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if the product is approved for sale in another country. For a product to be granted reciprocal marketing approval, the product's sponsor must submit a request to the FDA that demonstrates: (1) the product may be sold in at least one country from a specified list of countries, (2) the FDA and listed countries have not withdrawn approval of the product because of safety or effectiveness concerns, and (3) there is a public health or unmet medical need for the product. The FDA may: (1) require post-market studies of a product granted reciprocal marketing approval, or (2) decline to approve a product that is not safe and effective. The FDA must grant or decline reciprocal marketing approval not later than 30 days after receiving a request. During that period, the FDA and product sponsor must negotiate and finalize product labeling and, for a medical device, classify the device. Congress may pass a joint resolution to grant reciprocal marketing approval to a product that the FDA declines to approve through this process. User fees apply to requests for reciprocal marketing approval. The FDA must encourage the sponsors of potentially eligible products to request reciprocal marketing approval.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017
Health Care Choice Act of 2017 This bill repeals the health insurance and health coverage expansion requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Provisions of law amended or repealed by those provisions are restored. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to provide that the laws of a state designated by a health insurer (primary state) apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that insurer in any state (secondary state) if the coverage, states, and insurer comply with the conditions of this bill. Insurers are exempted from any secondary state's laws that would prohibit or regulate the operation of the insurer in that state. The primary state is given sole jurisdiction to enforce its covered laws in any secondary state. The Government Accountability Office must study the effect of this bill on specified health insurance issues.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017
Commemorates on October 27, 2017, the 100th anniversary and a Century of Service of the 2nd Infantry Division.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2017
Condemns the attack at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 1, 2017, and honors the memory of the victims killed. Expresses hope for the recovery of those injured, and applauds the efforts of law-enforcement and counterterrorism officials and emergency-medical and healthcare professionals in response to the attack.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2017
Affirms the Jewish people's historical connection to Jerusalem. Recognizes that the archaeological discoveries from the City of David, the site of ancient Jerusalem, present evidence of the millennia-old connection of Jerusalem to the Jewish people and, by extension, to Christianity. Commends the government of Israel for protecting the freedoms of all faiths in Jerusalem and ensuring their access to holy sites. Condemns efforts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to delegitimize Israel through attempts to rewrite and deny Jerusalem's history. Encourages the United States to continue working with allies to prevent UNESCO from passing biased anti-Israel resolutions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 2017
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The bill provides exceptions for an abortion: (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2017
Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia. Condemns political violence in Cambodia and urges the cessation of human rights violations. Urges: Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party to end all harassment and intimidation of Cambodia's opposition and foster an environment where democracy can thrive and flourish; the Department of State to consider placing all senior Cambodian government officials implicated in such abuses on the Specially Designated Nationals list; the Cambodian government to free Mr. Kem Sokha and to respect freedom of the press and the rights of its citizens to freely assemble, protest, and speak out against the government; and the President to communicate to the Cambodian government that if it ignores the recommendations of the international community and maintains the current restrictive and intimidating political environment, the U.S. government will have to determine that the 2018 elections were not conducted freely or fairly. Supports electoral reform efforts in Cambodia and free and fair elections in 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 2017
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith in recognition of their contributions to the nation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017
Leverage to Enhance Effective Diplomacy Act of 2017 or the LEED Act This bill directs the President to: (1) impose property-blocking sanctions against the North Korean government, business entities that trade with North Korea, including specified Chinese entities, and affiliated persons or entities; (2) prohibit the opening, and strictly control the maintaining in the United States, of correspondent or payable-through accounts by a foreign financial institution that assisted in the importation, sale, or transfer of North Korean goods or services; and (3) impose specified sanctions against a person that imports, purchases, or transfers goods or services from the North Korean government or from such entities or affiliates. The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 is amended to extend assistance for human rights and democracy programs. The bill prescribes reporting requirements with respect to North Korea's ballistic missile and missile fuel program. The Department of State shall: (1) brief Congress on the status of U.S. diplomatic engagement with North Korea and of detained U.S. citizens, and (2) develop a diplomatic strategy to end the transfer of rocket fuels and chemical precursors to North Korea. The State Department may reduce its diplomatic presence in, and terminate or reduce foreign assistance to, countries that are not cooperating with diplomatic and economic efforts to isolate North Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2017 This bill establishes a default mens rea (i.e., guilty mind) requirement for federal criminal statutory and regulatory offenses that lack a state of mind requirement. The government must generally prove that a defendant acted willfully with respect to each element of the offense that lacks a specific state of mind requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2017
Expresses condolences to the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Commends the resiliency and courage of the people of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Commits to provide the necessary resources to rebuild their communities. Applauds the work and commitment of emergency responders and law enforcement officers on the ground in the aftermath of such hurricanes.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2017
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow various tax credits, deductions, and modifications to existing rules for individuals and businesses affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. With respect to individuals and businesses in the affected areas, the bill: waives the 10% additional tax on early distributions from retirement plans for up to $100,000 in distributions made on or after August 23, 2017, and before January 1, 2019; permits individuals to recontribute funds to retirement plans if the funds were distributed for a home purchase in a hurricane disaster area that was cancelled on account of the hurricanes; increases the limit and extends the repayment deadline for loans from retirement plans; allows an employee retention tax credit for employers equal to 40% of the qualified wages (up to $6,000 per employee) paid to an employee whose principal place of employment on specified dates was in a hurricane disaster zone; modifies the deduction for charitable contributions to temporarily suspend the limitations on charitable contributions made before December 31, 2017, for relief efforts in the hurricane disaster areas; modifies the deduction for personal casualty losses in the hurricane disaster areas to eliminate: (1) the requirement for losses to exceed 10% of adjusted gross income to qualify for the deduction, and (2) the requirement to itemize; and allows taxpayers to use earned income from the immediately preceding year for the purpose of determining earned income for the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2017
Commemorates the 230th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2017
Healthcare Tax Relief Act This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay the imposition of an annual fee on health insurance providers until after December 31, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2017
Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2017 This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include community centers, including tax-exempt houses of worship, as "private nonprofit facilities" for purposes of disaster relief and emergency assistance eligibility under such Act. A church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other house of worship, and a private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization, are eligible for federal contributions for the repair, restoration, and replacement of facilities damaged or destroyed by a major disaster, without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility. This bill is applicable to the provision of assistance in response to a major disaster or emergency declared on or after October 28, 2012.