United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
Phair Relief Act of 2019 This bill establishes and otherwise modifies requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), particularly with respect to the disclosure of certain drug pricing information. Among other things, the bill (1) requires PBMs to pass on a minimum percentage of negotiated rebates, discounts, or price concessions to plan sponsors; (2) temporarily requires negotiated prices for covered drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to be provided at the point-of-sale; and (3) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish certain quality measures for determining pharmacy incentive payments.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2019
This resolution recognizes and applauds the United Nations for proclaiming 2019 as the "International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements." The resolution also commends the global community of chemists for their efforts to (1) advance the field of chemistry, (2) recognize the International Year of the Periodic Table, and (3) participate in events marking such year as an important scientific milestone and global celebration.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2019 This bill prohibits third-party hotel-booking websites from marketing, or selling reservations for, a hotel room if the booking site states or implies that it is affiliated with the hotel owner or operator when it is not.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
Advancing Innovation and Reinvigorating Widespread Access to Viable Electromagnetic Spectrum Act or the AIRWAVES Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to establish a bidding marketplace for the use of commercially licensed spectrum in lower-frequency bands and to make additional unlicensed spectrum available in higher-frequency bands. From the proceeds of transactions conducted under the bill, 10% shall be allocated for the placement of wireless infrastructure in rural areas with limited or no wireless internet service.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
This resolution honors John Paul Stevens, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Specifically, the resolution commends his decades of service, acknowledges his enormous contributions, and extends sympathies to his family and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019
Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the exportation of Native American cultural items, archaeological resources, and objects of antiquity that were illegally obtained; provides for the return of such items, including voluntary returns; and establishes and revises related criminal penalties. The bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of State to each designate a liaison to facilitate and hold trainings and workshops on the voluntary return of human remains or cultural items. Additionally, Interior must refer individuals and organizations to Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations to facilitate the voluntary return of human remains or cultural items; convene an interagency working group; and convene a tribal working group consisting of representatives of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to provide advice on issues concerning the return of, and illegal trade in, human remains or cultural items. The bill also increases from 5 years to 10 years the maximum prison term for an individual convicted of selling, purchasing, using for profit, or transporting for sale or profit human remains or cultural items that were illegally obtained.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019
Trauma-Informed Modernization of Eldercare for Holocaust Survivors Act or the TIME for Holocaust Survivors Act This bill includes matters concerning Holocaust survivors in federal grants and programs that serve older adults. Specifically, the bill includes an individual's status as a Holocaust survivor within the scope of the greatest social needs for purposes of such programs. Under current law, these programs must target populations with the greatest economic and social needs. Additionally, among other activities, the Administration on Aging must establish a national center to provide resources, training, and technical assistance related to delivering services to older individuals who experience the long-term and adverse consequences of trauma. In addition, the administration may designate within it a person responsible for implementing and coordinating services for individuals who are Holocaust survivors.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2019
JROTC Cyber Training Act This bill directs the Department of Defense to implement a program to prepare Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps students for careers in computer science and cybersecurity. The program may include such elements as internships and cooperative research opportunities, funding for training of instructors, activities to improve the quality of training in these fields, and informal education.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
Small County PILT Parity Act This bill increases the maximum amount of a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) that may be made to a local government to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands. The maximum PILT payment to a local government is based on the size of the population served. The bill's increase in the maximum PILT payment is greater for local governments with a population below 4,500.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act This bill allows a new business-related tax credit for 15% of the start-up expenditures, up to a maximum of $50,000 in a taxable year, of a veteran-owned small business. The business must be owned and controlled by one or more veterans or their spouses and have its principal place of business in an underserved community. The bill defines "underserved community" as any area located within a HUBZone, an empowerment zone or enterprise community, an area of low or moderate income, or a county with persistent poverty.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019
Never Again Education Act This bill creates the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund for the Department of Education (ED) to (1) award grants to eligible entities to carry out Holocaust education programs, and (2) conduct periodic regional workshops to provide teachers with technical assistance on how to incorporate Holocaust education within state and local education standards. The fund may accept donations and in-kind contributions. ED shall (1) create and maintain a Holocaust education program website containing resources for middle grades and high schools; and (2) establish the Holocaust Education Advisory Board to advise on developing application criteria for the fund's grants, to advise on content for the Holocaust education program website, and to lead efforts to solicit donations for the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Gambling Addiction Prevention Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to implement policies and programs on prevention, education, and treatment of gambling disorder. It requires integration of gambling disorder into existing mental health and substance use disorder programs. If DOD provides gambling activities at a morale, welfare, and recreation facility, it must (1) provide educational materials and a list of resources to assist service members in identifying the risks of gambling and seeking help, and (2) implement measures that encourage behavior consistent with measures used by commercial and tribal gaming regulators. Funding of measures under this bill shall come from gambling activity proceeds generated at DOD morale, welfare, and recreation facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2019 This bill provides a private right of action against state and local jurisdictions with certain policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and contains additional provisions related to such jurisdictions. Currently, such cooperation is generally not required. An individual (or certain relatives of such an individual) who is the victim of any felony for which an alien has been arrested, convicted, or sentenced to a prison term of at least one year may sue a state or local jurisdiction if the jurisdiction failed to comply with (1) certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests related to arresting and detaining aliens, and (2) a DHS request to detain the alien in question or provide a notification about the release of the alien. A jurisdiction that accepts certain federal grants may not assert immunity in such a civil action. A jurisdiction (or employee of a jurisdiction) that complies with certain DHS detainer requests shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of DHS. A complying jurisdiction or employee of the jurisdiction shall not be liable in any lawsuit relating to compliance with such requests. In a lawsuit against an employee of the jurisdiction, the United States shall be substituted in as the defendant, and remedies shall be limited to provisions for bringing tort claims against the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2019
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 to commemorate Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, four Americans killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. (Stevens was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya at the time, Smith was an officer in the Foreign Service, and Doherty and Woods were both government contractors and former Navy SEALs.) After the medal has been awarded, it shall be given to the Central Intelligence Agency Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently increase the tax credit for production of electricity from renewable resources by $4.00 per ton in the case of Indian coal, with an updated inflation adjustment to the dollar amount for calendar years after 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Veteran STEM Scholarship Improvement Act of 2019 This bill reduces the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, an eligible individual must be enrolled in a program that requires at least the standard 120 semester (or 180 quarter) credit hours, instead of the current requirement for more than 128 semester (or 192 quarter) credit hours.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019 This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services transition program under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for limited-income, newly eligible individuals (i.e., individuals who are eligible for subsidies and have not yet enrolled in, or whose coverage has not yet taken effect under, a Medicare or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan). The program's coverage provides immediate access to covered drugs at the point of sale as soon as the individual becomes eligible for subsidies; coverage also applies retroactively for dual eligible individuals and for individuals who receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Patient Rights Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for health care services unless the entity receiving the funds certifies to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the entity respects all human life. Specifically, the entity must ensure that health care practitioners employed by or affiliated with the entity (1) exercise the same degree of professional skill and diligence to preserve the life and health of any patient as a conscientious health care practitioner would render to a patient in a different state of functionality, including patients in specified categories (e.g., terminally ill patients, elderly patients, and the unborn); (2) do not intentionally end the life of, or otherwise harm, any patient; and (3) do not institute a do-not-resuscitate or similar order without obtaining specified informed consent. In addition, HHS must (1) establish a public database that indicates whether an entity is in compliance, and (2) periodically review entities to ensure compliance. The Department of Justice or a person adversely affected may bring a civil action for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2019
Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act of 2019 This bill requires federally funded entities to certify that they will not perform an abortion, and will not provide funds to any other entity that performs an abortion, except in cases of rape or incest or where a physical condition endangers the woman's life unless an abortion is performed. The bill's requirements do not apply to hospitals, as long as the hospital does not provide funds to any non-hospital entity for abortions that are not otherwise excepted.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
This resolution expresses support for (1) the designation of May 2019 as National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, (2) research to develop better treatments for brain tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-term prognosis for those with brain tumors, and (3) those who are battling brain tumors. Additionally, the resolution encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors to honor individuals who are living with or who have lost their lives to brain tumors. Lastly, the resolution urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2019
Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants for a period of three years to eligible entities for the provision of suicide prevention services to veterans and their families. Under the bill, eligible entities include tribally designated housing entities, community-based organizations, and other private entities that meet certain requirements. Entities must submit an application to receive financial assistance that includes a description of the services they propose to provide, among other elements. The bill requires the VA to equitably distribute grants across geographic regions and areas with the most need. Additionally, the VA shall give preference to entities that are experienced in providing suicide prevention services. Entities receiving funding must notify service recipients that funding is wholly or partially from the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2019
Finding and Investigating Native Disappearance Act or the FIND Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on ways to increase reporting of missing Native Americans and the effects of substance abuse on violent crime in tribal communities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2019
Tribal Reporting and Accountability to Congress Act or TRAC Act This bill requires tribal liaisons (appointed Assistant U.S. Attorneys) to submit an annual report on missing and murdered Native Americans in their district. Among other elements, the report should include the number of open missing and murdered Native American cases as well as the number of resolved missing and murdered Native American cases.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2019
This bill provides for the continued use of power from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program by the Kinsey Irrigation Company and the Sidney Water Users Irrigation District in Montana.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act of 2019 This bill establishes requirements related to U.S. international energy strategy. Applications to export natural gas to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, Japan, and certain other countries shall be granted on an expedited basis without modification or delay. The President shall impose sanctions on a person that provides certain equipment, investment, or services to the Russian government or related entities for constructing or servicing Russian energy export pipelines. The Department of State shall report to Congress on a strategy to enhance the energy security of NATO member countries and increase U.S. energy exports to such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 This bill directs various departments to assess whether political developments in Hong Kong justify changing Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment. The report shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong's civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law. The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions. The President shall provide Congress an assessment as to whether to withdraw from the U.S.-Hong Kong extradition treaty, and what actions are needed to protect U.S. citizens and national security interests, if Hong Kong (1) amends its laws to allow the rendition of individuals to countries that lack defendants' rights protections, or (2) passes a national security law. The State Department shall allow otherwise qualified Hong Kong residents to obtain visas to work or study in the United States, even if the applicant had been arrested for participating in certain nonviolent protests supporting human rights or the rule of law. The President shall report to Congress a list of individuals responsible for abducting and torturing people for exercising internationally recognized human rights in Hong Kong. The bill bars such individuals from entering the United States and imposes sanctions on them.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Judicial Reorganization Act of 2019 This bill creates a new U.S. court of appeals by dividing the current U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The newly created U.S. court of appeals shall have jurisdiction over Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2019
United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to arrange for the award of a single gold medal to the U.S. Army Ranger veterans of World War II in recognition of their dedicated wartime service. Following its award, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where it shall be available for display and research.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2019
Updating Purchase Obligations to Deploy Affordable Resources to Energy Markets Under PURPA Act or the UPDATE PURPA Act This bill modifies (1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) rules related to cogeneration and small power production facilities, (2) the mandatory purchase obligation for electric utility companies to purchase energy from certain facilities, and (3) the one-mile rule of FERC. FERC must modify its rules regarding certain cogeneration and small power production facilities, including to require that such facilities are responsible for the costs of any facility or network upgrades associated with delivering power to its electric customers. The bill authorizes electric utility companies to waive the mandatory purchase obligation if additional power is not required to meet customers' electricity needs. The bill directs FERC to publish a final rule that allows any person or entity a rebuttable presumption to the one-mile rule. Under the one-mile rule, facilities are considered to be located at the same site as the facility for which qualification is sought if they are located within one mile of such facility. Specified factors must be taken into consideration by FERC when it determines whether two facilities are located at the same site.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act This bill creates a framework under which states may receive federal elementary and secondary education funds on a consolidated basis and use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Job Corps Protection Act This bill instructs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Labor to (1) not transfer the function of any Forest Service Jobs Corps Civilian Conservation Center to Labor, and (2) ensure that each center is wholly operated only by USDA. Also, the bill prohibits any of the funds appropriated to USDA or Labor for FY2019 or FY2020 from being used to close any center.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
FIX Credit Reporting Errors Act or the FIX Act This bill modifies the procedures followed by consumer reporting agencies when a consumer disputes the completeness or accuracy of information contained in the consumer's credit report. Specifically, consumer reporting agencies are required to (1) include all documentation provided by the consumer in the dispute notification furnished to any person who provided disputed information, and (2) consider such consumer documentation when conducting reinvestigations of disputed information.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2019 This bill allows meat and poultry products inspected by State Meat and Poultry Inspection programs to be sold in interstate commerce. (Under the inspection programs, the Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service allows states that meet certain requirements to inspect meat and poultry. The state-inspected products are currently limited to intrastate commerce, unless a state opts into a separate Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2019
Gold Star Families Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 This bill directs the collective award of a Congressional Gold Medal to all Gold Star Families (families of fallen service members) in recognition of the families' dedication, contributions, and sacrifice to the United States. Following the award of the medal, it shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research. The U.S Mint may strike and sell duplicates in bronze.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act or the SOAR Act This bill sets forth and revises provisions regarding special recreation permits for use by individuals and groups to engage in recreational activities on federal recreational lands and waters.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
This resolution designates June 2019 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2019, 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 officers of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Wildland Firefighter Fairness Act This bill requires the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to work with states and the Workforce Development Committee of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to merge the Incident Qualification System and the Incident Qualification and Certification System into a single system by September 30, 2027. The Office of Personnel Management shall establish a pilot program to expand, when necessary, a service year limitation for seasonal or temporary federal employees whose duties primarily involve being a firefighter. The bill allows wildland firefighters of the Forest Service or Interior who sustained injuries in the performance of their duties that prevent them from performing the physical duties of a firefighter, but who commence an equivalent federal position after receiving compensation for their work injuries, to retain the same retirement benefits they would have received in their former position had they not been injured or disabled, without requiring them to complete any more years of service. Compensation for disability or death of Forest Service and Interior wildland firefighters must include overtime pay received for wildfire suppression activity.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Wildland Firefighter Recognition Act This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management to develop a distinct wildland firefighter occupational series. The series must apply to the following positions forestry technician; range technician; other positions related to significant prevention, preparedness, control, suppression, or management activities for wildland firefighters; and other positions conducting activities necessary to meet any other emergency incident. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture must use the series in the advertising and hiring of a wildland firefighter. The bill requires an employee in a wildland firefighter occupational series to receive a pay differential based on the unusual physical hardship or hazardous nature of the position. An individual employed as a wildland firefighter on the date on which the occupational series takes effect may (1) remain in the occupational series in which the individual is working, or (2) be included in the wildland firefighter occupational series.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Tax Relief for Student Success Act This bill treats certain scholarship or fellowship grants received by children as earned income of the child for the purposes of the kiddie tax (the tax on the unearned income of children). This has the effect of exempting the grants from such tax. The bill applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act This bill prohibits a sanctuary jurisdiction from receiving grants under certain Economic Development Assistance Programs and the Community Development Block Grant Program. A sanctuary jurisdiction is a state or local government that has in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prohibits or restricts (1) information sharing about an individual's immigration status, or (2) compliance with a lawfully issued detainer request or notification of release request. The bill authorizes a state or local government to comply with a detainer and limits the liability of a state or local government for complying with the detainer.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
This resolution congratulates Vision To Learn on helping 200,000 students and expresses support for its mission to ensure that no child goes without the glasses needed to succeed in school and life.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
Expanding Access to Apprenticeships Act This bill allows tax-free distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for certain expenses associated with registered apprenticeship programs.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or the PRIME Act This bill expands the exemption of custom slaughtering of animals from federal inspection requirements. Under current law, the exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest, and employee uses. The bill expands the exemption to include meat that is slaughtered and prepared at a custom slaughter facility in accordance with the laws of the state where the facility is located; and prepared exclusively for distribution to household consumers in the state or restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments in the state that either prepare meals served directly to consumers or offer meat and food products for sale directly to consumers in the state. The bill does not preempt any state law concerning (1) the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at a custom slaughter facility; or (2) the sale of meat or meat food products.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Continued Encouragement for Consumer Lending Act This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission and federal financial regulators to report on the implementation of the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) accounting standard and its impact on credit availability, capital requirements, and financial institutions. Required compliance with the CECL standard is delayed until one year after submission of this report.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Improving Preparation and Resources for Occupational, Vocational, and Educational Transition for Servicemembers Act or the IMPROVE Transition for Servicemembers Act This bill revises provisions that require the Department of Defense (DOD) and, with respect to the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to operate a program providing individual pre-separation counseling and services to assist members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning to civilian life. The bill's changes include (1) revising various deadlines in the transition program, (2) requiring the use of surveys and electronic systems to track the progress of participating individuals, and (3) establishing a program to provide Armed Forces members with information about the transition program and about career and educational opportunities available during military service. DOD and DHS must annually report on the furnishing of such pre-separation counseling, information, and services. The Government Accountability Office must report on service member participation in transition assistance programs at small and remote military installations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2019
Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2019 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of services that are furnished by a certified radiologist assistant under the supervision of a radiologist. Payment must be made to the supervising radiologist.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
This resolution celebrates the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, providing for women's suffrage. The resolution also reaffirms the desire of Congress to continue strengthening democratic participation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2019
Back the Blue Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criminal offenses for killing, assaulting, and fleeing to avoid prosecution for killing a judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer. Additionally, the bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, judge, prosecutor, or firefighter or other first responder; broadens the authority of federal law enforcement officers to carry firearms; limits federal court review of challenges to state court convictions for killing a public safety officer or judge; and limits the recovery of compensatory damages and prohibits the recovery of attorney's fees by an individual for a violation of rights that occurred as a result of (or in the course of) conduct that constitutes a felony or crime of violence. Finally, it directs the Department of Justice to make grants to law enforcement agencies and nongovernmental organizations to promote trust and improve relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
![Official portrait of Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000618_200.jpg)