United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes for FY2019-FY2023 grants for local and regional children's advocacy centers (CACs), as well as for technical assistance and training. CACs coordinate a multidisciplinary response to child abuse. The bill adds a new finding specifying the need for state chapters of CAC networks (1) to help local communities coordinate their multidisciplinary services, and (2) to provide oversight of, and training and technical assistance in, the effective delivery of evidence-informed programming. It modifies grants for regional CACs, including to add, as a new program objective, collaboration with state chapters; and to require regional CACs to assist local CACs, multidisciplinary teams, and state chapters, in addition to communities. It also modifies grants for local CACs, including to add, as a new grant purpose, promoting the effective delivery of the evidence-informed Children's Advocacy Model and the multidisciplinary response to child abuse; to allow grants to support direct services for victims of human trafficking, in addition to victims of child pornography; and to require a portion of grants to be distributed to state chapters. The Department of Justice must report annually on efforts to monitor and evaluate the program activities of regional CACs and the extent to which both urban and rural populations are served by the regional CAC program. (Sec. 3) The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability under federal, state, and local law for people who make good-faith reports of child abuse or neglect or who provide related information or assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Parity in Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act or the PACE Act This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the sponsoring or exhibiting of animal fights involving live birds (such as cockfights). Under current law, the fights are unlawful only if they take place in states or U.S. territories or possessions that have banned it.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Stop Secret Foreign Interference in Elections Act This bill requires certain corporations, nonprofit organizations, political organizations, and other organizations to disclose to the Federal Election Commission specified information, such as information regarding (1) recipients of campaign-related disbursements of a certain size, and (2) funds received from foreign nationals. The bill also requires (1) a principal officer of a such an entity to certify that, to the officer's knowledge, certain types of expenditures and disbursements were not made with funds provided by a foreign national; and (2) certain tax-exempt organizations to report the receipt of disqualified foreign contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Clean Slate for Kids Online Act of 2018 This bill amends the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to require the operator of any website or online service directed to children: to provide notice on the website about how an individual over age 13, or the guardian of an individual over 13, can request the deletion of all personal information in the operator's possession collected when the individual was a child; to promptly delete, upon request, all personal information in the operator's possession that was collected from or about the individual when the individual was a child; and to provide written confirmation of deletion. "Delete" means to remove personal information such that the information is not maintained in retrievable form and cannot be retrieved in the normal course of business. The bill allows a limited exception to the deletion requirement if the personal information collected from or about a child is necessary to respond to judicial process or to provide information to law enforcement agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2018 or the PAST Act This bill amends the Horse Protection Act to establish a new system for inspecting horses for soring, revise penalties for violations of the Act, and modify enforcement procedures. The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse's limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish requirements to license, train, assign, and oversee persons hired by the management of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, or auctions to detect and diagnose sore horses. A license may not be issued to a person with conflicts of interest, and USDA must give preference to veterinarians. USDA may revoke a license for unsatisfactory performance. USDA must assign licensed inspectors after receiving notice that management intends to hire the inspectors. An inspector must issue a citation for violations and notify USDA of violations. USDA must publish information on violations of this bill and disqualify a horse that is sore. The bill prohibits a person in any horse show, exhibition, sale, or auction from causing or directing a horse to become sore for the purpose of showing, exhibiting, selling, or auctioning the horse. The bill prohibits the use of specified devices on a Tennessee Walking, a Racking, or a Spotted Saddle horse at a show, exhibition, sale, or auction. The bill increases the maximum criminal and civil liability penalties for certain violations. USDA may disqualify violators from specified activities related to horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Expresses support for the designations of: (1) June 2018 as National Gun Violence Awareness Month; and (2) June 1-June 3, 2018, as National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2018
Encourages entities covered by the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union to provide the American people with privacy protections included in such regulation, consistent with the laws of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2018
Shell Company Abuse Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to a criminal penalty—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2018
Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act or the HELP Separated Children Act This bill sets forth Department of Homeland Security apprehension procedures with respect to children involved in immigration enforcement actions, including detention center access to courts, welfare agencies, and consular officials.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
Do No Harm Act This bill makes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) inapplicable to federal laws (or implementations of laws) that: protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, Executive Order 11246 (concerning equal employment opportunity), the Violence Against Women Act, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) rules entitled "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity"; require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. Under current law, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. The bill makes RFRA inapplicable to: (1) terms requiring goods, services, functions, or activities to be performed or provided to beneficiaries of government contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or awards; or (2) denials of a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. To assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2018
VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 or VA MISSION Act of 2018 This bill consolidates Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community care programs, revises other VA health care programs and facilities provisions, and makes appropriations for veterans care. The bill establishes the Veterans Community Care Program to furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care services through certain non-VA providers to veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system or otherwise entitled to VA care. The VA may enter agreements with non-VA providers to furnish veterans with care that is otherwise not feasibly available. The VA shall: (1) establish standards for VA health care quality and for non-VA care in areas of VA expertise, (2) prohibit rehiring previously-removed VA providers, (3) provide prompt payment to providers, and (4) establish opioid prescribing practices for non-VA providers. The Veterans Choice Program is terminated after one year. The bill establishes the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment. The VA may: (1) provide care for the live donor of a transplant for a veteran, and (2) carry out a Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program and other actions to recruit health care professionals. The VA family caregiver program is expanded. The Office of Management and Budget shall review each enhanced-use facility lease. The bill establishes pilot programs for medical scribes, mobile deployment teams for underserved facilities, and graduate medical education. The bill extends VA pension reductions for Medicare-covered veterans in nursing homes.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2018
Made in America Act of 2018 This bill expands Buy America requirements to require certain materials used in projects funded by various federal infrastructure grant and loan programs to be produced in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Using Data to Prevent Opioid Diversion Act of 2018 This bill establishes a new requirement intended to help drug manufacturers and distributors identify and prevent suspicious orders of opioids and reduce rates of diversion. Specifically, the Drug Enforcement Administration must to use its automated data system—the Automated Reports and Consolidated Ordering System—to inform drug manufacturers and distributors about the quantity and type of opioids that are distributed to pharmacies and practitioners.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Music Modernization Act This bill makes various changes to copyright law related to sound recordings, including providing protection for sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, creating a system for paying royalties to producers and sound engineers, and establishing a statutory blanket license for digital music services. The blanket license allows music services to distribute sound recordings covered by the license without negotiating for the rights for each individual recording, as long as the music service complies with the license's requirements, such as paying the required royalties.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs Act of 2018 or the SIREN Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 and revises the Rural Emergency Medical Service Training and Equipment Assistance Program, which is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Thanks the teachers of the United States and promotes the teaching profession by encouraging students, parents, school administrators, and public officials to participate in National Teacher Appreciation Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Defending Elections against Trolls from Enemy Regimes Act or DETER Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make an alien who is seeking to engage in, or has engaged in, improper interference in a U.S. election inadmissible. Improper interference in a U.S. election is conduct by an alien that: (1) violates federal criminal, voting rights, or campaign finance law, or is under the direction of a foreign government; and (2) interferes with any general or primary federal, state, or local election or caucus, including a candidate's campaign or a ballot measure.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Substance Abuse Prevention Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes through FY2022 various health and law enforcement programs related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and the reduction of demand for illicit drugs. The bill reauthorizes, among others, the following: the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Drug-Free Communities Program, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and the Drug Courts Program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
COPS Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize through FY2023 the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The COPS program provides grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to support community policing efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2018
Supports the ideals of World Malaria Day. Recognizes the importance of reducing malaria to improve child and maternal health, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Commends the progress made toward reducing global malaria prevalence and deaths, particularly through the efforts of the President's Malaria Initiative and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Welcomes public-private partnerships to develop more effective and affordable tools for malaria diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination. Recognizes the goals to combat malaria in the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. Supports continued U.S. leadership in bilateral, multilateral, and private sector efforts to combat malaria and to work with developing countries to create long-term strategies to increase ownership over malaria programs. Encourages members of the international community to sustain and increase their support for efforts to combat malaria.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 2018
Addiction Prevention and Responsible Opioid Practices Act This bill establishes a series of requirements relating to opioid regulation, prescribing, and monitoring, including licensure requirements for pharmaceutical representatives, a national opioid drug mapping tool to monitor prescribing practices of Medicaid providers, and an excise tax on opioid manufacturers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2018
Solitary Confinement Reform Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish standards for the use of solitary confinement at federal prisons. It limits the use of solitary confinement to situations that meet certain criteria, including that the confinement is limited to the briefest term and the least restrictive conditions practicable. It also prohibits, with limited exceptions, solitary confinement of inmates who are younger than 18 years of age, disabled, pregnant, or recently pregnant. The bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to establish a transitional process for inmates in solitary confinement, requires inmates in solitary confinement to receive comprehensive mental health evaluations, and requires BOP employees to complete training on mental illness and the psychological effects of solitary confinement. It establishes, within the BOP, an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsman. The office must be headed by a Civil Rights Ombudsman appointed by the Attorney General. The BOP must annually assess and report on the use of solitary confinement. The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance must establish and administer a solitary confinement resource center.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Choose Medicare Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish public health plans that are available on health insurance markets, subject to specified requirements; the bill also makes a series of changes related to health insurance costs, including alterations to cost-sharing provisions and the authority to negotiate prices under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones Act or the ROBOCOP Act This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) require providers of text messaging or voice services, for no additional charge, to enable technology that verifies the accuracy of caller ID information; (2) require providers to offer subscribers optional free robocall-technology blocking technology; and (3) provide an exemption process for subscribers originating a call if there is a need to provide misleading or inaccurate information (such as a call to conduct an activity of a domestic violence shelter or medical practice). The bill allows private actions to enjoin or recover damages for violations of the FCC's caller identification technology standards. States may bring civil actions for a pattern or practice of a failure to provide such technology or options. The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for persons within or outside the United States, with the intent to cause harm, to intentionally interfere with call-blocking technology. The FCC must report on whether the requirements of this bill have reduced unwanted calls to consumers.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2018 This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to carry out a pilot program to make grants to local governments to: (1) enhance the production of maps relating to urban flooding and associated property damage; and (2) increase the availability of such maps to homeowners, businesses, and localities to enable them to minimize urban flooding risk. The grants may only be made to local governments in urbanized areas with populations greater than 50,000 or to stormwater management authorities in those localities. FEMA shall give priority to grant applicants in areas that: (1) are highly vulnerable to a sea level rise, (2) include a military installation or other national security facility, or (3) have a population highly vulnerable to urban flooding and have an uneven capacity for flood mitigation and response efforts due to socioeconomic factors.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Help Students Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration of students who attend institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs, including by (1) requiring IHEs to make a good faith effort to distribute voter registration forms to each of their students at least twice a year, (2) authorizing grants to IHEs that greatly exceed the requirements governing the distribution of voter registration forms, and (3) allowing civil actions against IHEs that violate the requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Robocall Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934: to lengthen the statute of limitations from two years to three years for pursuing caller identification information violations (known as "spoofing"), to lengthen the statute of limitations from one year to three years for pursing automated telephone equipment violations (known as "robocalls"), and to authorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to impose forfeiture penalties without first sending a citation regarding the charged violation against persons not licensed by the FCC who violate prohibitions on the use of automated telephone equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Melcher, Senator from Montana. Declares that when the Senate adjourns April 18, 2018, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator Melcher.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 2018
Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to give access to and manage the distribution of U.S-owned surplus property, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the SBA, the General Services Administration, and the head of the state agency for surplus properties, to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. This includes access to foreign excess personal property returned to a state for handling as surplus property.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2018
Recognizes the tragic fourth anniversary of the Chibok girls kidnapping and calls for the release of all Boko Haram captives, especially the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu. Acknowledges U.S. and Nigerian efforts to defeat Boko Haram. Requests that the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development create a plan to address the needs of women and girls adversely impacted by extremism and conflict. Commends the swift enactment of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2018
Stephen Michael Gleason Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Stephen Michael Gleason.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2018
Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act This bill directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to: identify and publish a recommended core set of maternal and infant quality measures for women and children, as specified by the bill; publish an initial core set of any such measures applicable to mothers and infants eligible under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); establish a Maternal and Infant Quality Measurement Program; and establish an online clearinghouse of resources for entities working to improve maternity and infant care quality. The CMS may make grants to eligible entities for: the development of new state and regional maternity and infant care quality collaboratives; expanded activities of existing collaboratives; and maternity and infant care initiatives within established state and regional quality collaboratives that are not focused exclusively on maternity care.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Daniel K. Akaka, Senator from Hawaii. Declares that when the Senate adjourns April 10, 2018, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2018
Extends deepest condolences and gratitude to the family of Zell Bryan Miller, the former governor and Senator of Georgia. Honors his legacy and life, his commitment to the people of Georgia and the United States, and his service to the Senate. Declares that when the Senate adjourns April 10, 2018, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Miller.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Congratulates the people of Greece as they celebrate the 197th anniversary of their independence. Supports the principles of democratic governance to which the people of Greece are committed. Notes Greece's important role in the wider European region and in the community of nations since gaining its independence.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Debt-Free College Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Education to: (1) award grants for state-federal partnerships that provide debt-free college for students at certain institutions of higher education, and (2) allow federal financial aid for higher education to be given to dreamer students (students who entered the country when they were under the age of 16 and who meet certain educational criteria) or students convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Arbitration Fairness Act of 2018 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment dispute, consumer dispute, antitrust dispute, or civil rights dispute.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Designates the first week of April 2018 as National Asbestos Awareness Week. Urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Designates March 2018 as National Women's History Month. Recognizes the celebration of such month as a time to reflect on the contributions that women have made to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 2018
Pledges continued support to: (1) the millions of U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and (2) the U.S. citizens who have relocated from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
![Official portrait of Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000563_200.jpg)