United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2018
Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act or the Pregnant Women in Custody Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery. Additionally, it requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to include, in the National Prison Statistics Program and Annual Survey of Jails, statistics on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women. A Bureau of Prisons facility must provide appropriate services and programs to address the health and safety needs of women inmates related to pregnancy and childbirth. The Government Accountability Office must study the services and protections for pregnant incarcerated women in state and local correctional settings.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2018
Restoring Justice for Workers Act This bill prohibits predispute arbitration agreements that require arbitration of an employment dispute. It allows a postdispute arbitration agreement if the employee enters into it voluntarily without coercion and is informed in writing of rights and protections under such agreement. An employer may not retaliate against an employee for refusing to enter into an agreement for arbitrating an employment dispute. The bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice to interfere with the right of an employee to collectively litigate employment disputes.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize for FY2018-FY2023 school-based health centers (health clinics that provide physical and mental health services for children and adolescents during school hours).
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act This bill funds through FY2090 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): to allow claims to be filed until October 2089, to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in special circumstances, and to adjust the annual limit on economic loss compensation for inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Affordable Loans for Any Student Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise requirements concerning repayment options for student loan borrowers. For instance, the bill terminates interest capitalization and origination fees for Federal Direct Loans, provides assistance to low-income borrowers or borrowers who are delinquent on loan payments, and replaces the existing income-based repayment plans with two new plans. Under the new plans, borrowers may choose: (1) a fixed repayment plan with equal monthly payments paid over a period of 10 years; or (2) an income-based repayment plan with monthly payments equal to 10% percent of their income above a poverty level. The income-based plan is capped at 20 years of payments. The bill also revises requirements concerning student loan disclosures and student loan counseling for borrowers.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 2018
FDR Historic Preservation Act This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to acquire, by donation, purchase from a willing seller, or exchange, approximately 89 acres of land to be added to the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2018
Central America Reform and Enforcement Act This bill requires the Deaprtment of State to submit to Congress the United States Strategy for Engagement in Central America, a seven-year strategy to advance reforms in Central American countries that address the factors driving migration to the United States. The bill sets forth elements of such strategy, including strengthening the rule of law, combatting corruption, and confronting and countering violence and crime perpetrated by armed criminal gangs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 This bill amends and reauthorizes through FY2023 the Museum and Library Services Act and provides funding for library services and technology through FY2023. The bill expands the definition of "library" and "museum" to include a tribal library or museum and expands the services museums are authorized to provide. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the 21st Century Museum Professional Program established by this bill, may enter into arrangements with museum, museum consortia and associations, institutions of higher education, and other entities for projects to: increase the number of students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds enrolled in graduate and undergraduate museum-related programs; recruit future museum professionals from such backgrounds; develop new or enhance current professional development and retention programs for museum professionals and the museum workforce; and support and conduct research, needs assessments, pilot programs, and evaluation of education and professional development programs to recruit, prepare, educate, and retain the next generation of museum professionals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
Recognizes: (1) the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15, 2018, through October 15, 2018; and (2) the integral role of Latinos and their manifold heritage in the economy, culture, and identity of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2018
Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services Act or the MOMMIES Act This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) relating to maternal health, including by expanding eligibility for coverage from 60 days to one year after the last day of pregnancy.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2018
Recognizes that September 20, 2018, marks one year since the landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Honors the victims of Hurricane Maria and those who contributed to saving lives in the hurricane's aftermath. Reaffirms the Senate's commitment to support the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as they recover from the hurricane's devastation.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2018
This joint resolution nullifies a Department of the Treasury rule (Rev. Proc. 2018-38) that modifies the requirements for information returns filed by certain tax-exempt organizations. The Treasury rule exempts certain tax-exempt organizations that are not 501(c)(3) organizations from the requirement to report the names and addresses of their contributors on returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The organizations must continue to collect and keep the information to make it available to the IRS upon request.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2018
Basic Health Program Expansion Act of 2018 This bill expands eligibility for basic health programs that are established by states (i.e., programs for low-income individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or other minimum essential coverage).
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2018
Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2018 This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to require an issuer of securities to annually disclose information regarding climate change-related risks, including information regarding an issuer's (1) direct and indirect greenhouse-gas emissions, (2) fossil fuel-related assets, and (3) strategies to address risks related to climate change.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
This bill directs the Department of Defense to include on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, the names of the 74 crew members of the USS Frank E. Evans killed on June 3, 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment Act of 2018 or the SWIFT Act This bill modifies eligibility requirements and increases benefits for widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits program. The bill makes widow and widower's benefits available to disabled individuals at any age, whereas currently the benefits are limited to such individuals between ages 50 to 60. Provisions reducing benefits in various instances, such as when a beneficiary is entitled to multiple types of benefits, shall not apply to widow and widower's benefits for individuals with disabilities. For determining whether a beneficiary has a child in his or her care, the bill raises the upper age limit for the child from 16 to 18 years (or 19, if the child is a full-time elementary or secondary school student). An individual with a child in care may receive increased benefits in specified instances. The bill also increases various limits on widow and widower's benefits in certain instances and modifies the calculation for increased benefits for individuals who choose to delay receiving such benefits. For current beneficiaries, increases in OASDI benefits under this bill shall not affect the beneficiary's eligibility for any federal assistance program or the benefit amount to be received under such an assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Recognizes that September 20, 2018, marks one year since the landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Honors the victims of Hurricane Maria and those who contributed to saving lives in the hurricane's aftermath. Reaffirms the Senate's commitment to support the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as they recover from the hurricane's devastation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the U.S. Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the federal government and is not subject to privatization in whole or in part.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2018
Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2018 This bill requires the Bureau of Economic Analysis to include estimates pertaining to various income groups in its gross domestic product analyses. Such analyses shall include estimates pertaining to each of the 10 deciles of income as discreet groups and the highest 1% of income as a group.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2018
Women's Pension Protection Act of 201 8 This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to: (1) extend spousal consent requirements that currently apply to defined benefit pension plans to defined contribution pension plans, and (2) allow certain long-term part-time workers to participate in pension plans that include either a qualified cash or deferred arrangement or a salary reduction agreement. Financial product or service providers who sell retirement financial products or services must provide purchasers of their products or services an easily accessible link to the website of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to obtain information relating to retirement planning or later life economic security. The Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor shall award grants to certain community-based organizations to: (1) improve the financial literacy of women who are working age or in retirement, and (2) assist low-income women and victims of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders and the benefits they are entitled to through the orders.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2018
Supports renaming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, after Senator John McCain in recognition of his long support for NATO.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2018
Calls upon the Members of Congress and all people of the United States to observe September 11, 2018, as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of those who lost their lives or were injured in the September 11, 2001, attacks, and in tribute to those who came to the aid of those in need and to the defense of the nation.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2018
Affordable Medications Act This bill alters various provisions relating to prescription-drug pricing and affordability, including drug manufacturer reporting requirements, Medicare price negotiation, and drug exclusivity periods.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2018
Reaching English Learners Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program to pay the federal share of the costs for preparing teachers to effectively instruct English learners. Grants may be awarded for up to five years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 August 2018
This joint resolution nullifies a rule by the Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans. Short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans are plans that may only offer coverage for a limited amount of time under law and that are exempt from the market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (e.g., coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions). The rule increases the maximum authorized duration of such plans from less than 3 months (including renewals) to an initial maximum duration of less than 12 months (with a total duration of up to 36 months, including renewals). The rule takes effect October 2, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 28 August 2018
Modernizing Obstetric Medicine Standards Act of 2018 or the MOMS Act This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to contract with a national organization to develop best practices relating to maternal mortality and morbidity prevention, and to establish a grant program for states to implement such best practices.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Sidney McCain, III, a Senator from Arizona. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on August 27, 2018, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 23 August 2018
Quiet Communities Act of 2018 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control; and (2) arrange for independent scientists who have expertise in noise measurements, noise effects, and noise abatement techniques to carry out a study of airport noise. The Quiet Communities Program must include: (1) establishing and implementing training programs on the use of noise abatement equipment, and (2) implementing noise abatement plans.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 2018
Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies Act or the Maternal CARE Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to health professional training programs for training that addresses implicit bias (e.g., racial bias) in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration must award grants to up to 10 states for pregnancy medical home programs that reduce adverse maternal health outcomes and racial disparities. Among other requirements, such programs must prioritize the care of Medicaid enrollees. The National Academy of Medicine must make recommendations for incorporating bias recognition in clinical skills tests at medical schools.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 2018
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the President should support Canada by calling upon Saudi Arabia to release Samar Badawi, Nassima al-Sada, Raif Badawi, Waleed Abu al-Khair, and other detained human rights activists, journalists, and religious minorities; and (2) the arrest of women's rights activists is contrary to Saudi Arabia's stated goals. Requests that the Department of State submits to Congress a statement regarding human rights and fundamental freedom in Saudi Arabia.
United States · United States Congress · 21 August 2018
Resolves that documents related to the events of September 11, 2001, should be declassified to the greatest extent possible so as to provide answers to survivors, the families of the victims, and the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 August 2018
Aretha Franklin Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill instructs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Aretha Franklin in recognition of her outstanding artistic and historical significance to the culture of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Paul Laxalt, former Member of the Senate. Extends deepest condolences and gratitude to his family. Honors Paul Laxalt's legacy, life, service to the Senate, and commitment to the people of Nevada and the United States. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on August 16, 2018, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Paul Laxalt.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2018
Simplifying Financial Aid for Students Act of 2018 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the financial aid application process for students and make unlawful aliens eligible for higher education benefits under certain circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2018 This bill repeals the provision of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that directs the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate and auction the 470-512 MHz band (referred to as the "T-Band spectrum").
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of: one Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, in recognition of her service to the United States as a mathematician; one Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Christine Darden, for her service to the United States as an aeronautical engineer; and two Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of the lives of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, in recognition of their service to the United States during the Space Race.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Fluke Fairness Act of 2018 This bill directs the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to submit for approval by the Department of Commerce a modified fishery management plan for the commercial and recreational management of summer flounder, or an amendment to the plan, that: is based on the best scientific information available; reflects changes in the distribution, abundance, and location of summer flounder in establishing distribution of the commercial and recreational catch quotas; considers regional, coastwide, or other management measures that comply with national standards under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and prohibits the allocation of catch quotas on a state-by-state basis using historical landings data that does not reflect the status of the summer flounder stock, based on the most recent scientific information. Commerce must prepare and approve a plan if the council fails to submit the modifications or amendments. The Government Accountability Office must assess and report on whether the subsequent implementation of the approved plan or amendment complies with national standards.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Medicare and Medicaid Protection Act of 2018 This bill prohibits the Senate from considering any budget reconciliation bill or resolution that would affect the Medicare or Medicaid programs in one of several specified ways (e.g., by increasing the Medicare eligibility age or converting Medicaid into a block grant program).
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Expresses support for the existing One National Program with the goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and oil usage, protecting national security, and protecting human health and welfare. Expresses support for politics that will: (1) achieve maximum feasible oil-use reductions and reduce GHG emissions from mobile sources; (2) recognize the rights and importance of states to set and follow stronger vehicle emissions standards under the Clean Air Act; and (3) ensure that the Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency solicit input from states impacted by changes to existing standards for emissions and fuel economy.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
Census Equality Act This bill requires the Bureau of the Census to collect data concerning sexual orientation and gender identity as part of the decennial census and the American Community Survey.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
3D Printed Gun Safety Act of 2018 This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful to intentionally publish digital instructions for programming a three-dimensional printer to make a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
Untraceable Firearms Act of 2018 This bill generally prohibits and penalizes the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, or receipt of a ghost gun. A ghost gun is a firearm that lacks a unique serial number.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2018
Resolves that documents related to the events of September 11, 2001, should be declassified to the greatest extent possible so as to provide answers to survivors, the families of the victims, and the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2018 This bill amends the Revised Statutes to prohibit any person, within 60 days before an election, from communicating, causing to be communicated, or producing for communication certain information on voting, if the person: (1) knows such information to be materially false, and (2) has the intent to impede or prevent another person from exercising the right to vote in an election. The bill also prohibits false statements regarding public endorsements and hindering, interfering with, or preventing voting or registering to vote. A private right of action for preventive relief is established for persons aggrieved by violations of these prohibitions. Criminal penalties are also established for violations. If the Department of Justice (DOJ) receives a credible report that materially false information has been or is being communicated in violation of these prohibitions, DOJ must communicate to the public accurate information designed to correct the materially false information.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2018
No Money Bail Act This bill restricts the use of money bail (i.e., the payment of money as a condition of pretrial release) in criminal cases. Specifically, it prohibits the use of money bail in federal criminal cases. Additionally, it amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968: to make a state that uses a money bail system ineligible for funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program; and to establish grants: (1) for developing alternative bail systems in state and local court systems; and (2) for implementing the National Pretrial Reporting Program to collect data on how state and local courts process defendants. The Government Accountability Office must assess the alternative bail systems used by states.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2018
National Commission on Scleroderma and Fibrotic Diseases Act of 2018 This bill temporarily establishes a National Commission on Fibrotic Diseases within the National Institutes of Health that must recommend improvements regarding fibrosis and fibrotic disease research.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2018
United States Territorial Relief Act of 2018 This bill establishes a process under which Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories may terminate certain debts if they meet eligibility criteria. The bill allows territories to terminate their public, unsecured debt if they meet two of three criteria: the population of the territory has decreased by more than 5% over 10 years, the territory received major federal disaster assistance, and the territory's per capita debt exceeds $15,000. The bill also provides funding that a special master must allocate to certain creditors whose debts were discharged under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2018
Rent Relief Act of 2018 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for individuals who pay rent for a principal residence that exceeds 30% of the individual's gross income for the taxable year. The amount of the credit ranges from 25% to 100% of the excess rent, depending on the gross income of the taxpayer. The credit is not available for taxpayers with gross income that exceeds $100,000 ($125,000 for a taxpayer whose principal residence is located in a high-cost area, as defined by the bill). Rent that exceeds 150% of the fair market rent (including the utility allowance) for the residence may not be taken into account for the purpose of determining the amount of the credit. For individuals who reside in government-subsidized housing, the bill allows a credit equal to 1/12 of the rent paid by the taxpayer (and not subsidized under the program) during the year with respect to the residence.
![Official portrait of Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000555_200.jpg)