United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2020 This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for Parkinsonism, bladder cancer, hypertension, and hypothyroidism for veterans who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific conditions diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
This resolution encourages (1) the people of the United States to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and to raise awareness about the importance of national and community service, and (2) all individuals to consider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps. The resolution also acknowledges the accomplishments of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners, and recognizes their important contributions to the lives of the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2020
Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act This bill makes changes to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill expands the duties of the CRCL to include integrating civil rights and civil liberties protections into all DHS programs and activities; conducting civil rights and civil liberties impact assessments; initiating reviews, assessments, and investigations of the administration of DHS programs and activities; leading the equal employment opportunity programs of DHS; and engaging with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities. The bill requires each operational component of DHS to designate an Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to report to the CRCL. The bill grants the CRCL the authority to issue subpoenas with the approval of the Secretary of DHS. The CRCL must report annually to the President. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress within two years of this bill's enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2020
Great American Outdoors Act This bill establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to support deferred maintenance projects on federal lands. For FY2021-FY2025, there shall be deposited into the fund an amount equal to 50% of all federal revenues from the development of oil, gas, coal, or alternative or renewable energy on federal lands and waters. Deposited amounts must not exceed $1.9 billion for any fiscal year. The fund must be used for priority deferred maintenance projects in specified systems that are administered by the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Government Accountability Office must report on the effect of the fund in reducing the backlog of priority deferred maintenance projects for the specified agencies. Additionally, the bill makes funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanent. The President shall annually report to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020
Capital Investment Grant Program Improvement Act of 2020 This bill revises and extends through FY2025 the fixed guideway capital investment grant program. Specifically, the bill (1) increases funding for the program; (2) revises how the Department of Transportation (DOT) evaluates and rates new fixed guideway capital projects under the program based upon, among other things, a consideration of inoperability; and (3) directs DOT to report on financing and technical barriers to the construction and operation of fixed guideway transportation projects with a total estimated capital cost of not more than $500,000 in small urbanized and rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020
This bill allows a veteran with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service to receive retirement pay, without reduction, concurrent with disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2020
Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to establish a separate category within the Standard Occupational Classification system for direct support professionals (i.e., individuals who provide services to promote independence in individuals with a disability) for data reporting purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act This bill alters certain requirements relating to inspection and certification of Medicare skilled nursing facilities that are also state veterans homes. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to treat state veterans homes that are inspected and determined to meet applicable standards set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as also meeting applicable standards for skilled nursing facilities under Medicare. The CMS must also use VA inspection reports for such facilities in lieu of state inspection reports for purposes of the Nursing Home Compare website.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution congratulates the people of Greece as they celebrate the 199th anniversary of their country's independence. The resolution recognizes Greece's commitment to democratic principles and the important role that Greece has played both regionally and internationally.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution calls upon the United Nations Security Council to extend certain expiring restrictions placed on Iran and on arms technology suppliers to Iran, including an export ban prohibiting Iran from exporting weapons and an embargo preventing the sale of arms to Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution designates March 2, 2020, as Read Across America Day. The resolution (1) honors all authors for their successes in encouraging children to discover the joy of reading; (2) honors the 23rd anniversary of Read Across America Day; and (3) encourages parents, educators, and communities to read with their children for at least 30 minutes on Read Across America Day.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution recognizes Black History Month as an opportunity to reflect on U.S. history and to commemorate the contributions of African Americans. It calls for the United States to (1) honor the contribution of pioneers who helped to ensure its legacy; and (2) move forward as a nation "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Restoring Military Priorities Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to restore certain funds that were transferred from various DOD accounts to be used for the construction of a wall along the southern border of the United States. The bill also reduces the amount of funding that DOD is permitted to transfer between certain appropriations accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Incubator Network and Startup Success Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish an incubator network and startup success program to award grants to networks of organizations that provide resources and services to accelerate the growth and success of startups. The bill places certain requirements on grant applicants to certify that their resources and services benefit entrepreneurs who are socially or economically disadvantaged individuals, women, veterans, or disabled individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2020
Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2020 This bill requires the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the Administration for Children and Families to award grants to nonprofits, state agencies, and elementary and secondary schools for demonstration projects to train students, teachers, and school personnel how to better understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to human trafficking and the exploitation of children and youth. Such projects also must collect data about the number of human trafficking survivors served and develop procedures to coordinate with law enforcement and appropriate social service organizations. The OTIP must consult with appropriate agencies to determine and prioritize funding for geographic areas with the highest prevalence of human trafficking and largest underserved youth populations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 2020
Zero Tolerance for Unlawful Detentions of United States Citizens in Lebanon Act This bill imposes sanctions on certain Lebanese government officials who are involved in or facilitated the wrongful arrest, detention, or abuse of a U.S. citizen in Lebanon. The bill requires the Department of State to develop a list of such persons. The State Department shall deny a visa to a listed person, their family, or their associates, and the President shall freeze the assets of a listed person if such assets are in the United States or the posssession of a U.S. person.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2020 This bill establishes a demonstration grant program within the Administration for Children and Families for nonprofits, local and state education agencies, and elementary and secondary schools to train students, school personnel, and parents to recognize and prevent human trafficking and child exploitation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Women's Global Empowerment, Development and Prosperity Act of 2020 This bill provides statutory authority for the Women's Global Empowerment, Development and Prosperity Initiative at the Department of State. The objectives of the initiative shall be to advance women in the workforce, promote women entrepreneurs, and aid women's participation in the global economy.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
CFO Vision Act of 2020 This bill establishes or modifies provisions to provide for standardized government-wide financial management requirements. Each agency Chief Financial Officer must oversee and provide leadership in the areas of budget formulation and execution, planning and performance, risk management, internal controls, financial systems, and accounting. The bill requires the government-wide financial management plan to include actions for improving financial management systems, strengthening the federal financial management workforce, and linking performance and cost information to budget decision-making. The bill requires (1) the development of financial management performance-based metrics, and (2) an assessment of performance by such metrics to be included in the government-wide and agency-level financial management plans and status reports.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2020
Clean Economy Act of 2020 This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt and implement a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the United States with the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2020
Nationwide Right To Unionize Act This bill provides authorization for labor agreements to require membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment regardless of state law (thus preempting state laws that prohibit such agreements).
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 2020
This resolution supports (1) observing National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 5, 2020, to recognize (1) the female athletes who represent schools, universities, and the United States in their athletic pursuits; and (2) the vital role that the people of the United States have in empowering girls and women in sports. The resolution supports (1) marking the observation of such day with legislative efforts to ensure equal pay for female athletes and to protect young athletes from sexual abuse; and (2) efforts to promote equality in sports, including equal pay and equal access to athletic opportunities for girls and women, and to support the U.S. commitment to expanding athletic participation for all girls and future generations of women athletes.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 2020
DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2020 This bill establishes new requirements related to the detection of illicit narcotics at ports of entry. Specifically, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must implement a strategy to ensure chemical screening devices are able to identify narcotics at purity levels equal to or less than 10%, or provide an alternate method for identifying narcotics at lower purity levels. The CBP must also test new chemical screening devices at various purity levels before it commits to their acquisition. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security must implement a plan for the long-term development of a centralized spectral database for chemical screening devices.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
This resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp and honors victims of the Holocaust. The resolution also calls on the United States to continue to work to end genocide and recommits to combatting all forms of anti-Semitism.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
Student and Student Athlete Opioid Misuse Prevention Act This bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide grants to support addiction-prevention and prescription-drug-misuse programs related to opioids and other medications used for pain or injury recovery. Specifically, SAMHSA may award grants to eligible public and nonprofit private entities, including states and drug-free community coalitions, to carry out such programs in schools, athletic programs, and communities. Among other activities, grant recipients may use funds to educate teachers, campus-based medical providers, and others on signs of opioid misuse and options for treatment and prevention. In addition, SAMHSA must report annually on federal programs to prevent pain medication misuse and addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
Ensuring Access to Direct Support Professionals Act This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover certain home- and community-based services, self-directed personal assistance services, and home- and community-based attendant services that are provided in acute care hospitals. The bill specifies, among other criteria, that such services may not be duplicative of, or serve as a substitute for, necessary or obligatory hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 2020
Protecting Community Television Act This bill revises the definition of a franchise fee that is paid by a cable operator or cable subscriber to encompass only a tax, fee, or other monetary assessment that is imposed by a franchising authority or other governmental entity.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
Cybersecurity State Coordinator Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to appoint a Cybersecurity State Coordinator in each state, whose duties shall include (1) advising on developing and maintaining secure and resilient infrastructure, (2) serving as the principal federal cybersecurity risk advisor, and (3) facilitating the sharing of cyberthreat information between federal and nonfederal entities.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act This bill extends until May 6, 2021, the temporary scheduling order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration to place fentanyl-related substances in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The temporary order expires on February 6, 2020. Additionally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the classification of fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances, research on fentanyl-related substances, and the importation of fentanyl-related substances into the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
Industries of the Future Act of 2020 This bill requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to report to Congress on research and development investments, infrastructure, and workforce development investments of the federal government that enable continued U.S. leadership in industries of the future. The President shall establish or designate an Industries of the Future Coordination Council. The council shall provide the OSTP with advice on ways in which the government can ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in developing emerging technologies that improve the quality of life of the people of the United States, increase U.S. economic competitiveness, and strengthen U.S. national security.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 2020
This bill addresses wireless network technology, including by allocating proceeds from spectrum auctions to be used for wireless technology supply chain innovation and multilateral telecommunications security.
United States · United States Congress · 13 January 2020
Helping Expand and Launch Transitional Health for Women Veterans Act or the HEALTH Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue through at least FY2020 and report on the Women's Health Transition Training pilot program. Among other elements, the report should include the number of female participants by military department, the number of courses held under the program, and the locations where the courses were held.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 This bill provides for security assistance to Israel and authorizes actions to further U.S.-Israel cooperation. Specifically, under the Foreign Military Financing Program, the bill makes no less than $3.3 billion annually available to Israel through FY2028. The bill also extends through FY2025 (1) authority to stockpile war reserves in Israel, and (2) loan guarantees to Israel for up to $9 billion. The President is authorized to transfer munitions from reserve stocks to Israel for its self-defense. Further, the President must report on steps to include Israel in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception, which authorizes exports, reexports, and in-country transfers in lieu of a license that would otherwise be required. Lastly, the President must establish and update contingency plans to provide Israel with defense articles and services necessary for its defense. The Department of State is authorized to (1) enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and cooperation with nations throughout the world; and (2) establish a program between the United States, Israel, and other countries or territories to provide for cooperation in the Middle East region by financing and cooperating in programs related to innovation and advanced technologies. Further, the United States is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with Israel and developing countries to identify and support local solutions for addressing sustainability challenges. The Department of Defense is authorized to carry out activities with Israel to establish directed energy capabilities that address threats to the United States, deployed forces of the United States, or Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2020
Success for Rural Students and Communities Act of 2020 This bill establishes a grant program through which the Department of Education may award funds to eligible partnerships to support rural postsecondary education and economic growth and development in rural communities. A grant recipient must be a partnership whose members represent at least three designated types of organizations, specifically (1) a local educational agency or educational service agency serving a rural area, (2) an institution of higher education (IHE), (3) a regional economic development entity, or (4) a rural community-serving organization with demonstrated success supporting rural students in accessing higher education and attaining degrees. A grant recipient must use awarded funds to carry out no less than two specified activities, namely (1) improving postsecondary enrollment rates for rural secondary school students, (2) increasing enrollment and completion rates of rural nontraditional students in degree programs at IHEs, (3) creating or strengthening academic programs at rural serving IHEs to prepare graduates to enter into high-need occupations in the regional and local economies, or (4) generating local and regional economic development that creates employment opportunities for rural students with postsecondary degrees.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
This bill nullifies any collective bargaining agreement between federal employees and agencies that is effective on or after April 30, 2019, if the agreement was not mutually and voluntarily agreed to by all parties or ordered after the completion of binding arbitration. A prior agreement continues to apply until a new agreement that meets the bill's requirements takes effect.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Labor to award grants to certain national youth-serving organizations for comprehensive workforce readiness programs provided to youth that take place before or after school, during summer vacation or holiday, or on the weekend (i.e., out-of-school-time programs). Such grants must be used to develop and implement youth workforce readiness programs, including for activities such as on-the-job and leadership opportunities, internships, and other supportive services. The bill also requires local workforce development boards to establish youth councils as subgroups of the boards.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Increasing Efficiency of All United States-Based Terrorism Information Sharing Act of 2019 This bill directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to establish a commission to review the interagency sharing of information about terrorist threats in the United States between all levels of government. The commission shall report to Congress the results of its review. The report shall contain (1) an assessment of current capabilities and gaps in information sharing, (2) a review of the types of information being shared about different types of terrorist groups, (3) information about which entities receive such terrorism-related information, and (4) recommendations to improve information sharing. The commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the report.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that (1) it is the civic duty of the people of the United States to help ensure that the 2020 Census is as accurate as possible; (2) the federal government, state and local governments, civil society, businesses, religious institutions, libraries, and other national and local organizations should work together as partners to inform the public that the 2020 Census is safe, easy, and important; (3) individuals who want to help administer the 2020 Census should apply for a job at 2020census.gov/jobs; and (4) U.S. residents should plan to respond to the 2020 Census to ensure that all people living in a household in the United States are included.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2019
Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2019 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 · 17 December 2019
Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act This bill directs the President, when determining whether Russia is a country of particular concern for religious freedom under certain federal laws, to consider incidents occurring in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia or Russia-affiliated non-state groups. (The United States may take certain actions, such as withdrawing development assistance, against a country of particular concern for religious freedom.)
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Cybersecurity Vulnerability Identification and Notification Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue a subpoena for the production of information to identify and notify an entity that is put at risk by cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Specifically, the bill requires the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to detect, identify, and receive information about security vulnerabilities relating to critical infrastructure in the information systems and devices of public and private entities. To do this, the bill authorizes CISA, upon identification of a system determined to have such a security vulnerability, to issue a subpoena for the production of information that is necessary to identify and notify the at-risk entity.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Veterans Health Administration Caregiver Retention and Eligibility Determination Act of 2019 or the VHA CRED Act of 2019 This bill requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe regulations, administrative guidance, and management controls applicable to the credentialing of certain appointed health care positions. Under the bill, VHA personnel who verify credentials for appointees, review qualifications for such persons, or hire such persons must undergo periodic training to review relevant law and policy regarding provider qualifications for VHA employment. The bill requires the VHA to enroll health care appointees in continuous query of their record within the National Practitioner Data Bank. The VHA must also develop and implement a mechanism for monitoring the continuous query and updating information within the VA's credentialing system. At least once a year, the VHA must audit its appointed health care employees who have an adverse action reported on the National Practitioner Data Bank.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
Teacher Education for Computer Science Act or the Teach CS Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education for establishing and maintaining teacher education programs for computer science. It also includes computer science as an eligible education category with respect to receiving various teacher preparation grants and graduate fellowships.
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2019
This concurrent resolution recognizes the importance of equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities and that many government facilities remain inaccessible to such individuals due to architectural and other barriers. The concurrent resolution also pledges to make universal and inclusive design a guiding principle for all infrastructure bills and projects.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019 This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if any of the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. The bill also limits official travel, congressional recesses or adjournments, and the consideration of legislation that is unrelated to appropriations after the beginning of a fiscal year if both chambers of Congress have not passed the appropriations bills for the year.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
Eliminate Network Distribution of Child Exploitation Act or the END Child Exploitation Act This bill extends the period of time, from 90 days to 180 days, that electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers (providers) must preserve the contents of a report that is submitted to the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Further, providers may voluntarily preserve the contents of a report for longer than 180 days to reduce the proliferation of or to prevent the online sexual exploitation of children.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2019
This resolution congratulates and expresses pride in Dr. Jessica U. Meir and Christina H. Koch for successfully completing the first all-female spacewalk in history. The resolution also supports the efforts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to (1) fully integrate women into the astronaut corps, and (2) ensure that one of the next humans to walk on the Moon shall be a woman.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001076_200.jpg)