United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 This bill provides for the conservation and restoration of habitats that facilitate the movement of certain native or noninvasive species (e.g., fish, wildlife, or plant species) that may be at risk due to habitat loss or fragmentation. The bill establishes a National Wildlife Corridor System and provides for the designation and management of such corridors on federal land and water. A corridor means a feature of the landscape or seascape that (1) provides habitat or ecological connectivity, and (2) allows for movement or dispersal of native or noninvasive fish, wildlife, or plants. Indian tribes may nominate a corridor within their land to be included in a Tribal Wildlife Corridor. In addition, the bill establishes a Wildlife Corridors Stewardship Fund to receive donations for the management and protection of the corridors. It also establishes a wildlife movements grant program to encourage the passage of fish, wildlife, or plant species across a landscape or seascape. The National Coordination Committee, established by this bill, must recommend projects to fund under the grant program. The committee must also develop standards for regional wildlife movement plans to allow for better cross-regional collaboration. No fewer than four regional wildlife movement councils must be established. Among other things, the councils must submit to the committee regional wildlife movement plans as well as lists of funding priorities. Finally, the U.S. Geological Survey must establish a National Wildlife Corridors Database.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2019
Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2019 This bill addresses harassment at institutions of higher education (IHEs). Harassment includes certain conduct undertaken through technological means that limits a student's ability to benefit from the IHE's programs, or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment at the school. Specifically, the bill requires each IHE to include in its annual security report a statement of policy regarding harassment on the basis of a student's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, and a sex stereotype), disability, or religion. In addition, the Department of Education may award grants to IHEs to initiate, expand, or improve programs to (1) prevent the harassment of students; (2) provide counseling or redress services to students who have been harassed or accused of subjecting other students to harassment; or (3) educate and train students, faculty, or staff to prevent harassment or address harassment if it occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2019
Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine Act or the Healthy MOM Act This bill expands health insurance coverage availability for pregnant individuals. It requires health insurers, health insurance exchanges, and group health plans to offer a special enrollment period to pregnant individuals. The special enrollment period offered by an insurer or exchange must begin when the pregnancy is reported to the insurer or exchange. The special enrollment period offered by a group health plan must begin when the pregnancy is reported to the plan or is confirmed by a health care provider. The bill also makes pregnancy a qualifying life event for the purpose of enrolling in a federal employee health benefit plan. Additionally, a group health plan or health insurer that covers dependents must provide coverage for maternity care to all covered individuals. Any individual who is eligible for Medicaid and is, or becomes, pregnant maintains such eligibility for one year after the end of the pregnancy. The bill revises the range in which a state must establish a maximum level of family income for pregnant women and infants to be eligible for Medicaid. The upper limit of the range is eliminated and the lower limit is set to the level in place on January 1, 2014.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2019
Public Engagement at FERC Act This bill revises and expands the Office of Public Participation in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and renames it as the Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy. The office may participate in FERC proceedings on rates, service, and infrastructure siting to represent the interests of the public and issue guidance for potential improvements to industry and FERC practices. Additionally, the office must establish a Public and Consumer Advocacy Advisory Committee to review rates, services, and disputes and make recommendations to the office.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Central America Reform and Enforcement Act This bill establishes programs to address the humanitarian crisis in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (the Northern Triangle countries) and to handle asylum-seekers from those countries. The Department of State shall report to Congress a five-year interagency strategy to address the factors driving migration from Central America. The bill establishes various new immigration-related penalties, such as making it unlawful to knowingly destroy any government-deployed border-control device (e.g., fence or camera). The State Department shall work to expand the capacity of other countries to provide asylum. The State Department shall establish at least four Designated Application Processing Centers in the Northern Triangle countries and Mexico to adjudicate asylum applications and admit qualified aliens from the Northern Triangle countries as refugees. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall provide certain assessments and health care services to unaccompanied alien children. The rights of a parent or guardian over an unaccompanied alien child may be terminated only pursuant to a court order. The Office of Refugee Resettlement shall conduct certain background checks on prospective sponsors of an unaccompanied alien child. To receive certain funding, a local educational agency must ensure that unaccompanied alien children are served. An unaccompanied alien child shall be appointed free counsel in immigration proceedings. The Department of Justice shall increase the number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals staff attorneys. The Department of Homeland Security, HHS, and the State Department shall develop a process for repatriating unaccompanied children to their country of origin. This process must require a determination of the child's best interests.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Credit for Caring Act of 201 9 This bill allows an eligible caregiver a tax credit of up to $3,000 for 30% of the cost of long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000 in a taxable year. The bill defines "eligible caregiver" as an individual who has earned income for the taxable year in excess of $7,500 and pays or incurs expenses for providing care to a spouse or other dependent relative with long-term care needs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Breast Cancer Research Stamp Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through December 31, 2027, provisions requiring the U.S. Postal Service to issue a special postage stamp for first-class mail that costs more than the regular first-class stamp to raise funds for breast cancer research.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2019
Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing Act of 2019 This bill expands the scope of the Network for Manufacturing Innovation program, makes changes to the funding design for the centers for manufacturing innovation, and directs interagency collaboration to develop national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills. The Network for Manufacturing Innovation program established a nationwide network of centers for manufacturing innovation, each of which has a unique technological concentration. The bill expands the definition of a center for manufacturing innovation to make eligible for inclusion in the program a center that has a predominant focus on innovative sectors (e.g., food manufacturing, superconductors, and quantum information science). The bill also strikes provisions that progressively decrease the amount of financial assistance provided to a center over a term of years and subsequently cut the center's funding entirely after seven years, replacing them with a continuing five-year, metrics-based review of a center. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Commerce to collaborate with relevant federal departments and agencies when awarding financial assistance. The bill also authorizes Commerce to collaborate with stakeholders for the development of national certifications for advanced manufacturing workforce skills in the respective technology area of each center.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2019
Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act This bill allows certain employer-sponsored retirement plans to make matching contributions for an employee's student loan payments as if the loan payments were salary reduction contributions to the retirement plan.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2019
Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency Savings Act or the MORE Savings Act This bill modifies coverage of opioid treatments and recovery support services under Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance. Specifically, the bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model in which specified opioid treatments and recovery support services are provided under Medicare without cost-sharing (e.g., coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles). The bill also allows state Medicaid programs to cover recovery support services as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and increases the applicable Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for MAT. Private health insurers must also cover specified opioid treatments and MAT-associated recovery support services without cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
Supply Chain Counterintelligence Training Act of 2019 This bill directs the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security, and the General Services Administration, to establish and implement a counterintelligence training program for officials with supply chain risk management responsibilities at executive agencies. The program shall be designed to prepare such personnel to identify and mitigate counterintelligence threats that arise during the acquisition and use of information and communications technology.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2019 This bill permits a borrower to discharge in bankruptcy a nonprofit, government, or private student loan, or an obligation to repay an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
Funding Instruction for Safety, Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies Act or the FISH SAFE Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2021 and expands the Department of Health and Human Services fishing safety training and research grant programs. The federal share of the costs of any activity that may be carried out using grants under the programs is increased to 75%. Currently, the federal share must not exceed 50%. The bill is retroactively effective.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the responsibilities, workload, training, and vacancy rates of suicide prevention coordinators at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that, if it creates a presumption of service-connection between the occurrence of a disease and exposure to an herbicide agent while serving in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era at a military base in Thailand, such presumption must also apply to exposure at any military base in Thailand, regardless of where on the base the veteran was located or what military job specialty the veteran performed. Additionally, the bill extends eligibility for VA health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act This bill treats certain military survivor benefits that are 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 benefits from such tax.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act This bill exempts individuals with metastatic breast cancer from certain waiting periods for disability insurance benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program and related Medicare coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
PFAS Accountability Act of 2019 This bill addresses the remediation of water or land that is contaminated from certain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) originating from federal facilities or sites, including the Department of Defense's sites or facilities. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain PFAS, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. Upon state request, federal departments or agencies must expedite cooperative agreements with states to address the contamination—or suspected contamination—of drinking water, surface water, groundwater, land surface, or subsurface strata (e.g., rock or soil). The cooperative agreements must meet or exceed the most stringent of the standards enumerated in the bill. If cooperative agreements are not finalized a year after requests are made by states, then the President must provide to Congress reports that include (1) explanations of why cooperative agreements have not been finalized or amended, and (2) projected timelines for finalizing the agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
Opioid Quota Openness, Transparency, and Awareness Act of 2019 or the Opioid QuOTA Act This bill requires the Drug Enforcement Administration to make publicly available on its website certain information regarding opioid procurement quotas. The term "opioid procurement quota" means the maximum quantity of opioid analgesics that a registered manufacturer may procure.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 2019
This resolution 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 · 7 May 2019
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act of 201 9 This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income any AmeriCorps educational awards provided under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2019
This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to collect data and report to Congress on investments held by qualified opportunity funds. Treasury must also make certain information regarding the investments publicly available. Qualified opportunity funds are investment vehicles that are organized as either a partnership or a corporation and receive tax benefits for investing in certain low-income communities that have been designated as opportunity zones.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2019
Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act This bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to pay to states their reasonable costs for compiling and sharing records of deaths with the SSA. Under current law, the SSA is not required to pay the states but may choose to do so. The SSA may share the death data with federal and state agencies for various purposes. Such purposes include ensuring proper payments of benefits and tax administration duties. The Office of Management and Budget shall develop guidance for federal agencies that collect death data, and the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services shall jointly develop a plan to assist and states, local agencies, and Indian tribes in providing the data.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2019
Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act This bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to qualifying emergency departments for the purpose of supporting mental-health services. Specifically, grant recipients must use funds to support the provision of follow-up services for individuals who present for care of acute mental-health episodes, such as placement in appropriate facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act and related labor laws to extend protections to union workers. Specifically, it revises the definition of "employee" and "supervisor" to prevent employers from classifying employees as exempt from labor law protections, expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of or discrimination against workers who participate in strikes, makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership, permits workers to participate in collective or class action litigation, allows injunctions against employers engaging in unfair labor practices involving discharge or serious economic harm to an employee, expands penalties for labor law violations, including interference with the National Labor Relations Board or causing serious economic harm to an employee, and allows any person to bring a civil action for harm caused by labor law violations or unfair labor practices.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins that are emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia and of the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States. All sales of such coins shall include specified surcharges, which shall be distributed to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
New England Coastal Protection Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas off the coast of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Clean Energy for America Act This bill modifies,extends, or terminates several existing energy-related tax incentives to provide consolidated tax deductions and credits for the production of or investment in clean electricity, the production of clean transportation fuels, and energy efficient homes and commercial buildings. The new tax incentives are technology-neutral and the amounts of the credits or deductions vary based on the levels of carbon emissions for the incentives for electricity and fuels or energy efficiency in the case of the incentives for energy efficient homes and commercial buildings. The bill also establishes tax credits for certain bonds issued by a governmental body, a public power provider, or a cooperative electric company for facilities producing clean electricity or clean transportation fuels. The bill phases out the new tax incentives when annual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States have been reduced by specified percentages. In order to provide for a transition period for the new tax incentives, the bill temporarily extends several existing energy-related tax provisions. With respect to the existing qualifying advanced energy project credit, the Department of the Treasury must establish an additional qualifying advanced energy project program to consider and award certifications for qualified investments eligible for credits.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Healthier Students for Stronger Campuses Act This bill replaces a grant program for reducing and eliminating the illegal use of drugs and alcohol on college campuses with a grant program for preventing and addressing the effects of substance use on college campuses. Specifically, it authorizes the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to award substance misuse prevention and treatment grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) with regional high incidences of substance use disorders, overdoses, and deaths. It requires at least 25% of funds to be awarded to IHEs in rural areas. The bill requires IHEs to use funds for evidence-based or promising interventions designed to address and prevent substance use disorders among enrolled students, such as recovery services, treatment or referral to treatment, and mental health counseling. IHEs receiving such grants must provide at least a 20% match of nonfederal funds.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
National Museum of the American Latino Act This bill establishes the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian Institution. The purposes of the museum are to (1) illuminate Latino contributions to the story of the United States; (2) provide for the collection, study, research, publication, and establishment of exhibitions and programs related to Latino life, art, history, and culture; and (3) provide for collaboration with Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers and other museums and educational institutions in the United States and abroad to promote the study and appreciation of Latino life, art, history, culture, and its impact on society in the United States. The bill establishes a Board of Trustees for the museum to advise and assist the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian on all matters related to the administration and preservation of the museum. The Director of the museum shall manage the museum and may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals. The Board of Regents shall designate a site for the museum and is authorized to design and construct it.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2019 This bill requires certain agencies to collect voluntary feedback with respect to their services and transactions. Each of the agencies must (1) annually publish such feedback on its website and report on such feedback to the Office of Management and Budget, and (2) report on the solicitation of such feedback. The Government Accountability Office shall publish a report assessing the data collected and reported by the agencies. The feedback may not be used in any appraisal of job performance of a federal employee.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to report on and make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
This resolution supports the designation of April 8-April 12, 2019, as National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week. Specialized instructional support personnel include school counselors, school nurses, mental health personnel, social workers, therapists, and speech pathologists and audiologists serving the nation's schools and students.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 400,000 $1 silver coins that are emblematic of the women who played a vital role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Such coins may be issued during the period beginning on January 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. All surcharges received from the sales of such coins shall be paid to the American Women's History Initiative of the Smithsonian Institution.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act of 2019 This bill addresses contaminants of emerging concern (emerging contaminants), which are not regulated under a national primary drinking water regulation and may have an adverse effect on human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must review federal efforts to (1) identify, monitor, and assist in the development of treatment methods for emerging contaminants; and (2) assist states in responding to the human health risks posed by those contaminants. In addition, the EPA must establish a strategic plan for improving those efforts. The EPA and the Department of Health and Human Services must jointly establish an interagency working group to coordinate federal activities that identify and analyze the public health effects of emerging contaminants. The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish a National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative to (1) improve the identification, analysis, monitoring, and treatment methods of emerging contaminants; and (2) support the implementation of its cross-agency plan for addressing research gaps related to detecting, assessing exposure to, and identifying the adverse health effects of such contaminants. Specified federal agencies must make grants for research proposals that are likely to result in significant progress toward achieving the plan's objectives. The EPA must (1) report on actions it may take to increase technical assistance and support for states with respect to emerging contaminants in drinking water samples, and (2) develop a program to provide technical assistance and support to states for the testing and analysis of emerging contaminants.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2019 This bill prohibits discrimination, in the context of various housing practices, against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2019
Innovation Zone Act This bill replaces the Experimental Sites Initiative of the Department of Education (ED) with an innovation zone initiative consisting of voluntary experiments by participating institutions of higher education (IHEs). Upon selection of an experiment but prior to choosing the participating IHEs, ED must identify the methodology of data collection and the evaluation methods for determining the impact of the experiment, including any differential impacts for historically underrepresented students (e.g., students of color and low-income students). Under the experiment, ED and the IHEs may test the effectiveness of statutory and regulatory flexibility that aims for (1) an increase in student success (e.g., reductions in student loan debt and increases in student retention and employment outcomes); and (2) a reduction of regulatory burdens on IHEs or ED, without harm to students. The bill also requires ED to conduct a review of existing experiments.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2019
This resolution declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Richard G. Lugar, former Senator from Indiana.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019 This bill establishes criminal penalties for unauthorized access of certain student loan information and expands the requirements for student loan exit counseling. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime to knowingly use an access device (e.g., account number) that was issued to another person or was fraudulently obtained to access Department of Education (ED) information technology systems for commercial advantage or private financial gain. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Further, the bill expands loan exit counseling requirements to require an institution of higher education that participates in federal student-aid programs to provide an explanation to borrowers cautioning them about third-party student debt relief companies. It also requires ED to prevent unauthorized access to the central database for student aid (i.e., the National Student Loan Data System) and warn borrowers of suspicious activity regarding their student loan accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2019 This bill revises provisions regarding federal advisory committees, including to (1) require designation of committee members as special government employees or representatives, (2) apply the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to subcommittees and subgroups, and (3) require publication of certain information about advisory committees. The bill requires appointments to advisory committees to be made without regard to political affiliation or campaign activity, unless required by federal statute. Each agency, prior to appointing members to an advisory committee, must solicit nominations for potential committee members. The agency shall solicit nominations at least once every two years. The bill provides statutory authority for the designation of advisory committee members as special government employees (if they are appointed to exercise their individual best judgement) or representatives (if they are appointed to represent a nongovernment entity). Agencies may not designate committee members as representatives to avoid federal ethics rules. Each agency shall make available on its website specified information about each of the agency's advisory committees, including membership, meeting minutes, and notices of future meetings. The General Services Administration must also publish this information. The bill revises requirements for Advisory Committee Management Officers, including to require them to be senior officials with expertise in implementing FACA. The Government Accountability Office shall report on agency compliance with FACA.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Higher Education Mental Health Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Education to establish an Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education. The commission must conduct a study and report on (1) services available to students with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher education (IHEs) and the effectiveness of such services in supporting these students; (2) the impact of policies and procedures, such as reasonable accommodation and disciplinary policies, that help or hinder the goal of providing equal opportunity to these students; (3) the use of protected health information of these students by IHEs; (4) the impact of providing mental health services on a student's academic performance, well-being, and ability to complete college; (5) conclusions on the major challenges facing these students; and (6) recommendations to improve the overall education, retention, and graduation of these students.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
What You Can Do For Your Country Act This bill revises the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, including by allowing borrowers with loans under the Federal Family Education Loan program to be eligible for the PSLF program, allowing borrowers to receive loan forgiveness on half of their total loans after satisfying 60 qualifying payment obligations, revising provisions related to loan consolidation, revising the types of payments that count toward qualifying payment obligations, defining full-time employment as 30 hours per week, requiring the Department of Education (ED) to provide certain notices to borrowers, revising the process for certification of employment, requiring ED to establish a database of qualifying employers, providing a process for borrowers to satisfy past monthly payment obligations, requiring lenders to provide to ED necessary borrower repayment history information, and requiring ED to establish a dispute resolution process.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 This bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served (1) offshore of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or (2) in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or diseases 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. The bill extends eligibility for health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. The Department of Veterans Affairs must report on the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Tax Filing Simplification Act of 201 9 This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish and operate the following programs free of charge online tax preparation and filing software, a program for taxpayers to download third-party provided return information relating to individual income tax returns, and a program to permit individuals with simplified tax situations to elect to have the IRS prepare their returns. The IRS may not enter into any agreement which restricts its legal right to provide tax return preparation services, software, or tax return filing services. Individuals participating in, or accessing information from, the programs established by this bill must verify their identity to the satisfaction of the IRS. The IRS may not employ knowledge-based verification procedures to verify the identity of the individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act This bill expands the activities and functions of child welfare programs that support kinship caregiving (i.e., grandparents or other extended family members that provide child caregiving). The bill also expands grants programs for preventing child abuse to prioritize and support the needs of such kinship families.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Federal Employee Paid Leave Act This bill provides paid family leave for certain federal employees in all instances covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, which currently only guarantees unpaid leave for such instances. Specifically, the bill requires that the 12 weeks of administrative leave to which certain federal employees are entitled for family care be paid leave. This applies to all federal employees in the competitive service (all civilian positions in the executive branch, all positions in the legislative and judicial branches, and all positions in the government of the District of Columbia), congressional employees, Government Accountability Office employees, employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves, and certain Transportation Security Administration employees. The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to such employees to a total of 16 administrative work weeks.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001076_200.jpg)