United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income payments under the federal veterinary medicine loan repayment program or any state loan repayment or forgiveness program that is intended to provide for increased access to veterinary services in such state.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2019 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2019 This bill expands prohibitions and requires additional disclosures related to political spending. Specifically, foreign nationals are further restricted regarding their involvement in election related activity, including by prohibiting their participation in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure. Existing foreign money prohibitions are expanded to prohibit disbursements for paid internet or digital communications. The Federal Election Commission must perform an audit after each election cycle to determine the incidence of illicit foreign money. In general, organizations making political expenditures must disclose donors who have contributed $10,000 or more during an election cycle. Certain of these organizations, including corporations, must also disclose their beneficial owners. The bill requires organizations to provide additional disclosures on certain political ads, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 201 9 This bill allows tax credits for (1) energy storage technologies, and (2) battery storage technology. The bill expands the tax credit for investments in energy property to include equipment that (1) receives, stores, and delivers energy using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Internal Revenue Service; and (2) has a capacity of at least five kilowatt hours. The bill also expands the tax credit for residential energy efficient property to include expenditures for battery storage technology that (1) is installed on or in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, and (2) has a capacity of at least three kilowatt hours.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act of 2019 This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to make permanent the accelerated depreciation (seven-year recovery period) of motorsports entertainment complexes.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
This resolution designates April 20-April 28, 2019, as National Park Week. The resolution also encourages the people of the United States and the world to visit U.S. national parks.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This bill increases and revises requirements for the earned income and child tax credits. It also makes similar revisions to the earned income tax credit for residents of Puerto Rico. The bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to regulate the practice of tax return preparers and impose sanctions upon preparers found to be incompetent or disreputable. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on the sharing of information between Treasury and states regarding identification numbers issued to tax return preparers and minimum standards for preparers.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the use of educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve or the Ready Reserve, at the member's election, for payment of tuition under the Department of Defense program of tuition assistance for voluntary off-duty training or education.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or the NO BAN Act This bill imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States and terminates certain presidential actions implementing such restrictions. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, with certain exceptions. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any aliens or class of aliens after the Department of State determines that the restriction would address specific acts that threaten U.S. interests such as security or public safety. The bill also imposes limitations on such restrictions, such as requiring the President, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide specific evidence of a need for the restriction, and to narrowly tailor the restriction to meet a compelling government interest. Before imposing a restriction, the President, State Department, and DHS shall consult with Congress. The State Department and DHS shall report to Congress about the restriction within 48 hours of the restriction's imposition, with regular updates. If such reports are not made, the restriction shall immediately terminate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2019 This bill provides specific statutory authority for the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) State Educational Agency Grant Program that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The program supports school-based mental health services, including screening, treatment, and outreach programs.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Gateway to Careers Act of 201 9 This bill establishes a career pathway grant program through which the Department of Education shall award grants to certain public institutions of higher education and postsecondary technical education schools (eligible institutions) to carry out activities such as (1) the planning and implementation of agreements between eligible institutions and other partners; (2) providing emergency grants to help students facing financial hardships that may impact enrollment or completion of the program; and (3) offering career pathways navigation and case management services, including providing information and outreach to target populations to encourage individuals to take part in programs and service offerings.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Rent Relief Act of 201 9 This bill allows 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 100% of the small area 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. The Department of the Treasury must establish a program for making advance payments of the credit on a monthly basis.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
PFAS Registry Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry for current or past members of the Armed Forces who may have been exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances due to the environmental release of aqueous film-forming foam at a military installation or other Department of Defense location.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act This bill makes permanent, beginning in FY2020, funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The President shall annually submit 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 · 9 April 2019
This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to implement a program to ensure that certain disclosures of tax returns or return information for third-party income verification are (1) fully automated and accomplished through the Internet, and (2) accomplished in as close to real-time as is practicable. The requirement applies to IRS disclosures of returns or return information to a person verifying the income or creditworthiness of a taxpayer who is a borrower in the process of a loan application. In implementing the program, the IRS must (1) ensure that the program complies with applicable security standards and guidelines; and (2) assess and collect a fee for the disclosures at rates that are sufficient to cover the costs related to implementing the program, including the costs of necessary infrastructure or technology.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Driving America Forward Act This bill expands the tax credit for new plug-in electric drive motor vehicles and extends the tax credit for new fuel cell motor vehicles. (Under current law, taxpayers who purchase a qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle are eligible for a tax credit of up to $7,500, which begins to phase out once a manufacturer sells 200,000 qualified vehicles.) The bill allows an additional 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer to be eligible for a credit of up to $7,000 before the credit begins to phase out. The bill also extends the tax credit for fuel cell motor vehicles through 2028. (Under current law, the credit expired after 2017.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2019
Homeland Procurement Reform Act or the HOPR Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that procurement of certain items, such as body armor and other protective gear, meets specified requirements, including that a fraction of procurement funds be used for items manufactured by U.S. small businesses. DHS shall (1) ensure that covered items are purchased at a fair and reasonable price, and (2) study the adequacy of uniform allowances provided to employees.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2019
Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2019 This bill addresses the access of military personnel and dependents to contraception and family planning information. The bill revises coverage of women's health services under the TRICARE program to (1) prohibit the imposition of cost-sharing for care related to the prevention of pregnancy, whether provided through a facility of the uniformed services, the TRICARE retail pharmacy program, or the national mail-order pharmacy program; and (2) include all methods of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration, contraceptive care, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling. The Department of Defense (DOD) must furnish to sexual assault survivors at military medical facilities clear and comprehensible information about all methods of approved emergency contraception, notification of the survivor's right to confidentiality, and, upon request, emergency contraception or a prescription for emergency contraception. DOD shall also establish a uniform standard curriculum for use in programs of family planning education during the first year of a member's service, when a member is in training to assume command, and when an enlisted member becomes a senior enlisted member.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2019 This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to increase the number of field operations officers to specified levels. If the CBP does not adequately increase personnel, the Government Accountability Office must report on CBP hiring practices.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Supporting and Treating Officers In Crisis Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes for FY2020-FY2024 and revises Department of Justice grants to provide family support services to law enforcement personnel. Among other changes, the bill allows grants to support additional services such as suicide prevention and mental health programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2019 or the 911 SAVES Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget, by 30 days after the bill's enactment, to categorize public safety telecommunicators as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification System.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2019 or the PAST Act This bill addresses the practice of soring horses. The soring of horses includes various actions taken on horses' limbs to produce higher gaits that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness. Specifically, the bill expands soring regulation and enforcement at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, including by establishing a new system for inspecting horses for soring. In addition, the bill increases penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
Veterans' Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration to administer economic opportunity assistance programs for veterans and their dependents and survivors. Specifically, the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration must administer the following Department of Veterans Affairs programs: vocational rehabilitation and employment programs, educational assistance programs, veterans' housing loan and related programs, the Transition Assistance Program, and the database of small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2019
United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2019 This bill recognizes service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II as active military service. Individuals who served in the corps are eligible for specified honors and burial benefits but shall not be entitled by reason of such service to veterans' benefits generally.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement Act or the FACE Act This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to report to Congress on advance contracts. Advance contracts are established prior to disasters to provide life-sustaining goods and services in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The report must include (1) information required in the initial report on recurring disaster response requirements; and (2) an updated strategy that defines the objectives of advance contracts, how such contracts contribute to FEMA disaster response operations, and whether and how such contracts should be prioritized in relation to new post-disaster contract awards. The bill sets forth additional duties of FEMA with respect to advance contracts, including requiring FEMA to (1) update and implement guidance for its program office and acquisition personnel to identify acquisition planning time frames and considerations across the entire acquisition planning process, and (2) communicate the purpose and use of a master acquisition planning schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), including by requiring the Department of Energy to award financial assistance to nonprofit organizations for WAP enhancement and innovation, such as installing renewable energy systems. WAP reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
This resolution recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing of the allied forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France, during World War II. The resolution expresses appreciation to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who participated in the operations, thanks the young people of Normandy and the United States for their involvement in events celebrating the anniversary of the Normandy landings, recognizes the efforts of France and the people of Normandy to preserve the world heritage represented by the Normandy beaches and the sunken material remains of the landings by inscribing these on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the 75th anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Substance Tableting and Encapsulating Enforcement and Registration Act or the STEER Act This bill establishes registration requirements for tableting machines (pill presses) and encapsulating machines (capsule fillers). Specifically, the bill requires a person who possesses a tableting machine or encapsulating machine to obtain a registration from the Drug Enforcement Administration, subject to specified exceptions. Additionally, it prohibits and penalizes—with civil fines, criminal penalties, or both—the possession of an unregistered tableting machine or encapsulating machine.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Safe Equitable Campus Resources and Education Act of 2019 This bill addresses the needs of individuals with disabilities on college campuses, such as ensuring that their needs are included in emergency response and evacuation procedures and in responses to incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Jobs Act This bill permanently extends the work opportunity tax credit. (Under current law, the tax credit expires after 2019.)
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 2019
This resolution urges the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reverse its position in Texas v. United States . (On March 25, 2019, DOJ submitted a letter to the appellate court agreeing with the lower court's decision that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should be struck in its entirety).
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Campus Accountability and Safety Act This bill addresses sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other violence and harassment on the campuses of colleges and universities. The bill expands reporting requirements included in the annual campus security report provided to current and prospective students and employees. Specifically, the report must include information about (1) the institution's coordination with local law enforcement about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking occurring against its students or against other individuals on its campus; (2) statistics about certain criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police, including rape, fondling, incest, and statutory rape; and (3) information about how the institution is addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Department of Education (ED) must administer and publish the campus-level results of a biannual survey of students regarding their experiences with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Each institution must establish a campus security policy that meets certain requirements with respect to (1) assisting survivors; (2) training individuals who are involved in implementing the student grievance procedures or who are responsible for interviewing survivors; and (3) establishing a uniform process for student disciplinary proceedings relating to any claims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or relating to a sexual misconduct policy violation against a student. ED and the Department of Justice may impose civil penalties for failure to meet certain requirements under this bill. The bill also authorizes grants to address these issues.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Women's Retirement Protection Act This bill modifies the requirements for pension plans under 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 survivors of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders and the benefits they are entitled to through the orders.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Marketplace Certainty Act This bill expands eligibility for additional cost-sharing reductions that apply to certain enrollees of qualified health plans. Specifically, it increases the income thresholds under which plan holders receive such cost-sharing reductions and increases the percentage of the shared costs paid by the plan at each income threshold.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2019
Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Community Health Center Fund, which provides enhanced funding for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act This bill establishes in the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women's history museum. Such museum shall be named by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. The bill establishes a council that, among other things, shall make recommendations to the board on the planning, design, and construction of the museum. The board shall designate a site for the museum, with priority given to a site that is on or near the National Mall.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Jenna Quinn Law This bill allows the Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants for evidence-informed child sexual abuse awareness programs in schools. The bill also modifies the eligibility for child abuse prevention grants to states and community-based organizations to require that grant recipients support sexual abuse education, training, and reporting.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Providing Officers With Electronic Resources Act or the POWER Act This bill authorizes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to make grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase a chemical screening device and to train personnel to use, and interpret data collected by, such device.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
PFAS Detection Act of 2019 This bill sets forth requirements for detecting and sampling perfluorinated compounds. Perfluorinated compounds are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain perfluorinated compounds, such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and fire-fighting foams. The bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a performance standard for the detection of perfluorinated compounds. Using such standard, the USGS must carry out a nationwide sampling to determine the concentration of perfluorinated compounds in estuaries, lakes, streams, springs, wells, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and soil. The sampling data must then be used to inform and enhance assessments of exposure, likely health and environmental impacts, and remediation priorities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
For the People Act of 2019 This bill addresses voter access, election integrity, election security, political spending, and ethics for the three branches of government. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration and voting access, and limits removing voters from voter rolls. The bill provides for states to establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions. The bill also sets forth provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials, protecting the security of the voter rolls, supporting states in securing their election systems, developing a national strategy to protect the security and integrity of U.S. democratic institutions, establishing in the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the cybersecurity of election systems. This bill addresses campaign spending, including by expanding the ban on foreign nationals contributing to or spending on elections; expanding disclosure rules pertaining to organizations spending money during elections, campaign advertisements, and online platforms; and revising disclaimer requirements for political advertising. This bill establishes an alternative campaign funding system for Senate elections. The system involves federal matching of small contributions for qualified candidates. This bill sets forth provisions related to ethics in all three branches of government. Specifically, the bill requires a code of ethics for federal judges and justices, prohibits Senators from serving on the board of a for-profit entity, expands enforcement of regulations governing foreign agents, and establishes additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for federal employees and the White House. The bill also requires candidates for President and Vice President to submit 10 years of tax returns.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2019 This bill increases the amount of compensation provided to individuals exposed to radiation and expands eligibility requirements for compensation to include additional individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund until 19 years after this bill's enactment. The trust fund compensates individuals who contract cancer or other diseases as a result of their exposure to radiation during nuclear testing undertaken by the United States during the Cold War. The bill revises the requirements governing the compensation of individuals who were exposed to radiation, including by increasing the amount of compensation that an individual may receive; expanding the affected area to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico; expanding eligibility requirements to include additional individuals, such as certain employees of uranium mines or mills; and extending until 19 years after this bill's enactment the statute of limitations for the filing of claims. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences must establish a grant program for institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among non-occupationally exposed individuals. The bill expands eligibility requirements for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program with respect to chronic beryllium disease.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Strengthening American Transportation Security Act of 2019 This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the personnel system used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides insufficient workplace protections for its workforce and such personnel should be entitled to protections under the civil service system applicable to all federal employees. Among other things, the bill eliminates personnel authorities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Transportation governing the conditions of employment for TSA employees, thus making TSA employees subject to the personnel management system applicable to other federal employees; sets forth transition rules that protect the pay rates and other rights of TSA employees; requires DHS to consult with the labor organization certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority to carry out the conversion of such positions; and does not affect the prohibitions against disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the federal government.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 201 9 This bill modifies the tax credit for employment-related expenses incurred for the care of a taxpayer's dependent to (1) increase to $120,000, the adjusted gross income threshold level above which the credit is incrementally reduced; (2) increase the dollar limits on the allowable amount of the credit; (3) specify rules for married couples filing separate returns; (4) allow an inflation adjustment to the adjusted gross income threshold and the maximum credit amounts, beginning after 2020; and (5) make the credit refundable.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 2019
This resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Parks Conservation Association. The resolution also applauds the association for its past, present, and future efforts to advocate for the National Park System. Finally, it wishes the association continued success during the next 100 years as it strives to engage and inspire the public to advance the mission of the National Park System.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to Rosie the Riveter (i.e., any female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II), in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations. The medal shall be displayed at the National Museum of American History, which is urged to make the medal available for display at other locations associated with Rosie the Riveter.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2019 This bill requires standardized financial aid terminology and offer forms. The Department of Education (ED) must develop standard terminology and a format for financial aid offer forms based on recommendations from representatives of certain groups, including students, veterans, and institutions of higher education (IHEs). The consumer-friendly form must include specified details and disclosures, including the estimated cost of attendance, financial aid that does not need to be repaid, the net price that a student or family is estimated to pay, work-study employment opportunities, loans the IHE recommends for the student for the academic period covered by the offer, deadlines and the process for accepting financial aid, default rates, the percentage of students who have student loans and the median debt at graduation for students, private loans, scholarships, and the terms and conditions of financial aid. ED must (1) test the form with representatives of students, students' families, IHEs, secondary school and postsecondary counselors, and nonprofit consumer groups; and (2) use the results to develop the final form. Each IHE that participates in federal student aid programs must (1) use the standard form when offering financial aid to students, and (2) use the standard terminology and definitions developed by ED for all communications related to financial aid offers.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2019
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. This resolution also acknowledges the accomplishments of AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners, and recognizes its important contributions to the lives of the people of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act of 2019 This bill makes it illegal to possess, buy, sell, or transport shark fins or any product containing shark fins, except for certain dogfish fins. A person may possess a shark fin that was lawfully taken consistent with a license or permit under certain circumstances. Penalties are imposed for violations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The maximum civil penalty for each violation shall be $100,000, or the fair market value of the shark fins involved, whichever is greater.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 2019
Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act of 2019 or the PROTECT Students Act of 2019 This bill provides additional oversight of postsecondary education programs, including for-profit institutions of higher education (IHEs), and addresses protections for students and student loan borrowers from fraudulent or predatory practices. The bill sets forth a variety of provisions concerning oversight of for-profit IHEs. Specifically, the bill decreases the cap on the amount of revenue for-profit IHEs may receive from federal sources, including funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. In addition, it establishes (1) a process for reviewing for-profit IHEs that convert to nonprofit or public status, and (2) a For-Profit Education Oversight Coordination Committee. The bill also sets forth provisions to address predatory practices in higher education. For instance, the bill requires career education programs to prepare students for gainful employment. In addition, it requires the Office of Federal Student Aid to have a unit that enforces compliance with laws governing student financial assistance programs. The office must also maintain a system that tracks reports of suspicious activity of IHEs or student loan servicers, including anonymous complaints. Lastly, the bill allows borrowers of student loans to seek loan forgiveness if IHEs mislead the students or engage in other misconduct. Finally, the bill prohibits IHEs that receive federal funding from limiting students' legal actions, providing incentive compensation, and using educational assistance funds for recruiting and marketing activities.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h001076_200.jpg)