United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2021
Conservation Funding Protection Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to hold at least two region-wide oil and gas lease sales per year in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lease sale must include areas in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. In addition, the bill establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 2021
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act This bill establishes a new criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. The bill provides exceptions for an abortion (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 2021
Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2021 This bill prohibits a state from receiving certain federal law enforcement grants if it takes certain immigration-related actions. Specifically, a state may not receive such grants if it (1) issues a driver license to an individual who does not have proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the United States, or (2) prohibits a local or state government entity or official from sharing immigration enforcement information with the Department of Homeland Security.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 2021
This resolution honors the memory of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick for sacrificing his life in the line of duty on January 6, 2021, and it calls for justice to be brought to those responsible for the attack on the Capitol and the death of Officer Sicknick.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2020
This bill revises the applicable period during which a financial institution may suspend loan modification requirements as applied to a troubled debt restructuring. Currently, this period ends on the earliest of December 31, 2020, or the date that is 60 days after the termination of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) national emergency. The bill revises this period to end on the earliest of January 1, 2022, or the date that is 60 days after the termination of the COVID-19 national emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2020
This resolution mourns the death of former Senator Paul Spyros Sarbanes and requests that an enrolled copy of this resolution be transmitted to the family of the Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2020
This bill revises the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), to simplify the application process for loan forgiveness and to establish or certify an online calculator that allows loan recipients to (1) estimate the amount of forgiveness for which they are eligible, and (2) assist with their loan forgiveness applications.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2020
Conservation Funding Protection Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior to hold at least two region-wide oil and gas lease sales per year in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lease sale must include areas in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area and the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. In addition, the bill establishes deadlines for completing environmental reviews of the lease sales.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2020
Youth Mental Health Services Act of 2020 This bill authorizes state and local educational agencies to use student support and academic enrichment grants to improve mental health services available to students. Specifically, it allows funds to be used for identifying and disseminating best practices for mental health first aid, emergency planning, coordination of services, and telehealth services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020
This resolution expresses the sorrow of the Senate upon the death of former Senator Mark Andrews and requests that an enrolled copy of this resolution be transmitted to the family of the Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 2020
Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from transmitting certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) utilized by licensed importers or dealers of firearms. Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from transmitting personally identifying information of a veteran or a beneficiary to the NICS solely on the basis that such veteran or beneficiary has an appointed fiduciary to manage their benefits, unless there is an order or finding of a judicial authority that such veteran or beneficiary is a danger to themselves or others.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
Hurricane Laura Recovery Opportunity Zones Act This bill designates certain low-income community areas as qualified Hurricane Laura Recovery Opportunity Zones. Such zones are areas for which a major disaster has been declared before September 30, 2020, and which have been determined by the President to warrant individual or public assistance by reason of Hurricane Laura. The bill sets forth special rules for the treatment of capital gains in Hurricane Laura Recovery Opportunity Zones. It also expresses the sense of Congress that the rate of tax on income from capital gains in effect on the enactment date of this bill should not be changed.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
Veteran Engagement Through Electronic Resources and Notifications Study Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit a report on the Veteran Engagement Through Electronic Resources and Notifications Study, which is a pilot program under which veterans who have recently undergone surgery related to atrial fibrillation utilize VA-issued smart watches to monitor their heart health.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
This resolution supports the designation of the week of September 20, 2020, as National Small Business Week in celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners and the invaluable contribution small businesses make to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020
Don't Push My Buttons Act This bill establishes an exception to the immunity of a provider of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) from liability for screening and blocking offensive content on its platform. Specifically, the bill removes this immunity from any provider that collects information regarding the habits, preferences, or beliefs of a user and utilizes an automated function to deliver content based on that information, unless the user knowingly and intentionally elects to receive such content.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises Act or the PREPARE Act This bill permanently reauthorizes the pre-disaster mitigation loan program of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Under this program, the SBA may loan up to $500,000 in a 12-month period to small businesses so that such businesses may use mitigation techniques to protect their commercial real estate, equipment, inventory, supplies, and materials from damages related to disasters. The SBA must submit a report on the program that includes information such as (1) the geographic areas in which loan recipients are located, (2) the number and dollar value of loans made, and (3) the estimated aggregate value resulting from the use of funded mitigation techniques. The bill also authorizes the SBA to increase the amount of a disaster loan by up to 30% of the aggregate costs of any damage or destruction to enable a business to take mitigating measures that protect from possible future disasters.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020 This bill addresses the security of active and retired federal judges and their immediate families, including by limiting the release of these protected individuals' personally identifiable information. Specifically, federal agencies may not publicly post a protected individual's personally identifiable information. Furthermore, upon receiving a written request from a protected individual, an agency must within 72 hours remove any such information relating to the individual that has already been posted. The Department of Justice must award grants to state and local governments to help prevent the release of protected individuals' personally identifiable information. Additionally, data brokers may not sell the personally identifiable information of a protected individual. Upon receiving a written request from a protected individual, a private party (1) shall not publicly disclose personally identifiable information relating to the individual, and (2) must remove any such information already posted on the internet. A protected individual may sue to enforce the bill's provisions. The bill also authorizes additional security for protected individuals, including by providing home intrusion detection systems and expanding the availability of U.S. Marshals Service protection.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
Women's Public Health and Safety Act This bill allows a state to exclude from participation in the state's Medicaid program a provider that performs an abortion, unless (1) the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or (2) the woman suffers from a physical issue that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. (Under current law, a state plan for medical assistance must provide that any individual eligible for medical assistance may obtain required services from any provider qualified to perform them.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2020
Protect and Serve Act of 2020 This bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly assaulting a law enforcement officer and causing serious bodily injury (or attempting to do so) in circumstances that affect interstate commerce. It imposes criminal penalties—a prison term, a fine, or both—on a violator.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2020
Contact Lens Rule Modernization Act This bill (1) requires prescribers of contact lenses to conspicuously post notice that the prescriber is required to provide a copy of the contact lens prescription to the patient, (2) prohibits prescribers from requiring patients to acknowledge a contact lens prescription release in writing or electronically, and (3) prohibits automated telephone calls to verify a prescription.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain are historic achievements. Further, it encourages other Arab nations to establish full relations with Israel, and it reaffirms the Senate's support for a negotiated, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2020
Disaster Relief for Southeastern Small Businesses Act of 2020 This bill establishes loan forgiveness for a recipient of a paycheck protection loan or an economic injury disaster loan made or guaranteed by the Small Business Administration in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to a recipient located in an area for which the President declared a major disaster related to Hurricane Laura or Hurricane Sally.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 This bill sets forth tax relief provisions for individual and business taxpayers residing in a disaster zone during the period beginning on July 1, 2020, and ending 60 days after the enactment of this bill. Specifically, the bill allows penalty-free disaster-relief withdrawals from tax-exempt retirement plans up to $100,000, permits recontributions of such withdrawals for home purchases cancelled due to disasters, increases to $100,000 the limit on loans for disaster assistance from retirement plans, allows employers affected by a disaster a 40% tax credit for the purpose of retaining employees, increases the tax deduction for corporate disaster relief contributions, enhances the tax deduction for disaster-related personal casualty losses, permits the calculation of the earned income tax credit based upon income earned prior to 2020, and reimburses U.S. possessions for losses sustained due to the application of the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2020 This bill establishes a new section in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice to enforce federal laws concerning animal cruelty.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2020 This bill directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to designate a senior Office of Investment and Innovation employee as broadband and emerging information technology coordinator, and it establishes measures to aid the competitiveness and productivity of small businesses through broadband access and other emerging information technologies. The coordinator's responsibilities shall include (1) identifying best practices relating to broadband and emerging information technology that may help small businesses; and (2) coordinating SBA programs that assist small businesses in adopting, making innovations in, and using broadband and other information technologies. The SBA must also provide training to familiarize its employees with broadband and other emerging technologies. Further, the SBA must report on (1) its programs and activities relating to broadband and emerging information technologies, and (2) the impact of broadband and emerging information technology deployment on small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
Permanently Uniting Pets Stateside Act or the PUPS Act This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to permit the entry of a pet (i.e., a domestic dog, cat, or bird) into the United States if it is accompanying a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted alien who has been living or traveling abroad and is returning to the United States during a public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
Stop Blocking Hospitals Act This bill establishes a new criminal offense for preventing ambulances and vehicles used by fire departments and law enforcement agencies from responding to a call or transporting an individual to a hospital. An individual who engages in this conduct is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2020
This resolution (1) supports the designation of the week of September 11-September 17 as Patriot Week; and (2) recognizes that each generation should renew the spirit of the nation based on the first principles, historical figures, founding documents, and symbols of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2020
Hurricane Laura Recovery Funding Act, 2020 This bill provides $10 billion in FY2020 supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Disaster Relief Fund. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2020
This resolution recognizes the essential work performed by individuals with disabilities or who are blind during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. It recognizes and thanks essential employees with disabilities or who are blind for their vital contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2020
Achieving Thorough Transparency and Accessibility for Information Navigation on Mental Health Act of 2020 or the ATTAIN Mental Health Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and update a publicly accessible, internet-based dashboard to publicize federally funded mental health grants. The dashboard must contain, for example, program names and opening and closing dates for applications. In addition, HHS must establish a process to accept information voluntarily provided by states concerning their federally supported mental health grants for incorporation into the dashboard. In developing the dashboard, HHS must consult with appropriate federal departments and agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 2020
Exposing China's Belt and Road Investment in America Act of 2020 This bill requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review certain investments made by China in the United States. Specifically, the committee must review any investment by a foreign person that (1) involves the acquisition of real estate in the United States and the establishment of a U.S. business on such real estate, and (2) could result in direct or indirect control of that U.S. business by China. A party to any such investment must submit to the committee a declaration containing basic information regarding the transaction.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 2020
WeChat No More Act This bill prohibits federal employees from using the messaging application WeChat on government-issued devices. Specifically, the bill prohibits employees and officers of the United States, Members of Congress, congressional employees, and officers and employees of government corporations from downloading or using WeChat, or any successor application from the developer, on any device issued by the federal government or a government corporation, with the exception of specified activities (e.g., cybersecurity research).
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 2020
Combating Chinese Propaganda Act or the CCP Act This bill prohibits any company doing business in the United States from taking certain actions relating to the government of China. Specifically, such a company may not (1) make public statements that reflect Chinese government propaganda, except for statements required by a Chinese government regulation to protect health or safety; (2) take actions contrary to its fiduciary interests at the behest of the Chinese government; or (3) furnish personal information about Chinese dissidents to the Chinese government. Such a company shall report to the Department of State and Department of Commerce each instance in which the Chinese government attempted to pressure the company to take such prohibited actions. The bill imposes criminal monetary fines and imprisonment for a company or company official that knowingly violates these prohibitions.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2020
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and revises the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003, which provided grants to Maryland and Louisiana for a program to eradicate or control nutria (a type of rodent). The program also provided grants to restore marshland damaged by nutria. This bill revises the grant program, including by expanding the program to include grants for eradicating nutria in any state that has demonstrated a need for the program as well as grants for restoring wetlands or agricultural lands damaged by nutria.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 2020
This bill provides statutory authority under the Clean Water Act for activities authorized in the reissued final rule titled Issuance and Reissuance of Nationwide Permits and specifies requirements and criteria for subsequent reissuances of such permits. Nationwide permits are issued for periods of up to five years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to authorize activities that have minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
This resolution declares that (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Lewis, a late Member of the House of Representatives; and (2) when the Senate adjourns on July 28, 2020, it will stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable John Lewis.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2020
This bill requires the incorporation of information from death certificates that is voluntarily provided by states or political subdivisions into a system used by federal agencies to verify the eligibility of an individual to receive certain federal payments. The Department of the Treasury may pay states and jurisdictions for the reasonable costs of transcribing and transmitting this information.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
Save our Stages Act or the SOS Act This bill authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to eligible live venue operators, producers, promoters, or talent representatives to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on certain live venues. Specifically, the SBA may make (1) an initial grant of up to $12 million dollars to an eligible operator, promoter, producer, or talent representative; and (2) a supplemental grant that is equal to 50% of the initial grant. An initial grant must be used for costs incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, but a supplemental grant may be used for expenses incurred through June 30, 2021. Such grants shall be used for specified expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2020
Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act This bill establishes investment programs and generally revises provisions related to community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions. The Department of the Treasury must establish a Neighborhood Capital Investment Program to facilitate direct capital investments in low- and moderate-income community financial institutions. To qualify for the program, these institutions must, among other things, (1) demonstrate specified lending history regarding low-and moderate-income borrowers and other targeted populations, and (2) provide details regarding plans to expand or maintain lending to certain minority communities and historically disadvantaged borrowers. The bill also establishes the Neighborhood Loan Program through the Federal Reserve Board's emergency powers to create a credit facility for small business loans, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income community financial institutions serving low- and moderate-income and minority communities. The bill requires certain amounts available through existing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) economic aid programs to be set aside for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Regarding minority depository institutions, the bill establishes the Minority Bank Deposit Program to expand the use of minority depository institutions to hold the deposits of federal departments and agencies, allows new minority depository institutions to take three years to meet initial capital requirements, and establishes a program allowing minority depository institutions to apply to receive deposits from certain Treasury accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Calculate PPP Forgiveness Act of 2020 This bill requires the Small Business Administration to establish or certify an online calculator that allows recipients of assistance under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to (1) estimate the amount of loan forgiveness for which they are eligible, and (2) assist with their applications to request loan forgiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to provide grants and other forms of emergency assistance to certain providers of transportation services that have experienced a significant revenue loss as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Treasury must ensure equal access to the assistance for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. As a condition of receipt of assistance, Treasury must require that a provider of transportation services agree to (1) use the funds, on a priority basis, to maintain through December 31, 2020, pay, paid administrative leave, and benefits to all employees after making any adjustments required for retirement or voluntary employee separation; and (2) recall or rehire any employee laid off, furloughed, or terminated because of reduced service as a result of COVID-19, to the extent warranted by increased service levels.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Bank Service Company Examination Coordination Act of 2020 This bill requires the coordination of state banking agencies with federal banking agencies in regulating and examining the activities of bank service companies. It also allows for the sharing of information related to examinations and regulations between federal and state agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act This bill expands and otherwise modifies the sharing of death data, particularly with regard to the recovery of improper payments to deceased individuals. The 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. In addition, the SSA may share, if certain conditions are met, the death data with federal and state agencies for a broader range of purposes. Such purposes include ensuring proper payments of benefits and tax administration duties. This authority terminates after five years. 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. Additionally, the SSA must share, within 30 days, death data with Treasury to facilitate the recovery of certain stimulus payments made to individuals who were deceased before January 1, 2020.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Health Care Prices Revealed and Information to Consumers Explained Transparency Act or the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act This bill revises the format in which hospitals must list their standard charges for items and services to require that such lists are in a machine-readable format; it also revises the transparency requirements related to the costs of items and services for health insurance plans seeking certification as qualified health plans through insurance exchanges.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2020
Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act This bill modifies loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill provides for automatic forgiveness of a paycheck protection loan that is not more than $150,000 if the recipient submits a one-page form. Further, it prohibits any enforcement or other action against a lender relating to loan origination, forgiveness, or guarantee based on the lender's reliance on certifications or documentation submitted by a loan applicant or recipient.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2020
Save American Vital Energy Jobs Act or the SAVE Jobs Act This bill extends energy-related tax provisions and expands incentives for job creation in the energy sector during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period. Specifically, the bill extends for one year the construction period for carbon oxide sequestration facilities for purposes of the tax credit, suspends capitalization rules in 2020 to permit immediate expensing of certain inventory costs, reduces the required deposit of certain motor fuel excise taxes from 95% to 25%, allows expensing of intangible drilling costs in 2020, permits extensions and suspensions of production and operations under onshore and offshore leases during the COVID-19 emergency period, requires a royalty rate reduction during the COVID-19 emergency period for a maximum 180-day period, and requires the Department of the Interior to delay until July 1, 2022, the effective date for compliance with the 2016 final rule titled Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Reform.
![Official portrait of Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000393_200.jpg)