United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2020
Choice for Every Child Act This bill allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow low-income students and students with disabilities to the school that they attend (i.e., public, private, or home school). These funds may be used for educational and instructional materials, tutoring, and tuition.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2020
This resolution honors the service and sacrifice of veterans and members of the Armed Forces and expresses gratitude to Gold Star families who have suffered the loss of loved ones.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2020
Rioting Restitution Act This bill allows individuals who are personally injured by a riot, or who suffer property damage because of a riot, to sue those responsible in federal court and receive triple damages. Specifically, the bill allows victims to sue any person that (1) caused the injury or property damage; (2) traveled from out of state or used, for example, the internet, telephone, television, or mail with the intent to incite, organize, or participate in the riot; and (3) did incite, organize, or participate in the riot or attempted to do so.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2020
Support Peaceful Protest Act This bill requires an individual who is convicted of a federal offense related to the individual's conduct (e.g., rioting) during the course of a public gathering to pay the cost of federal policing activity during the public gathering. In addition, such an individual is ineligible for pandemic unemployment assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 2020
No Catch-and-Release for Rioters Act This bill creates a rebuttable presumption that an individual who is charged with an offense related to rioting or civil disorder shall be detained pending trial.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 2020
Verification Alignment and Service-disabled Business Adjustment Act or the VA-SBA Act This bill transfers responsibility for verifying that a small business concern is owned and controlled by a veteran or service-disabled veteran, for the purposes of eligibility for certain procurement programs, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Specifically, the bill transfers maintenance of the database of veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to the SBA. For the purposes of procurement programs for small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, the SBA must certify the status of such businesses, require their periodic recertification, and penalize any small business that misrepresents its status. Accordingly, the bill also abolishes the Center for Verification and Evaluation of the VA and transfers all of its functions to the SBA.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2020
This resolution expresses support for the designation of September 2020 as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month. PCOS is caused by a hormone imbalance. Symptoms can include infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth, and acne. It recognizes the need for further research, improved treatment and care options, and a cure for PCOS. It also acknowledges the struggles affecting all women and girls afflicted with PCOS.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 2020
Campus Free Speech Restoration Act This bill generally prohibits public institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs from restricting noncommercial expressive activities (e.g., peacefully assembling, distributing literature, or carrying signs) on campus. It also requires private IHEs that receive federal funds to provide students with their policies related to expressive rights.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 2020
Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2020 This bill allows active and retired criminal prosecutors and federal judges to carry a concealed firearm if they meet specified eligibility requirements, which include passing certain firearms qualification tests.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Securing Commerce and Protecting Businesses Act of 2020 This bill makes looting or destroying property during a riot a federal crime in certain instances. Specifically, it shall be unlawful to affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce through the (1) destruction of the property of a commercial enterprise in connection with a riot, or (2) unlawful taking of goods or property of a commercial enterprise in connection with a riot. A person in violation of this bill shall be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Connecting Minority Communities Act of 2020 This bill establishes the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives, the Connecting Minority Communities Task Force, and the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to facilitate, foster, and fund broadband internet access service and digital literacy in minority communities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Holding Rioters Accountable Act of 2020 This bill permits the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withhold certain funding from an office of a state or local prosecutor, district attorney, or state attorney general if DOJ determines the office abused prosecutorial discretion by failing to prosecute crimes arising from riots or destructive protest activities.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2020
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that (1) the 130th year anniversary of the 1890 Land-Grant Educational Institutions should be observed with appropriate ceremonies and activities to recognize the collective contributions that these 19 historically Black federal land-grant educational institutions have made to the United States, (2) the Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture should remain committed to supporting the goals of the Second Morrill Act and the Smith-Lever Act, and (3) the Second Morrill Act and the Smith-Lever Act have helped the United States develop agricultural leaders.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
Protecting America From Spies Act This bill expands the grounds for barring aliens who have engaged in acts relating to espionage or sabotage from entering the United States. Specifically, any alien shall be inadmissible if the alien has engaged in or will engage in an act that (1) violates a U.S. law relating to espionage or sabotage; (2) would violate any U.S. law relating to espionage or sabotage if it occurred in the United States; or (3) violates any U.S. law prohibiting the export of goods, technology, or sensitive information. Currently, an alien shall be inadmissible if the alien seeks to enter the United States to engage in such an action. Furthermore, the bill expands these grounds of inadmissibility and other security-related grounds to cover the spouse or child of the barred alien if the act occurred in the last five years. The bill also modifies the authority of the Department of Justice to waive certain security-related grounds of inadmissibility for an alien applying for a nonimmigrant visa.
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
Safeguarding America's Frontline Employees To Offer Work Opportunities Required to Kickstart the Economy Act or the SAFE TO WORK Act This bill limits liability for injuries related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Generally, an individual alleging harm from exposure to coronavirus or related medical treatment occurring before October 1, 2024, may sue only under the causes of action created by this bill, with limited exceptions. However, the bill does not preempt any law that imposes stricter limits on liability or otherwise provides greater protections to defendants. An individual or entity engaged in business or other activities may be liable for injuries resulting from coronavirus exposure only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the defendant did not make reasonable efforts to comply with government standards and guidance, (2) the defendant's actions constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (3) actual exposure caused the plaintiff's injury. (The clear and convincing evidence standard is a higher standard of proof than is typically required in a civil action.) Similarly, a health care provider may be liable for injuries connected to coronavirus-related services only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the provider's actions constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct, and (2) such actions directly caused the injury. The bill also contains various coronavirus-related protections for defendants, including protections that (1) exempt an employer or operator of public accommodations that meets certain requirements from liability under certain federal laws, (2) impose limitations on coronavirus-related class action lawsuits, and (3) limit liability for certain injuries related to workplace coronavirus testing.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2020
Saving American History Act of 2020 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds by an elementary or secondary school to teach the 1619 Project or by a local educational agency (LEA) to support its teaching in public schools. (The 1619 Project is an initiative that addresses the beginning of slavery in the United States.) Additionally, an elementary or secondary school that teaches this project or an LEA that supports its teaching in public schools is ineligible to receive federal funds for professional development. Further, the Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services must reduce federal funds in a prorated amount to an elementary or secondary school that teaches this project or an LEA that supports its teaching in public schools. However, federal funding shall not be reduced for programs for low-income students (e.g., free or reduced-price lunch) or students with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2020
Addressing Missed-savings Opportunities for Retirement due to an Epidemic Act or the AMORE Act This bill allows a participant in a tax-preferred pension plan or individual retirement plan to make additional contributions to such plans for any taxable year beginning in 2021 or 2022 in an amount not exceeding the participant's unused 2020 contribution amount.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
This resolution (1) designates July 2020 as National Blueberry Month; and (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry growers in the United States and their families, and that purchasing blueberries grown in the United States supports farmers, jobs, and the economy of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2020
School Choice Now Act This bill allows the Department of Education (ED) to establish an emergency education freedom grant program to assistance families with education expenses and prevent closures of private schools. It also allows tax credits for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations that provide assistance to families for private school tuition and home-schooling expenses. The Department of the Treasury, in coordination with ED, must establish, host, and maintain a web portal that lists all eligible scholarship-granting programs and provides other specified information.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 2020
Cracking Down on Gangs and Deporting Criminals Act of 2020 This bill provides for additional instances when the prison sentence may be increased by up to ten years for an individual involved in a criminal street gang and is convicted of certain crimes, and contains other related provisions. Currently, the increased prison sentence applies to certain offenses related to (1) controlled substances, (2) violence involving physical force, or (3) human trafficking or sexual abuse. The bill establishes that certain offenses related to deriving income from or participating in a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt shall also be eligible for the sentence increase. The bill also expands the circumstances in which an individual may be considered to be involved in a criminal street gang and thus be eligible for the sentence increase. In addition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall establish and maintain a national criminal street gang database. If an individual who is convicted and eligible for such a sentence enhancement is an alien, DOJ shall report the sentence enhancement to the Department of Homeland Security and the individual shall be subject to removal proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2020
Civil Justice for Victims of China-Originated Viral Infections Diseases Act or the Civil Justice for Victims of COVID Act This bill allows a foreign government to be sued in U.S. district court regarding that government's actions related to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. A foreign government shall not have sovereign immunity against a lawsuit in the United States seeking money damages for physical or economic injury occurring in the United States following any reckless action or omission of that foreign government (or any official or agent of that government) that caused or substantially contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. If the United States is in discussions with a foreign state seeking to resolve claims related to COVID-19 against that foreign state, a court may stay a pending case brought under this bill against that foreign state.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act of 2020 This bill permits certain governmental entities, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations to make up front payments of 50% of unemployment benefits into the state Unemployment Trust Fund (in lieu of contributions) to be used exclusively to reduce such payments resulting from the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Currently, the Department of Labor has issued guidance on April 27, 2020 (UIPL 18-20), requiring states to collect 100% of such payments up front and then reimburse them by 50% later. In addition, the bill allows states to opt to issue such reimbursements or to reduce the amounts required to be paid for weeks of unemployment after March 12, 2020, and before enactment of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Unnecessary Agency Regulations Reduction Act This bill requires the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to annually report a list of major rules (i.e., rules with a significant economic impact, cost to consumers, or adverse effects on competition) that it recommends should be modified, consolidated, or repealed because they are outdated, duplicative, or incur excessive compliance costs. Congress must review the list to determine, and recommend by joint resolution, any such rules to modify, consolidate, or repeal.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
This resolution designates August 2020 as National Women's Suffrage Month. It honors the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which provided for women's suffrage.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Ban Birth Tourism Act of 2020 This bill provides statutory authority for the ban on admitting an alien into the United States as a nonimmigrant if the alien's primary purpose for entering is to give birth to a child in the United States in order to obtain U.S. citizenship for that child.
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 · 25 June 2020
Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act This bill prohibits, for FY2021 and each fiscal year thereafter, a state or political subdivision of a state (state) that is an anarchist jurisdiction at any time during a fiscal year from receiving federal financial assistance from an executive agency during that fiscal year. Anarchist jurisdiction is defined as a state that has a statute, ordinance, policy, or practice in effect that, despite ongoing danger to individuals or property, allows any entity or official to purposefully (1) abdicate the reserved powers of the state to be performed by non-governmental actors in a manner that is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; and (2) refuse to provide police, fire, or emergency medical services to one or more individuals in the state as a consequence of such abdication. If a state that is ineligible to receive such assistance during a fiscal year receives federal financial assistance, the agency shall direct the state to immediately return it and reallocate such assistance to states that are not anarchist jurisdictions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2020
Stopping Big Tech's Censorship Act This bill modifies the requirements that providers and users of interactive computer services (e.g., social media companies) must meet in order to qualify for certain liability protections. Specifically, in order to be exempt from being treated as the publisher or speaker of any information published by a third-party information content provider, a provider or user of an interactive computer service must take reasonable steps to prevent or address the unlawful use of such service or unlawful publication of information on the service. Further, the bill removes the protection against civil liability for a provider or user of an interactive computer service that voluntarily takes action in good faith to restrict access to or availability of certain offensive material, unless such action meets specified First Amendment requirements. Lastly, to be eligible for protection from liability for information published by a third-party information content provider, a provider or user of an interactive computer service must meet certain notice requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2020
Restore Integrity of Special Prosecutors Act This bill bars an individual who has worked for a special counsel investigation or prosecution targeting a President or presidential candidate from serving in a position that requires the advice and consent of the Senate. This prohibition shall last for seven years from the end of the individual's work with the special counsel.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2020
Telemedicine Everywhere Lifting Everyone's Healthcare Experience And Long Term Health HSA Act of 2020 or the TELEHEALTH HSA Act of 2020 This bill makes permanent the preferred treatment of telehealth and other remote care services for purposes of health savings accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2020
Patient Credit Protection Act of 2020 This bill prohibits credit reporting agencies from including certain medical debt on a credit report if (1) the consumer was covered by a health insurance plan at the time of the medical event; and (2) the consumer has paid, or is paying as part of a payment plan, the consumer's share of copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. Credit reporting agencies are also prohibited from reporting certain debts incurred for unconscionably excessive medical expenses for health care items and services furnished at a hospital participating in Medicare. The bill also provides for the removal from a credit report of an impairment resulting from a medical debt within 30 days of notification that the consumer (1) has paid in full, or (2) is in regular compliance with a payment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2020
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that undue restrictions on the right of law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm for self-defense outside of the home violate the Second Amendment to the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2020
Gun Owner Privacy Act This bill restricts the use of federal funds in connection with the implementation and operation of a firearms-related background check system. Specifically, it prohibits the use of federal funds for a firearms-related background check system that does not immediately destroy all information about a person who is eligible to own firearms, or the implementation or collection of a tax or fee in connection with a firearms-related background check.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act of 2020 This bill permits certain governmental entities, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations to make up front payments of 50% of unemployment benefits into the state Unemployment Trust Fund (in lieu of contributions) to be used exclusively to reduce such payments resulting from the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Currently, the Department of Labor issued guidance on April 27, 2020 (UIPL 18-20), requiring states to collect 100% of such payments up front and then reimburse them by 50% later. In addition, the bill allows states to opt to issue such reimbursements or to reduce the amounts required to be paid for weeks of employment on or after March 13, 2020, and before enactment of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act of 2020 or the JUSTICE Act This bill addresses policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. The bill funds state and local grants, incentivizes state and local reporting on the use of certain policing practices, creates new federal offenses for certain misconduct, establishes a commission to study the conditions affecting Black men and boys, and establishes best practices and training requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
This resolution declares that it is U.S. policy to Buy American , expresses the Senate's support for American manufacturing, and encourages Americans to buy American products and materials to the greatest extent possible.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
American Agriculture First Act This bill requires the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to purchase at least 75% of an agricultural commodity for the Food Purchase and Distribution Program from domestically owned enterprises if it is necessary to respond to trade damage from retaliation by foreign nations with respect to the agricultural commodity. The requirement does not apply if the Department of Agriculture reports to Congress that meeting the requirement is not possible because the quantity of the agricultural commodity available from domestically owned enterprises cannot meet the supply needs of the AMS; or would result in a greater than 150% increase between the amount necessary to purchase the agricultural commodity, and the average cost of the agricultural commodity purchased by the AMS in the prior three years. The authority provided by this bill expires on September 30, 2023.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Enforcing Accountability and Transparency in International Trade Act This bill requires the U.S. Trade Representative to report on its plans to pursue a U.S. strategy regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO). Such plans must (1) facilitate the full implementation of WTO agreements, (2) enable the maximum benefits from trade to accrue to those members of the WTO that face the greatest difficulty integrating into the multilateral trading system, and (3) ensure that certain members of the WTO do not receive special and differential treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Limiting Section 230 Immunity to Good Samaritans Act This bill requires an edge provider of an interactive computer service (e.g., social media website) to adopt and maintain written terms of service binding itself to a contractual duty of good faith in order to qualify for the statutory protection against being treated as the publisher of information distributed through the service by a third party. An edge provider is a provider of an interactive computer service through which information published by other content providers is distributed and that has more than (1) $1.5 billion in annual global revenue, and (2) 30 million monthly users in the United States or 300 million monthly users worldwide.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2020
This resolution expresses remembrance for the life of Otto Frederick Warmbier on the third anniversary of his death. The resolution condemns North Korea for his death and calls for sanctions against North Korea to remain fully implemented until North Korea commits to the suspension of its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2020
American Farmers, Food Banks, and Families Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the position of Domestic Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator. The Administrator must carry out activities in the interest of assisting farmers in entering their products into the domestic market; act as a liaison to connect farmers with food banks, schools, grocers, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations to expand domestic market access for organizations that are in need of agricultural products; identify barriers, either regulatory or legal, that prevent or inhibit farmers from entering their products into the domestic market through food distribution networks or other entities; and make recommendations to USDA regarding the means by which to remove such barriers. Additionally, USDA must establish a catalog or data resource that is capable of recording (1) farms that have excess agricultural products, and (2) food distribution organizations that are in need of certain agricultural products.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 2020
Better Community Policing Recognition Act This bill creates an award—the Better Community Policing Award—for law enforcement officers who exemplify best practices or significant innovation to reduce the excessive use of force or improve community policing.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
This resolution designates June 2020 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2020, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress. The resolution also encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 2020
Promoting Public Safety and Supporting Law Enforcement Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to withhold 5% of highway safety program and national priority safety program funding from states and local governments that defund or otherwise reduce funding for a law enforcement entity without a clear budgetary reason. A state or local government may submit documentation or other evidence to DOT for review to determine if the defunding of, or other reduction in funding for, a law enforcement entity was carried out for a clear budgetary reason.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Securing America's Medical Supply Chain and Advancing the Production of Life Saving Medicines Act This bill establishes the position of Chief Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Chain Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The negotiator must conduct trade negotiations and enforce trade agreements related to pharmaceutical products and services and medical supply chains.