United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery Act This bill permits federal agencies to temporarily or permanently rescind, modify, or waive regulations during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. Specifically, it requires identification of regulatory standards that an agency determines may inhibit economic recovery from the pandemic and allows the rescission, modification, waiver, or exemption from the standards. Additionally, agencies may waive notice and comment requirements for rulemaking and exercise discretion in regulatory enforcement, among other modifications to administrative procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements To Consumers Here In North America Act This bill allows accelerated depreciation of nonresidential real property acquired to relocate facilities for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical devices or supplies in the United States. It also allows an exclusion from gross income of gain from the sale or exchange of relocation property that was used to manufacture medical products in a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2020
This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that it is U.S. policy to commemorate the life of George Floyd, to urge an end to violence damaging lives and businesses, and to urge leaders to adjust the training of law enforcement to ensure equal treatment under the law.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2020
Protecting Reopening Businesses Recovering from COVID-19 Act This bill exempts businesses and certain medical entities from liability for damages arising from or relating to an individual contracting COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Specifically, this exemption applies to businesses, including nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, and medical entities that provide health care services related to COVID-19. Such entities are exempt from liability if they operate consistent with state or federal guidelines or requirements related to reopening and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any other federal or state agency to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, this prohibition does not apply to acts that constitute gross negligence or actions brought by a government entity in a regulatory, supervisory, or enforcement capacity.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2020
American Workforce Development Act This bill increases to $11,500 the exclusion from employee gross income of employer-provided educational assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 This bill addresses the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the bill authorizes the VA to reallocate specified grant funds to provide homeless veterans and veterans participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program with transportation, assistance required for safety and survival, and communications equipment and services; collaborate with organizations to manage use of VA land for homeless veterans for living and sleeping; provide a maximum rate, in certain situations, for per diem payments that is three times the rate authorized for state homes for domiciliary care; provide amounts for additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to housing and services provided to homeless veterans; and waive certain inspection and safety code requirements to allow grant recipients and therapeutic housing facilities to make adjustments (e.g., facilitating social distancing or isolation needs). Per diem payments may be used to provide assistance required for safety and survival (e.g., food) for homeless veterans and formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility operated by a grant recipient or entity that receives per diem payments for furnishing services to homeless veterans. Finally, the bill requires the VA to ensure that veterans participating in or receiving services under a program for homeless veterans have access to telehealth services. The VA must ensure telehealth capabilities are available to such veterans, VA case managers, and community-based service providers.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 2020
This resolution expresses the sense the Senate that foster care services should make every effort to place siblings in the same foster home and provide siblings who are not placed together with opportunities to remain connected.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2020
Helping Americans Return to Work Act of 2020 This bill limits payments under pandemic unemployment programs established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act to an individual's average weekly wages on which the benefit is based.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2020
Paycheck Protection Program Timeframe Modification and Extension Act or the PPP TIME Act This bill modifies the Paycheck Protection Program established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill extends the program through August 15, 2020, and it allows a loan recipient to select any eight-week period within the program's duration to use their loan. The bill also prohibits the Small Business Administration from requiring a paycheck protection loan recipient to use at least 50% of loan amounts for payroll costs. Further, the bill defers payment of applicable employment taxes for a paycheck protection loan recipient that has had loan amounts forgiven. Currently, a taxpayer that has had loan amounts forgiven is ineligible for such deferral.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 2020
Lessening Regulatory Costs and Establishing a Federal Regulatory Budget Act of 2020 This bill establishes procedures and provides statutory authority to reduce the number of federal regulations. Specifically, it requires each agency to establish a regulatory reform task force chaired by a designated regulatory reform officer. Each task force must, among other duties (1) review each existing agency regulation; (2) estimate the potential cost savings of repealing or modifying each regulation; and (3) identify regulations that are appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification based on cost, effectiveness, and impact on employment. The bill further provides statutory authority for the executive order prohibiting agencies from issuing a new regulation with an economic impact of at least $100 million without identifying two regulations for repeal that will offset the cost of the proposed new regulation. Agencies also must submit a list of all planned regulatory actions for inclusion in the semiannual Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, including (1) the estimated economic effect of each action, and (2) proposed deregulatory actions to offset the cost of each proposed new regulation. Additionally, the Office of Management and Budget must establish an annual regulatory budget for each federal agency that specifies the net allowable increase in regulatory costs for each agency during the next fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
This resolution designates the Hong Kong national security law proposed by China as a violation of China's international obligations. The resolution calls on the United States to use all diplomatic means available to dissuade China from passing the law and rally free nations to stand with the people of Hong Kong.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Affordable Health Care Options Act of 2020 This bill provides statutory authority for the rule by the Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans. Short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans are plans that may only offer coverage for a limited amount of time under law and that are exempt from the market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (e.g., coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions). The rule increases the maximum authorized duration of such plans from less than 3 months (including renewals) to an initial maximum duration of less than 12 months (with a total duration of up to 36 months, including renewals). The rule took effect October 2, 2018. The bill includes in the definition of such plans those with a renewal guarantee provision that permits a policyholder to pay for the option to purchase a future policy with a specified premium rate at the time of initial enrollment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
This resolution calls for additional funding to states under the Child Care and Development Block Grant program to support child care providers impacted by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act This bill establishes strategies and reporting requirements related to internationally recognized human rights and COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to submit (1) a strategy for carrying out programs to support democratic institutions, freedom of the press, civil society, and human rights defenders in countries where government measures in response to COVID-19 violated or undermined internationally recognized human rights; and (2) a five-year strategic plan outlining the steps to address persistent human rights issues in the aftermath of COVID-19. The bill also conditions the provision of security assistance to a foreign government on consideration of whether the foreign government used emergency laws, policies, or administrative procedures in violation of internationally recognized human rights. Further, the bill requires the State Department to author initial, monthly, and final reports describing, among other things (1) specified countries' adherence to certain human rights principles in responding to COVID-19, (2) the actions of the U.S. government to address foreign governments' violations of human rights in responding to COVID-19, (3) the impact of such violations on things such as access to health care and the efforts and ability to control the pandemic, and (4) the U.S government's global efforts to counter disinformation and disseminate accurate information about the pandemic. The bill also requires the inclusion of certain information, such as the misuse and abuse of emergency powers, in the annual country reports on human rights practices.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2020
Returning Inappropriate Cash Handouts Act or the RICH Act This bill excludes individuals with adjusted gross income equal to or greater than $1 million from panedmic unemployment assistance and additional benefits under federal pandemic unemployment compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 2020
Helping Gig Economy Workers Act of 2020 This bill temporarily permits digital marketplace companies (e.g., Lyft, DoorDash, Airbnb, etc.) to provide benefits to workers during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic without such actions establishing those workers as employees or independent contractors or establishing the company as a joint employer under federal, state, or local laws. This bill applies to digital marketplace companies that provide, among other things, financial assistance, health benefits, training, health checks and personal protective equipment to individuals working through such marketplaces during the period beginning on March 15, 2020, and ending on the later of June 30, 2021, or the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
This resolution declares that the Senate (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Thomas Allen Coburn, former member of the U.S. Senate; (2) recognizes his life and achievements; and (3) expresses condolences to the family of the former Senator on his passing. Furthermore, this resolution declares that when the Senate adjourns on May 19, 2020, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Thomas Allen Coburn.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
Working Families Childcare Access (WFCA) Act This bill increases to $15,000 the maximum amount of dependent care assistance that may be excluded from the gross income of an employee receiving such assistance. It also permits a carryforward to a succeeding year of unused balances in a dependent care assistance flexible spending arrangement.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
Right to Test Act This bill authorizes a state's public health department, or another entity designated by the state's governor, to approve a diagnostic test or diagnostic device (e.g., a test for the virus that causes COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019) for use during a public health emergency. Unless requested by the governor of the state, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must not, during the emergency, engage in certain enforcement actions related to such a test or device. Not later than 180 days following the end of the public health emergency, the FDA must review and make a final determination concerning approval of the test or device.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act This bill requires the Social Security Administration to provide a single point of contact for any individual whose Social Security account number has been misused. The single point of contact must track the individual's case to completion and coordinate with other specialized units to resolve case issues as quickly as possible.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and requires various reports on the topic. The President shall periodically report to Congress a list identifying foreign individuals and entities responsible for such human rights abuses. The President shall impose (1) property-blocking sanctions on the identified individuals and entities, and (2) visa-blocking sanctions on the identified individuals. The bill requires reports to Congress on (1) human rights abuses in Xinjiang; (2) efforts to protect U.S. citizens and residents, including ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals studying or working in the United States, from harassment and intimidation by the Chinese government; and (3) the Chinese government's acquisition and development of technology to facilitate internment and mass surveillance in Xinjiang. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall submit a classified report to Congress on (1) Chinese government policies in Xinjiang that constitute gross violations of human rights, and (2) the scope and scale of the detention and forced labor of Muslim minority groups in China.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
Dust Off Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to make appropriate arrangements for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Dust Off crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the international covenants on human rights. Further, it calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned or detained Baha'is, and it urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Expanding Medical Partnerships with Israel to Lessen Dependence on China Act or the EMPIL-DOC Act This bill authorizes a bilateral grant program with Israel to develop health technologies, with an emphasis on the use of technology, personalized medicine, and data in relation to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Technologies to be developed through this program include, among others, artificial intelligence, respiratory assist devices, and diagnostic tests. In addition, the program conditions funding on a matching contribution from the government of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Country Of Origin Labeling Online Act or the COOL Online Act This bill requires sellers to conspicuously disclose the country of origin of products sold over the internet. This includes compliance with the labeling requirements for, among other products, new passenger motor vehicles, textile fiber products, wools products, fur products, covered commodities, and pharmaceutical products subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration. These requirements also apply to the provider or publisher of any internet marketplaces of such products. The bill further makes it unlawful to falsely or deceptively represent that a products or parts of its processing are of United States origin.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Limiting Infant Fatality and Empowering Nonprofit Organization Workforces or the LIFE NOW Act This bill modifies the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill expands the program to encompass any nonprofit organization regardless of size, and it strikes the affiliation requirements applicable to nonprofit organizations and veterans organizations. The bill also makes any entity that provides abortions ineligible to receive a paycheck protection loan. An exception is allowed for abortions performed at hospitals or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or endangers the life of the mother.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
This resolution congratulates the students, families, teachers, administrators, and staff of public charter schools across the United States for (1) making ongoing contributions to public education, (2) making impressive strides in closing the academic achievement gap in U.S. schools, and (3) improving and strengthening the public school system. The resolution supports the ideals and goals of the 21st annual National Charter Schools Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
Parental Notification and Intervention Act This bill prohibits a person or organization from performing, facilitating, or assisting in the performance of an abortion on an unemancipated minor under age 18 without first complying with parental notification requirements, subject to exceptions and limitations. It establishes penalties—a fine, up to one year in prison, or both—for each willful violation. A parent who is required to be notified of an abortion of an unemancipated minor may bring an action in federal district court to prohibit the abortion.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2020
This bill addresses education programs and assistance for veterans during emergency situations. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue paying work-study allowances during the COVID-19 public health emergency period. The VA is also authorized to continue paying educational assistance and subsistence allowances between March 1-December 21, 2020, for programs of education that are suspended due to an emergency situation or school closure. An educational assistance payment shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to educational assistance if an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the temporary closure of an educational institution or the temporary termination of a program by reason of an emergency situation occurring between March 1-December 21, 2020. This includes assistance related to training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill extends the time limitation for using educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill when institutions are closed due to an executive order or emergency situation occurring between March 1-December 21, 2020. It also extends the time limitation for participation in a vocational rehabilitation program when such participation is prevented due to an executive order or emergency situation occurring between March 1-December 21, 2020. The bill authorizes the VA to pay a subsistence allowance for two additional months to a veteran following a program of employment services from March 1-December 21, 2020, for full-time training for the type of program the veteran was pursuing.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2020
VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act This bill authorizes additional individuals to provide treatment to veterans via telemedicine. Specifically, the bill authorizes the following individuals to provide treatment to veterans via telemedicine: specified health care professionals who have the qualifications set forth by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); appointed postgraduate health care employees who are under clinical supervision and must obtain an active, current, full, and unrestricted certification or meet qualification standards set forth by the VA in a specified time frame; and VA health professional trainees who are under the supervision of a VA health care professional who is authorized to provide health care via telemedicine.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2020
Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2020 This bill establishes an area wage adjustment floor for Medicare hospital payments in states that are not frontier states and excludes such adjustments from certain budget neutrality rules.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
This bill provides certain lease protections for service members under stop movement orders in response to a local, national, or global emergency. A service member may terminate a lease for premises or for a motor vehicle, and may not be charged an early termination fee for doing so, if the service member (1) enters into the lease upon receipt of certain military orders for permanent change of station, deployment with a military unit, or individual support of military operations; and (2) subsequently receives, in response to a local, national, or global emergency, a stop movement order for an indefinite period or at least 30 days. For the bill to apply in the case of a lease for premises, the stop movement order must prevent the service member or the service member's dependents from occupying the premises.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase from a wet market in China any live animal or animal product. The bill defines a wet market as a marketplace (1) where fresh meat and live animals are bought, sold, and slaughtered; and (2) that is not subject to health regulations comparable to U.S. regulations on similar establishments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
This resolution designates March 2020 as National Women's History Month. The resolution also recognizes the celebration of such month as a time to reflect on the contributions that women have made to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2020 This bill establishes a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review to assess U.S. government investments in multilateral entities. The President shall establish a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review Task Force, which shall report to Congress the review's findings. The task force shall establish and report the methodology for the reviews, which shall include assessments of (1) the relationship between such multilateral entities' stated goals and actual results, (2) the management practices and transparency of the entities, (3) the alignment between an entity's policies and practices with U.S. foreign policy objectives, and (4) whether U.S. goals may be better served by pursing a bilateral approach. The bill establishes a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review Peer Review Group, which shall review the reports and provide feedback to the task force and to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
This resolution designates National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day and encourages individuals in the United States to increase their awareness of the condition.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
This bill provides statutory authority for the inclusion of certain emblems on headstones or markers furnished for veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Such headstones or markers may include an emblem from a list established by the Department of Defense and the VA (e.g., skill or combat badges), an emblem of belief, or no emblem.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Safeguarding America's First Responders Act of 2020 This bill extends death benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) to survivors of public safety officers (e.g., law enforcement officers) who die as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty. Specifically, this bill creates a general presumption that a public safety officer who dies from COVID-19 or related complications sustained an injury in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Small Business Expense Protection Act of 2020 This bill amends the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide that tax deductions for ordinary business expenses and other tax incidents shall not be affected by the exclusion from gross income of amounts related to loan forgiveness received in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in deliberate acts to conceal or distort information about a public health emergency of international concern, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the President may impose sanctions on (1) a government official (or a senior associate of such an official) who is responsible for or complicit in deliberate acts to conceal or distort information about an international public health emergency, or who financially benefits from such acts; or (2) a foreign person or entity that has materially assisted or supported such acts.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
American Healthshare Plans Act of 2020 This bill permits entities such as self-employed companies and membership organizations to form healthshare pools to offer large group health insurance plans as a single employer. (In general, large group health plans cover employees of an employer that has 51 or more employees; in some states, large groups are defined as 101 employees or more.) Subject to specified nondiscrimination rules related to preexisting conditions and health status, healthshare pools must offer plans to all members or employees of the pool on an equal basis. Healthshare pools are not considered joint employers for the purpose of other federal labor or employment laws.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2020
Safeguarding Small Business Act This bill amends the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide that otherwise tax deductible expenses and other tax incidents shall not be affected by the exclusion from gross income of amounts related to loan forgiveness received in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2020
Keeping Critical Connections Act of 2020 This bill provides funds with which the Federal Communications Commission shall reimburse small business broadband providers for costs incurred during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period to voluntarily (1) provide free or discounted service to students in need of distance learning capacity, or (2) refrain from disconnecting low-income households that cannot afford to make a full payment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2020
Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act of 2020 This bill establishes grant programs and other forms of financial assistance for health care providers in response to the national emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill establishes (1) a grant program to provide emergency assistance to critical access hospitals, certain rural hospitals, and providers participating in Medicare; (2) a grant program to provide emergency assistance to health care practices and ambulatory surgery centers for staff salaries; and (3) a loan program to provide low-interest loans to health care practices and ambulatory surgery centers. The bill also temporarily increases reimbursements to rural hospitals under the Medicare swing-bed program. (The program allows rural hospitals to use beds, as needed, for either acute care or skilled nursing facility care.)
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2020
This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue to provide educational assistance through December 21, 2020, for programs of education that have been converted to distance learning due to an emergency or health-related situation. Such assistance includes monthly housing stipends or subsistence allowances.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2020
Community Bank Regulatory Relief Act This bill delays required compliance with certain accounting standards applicable to credit losses (i.e., current expected credit losses standards, also known as CECL standards). Specifically, no agency may require a person to comply with this standard with respect to a fiscal year beginning before December 31, 2024. Additionally, the community bank leverage ratio is set at 8% for community banks seeking to satisfy simplified capital adequacy requirements. Currently, banking agencies are required to set the rate between 8% and 10% through rulemaking.
![Official portrait of Sen. Loeffler, Kelly [R-GA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/l000594_200.jpg)