United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2023
FDA Accountability for Public Safety Act This bill establishes additional procedures related to the market approval process for opioids. Under the bill, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee must make recommendations regarding supplemental applications for opioids. Current law requires only that an FDA committee make recommendations on new drug applications. The bill specifies that only the Commissioner of Food and Drugs may approve an opioid-related application against the recommendation of the committee. If the Commissioner approves such an application against a committee recommendation, the Commissioner must submit a report to Congress that includes (1) the evidence regarding patient safety that supports the Commissioner's decision, and (2) a disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest of FDA officials involved in the decision. The Commissioner must also testify before Congress regarding the decision, upon request. The drug in question may not be sold until the Commissioner has submitted the required report.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2023
Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 20 23 This bill expands various labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace. Specifically, it revises the definitions of employee , supervisor , and employer to broaden the scope of individuals covered by the fair labor standards; permits labor organizations to encourage participation of union members in strikes initiated by employees represented by a different labor organization (i.e., secondary strikes); and prohibits employers from bringing claims against unions that conduct such secondary strikes. The bill also allows collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the bargaining unit to contribute fees to the labor organization for the cost of such representation, notwithstanding a state law to the contrary, and it expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of, or discrimination against, workers who participate in strikes. The bill makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership and prohibits employers from entering into agreements with employees under which employees waive the right to pursue or a join collective or class-action litigation. Finally, the bill addresses the procedures for union representation elections, modifies the protections against unfair labor practices that result in serious economic harm, and establishes penalties and permits injunctive relief against entities that fail to comply with National Labor Relations Board orders.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the final rule submitted by the Department of Commerce titled Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414 and published on September 16, 2022. The rule allows for the suspension of duties on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules (i.e., solar panels) that are completed in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam using parts and components manufactured in China that are not already subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Student Transparency for Understanding Decisions in Education Net Terms Act or the STUDENT Act This bill requires loan disclosure forms for federal student loans to include the total amount of interest that would be paid over the life of the loan based on a standard 10-year repayment plan.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
This resolution condemns those acting on behalf of Russia for committing acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people. It also calls on the United States, in cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union allies, to undertake measures to support the Ukrainian government to prevent acts of Russian genocide against the Ukrainian people. It also urges the President to impose sanctions on those responsible for or complicit in such acts of genocide.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2023
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2023 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2023 This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosures of campaign expenditures, and requiring additional disclosures regarding certain political advertisements. Specifically, the bill expands existing foreign money prohibitions to include disbursements for paid web-based or digital communications and federal judicial nomination communications. It also prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda. The Government Accountability Office must, for each four-year election cycle, study and report on the incidence of illicit foreign money in federal elections. Next, the bill makes it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Covered organizations (e.g., corporations, labor organizations, and political organizations) must, within 24 hours, file reports with the Federal Election Commission to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle. The bill also requires organizations to provide additional disclosures regarding political advertisements, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2023
This resolution condemns China's violation of U.S. sovereignty and denounces the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to deceive through false claims about its intelligence collection campaigns in violation of U.S. sovereignty. The resolution also states that it should be U.S. policy to promptly, responsibly, and decisively deter and stop foreign aerial surveillance platforms from violating U.S. sovereignty.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2023
Supply Chain Disruptions Relief Act This bill modifies the treatment of liquidations of new motor vehicle inventory as qualified LIFO (last in first out accounting method) inventory. It allows new motor vehicle dealers to elect to wait until the end of 2025 to replace their inventory for purposes of determining income attributable to the sale of such inventory during 2020 and 2021.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2023
This resolution supports the designation of February 2023 as Career and Technical Education Month to celebrate career and technical education across the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2023
Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023 This bill establishes new programs and expands existing programs to increase domestic supplies of certain types of low-enriched uranium. First, the Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a program to increase the production of certain types of low-enriched uranium by U.S. nuclear energy companies. Second, DOE must expand the existing American Assured Fuel Supply Program to ensure the availability of certain types of domestically produced uranium in the event of a supply disruption. Third, DOE must establish a demonstration program to make certain types of low-enriched uranium available from its inventories, stockpiles, or allies to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers until such time that commercial enrichment and deconversion capability for the uranium exists in the United States at a scale sufficient to meet future needs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2023
North American Transatlantic Resource Security Partnership Act of 2023 This bill requires or authorizes actions to reduce the reliance of U.S. partners and allies on Russian energy and minerals. The bill requires the Departments of Energy (DOE) and the Interior to establish a program to reduce such reliance by specified allied and partner nations (including Japan, Korea, Ukraine, and NATO members). Under the program, the departments shall develop and provide to such nations domestic resources, materials, or equipment, along with financial and technical assistance. The departments must also establish a program to promote cooperation with Mexico and Canada on energy issues. DOE must seek to establish an energy center with these countries to develop academic cooperation on energy-related topics, such as energy innovation technology and engineering. These departments must also establish a supply chain reliability assurance program to (1) prioritize domestic activities, such as energy production and mining, that ensure secure supply chains; and (2) facilitate collaboration with Mexico, Canada, industry, and other federal agencies to develop a reliable domestic supplier base of critical energy materials and technologies (for example, those related to high-performance computing, energy storage, and nuclear energy). The bill requires the Export-Import Bank to establish a portfolio to provide financing to certain energy infrastructure and critical minerals projects. The bill also statutorily authorizes the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide financing and other types of support for projects related to any type of energy (including fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear energy). The corporation may not prohibit support for a project due to the type of energy involved.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2023
Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries Act or the HARM Act This bill requires the Department of State to designate the Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization. Such designation also applies to any affiliated and successor entities undertaking malign activities against the United States and its allies or partners. (Among other things, such a designation allows the Department of the Treasury to require financial institutions to block transactions involving the organization.) The President may waive the application of sanctions against these entities if the President determines it to be in the national interest.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2023
EAGLES Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) within the U.S. Secret Service. It reauthorizes the functions of NTAC through FY2028 and expands them to include additional activities related to the prevention of targeted violence, such as the establishment of a national program on targeted school violence prevention.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency rule relating to Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards (88 Fed. Reg. 4296) and published on January 24, 2023. The rule modifies emission standards to reduce air pollution, including ozone and particulate matter, from heavy-duty engines and vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2023
This resolution authorizes the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to make specified expenditures and employ personnel for the 118th Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2023
Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, certain broadband grants made for broadband deployment.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2023
Reproductive Freedom for All Act This bill establishes a general right of all persons to make certain reproductive decisions without undue government interference. It specifically provides statutory authority for the Supreme Court's prior holdings in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey . In Roe , the Court held that the Constitution protects a woman's decision to terminate her pregnancy. In Casey , the Court reaffirmed this holding and additionally held that state abortion regulations may not place a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion before fetal viability (i.e., an undue burden). However, a state may (1) restrict abortions after viability, except when a pregnancy endangers the life or health of the woman; and (2) enact regulations to further the health or safety of a woman seeking an abortion, except for unnecessary health regulations that present a substantial obstacle to a woman seeking an abortion. Additionally, the bill provides statutory authority for the Court's holdings in Griswold v. Connecticut (the right of married couples to obtain contraception), Eisenstadt v. Baird (the right of single persons to obtain contraception), Carey v. Population Services International (the right of minors to obtain contraception), and Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt (that certain state restrictions on abortion facilities and providers created an undue burden). The bill allows the Department of Justice or any person adversely affected by a state law that violates this bill to seek injunctive relief. It also specifies that the bill does not affect laws regarding conscience protection.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2023
250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and shall only be used for the purposes of supporting the mission of the Marine Corps Heritage Center.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the interim final rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) titled Reproductive Health Services and published on September 9, 2022. The rule authorizes the VA to provide certain abortion-related care to veterans. The rule also applies to such care provided to beneficiaries covered under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies a Department of Labor rule concerning the fiduciary duties with respect to employee benefit plans. Under the rule issued on December 1, 2022, plan fiduciaries may consider climate change and other environmental, social, and governance factors when they make investment decisions and when they exercise shareholder rights, including voting on shareholder resolutions and board nominations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2023
This joint resolution nullifies the rule titled Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States," which was submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency on January 18, 2023. The rule specifies which bodies of water fall under the scope of the Clean Water Act and are thereby under federal jurisdiction. The 2023 rule replaced a 2020 rule that included a narrower definition of waters of the United States .
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2023
Restoring Benefits to Defrauded Veterans Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay certain reissued benefits (i.e., benefits that were misused by a fiduciary) to a beneficiary's estate in situations where a beneficiary predeceases a payment. The VA must pay such benefits to an individual or entity in the following order: the estate of the beneficiary, a successor fiduciary serving the beneficiary when the beneficiary died, or the next inheritor determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 2023
Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act This bill prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission from using federal funds to (1) regulate gas stoves as a banned hazardous product, or (2) issue or enforce a product safety standard that prohibits the use or sale of gas stoves or substantially increases their price.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2023
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid in a fiscal year until both chambers approve the budget resolution and pass all regular appropriations bills for that fiscal year. Retroactive pay is prohibited for such a period.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2023
Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act This bill prohibits the sale and export of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from selling petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the SPR to any entity that is under the ownership or control of China. Further, DOE must require as a condition of any sale of crude oil from the SPR that the oil not be exported to China.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2023
Public Health and Border Security Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet conditions related to notification and planning before terminating certain restrictions on imports and individuals entering the United States. Current law authorizes HHS to restrict entries and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. HHS exercised this authority as part of its COVID-19 response, including to allow for the expulsion of undocumented migrants at the border without any asylum processing. Under this bill, HHS may not terminate the restrictions for (1) at least 60 days after it notifies Congress of the end of the COVID-19 emergency, and (2) at least 30 days after it submits to Congress a plan for addressing the possible influx of migrants or imports resulting from lifting the restrictions.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2023
See Something, Say Something Online Act of 2023 This bill requires a provider of an interactive computer service (e.g., a social media company) to submit an activity report to the Department of Justice if it detects the transmission of any post, message, comment, tag, or other user-generated content or transmission that commits, facilitates, incites, promotes, or otherwise assists the commission of a major crime. The activity report describing the transmission must contain (1) the name, location, and other identification information submitted by the user; (2) the date and nature of the user-generated content or transmission detected for suspicious activity; and (3) any relevant text, information, and metadata related to the suspicious transmission. If a provider fails to report a known suspicious transmission, the bill eliminates federal liability protection (sometimes referred to as Section 230 protection) for claims related to that transmission. (Generally, Section 230 provides federal immunity that prevents providers and users of interactive computer services from being held liable for transmitting or taking down user-generated content.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 2023
Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to 60 diplomats posthumously in recognition of their brave and vital service of saving Jews during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2023
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid in a fiscal year until both chambers approve the budget resolution and pass all regular appropriations bills for that fiscal year. Retroactive pay is prohibited for such a period.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 2023
American Vehicle Security Act of 2023 T his bill requires the immediate implementation of amendments to the tax credit for new clean vehicles enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The amendments include requirements for vehicle assembly and critical mineral and battery sourcing for manufacturers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 2023
This joint resolution provides that the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, was ratified by three-fourths of the states and is therefore a valid constitutional amendment, regardless of any time limit that was in the original proposal. The Equal Rights Amendment was originally proposed to the states in 1972. The original proposal included a deadline for ratification of March 22, 1979; Congress subsequently extended the deadline to June 30, 1982. Although the requisite 38 states have ratified the amendment, three of these states did so after the deadlines, and five states subsequently rescinded their ratifications. The status of the amendment has been the subject of litigation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2023
Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments Act of 2023 or the SNOOP Act of 2023 This bill modifies requirements for third party settlement organizations to eliminate their reporting requirement with respect to the transactions of their participating payees unless they have earned more than $20,000 on more than 200 separate transactions in an applicable tax period. A third party settlement organization is the central organization that has the contractual obligation to make payments to participating payees (generally, a merchant or business) in a third party payment network. This reverses a provision in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that lowered the reporting threshold to $600 with no minimum on the number of transactions.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2023
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Representatives to three terms and Senators to two terms. Terms beginning before the ratification of this amendment do not count towards these term limits.
United States · United States Congress · 22 December 2022
Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2022 This bill revises requirements governing (1) investigations of mine accidents, (2) miners' rights and protections (e.g., whistle-blower rights and protections), (3) mine health and safety standards, (4) underground coal mines, and (5) health and safety training for miners. The Department of Labor, when investigating coal or other mines, must (1) determine why an accident occurred and whether there were violations of law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other requirements; and (2) make recommendations to avoid a recurrence of an accident. The bill expands Labor's enforcement authority, including by requiring Labor to (1) revoke the approval of mine operators' plans or programs based on certain criteria, and (2) order mine operators to withdraw all persons from a mine until Labor approves a new plan. The bill revises civil and criminal penalties, including by subjecting a mine operator who knowingly violates health or safety standards to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1 million fine. Underground coal mine operators must implement a communication program to brief miners of current mine conditions and install atmospheric monitoring systems. The bill amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to expand its coverage to government employees and increase civil and criminal penalties for violations of the act. The bill also expands whistle-blower rights and protections against retaliation under the act, establishes employee rights with respect to work-related bodily injuries or death, and establishes procedures for correcting serious, willful, or repeated violations of occupational safety and health standards.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2022
Protect Our Services Today Act of 2022 or the POST Act This bill prohibits the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from closing any USPS facility during the COVID-19 public health emergency period.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2022
Clean Start Act of 2022 This bill establishes a process to seal records related to a nonviolent criminal offense committed by an individual whose substance use disorder is a substantial contributing factor in the commission of the offense. A nonviolent criminal offense is a federal criminal offense that is not a violent offense, a sex offense, a serious drug offense, or an offense with a victim under the age of 18. To be eligible for sealing, an individual who is convicted of a nonviolent criminal offense must, among other things, complete a substance use disorder treatment program or recovery program and complete service in a substance use disorder peer mentorship program. This bill also allows the Department of Justice to give preference to a Community Oriented Policing Services program grant applicant from a state that has in effect (1) a substantially similar law related to sealing adult records, or (2) a law that allows an individual who successfully seals a criminal record to be free from civil and criminal perjury laws.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2022
Saving America's Future by Educating Kids Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to develop and support implementation of an evidence-based, K-12 curriculum on the dangers of substances of misuse, including opioids and vaping. ED must review and update the curriculum every two years. ED must award grants to state educational agencies to implement the evidence-based curriculum. In awarding these grants, ED must give priority to those states that have experienced the highest drug overdose death rate per capita.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2022
Stop Looting American Pensions Act of 2022 or the SLAP Act This bill revises certain bankruptcy requirements, including by providing additional protections for employee pay and pensions in the event of a bankruptcy. Specifically, the bill revises the bankruptcy priority requirements of claims for wages and contributions to employee benefit plans, including by increasing the cap of these payments and by eliminating the time period limitation for which unpaid wages and contributions may be claimed; increases the bankruptcy priority of minimum funding contributions towards employee pension benefit plans and withdrawal liability and requires companies to continue making these payments during bankruptcy; expands restrictions on executive pay; places restrictions on the sale of property in bankruptcy proceedings, including by requiring reasonable payment; and extends look back periods regarding fraudulent transfers from two years to six years.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2022
Fixing Our Country Roads Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish the total number of miles that may be authorized for the expansion of the Appalachian development highway system.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2022
ARC Relocation Act This bill provides for the relocation of the headquarters of the Appalachian Regional Commission (an economic development agency focused on the Appalachian region) from the District of Columbia to West Virginia.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2022
This resolution designates the week beginning on October 9, 2022, as National Wildlife Refuge Week. The resolution acknowledges the importance of national wildlife refuges for their recreational opportunities and contribution to local economies. Finally, the resolution reaffirms the support of the Senate for wildlife conservation and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2022
Fair Hiring in Banking Act This bill generally exempts certain individuals convicted of a crime from requirements related to employment by an insured depository institution or an insured credit union. Specifically, written consent from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration is not required for an institution to hire an individual convicted of a criminal offense involving dishonesty, a breach of trust, or money laundering 7 years after the individual meets sentencing requirements; for an individual who committed the offense while under the age of 21, 30 months after the individual meets sentencing requirements; or if the conviction was pardoned, sealed, or expunged. However, written consent is required for specified financial crimes (including theft by a bank employee) or for any person seeking to become a director or senior executive officer.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2022
This bill establishes the China Grand Strategy Commission to develop a consensus on a strategy and whole-of-government approach regarding U.S. relations with China.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2022
This resolution supports the designation of October 2-October 8, 2022, as National 4-H Week. It also (1) recognizes the important role of 4-H in youth development and education, and (2) encourages all citizens to recognize 4-H for the significant impact the organization and members have made and continue to make by empowering young people with the skills needed to lead for a lifetime.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2022
Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2022 This bill establishes that licensing a trademark or trademark registration for use by a related company does not contribute to establishing an employment relationship between the licensor and the licensee, nor does a licensor's exercise of control over how the licensed trademark is used.
![Official portrait of Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001183_200.jpg)