The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001176_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
5,762 records where Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
This resolution expresses support for democratization in Sudan and emphasizes that, until Sudan transitions to a civilian-led government, it will remain on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List and sanctions against the country will continue.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2019 This bill bars the Department of Agriculture from allowing the construction of roads, the reconstruction of roads, or logging in an inventoried roadless area where those activities are prohibited by the Roadless Rule (i.e., certain federal regulations relating to roadless area management).
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 This bill amends the National Labor Relations Act and related labor laws to extend protections to union workers. Specifically, it revises the definition of "employee" and "supervisor" to prevent employers from classifying employees as exempt from labor law protections, expands unfair labor practices to include prohibitions against replacement of or discrimination against workers who participate in strikes, makes it an unfair labor practice to require or coerce employees to attend employer meetings designed to discourage union membership, permits workers to participate in collective or class action litigation, allows injunctions against employers engaging in unfair labor practices involving discharge or serious economic harm to an employee, expands penalties for labor law violations, including interference with the National Labor Relations Board or causing serious economic harm to an employee, and allows any person to bring a civil action for harm caused by labor law violations or unfair labor practices.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act or the COAST Anti-Drilling Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing a lease or other authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, or the Straits of Florida planning areas.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2019
Chemical Poisons Reduction Act of 2019 or Canyon's Law This bill prohibits the use of sodium fluoroacetate (i.e., Compound 1080) and sodium cyanide in a predator control device. It imposes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both—on a violator. A predator control device is a dispenser, livestock collar, or gas cartridge that propels, releases, or emits sodium fluoroacetate or sodium cyanide for wildlife management or animal control purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
National Museum of the American Latino Act This bill establishes the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian Institution. The purposes of the museum are to (1) illuminate Latino contributions to the story of the United States; (2) provide for the collection, study, research, publication, and establishment of exhibitions and programs related to Latino life, art, history, and culture; and (3) provide for collaboration with Smithsonian Institution museums and research centers and other museums and educational institutions in the United States and abroad to promote the study and appreciation of Latino life, art, history, culture, and its impact on society in the United States. The bill establishes a Board of Trustees for the museum to advise and assist the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian on all matters related to the administration and preservation of the museum. The Director of the museum shall manage the museum and may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals. The Board of Regents shall designate a site for the museum and is authorized to design and construct it.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act This bill designates specified Bureau of Land Management land in Oregon as the Rogue Canyon and Molalla Recreation Areas. Approximately 59,512 acres of specified federal land are added to the Wild Rogue Wilderness in Oregon. Such recreation areas and lands are withdrawn from (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. The bill also withdraws identified federally owned lands and interests within the Hunter Creek, Pistol River Headwaters, or the Rough and Ready and Baldface Creeks Mineral Withdrawal Proposal in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans to report on and make recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
Choose Medicare Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish public health insurance plans and addresses health insurance costs. Such public plans must be offered on health insurance exchanges and (1) meet the requirements of a qualified health plan; (2) cover benefits at the gold plan level; and (3) cover reproductive services, including abortions. Additionally, the bill makes a series of changes related to health insurance costs, including requiring employers to refer employees to health care navigators to assist with enrollment, establishing an annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for services under Medicare, providing HHS with the authority to negotiate prices under the Medicare prescription drug benefit program, expanding the premium-assistance credit by benchmarking the credit amount to the second-lowest cost gold plan and increasing the income threshold for eligibility, requiring qualified health plans to reduce cost sharing for low-income plan holders, providing funding for states to provide reinsurance to health insurance issuers and to assist individuals with out-of-pocket costs for plans offered through health insurance exchanges, applying the premium rate-setting requirements to large group health plans, and requiring HHS or states to take corrective actions to address unreasonable premium rates set by insurance issuers.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2019
This resolution expresses concern about threats to freedom of the press and free expression around the world on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2019. It commends journalists and media workers for their role in promoting accountability, democratic activity, and civil society and reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the press to efforts of the U.S. government in supporting democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration Act of 2019 or the LOVE Act of 2019 This bill offers a formal apology from Congress for encouraging policies at the Department of State such as the Lavender Scare , which resulted in the wrongful termination of at least 1,000 people for alleged homosexuality. The State Department and Foreign Service shall (1) review all employee terminations since January 1, 1950, to determine who was wrongfully terminated for their real or perceived sexual orientation; and (2) issue a public report on the findings. The State Department shall periodically report to Congress on recommendations for continued actions. The State Department shall establish an independent Reconciliation Board to contact any employee (or a family member of a deceased employee) improperly terminated during the Lavender Scare and offer to change the employee's record to reflect such a finding. The board shall accept and review grievances from former employees who believe they were terminated due to sexual orientation. The State Department shall establish a board of senior-level officials to address issues that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) Foreign Service employees and their families face. The board shall report to Congress comments on or recommendations for improving State Department policies to prevent sexual orientation discrimination. The State Department shall report to Congress on (1) countries that do not issue spousal visas for Foreign Service employee spouses due to sexual orientation, and (2) recommendations on how to address the issue.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from the gross income of an individual any income that is attributable to the discharge of a federal student loan pursuant to a federal program or law that provides for income contingent or income-based repayment of the loan.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Duty To Report Act This bill requires political committees, candidates for federal office, and other individuals to report to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) any offers of prohibited contributions, including offers of nonpublic information regarding other candidates, by foreign nationals. Specifically, political committees and candidates must report to the FEC within 24 hours any (1) offers of prohibited contributions from foreign nationals, and (2) meetings with foreign governments or their agents. In addition, the bill requires political committees, candidates, immediate family members of candidates, and individuals affiliated with a campaign (e.g., employees and independent contractors) to report to the FBI within 24 hours any offers of prohibited contributions from foreign nationals. Further, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly and willfully failing to comply with this reporting requirement. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to two years, or both. Such reported information may not be used to enforce certain immigration provisions related to the removal of undocumented aliens.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2019 This bill prohibits discrimination, in the context of various housing practices, against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish standards for facilities holding aliens in its custody, phases out using non-DHS facilities for such purposes, and contains other related provisions. The standards shall comply with the American Bar Association's Civil Immigration Detention Standards. The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) shall conduct periodic unannounced inspections of each facility and shall take various actions against noncompliant facilities, including imposing fines, cancelling contracts, and closing facilities. DHS shall report to Congress any death of an alien in its custody within 24 hours and conduct an investigation within 30 days that identifies policy changes that could reduce the likelihood of such a death. DHS is prohibited from entering into contracts for third parties to operate detention facilities and shall terminate existing contracts within three years of the bill's enactment. The bill establishes that OIG facility inspection reports and contracts for an outside entity to operate a detention facility are records available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. DHS shall maintain certain information relating to detained aliens, including the alien's location and whether the alien was separated from family. The bill provides for various requirements and procedures related to detaining aliens, including (1) prohibiting DHS from detaining children, (2) imposing a presumption that an alien should be released, and (3) establishing that aliens in custody shall be subject to the least restrictive conditions. The bill also abolishes mandatory detention for asylum seekers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 2019
Regulatory Oversight Barring Obnoxious Calls and Texts Act of 2019 or the ROBO Calls and Texts Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a Robocall Division within the Enforcement Bureau. The Robocall Division shall be tasked with (1) ensuring consumer protection and compliance with federal laws relating to robocalls; (2) serving as a line of communication between the federal government and the communications industry, as well as between the FCC and related federal agencies, to coordinate efforts to eliminate robocalls; and (3) managing and addressing consumer complaints regarding robocalls. Additionally, the bill requires the FCC to compel telecommunications providers to adopt technological standards for preventing robocalls.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2019
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act of 2019 This bill prohibits a creditor from extending credit to a consumer under an open end consumer credit plan (i.e., credit card) for which the fee and interest rate exceeds 36%. The bill also sets forth criminal penalties for violations and empowers state Attorneys General to enforce the bill. Credit card billing statements must include the fee and interest rate, displayed as "FAIR," instead of the total finance charge expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR).
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2019
This resolution declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Richard G. Lugar, former Senator from Indiana.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Repeated Objectionable Bothering Of Consumers On Phones Act or the ROBOCOP Act This bill requires telecommunications companies to accurately identify callers and block robocalls.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 201 9 This bill modifies the tax exclusion for tax benefits and qualified payments provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical providers by a state or local government to (1) increase the dollar limitation for qualified payments, and (2) make the tax exclusion permanent. (Under current law, the exclusion expired at the end of 2010.)
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Reforming Evergreening and Manipulation that Extends Drug Years Act or the REMEDY Act This bill addresses drug patents with respect to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a drug application. Currently, when the owner of a brand-name drug approval sues a generic drug company for patent infringement based on the generic company's application for FDA approval of a generic version of the brand-name drug, there is generally a 30-month stay on the approval of the generic version. Under this bill, the stay goes into effect only if the lawsuit alleges infringement of a patent that claims the drug compound. When the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invalidates a patent for a drug, the FDA must update its list of relevant patents for the drug.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Passenger Privacy Protection Act of 2019 This bill prohibits all aircraft of an air carrier and a foreign air carrier: from having in place cameras and microphones that can monitor passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration shall periodically conduct audits of such air carriers regarding the information they collect with respect to aircraft passengers, including any information obtained through the physical surveillance of passengers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
What You Can Do For Your Country Act This bill revises the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, including by allowing borrowers with loans under the Federal Family Education Loan program to be eligible for the PSLF program, allowing borrowers to receive loan forgiveness on half of their total loans after satisfying 60 qualifying payment obligations, revising provisions related to loan consolidation, revising the types of payments that count toward qualifying payment obligations, defining full-time employment as 30 hours per week, requiring the Department of Education (ED) to provide certain notices to borrowers, revising the process for certification of employment, requiring ED to establish a database of qualifying employers, providing a process for borrowers to satisfy past monthly payment obligations, requiring lenders to provide to ED necessary borrower repayment history information, and requiring ED to establish a dispute resolution process.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 or the SAFE Banking Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits a federal banking regulator from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to a legitimate marijuana-related business. Specifically, the bill prohibits a federal banking regulator from (1) terminating or limiting the deposit insurance or share insurance of a depository institution solely because the institution provides financial services to a legitimate marijuana-related business; (2) prohibiting or otherwise discouraging a depository institution from offering financial services to such a business; (3) recommending, incentivizing, or encouraging a depository institution not to offer financial services to an account holder solely because the account holder is affiliated with such a business; (4) taking any adverse or corrective supervisory action on a loan made to a person solely because the person either owns such a business or owns real estate or equipment leased or sold to such a business; or (5) penalizing a depository institution for engaging in a financial service for such a business. As specified by the bill, a depository institution or a Federal Reserve bank shall not, under federal law, be liable or subject to forfeiture for providing a loan or other financial services to a legitimate marijuana-related business. The Government Accountability Office must report on (1) access to financial services for minority-owned and women-owned marijuana-related businesses; and (2) the effectiveness of suspicious-transaction reports at finding engagement with organized criminal activity in jurisdictions that allow the cultivation, sale, or distribution of marijuana.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 This bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served (1) offshore of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or (2) in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or diseases diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. The bill extends eligibility for health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. The Department of Veterans Affairs must report on the Follow-up Study of a National Cohort of Gulf War and Gulf War Era Veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Tax Filing Simplification Act of 201 9 This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish and operate the following programs free of charge online tax preparation and filing software, a program for taxpayers to download third-party provided return information relating to individual income tax returns, and a program to permit individuals with simplified tax situations to elect to have the IRS prepare their returns. The IRS may not enter into any agreement which restricts its legal right to provide tax return preparation services, software, or tax return filing services. Individuals participating in, or accessing information from, the programs established by this bill must verify their identity to the satisfaction of the IRS. The IRS may not employ knowledge-based verification procedures to verify the identity of the individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2019 This bill authorizes aid to address the humanitarian crisis in Burma (Myanmar). It also calls for sanctions and reports related to the issue. Specifically, the bill authorizes aid for humanitarian assistance and reconciliation activities in Burma and other countries in the region, including assistance to help targeted ethnic minority groups and support voluntary resettlement. The President may not provide security assistance for Burma's armed forces until the Department of State certifies that the Burmese military has made significant progress in abiding by international human rights standards. The bill reinstates trade restrictions on rubies and jadeite from Burma until the President certifies that Burma has passed certain reforms relating to transparency in the gemstone industry. The President shall report to Congress a list of (1) senior military officials known to be directly and significantly involved in gross human rights violations in Burma, and (2) entities owned or controlled by such individuals. The State Department shall deny such individuals visas, and the Department of the Treasury shall impose various property-blocking sanctions against listed entities and individuals. The State Department shall report to Congress a strategy to promote economic development in Burma. The bill also requires reports on Burma's military, Burma's eligibility for preferential duty treatment, whether certain Burmese military officials should be on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. diplomatic efforts to impose coordinated sanctions related to Burma, and crimes against humanity in Burma.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Urban Indian Health Parity Act This bill applies a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., the federal matching rate under Medicaid) of 100% with respect to amounts expended as medical assistance for services received through an Urban Indian organization under a grant or contract with the Indian Health Service.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Safety is Not for Sale Act of 2019 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require aircraft manufacturers to offer or provide non-required safety enhancing equipment without an additional charge to an air carrier. The FAA must implement a program to identify, classify, and approve certain non-required safety enhancing equipment. The FAA must also establish performance standards for aircraft angle of attack indicators, disagree alerts, and backup fire suppressions systems.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Federal Employee Paid Leave Act This bill provides paid family leave for certain federal employees in all instances covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, which currently only guarantees unpaid leave for such instances. Specifically, the bill requires that the 12 weeks of administrative leave to which certain federal employees are entitled for family care be paid leave. This applies to all federal employees in the competitive service (all civilian positions in the executive branch, all positions in the legislative and judicial branches, and all positions in the government of the District of Columbia), congressional employees, Government Accountability Office employees, employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserves, and certain Transportation Security Administration employees. The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to such employees to a total of 16 administrative work weeks.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers Act or the Keep Our PACT Act This bill provides funding for disadvantaged students under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for FY2020-FY2029. Specifically, the bill (1) provides funding for grant programs under the ESEA operated by local educational agencies dealing with the disadvantaged, and (2) reauthorizes the IDEA to assist states and outlying areas in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2019 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2019 This bill expands prohibitions and requires additional disclosures related to political spending. Specifically, foreign nationals are further restricted regarding their involvement in election related activity, including by prohibiting their participation in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure. Existing foreign money prohibitions are expanded to prohibit disbursements for paid internet or digital communications. The Federal Election Commission must perform an audit after each election cycle to determine the incidence of illicit foreign money. In general, organizations making political expenditures must disclose donors who have contributed $10,000 or more during an election cycle. Certain of these organizations, including corporations, must also disclose their beneficial owners. The bill requires organizations to provide additional disclosures on certain political ads, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 201 9 This bill allows tax credits for (1) energy storage technologies, and (2) battery storage technology. The bill expands the tax credit for investments in energy property to include equipment that (1) receives, stores, and delivers energy using batteries, compressed air, pumped hydropower, hydrogen storage (including hydrolysis), thermal energy storage, regenerative fuel cells, flywheels, capacitors, superconducting magnets, or other technologies identified by the Internal Revenue Service; and (2) has a capacity of at least five kilowatt hours. The bill also expands the tax credit for residential energy efficient property to include expenditures for battery storage technology that (1) is installed on or in connection with a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, and (2) has a capacity of at least three kilowatt hours.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
This resolution calls on the United States to expend all assistance appropriated in FY2018 to the West Bank and Gaza before the end of 2019. The resolution also presses for the enactment of legislation to specify that activities funded through the Economic Support Fund may not be construed to assert jurisdiction over the Palestinian Authority.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that (1) the President should issue a determination with respect to the involvement of high-ranking officials of the government of Saudi Arabia, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi; and (2) the United States should call upon Saudi Arabia to release human rights activists, journalists, and religious minorities held in detention and to reverse violations of human rights. The resolution also requests that the Department of State report on specified matters with respect to Saudi Arabia, including Khashoggi's murder and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2019
This resolution affirms that vaccines and immunizations save lives and commends those who have worked to bolster global and domestic health through vaccination.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This bill increases and revises requirements for the earned income and child tax credits. It also makes similar revisions to the earned income tax credit for residents of Puerto Rico. The bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to regulate the practice of tax return preparers and impose sanctions upon preparers found to be incompetent or disreputable. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on the sharing of information between Treasury and states regarding identification numbers issued to tax return preparers and minimum standards for preparers.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act This bill revises the methodology for calculating Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and phases out the cap on compensation subject to Social Security taxation. The bill directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics to prepare and publish a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) to track cost-of-living changes for individuals age 62 or older. The Social Security Administration shall use the CPI-E to calculate the cost-of-living adjustment for OASDI benefits, where it currently uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The bill phases out and after 2025 eliminates the cap on compensation ($132,900 in 2019) subject to Social Security taxation. This change applies to both wage earners and the self-employed. The bill also changes the calculation for the primary insurance amount (the amount received by a beneficiary who elects to receive OASDI benefits at full retirement age) by including the additional earnings that are now taxed as a result of the cap elimination.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish family and medical leave banks for DOD employees. It requires the forfeited annual leave (i.e., the lost "use it or lose it" annual leave) of an employee to be credited to a family and medical leave bank for use by an eligible employee who experiences a personal or family medical emergency and has exhausted his or her available paid leave.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
Medicare for All Act of 2019 This bill establishes a national health insurance program that is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among other requirements, the program must (1) cover all U.S. residents; (2) provide for automatic enrollment of individuals upon birth or residency in the United States; and (3) cover items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate to maintain health or to diagnose, treat, or rehabilitate a health condition, including hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, and home- and community-based long-term care. The bill prohibits cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments) and other charges for covered services, with the exception of prescription drugs. Additionally, private health insurers and employers may only offer coverage that is supplemental to, and not duplicative of, benefits provided under the program. Health insurance exchanges and specified federal health programs terminate upon program implementation. However, the program does not affect coverage provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indian Health Service. Additionally, state Medicaid programs must cover certain institutional long-term care services. The bill also establishes a series of implementing provisions relating to (1) health care provider participation; (2) HHS administration; and (3) payments and costs, including the requirement that HHS negotiate prices for prescription drugs and establish a formulary. Individuals who are age 18 or younger may enroll in the program starting one year after enactment of this bill; other individuals may buy into a transitional plan or an expanded Medicare program at this time, depending on age. The bill's program must be fully implemented four years after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act or the NO BAN Act This bill imposes limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States and terminates certain presidential actions implementing such restrictions. It also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, with certain exceptions. The President may temporarily restrict the entry of any aliens or class of aliens after the Department of State determines that the restriction would address specific acts that threaten U.S. interests such as security or public safety. The bill also imposes limitations on such restrictions, such as requiring the President, State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide specific evidence of a need for the restriction, and to narrowly tailor the restriction to meet a compelling government interest. Before imposing a restriction, the President, State Department, and DHS shall consult with Congress. The State Department and DHS shall report to Congress about the restriction within 48 hours of the restriction's imposition, with regular updates. If such reports are not made, the restriction shall immediately terminate.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2019
This resolution recognizes (1) the significance of April 11-17, 2019, as Black Maternal Health Week; (2) that Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to raise national awareness of the state of black maternal health in the United States; and (3) that black women experience high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act This bill makes permanent, beginning in FY2020, funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The President shall annually submit to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
American Dream Employment Act of 201 9 This bill permits the compensation of congressional employees who hold a current employment authorization document that was issued under the Department of Homeland Security Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. The program enables many unlawfully present aliens who came to the United States as children to be granted deferred action (a type of relief from removal which does not confer immigration status) and work authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Guaranteed Refugee Admission Ceiling Enhancement Act or the GRACE Act This bill establishes that the maximum number of refugees admitted each fiscal year shall be no less than 95,000 and that the maximum number shall be treated as the numerical goal for refugee admissions for the applicable fiscal year. The President may set a higher number if it is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest. Currently, the number admitted each fiscal year may not exceed 50,000 unless the President determines that a higher number is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest. The bill directs the President to take into consideration information from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees when establishing the maximum admission number and making certain other related decisions. The President shall report to Congress quarterly on (1) the number of refugees admitted during the preceding quarter, (2) the number of aliens who were security-cleared during the preceding quarter, (3) a plan to reach the numerical goal for admitted refugees for that fiscal year, and (4) other related information.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Access to Birth Control Act This bill requires pharmacies to comply with certain requirements related to providing contraceptives. For example, a pharmacy must provide a customer with a requested contraceptive without delay if it is in stock and must ensure that customers are not intimidated, threatened, or harassed with respect to their requests for contraceptives. The bill establishes civil penalties and a private cause of action for violations of the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
H.R. 40 Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans. The commission shall examine slavery and discrimination in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies. Among other requirements, the commission shall examine (1) the role of federal and state governments in supporting the institution of slavery, (2) forms of discrimination in the public and private sectors against freed slaves and their descendants, and (3) lingering negative effects of slavery on living African-Americans and society.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination in the Workplace Act or the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act This bill sets forth provisions to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace and raises the minimum wage for tipped employees. Specifically, the bill (1) makes it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an individual in the workplace based on sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, and a sex stereotype; (2) prohibits employers from entering into contracts or agreements with workers that contain certain nondisparagement or nondisclosure clauses; (3) prohibits predispute arbitration agreements and postdispute agreements with certain exceptions, and (4) establishes grant programs to prevent and respond to workplace discrimination and harassment, provide legal assistance for low-income workers related to employment discrimination, and establish a system of legal advocacy in states to protect the rights of workers. Additionally, the bill, among other things requires employers who have 15 or more employees to adopt a comprehensive nondiscrimination policy; requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to provide specified training and resource materials, establish and convene a harassment prevention task force, and establish an Office of Education and Outreach with regard to prohibited discrimination and harassment in employment; requires specified studies, reports, and research on prohibited harassment in employment; and grants employees the right to retain their tips.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 2019
Democracy Restoration Act of 2019 This bill addresses the voting rights of individuals convicted of a criminal offense and the restoration of their voting rights. First, the bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. Further, the bill provides for enforcement of, and remedies for violations of, the bill. In addition, it sets forth requirements for state and federal notification of individuals of the restoration of their voting rights. Finally, the bill prohibits federal funding of construction or improvement of a place of incarceration unless U.S. citizens incarcerated in that jurisdiction are notified, upon release, of their voting rights.