United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2019
Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2019 This bill allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms. A qualified individual must (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid state-issued concealed carry permit, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Pay Our Coast Guard Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to the U.S. Coast Guard for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for the Coast Guard are not in effect. The appropriations are provided to the Coast Guard for pay and allowances for members of the Coast Guard, civilian employees, and contractors; the payment of a death gratuity, funeral travel, and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty; and retired pay. The appropriations are provided until the enactment of specified Coast Guard appropriations legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 January 2019
This resolution urges the President to work with allies to lead a multinational freedom of navigation operation in the Black Sea to push back against excessive Russian claims of sovereignty. It also calls for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to enhance allied maritime presence and capabilities in the Black Sea and for European governments to cancel the Nord Stream 2 pipeline due to its threat to European energy security. The resolution also urges the President to provide additional security assistance to Ukraine and states that the President is required by statute to impose mandatory sanctions on Russia.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2018
Receiving Electronic Statements To Improve Retiree Earnings Act This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the electronic delivery of pension plan documents required to be furnished to a plan participant, beneficiary, or other individual. The system for furnishing such a document must: (1) be designed to result in effective access to the document, (2) permit the recipient to select the electronic means through which the document is received or request paper documents, and (3) protect the confidentiality of personal information. An annual paper notice must be provided describing: the selection of electronic means for furnishing documents, the right to modify the selection or to elect to receive paper versions of the documents at no additional direct cost and how to make the election, and any election that has been made to receive paper documents. An electronically furnished document must be prepared and furnished in a manner that is consistent with the style, format, and content requirements for the document. It must also include a notice that apprises the individual of the significance of the document when it is not otherwise reasonably evident as transmitted.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2018
Retirement Security and Savings Act of 2018 This bill modifies various tax policies, credits, and requirements that apply to employer-provided retirement plans and Individual Retirement Accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2018
Calls on the President to reconsider the decision to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from Syria and urges any future withdrawal decision to be based on a robust interagency process and on conditions in the region.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2018
This joint resolution expresses the Senate's belief that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. It criticizes Saudi Arabia's cooperation with, and military equipment purchases from, Russia and China as challenges to the country's long-term relationship with the United States. The joint resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire in the civil war in Yemen and for the two sides to negotiate a peace agreement. It declares that there is no statutory authority for U.S. involvement in the conflict, including for providing in-air refueling to Saudi aircraft flying missions against the Houthi rebels. The resolution also condemns the Houthi rebels for human rights violations and the government of Iran for supplying them with weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2018
Declares that the Senate: (1) notes with deep sorrow and solemn mourning the death of former President George H.W. Bush, (2) extends heartfelt sympathy to former President George W. Bush and the entire family of former President George H.W. Bush, and (3) honors and expresses deep appreciation for former President George H.W. Bush's outstanding and important service to his country. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on December 5, 2018, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of former President George H.W. Bush.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2018
Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) establish a policy applicable to individuals and entities that reports security vulnerabilities on DHS public websites, (2) develop a process for mitigation or remediation of security vulnerabilities that are reported, (3) consult with specified federal departments and nongovernmental security researchers in developing the policy, and (4) submit the policy and the remediation process to Congress. DHS must make such policy publicly available.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 2018
Strongly condemns Russia's actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait, including the attack and seizure of Ukrainian naval ships and sailors. Calls on Russia to release the sailors and ships and to stop its harassment of ships in the strait. Calls on the President to express his administration's opposition to Russia's attack at every opportunity, and affirms the Department of State's declaration that it is U.S. policy to never recognize Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea. Urges the international community to unite in opposition to Russia's actions in the strait.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 2018
Department of Energy Veterans' Health Initiative Act This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a research program in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing that is focused on the development of tools to: (1) solve big data challenges associated with veterans' health care, and (2) support the Department of Veterans Affairs in identifying potential health risks and challenges. DOE shall carry out a pilot program to develop tools for big data analytics in order to advance artificial intelligence technologies to solve complex big data challenges.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2018
First Step Act This bill amends various provisions of law and sets forth new provisions: to require the Department of Justice to establish and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to implement a risk and needs assessment system; to modify the computation of good time credit; to allow federal correctional officers to securely store and carry concealed firearms on BOP premises outside the security perimeter of a prison; to limit the use of restraints on federal prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery; to reduce mandatory minimum prison terms for certain nonviolent repeat drug offenses; to broaden the existing safety valve to permit a sentence below the mandatory minimum for certain nonviolent, cooperative drug offenders with a limited criminal history; to make the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 retroactive; to require prisoners to be placed within 500 miles of their primary residence; to require low-risk prisoners to be placed on home confinement for the maximum amount of time permitted; to reauthorize through FY2022 and modify eligibility for an elderly offender early release pilot program; to require the BOP to help prisoners obtain identification documents prior to release, to incorporate de-escalation procedures into training programs, and to make tampons and sanitary napkins available free of charge; to authorize Federal Prison Industries to sell products to additional markets; to require probation and pretrial services officers to perform court-directed supervision of sex offenders conditionally released from civil commitment; to require the BOP to establish pilot programs on youth mentorship and service to abandoned, rescued, or vulnerable animals; and to limit juvenile solitary confinement.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2018
Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: revise and reauthorize grant programs for offender reentry demonstration projects; family-based substance abuse treatment; and evaluating and improving educational methods at prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities; and repeal grant programs for offender reentry courts and drug treatment alternatives to incarceration. Additionally, the legislation amends the Second Chance Act of 2007 to: rename, revise, and reauthorize grant programs for technology career training demonstration projects and reentry mentoring services; reauthorize offender reentry research and the grant program for offender reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration; reauthorize and modify eligibility for an elderly offender early release pilot program; and repeal grant programs for the responsible reintegration of offenders and the study of Depot Naltrexone to treat heroin addiction. It amends the federal criminal code to establish partnerships between prisons and faith- or community-based nonprofit organizations to conduct activities to reduce recidivism. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General must conduct annual audits of selected grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds. The bill subjects grants to accountability provisions and limits the use of grants for conferences that use more than $20,000 in DOJ funds. DOJ, in collaboration with interested persons, providers, and organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments, must coordinate and report to Congress on federal reentry programs, policies, and practices. Finally, the National Institute of Justice must evaluate the effectiveness of grants for offender reentry and recidivism reduction programs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2018
Supports the designation of November 19-November 23, 2018, as National Family Service Learning Week to raise awareness about the importance of family service learning, family literacy, community service, and two-generational learning experiences.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2018
Condemns: (1) the anti-Semitic attack at the Tree of Life synagogue building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2018, in which 11 innocent people were killed and 6 were injured, and (2) rising anti-Semitism. Honors the memory of the victims and expresses the hope that their memory may be a blessing to their families and community. Reaffirms the commitment of the United States to condemn anti-Semitism, protect the right of people in the United States to freely exercise their religious beliefs, and ensure their safety and security.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
AI in Government Act of 2018 This bill establishes the Emerging Technology Policy Lab within the General Services Administration (GSA) to advise and promote the efforts of the federal government in ensuring that the use of emerging technologies by the government, including artificial intelligence, is in the best interest of the public; and improve cohesion and competency in federal agency rule making and the use of emerging technologies. In addition, the Office of Personnel Management must identify key skills and competencies needed for positions related to artificial intelligence; and establish an occupational series, or revise an existing occupational job series, to include positions the primary duties of which relate to artificial intelligence.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act This bill amends provisions relating to responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the care of unaccompanied alien children. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to authorize the Office of Refugee Resettlement of HHS to: (1) care for an unaccompanied alien child until the earlier of the conclusion of the child's immigration proceedings or until the child reaches 18 years of age, and (2) evaluate a child's need for follow-up services prior to placement with a sponsor. The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 is amended to require a sponsor of an unaccompanied alien child to execute a sponsor care agreement with HHS. An agreement must provide for the child's physical and mental well-being, ensure the child's presence at immigration hearings, and ensure compliance with federal court or agency orders. HHS shall (1) reassume physical custody of a child if a non-parent or legal guardian sponsor fails to comply with a sponsorship agreement, and (2) notify state welfare agencies before releasing children to sponsors within a state. HHS shall perform background checks on potential sponsors and other adult household members before releasing a child to a sponsor. The Department of Justice shall increase the number of immigration judge teams.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Improving Coverage for Substance Use Disorder Recovery Expansion Act This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover certain inpatient substance-use disorder treatment services for individuals who are 21 to 64 years of age.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2018
Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act This bill requires the Government Publishing Office (GPO) to establish and maintain a publicly available website containing copies of all congressionally mandated reports. The website must feature, in addition to certain descriptive information related to such reports: (1) the ability to retrieve a report through specified types of searches; (2) a means for downloading reports individually or in bulk; (3) an electronic means for federal agencies to submit reports to the GPO, as required by the bill; and (4) in tabular form, a list of all reports that can be searched and sorted by time frame or submission status. The Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance to federal agencies on the bill's requirement for agencies to submit copies of congressionally mandated reports and related information to the GPO. With respect to each report, the relevant federal agency may redact or withhold certain information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and other laws. The Library of Congress must submit to the GPO a list of all congressionally mandated reports that are required to be submitted during a year as soon as practicable, but no later than April 1 of the following year. The list shall be provided in an open format and must include specified identifying and otherwise descriptive information.
United States · United States Congress · 28 August 2018
Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development Act of 2018 This bill establishes a Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development and a Rural Broadband Integration Working Group.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Sidney McCain, III, a Senator from Arizona. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on August 27, 2018, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 23 August 2018
Ensuring Coverage for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions Act This bill establishes provisions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 relating to the guaranteed availability of health insurance coverage as well as prohibitions against discriminatory practices based on preexisting conditions or health status.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2018
Missing Children's Assistance Act of 2018 This bill amends the Missing Children's Assistance Act: to revise the definition of "missing child" to mean an individual under 18 years of age whose whereabouts are unknown to the individual's parent (currently, legal custodian), to specify that a parent includes a legal guardian or an individual who functions as a parent (e.g., a grandparent), to revise the functions and duties of the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and to require the NCMEC to make publicly available the annual report on missing children and the incidence of attempted child abductions. The bill reauthorizes through FY2023: programs and activities for missing and exploited children, and audit requirements for grant recipients.
United States · United States Congress · 16 August 2018
Declares that the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Paul Laxalt, former Member of the Senate. Extends deepest condolences and gratitude to his family. Honors Paul Laxalt's legacy, life, service to the Senate, and commitment to the people of Nevada and the United States. Declares that when the Senate adjourns on August 16, 2018, it stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Paul Laxalt.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of: one Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, in recognition of her service to the United States as a mathematician; one Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Christine Darden, for her service to the United States as an aeronautical engineer; and two Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of the lives of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, in recognition of their service to the United States during the Space Race.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2018
Trade Security Act of 2018 This bill amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to revise provisions related to the adjustment of U.S. imports due to a national security threat. The bill allows Congress to block a Presidential import adjustment through a joint resolution. This provision retroactively applies to adjustments made on or after July 1, 2018. However, it shall not apply to specified steel and aluminum import adjustments. The Department of Defense (currently, the Department of Commerce ) must: investigate the national security threat of a U.S. import, and report to the President the results of that investigation. Commerce must provide recommendations regarding such imports upon request by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2018
DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2018 This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) national cybersecurity and communications integration center to maintain cyber hunt and incident response teams to provide, upon request, assistance including: (1) assisting asset owners and operators in restoring services following a cyber incident; (2) identifying cybersecurity risk and unauthorized cyber activity; and (3) mitigation strategies to prevent, deter, and protect against cybersecurity risks. DHS may include private sector cybersecurity specialists on such teams, and must continually assess and evaluate the teams and their operations and report specified metrics to Congress. No additional funds are authorized to carry out this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Protecting Taxpayers Act This bill modifies the organizational structure, management practices, and enforcement procedures of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The bill modifies policies regarding: the IRS Oversight Board, employee training procedures, tax enforcement procedures, various tax requirements that affect small businesses, the correction of errors by retirement plan administrators, programs that assist low-income taxpayers, the IRS appeals process for taxpayers, and information technology.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2018
Sanction Terrorist Operations Using Human Shields Act of 2018 or the STOP Using Human Shields Act This bill provides for the imposition of sanctions on members of foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hizballah, and other foreign persons, agencies, or instrumentalities of foreign states with regard to use of civilians, other specially protected persons, or specially protected property to shield lawful targets from attack or to deliberately cause casualties to such persons or the destruction to such property during an armed conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2018
Vaccine Access Improvement Act of 2018 This bill modifies the excise tax on certain vaccines to (1) automatically impose the tax on vaccines that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adds to the Vaccine Injury Table, and (2) require HHS to notify the Department of the Treasury and Congress when new vaccines are added to the table. (The excise tax funds the National Vaccine Injury Program, which compensates people who have been injured by vaccines listed on the table.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2018
Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act This bill amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to permit a widow or widower of a service member who died while in military service to terminate a lease of premises occupied, or intended to be occupied, by the service member or the service member's dependents for a residential, professional, business, agricultural, or similar purpose without penalty within one year of the service member's death.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Commemorates the lives, careers, and service of the five victims of the Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, Maryland. Honors the survivors of the attack and the families of the victims and pledges continued support for their recovery. Thanks law enforcement officers and other emergency first responders for their heroic actions. Reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to defending the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2018
Defending Economic Livelihoods and Threatened Animals Act or the DELTA Act This bill directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to develop a strategy, seeking to work with the governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and neighboring countries, with regard to natural resource protection, wildife protection, and economic development in the greater Okavango River Basin and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area in Southern Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
CyberTipline Modernization Act of 2018 (Sec. 2) This bill revises reporting requirements for electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers (providers) who report information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Currently, providers must report the facts and circumstances of incidents of apparent child pornography, of which they become aware, to NCMEC via the CyberTipline. This bill retains the existing reporting requirement and provides new authority for providers to also report the facts and circumstances that indicate a child pornography violation is imminent. Additionally, it makes various procedural changes to the reporting requirements, including to do the following: grant discretion to providers to determine what information to include in a report; permit (currently, require) the Department of Justice (DOJ) to designate foreign law enforcement agencies to receive CyberTipline reports from NCMEC; allow NCMEC to forward a report to a foreign law enforcement agency in certain circumstances, even if the foreign law enforcement agency has not been designated by DOJ; and provide explicit permission for a provider to disclose the contents of a report, including visual depictions, to law enforcement agencies, to NCMEC, or as necessary to respond to legal process. Finally, the bill revises and updates various statutory references, including to replace references to “images” with “visual depictions” to make reporting requirements applicable to videos, in addition to images.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
Restore Our Parks Act This bill: (1) establishes the National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund, and (2) requires 50% of all energy development revenues for FY2019-FY2023 to be deposited into such fund. Amounts deposited in the fund must not exceed $1.3 billion for any fiscal year and must be used for meeting high-priority deferred maintenance needs of the National Park Service.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2018
Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend protective custody over alien children under age 18 who are accompanied by a parent and apprehended at the border or are seeking admission to the United States at a port of entry. DHS must temporarily house an alien child under age 18 in a family residential center during the pendency of civil or criminal proceedings. DHS must increase the number of available beds in family residential centers. The Department of Justice must increase the number of immigration judge teams to conduct prioritized proceedings for accompanied alien children and families apprehended at the southwest border or who are seeking admission to the United States at a port of entry.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2018
Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers' Compensation Settlement Agreements Act of 2018 This bill alters provisions relating to Medicare secondary payer rules with respect to workers' compensation settlement arrangements. Among other things, the bill provides that a Medicare set-aside fulfills secondary payer obligations if the set-aside is included in the arrangement and meets certain other criteria.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2018
Designates June 19, 2018, as Juneteenth Independence Day. Recognizes the historical significance and supports the continued celebration of Juneteenth Independence Day, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2018
Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2018 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay until 2021 the reimposition of the annual fee on certain health insurance providers based on market share. Under current law, the fee is suspended for 2019 and is scheduled to be reimposed in 2020.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2018
21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act or the 21st Century IDEA This bill requires an executive agency that maintains a website or digital service that is made available to the public to: eliminate or consolidate websites or web pages that are duplicative or overlapping; ensure that each public-facing website and digital service has a consistent appearance; ensure that each website, web-based form, and web-based application is accessible to individuals with disabilities; ensure that each website or digital service contains a search function that allows users to easily search content intended for public use; provide the website or digital service through an industry standard secure connection; ensure that each website or digital service is designed around user needs; and ensure that users of the website or digital service have the option for a more customized digital experience. Any agency website that is made available to the public after this bill's enactment shall be in compliance with website standards of the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services. Each agency shall make available to the public an online, mobile-friendly, digital service option for any in-person government transaction or paper-based process in a manner that decreases cost, increases digital conversion rates, and improves customer experience. Each agency shall submit to the Office of Management and Budget and Congress a plan to accelerate the use of electronic signature standards. Each agency's Chief Information Officer must meet specified requirements related to coordinating the customer experience and digital service delivery.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2018
Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act of 2018 or STOP Act of 2018 This bill establishes requirements related to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) international mail shipments. Among other requirements, the bill requires USPS to gather advanced data on its shipments and share such information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and assesses a fee on on overseas inbound express mail.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2018
Modernizing Congressional Reporting Act of 2018 This bill requires federal agencies to submit reports, written communications, and other information to Congress in an electronic format, unless Congress requests a physical document.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2018
Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act This bill revises and makes permanent Title XLI of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (commonly known as FAST-41) which addresses federal coordination and review of major infrastructure permits.
![Official portrait of Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000449_200.jpg)