United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2020
Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and requires various reports on the topic. The President shall periodically report to Congress a list identifying foreign individuals and entities responsible for such human rights abuses. The President shall impose (1) property-blocking sanctions on the identified individuals and entities, and (2) visa-blocking sanctions on the identified individuals. The bill requires reports to Congress on (1) human rights abuses in Xinjiang; (2) efforts to protect U.S. citizens and residents, including ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals studying or working in the United States, from harassment and intimidation by the Chinese government; and (3) the Chinese government's acquisition and development of technology to facilitate internment and mass surveillance in Xinjiang. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall submit a classified report to Congress on (1) Chinese government policies in Xinjiang that constitute gross violations of human rights, and (2) the scope and scale of the detention and forced labor of Muslim minority groups in China.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
Energy Infrastructure Protection Act of 2020 This bill revises provisions related to protecting energy infrastructure (including critical electric infrastructure), including by authorizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to provide assistance to certain entities relating to methods and tools that owners and operators of energy infrastructure may use to defend assets against threats.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2020
This resolution commends and thanks the Department of State career professionals, the Repatriation Task Force, and the employees at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide for their work to address the challenges related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and to facilitate the repatriation of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2020
This resolution honors the Polish soldiers and civilians whose lives were lost at the hands of the Soviet People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (also known as the NKVD) during the Katyn Massacre. The resolution condemns Russia's efforts to spread disinformation about the Katyn Massacre and World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2020 This bill establishes a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review to assess U.S. government investments in multilateral entities. The President shall establish a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review Task Force, which shall report to Congress the review's findings. The task force shall establish and report the methodology for the reviews, which shall include assessments of (1) the relationship between such multilateral entities' stated goals and actual results, (2) the management practices and transparency of the entities, (3) the alignment between an entity's policies and practices with U.S. foreign policy objectives, and (4) whether U.S. goals may be better served by pursing a bilateral approach. The bill establishes a U.S. Multilateral Aid Review Peer Review Group, which shall review the reports and provide feedback to the task force and to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Small Business Expense Protection Act of 2020 This bill amends the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide that tax deductions for ordinary business expenses and other tax incidents shall not be affected by the exclusion from gross income of amounts related to loan forgiveness received in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Protect Our Military Families' 2nd Amendment Rights Act This bill broadens the scope of allowable firearm transactions involving active duty service members and their spouses. Specifically, the bill allows a licensed gun dealer, importer, or manufacturer to sell or ship a firearm or ammunition to the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty outside the United States. (Current law already allows a licensed dealer, importer, or manufacturer to sell or ship a firearm or ammunition to a member of the Armed Forces on active duty outside the United States.) The bill also specifies that, for purposes of federal firearms laws, a member of the Armed Forces on active duty, or his or her spouse, is a resident of the state in which (1) the member or spouse maintains legal residence, (2) the permanent duty station of the member is located, and (3) the member maintains a home from which he or she commutes to the permanent duty station.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2020
Modernizing Access to Our Public Land Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to jointly develop and adopt interagency standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability among federal databases for the collection and dissemination of outdoor recreation data related to federal lands. Interior, the Forest Service, and the Corps of Engineers must digitize and publish geographic information system mapping data that includes federal interests, including easements and rights-of-way, in private land; status information as to whether roads and trails are open or closed; the dates on which roads and trails are seasonally opened and closed; the types of vehicles that are allowed on each segment of roads and trails; the boundaries of areas where hunting or recreational shooting is regulated or closed; and the boundaries of any portion of a body of water that is closed to entry, is closed to watercraft, or has horsepower limitations for watercraft.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020
This bill allows a veteran with a combat-related disability and fewer than 20 years of creditable service to receive retirement pay, without reduction, concurrent with disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 2020
This resolution expresses support for Australia, as well as greater collaboration between the United States and Australia to promote wildfire mitigation and prevention.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act This bill alters certain requirements relating to inspection and certification of Medicare skilled nursing facilities that are also state veterans homes. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to treat state veterans homes that are inspected and determined to meet applicable standards set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as also meeting applicable standards for skilled nursing facilities under Medicare. The CMS must also use VA inspection reports for such facilities in lieu of state inspection reports for purposes of the Nursing Home Compare website.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution commemorates the 150th anniversary of the historic seating of Hiram Rhodes Revels, Senator of Mississippi, as the first African American Senator.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution commends the people of Taiwan for the holding of democratic elections and congratulates President Tsai Ing-wen on her reelection. The resolution calls on the United States to advocate for Taiwan's active participation in international organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
This resolution recognizes Black History Month as an opportunity to reflect on U.S. history and to commemorate the contributions of African Americans. It calls for the United States to (1) honor the contribution of pioneers who helped to ensure its legacy; and (2) move forward as a nation "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2020
Accelerate Long-term Investment Growth Now Act or the ALIGN Act This bill makes permanent the expensing of certain new business equipment. Expensing allows the deduction of the full amount of an expense item in the same taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2020
Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act This bill expands the availability of Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance for rural small businesses. Currently, the declaration of a disaster by the SBA is contingent upon a certain number of homes or businesses being damaged or economically injured (e.g., at least 25 homes or 25 businesses are damaged). The bill authorizes the SBA to declare a disaster in a rural area if any home, small business, private nonprofit, or small agricultural cooperative located in such area has incurred significant damage. The bill defines a rural area as an area with a population of less than 200,000 outside an urbanized area.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 2020
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act This bill establishes a new criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. The bill provides exceptions for an abortion (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements. A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2020
Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity Usage to Reach Every Small Business Act or the SECURE Small Business Act This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help small businesses purchase cybersecurity products and services. Specifically, the SBA must establish a website that provides a marketplace for facilitating agreements under which small businesses may cooperatively purchase cybersecurity products and services. Such website shall be free to use for small businesses and cybersecurity vendors. The SBA must also take steps to educate small businesses about the types of cybersecurity products and services that are specific to each industry sector and provide outreach to encourage use of the cooperative marketplace. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on potential improvements to existing federal initiatives that train small businesses on how to avoid cybersecurity threats.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2020
This concurrent resolution calls for honoring the 234th anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on Religious Freedom Day, January 16, 2020. The resolution affirms that religious freedom includes the right of individuals of any faith and individuals of no faith to live, work, associate, and worship in accordance with their beliefs; all people of the United States can be unified in supporting religious freedom because it is a fundamental human right; and the American people will remain forever unshackled in matters of faith.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
This resolution commends the President, U.S. Armed Forces, and intelligence community in leading a strike against Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to countering global terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Mirador-Calakmul Basin Maya Security and Conservation Partnership Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish the Maya Security and Conservation Partnership program. The goal of this program shall be to foster collaborative research efforts between the United States and local entities to create a sustainable tourism model that provides low-impact, controlled access to the archaeological sites of the Mirador-Calakmul Basin in Central America with an emphasis on providing economic opportunity for the communities in and around the basin.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2019 This bill establishes and modifies several requirements to address prescription drug prices under Medicare. The bill generally limits payment amounts for drugs and biologics under Medicare medical services, reduces cost-sharing under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and establishes several reporting requirements for drug manufacturers with respect to drug prices.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2019
Personalized Care Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions relating to health savings accounts (HSAs), including to redefine eligible individual for HSA purposes to allow increased participation in HSAs, increase the limit on contributions to HSAs, permit the payment of health insurance premiums from HSAs, include within the definition of qualified medical expenses periodic fees paid for medical services and amounts paid by a member of a health care sharing ministry, treat periodic provider fees as deductible medical expenses, allow payment of over-the-counter medicines or drugs from HSAs, and lower the 20% penalty for nonqualified distributions from HSAs to 10%. .
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2019
Support And Value Expectant Moms and Babies Act of 2019 or the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved. Under the bill, an already-approved drug intended to terminate a pregnancy may be dispensed to a patient only with a prescription. Furthermore, the FDA may not approve any labeling change that would authorize (1) using the drug after 70 days of gestation, or (2) dispensing the drug by any means other than in-person administration by the prescribing health care practitioner. The FDA must also impose additional restrictions on such already-approved drugs, including by (1) requiring the prescribing health care practitioner to receive a special certification, (2) prohibiting the practitioner to also act as the dispensing pharmacist, and (3) requiring the practitioner to have the ability to provide surgical intervention to the patient. The bill also rescinds any investigational use exemption already granted to such a drug if the bill would have prohibited the FDA from granting the exemption. (Currently, the FDA may grant an exemption to certain market approval requirements if a drug is intended solely for use in safety and effectiveness investigations.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2019
This resolution expresses the Senate's concern over irregularities in the 2019 general elections in Bolivia, supports the expeditious convening of new democratic elections that are free, fair, and transparent, and urges all Bolivians to repudiate violence and peacefully exercise their rights.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act of 2019 This bill establishes a presumption, for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits and wartime disability compensation, that a veteran was exposed to certain toxins, chemicals, and hazards from burn pits if such veteran served on active duty in a covered location during a specified time frame. A burn pit is an area used for burning solid waste in open air. Specifically, the bill identifies the following covered locations and corresponding time periods Iraq, between August 2, 1990, and February 28, 1991, as well as from March 19, 2003, until burn pits are no longer used in this location; Southwest Asia (including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates), from August 2, 1990, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; Afghanistan and Djibouti from September 11, 2001, until burn pits are no longer used in these locations; and other locations and time periods set forth by the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry or determined by the VA. Under the bill, if an exposed veteran submits insufficient evidence to establish a service-connection for purposes of disability compensation, the VA shall provide a medical examination and request medical opinions regarding a causal link between the disability and a toxin, chemical, or hazard.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
This resolution recognizes and celebrates small businesses by (1) acknowledging the importance of promoting a business-friendly environment for small business owners, (2) encouraging young entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and create more startup businesses, and (3) conveying appreciation for the ways small businesses support their communities and workers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
This resolution (1) reaffirms the importance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between South Korea and Japan; (2) encourages South Korea and Japan to rebuild trust and pursue cooperation on mutual interests; and (3) expresses support for strengthened alliances between the United States, South Korea, and Japan. (The GSOMIA is an agreement that allows Japan and South Korea to directly share military intelligence with one another.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2019 or the CONTRACT Act of 2019 This bill exempts certain air traffic controllers from a required reduction in their retirement annuity payment on account of earnings from certain work performed while entitled to such annuity. Under current law, retired Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers receive an annuity payment during the period between the mandatory retirement age of 56 and the social security minimum age of 62. Such annuity payment is required to be reduced by a certain percentage of any excess earnings during this period. The bill exempts from such reduction in annuity payments an air traffic controller who participates in the Air Traffic Control Contract Program (a public-private partnership for air traffic control services) following mandatory retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2019
This resolution designates November 4–8, 2019, as National Veterans Small Business Week, expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Veterans Small Business Week, celebrates the millions of people in the United States—especially veterans and their spouses—who benefit from Small Business Administration programs, and expresses appreciation for the continued service of the nation's veterans through small business ownership and entrepreneurship.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2019
Bring Our Heroes Home Act This bill establishes at the National Archives a collection of records that relate to the fate or status of missing Armed Forces personnel. Each government office must identify and locate such records in its possession and transmit them to the Archives. The bill establishes a temporary board to ensure and facilitate the review, transmission, and public disclosure of such records. The bill generally makes such records public, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 2019
This resolution reaffirms support for elevated collaboration between the United States and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly in terms of economic cooperation and human rights; urges ASEAN to foster multilateral relations with non-ASEAN partners; expresses support for ASEAN nations in addressing maritime and territorial disputes, as well as corruption in the public and private sectors; calls on ASEAN nations to ensure human rights, a protected marine environment, and safe access to international waterways in the Asia-Pacific; urges ASEAN nations to uphold international agreements with respect to North Korea's missile programs; and expresses support for the Lower Mekong Initiative, a partnership between the United States, Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, and Vietnam to promote sustainability and economic development in the region.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act This bill makes several modifications to the federal budget process, including the procedures for considering congressional budget resolutions and adjusting the debt limit. Among other modifications, the bill includes provisions that require biennial congressional budget resolutions, instead of the annual budget resolutions required under current law; retain the existing annual appropriations process; require a budget resolution to specify a target for the ratio of the debt held by the public to the gross domestic product (GDP) for each year covered by the resolution; require the debt-to-GDP target to be enforced using a mandatory reconciliation process that requires deficit reduction legislation to be considered using expedited legislative procedures; provide for automatic adjustments of the debt limit and statutory discretionary spending limits to conform to the levels in the budget resolution; modify the procedures for considering budget resolutions in the Senate; allow budget resolutions that have bipartisan support and meet specified requirements to be considered in the Senate using expedited procedures; rename the Committee on the Budget of the Senate as the Committee on Fiscal Control and the Budget of the Senate; and expand reporting requirements for congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Government Accountability Office.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
This resolution recognizes October 2019 as National Women's Small Business Month, honoring the role of women small business owners and entrepreneurs and encouraging the support and creation of women-owned small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act This bill creates new federal crimes related to the performance of an abortion on an unborn child who has Down syndrome. It subjects a violator to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. It also authorizes civil remedies, including damages and injunctive relief. A woman who undergoes such an abortion may not be prosecuted or held civilly liable.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
This resolution declares that (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Kay Hagan, former Member of the Senate; and (2) when the Senate adjourns on October 30, 2019, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Kay Hagan.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Small Business Contracting Accountability Act of 2019 This bill requires certain federal agencies (i.e., those with procurement powers) that are in violation of the requirement that they establish an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to submit a report detailing the reasons for their noncompliance and the specific actions they will take to comply with the requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
This resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall as the start of German reunification and democratic change in much of the rest of the world. It values the efforts of German and European citizens to reinvigorate the united Germany and recognizes Germany for its steadfast alliance and friendship with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
Integrated Energy Systems Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish an integrated energy systems program to (1) maximize energy production and efficiency; (2) provide reliable, competitive, and environmentally sustainable electricity to the grid; (3) expand the use of emissions-reducing energy technologies into nonelectric sectors; and (4) enable U.S. energy infrastructure to support the quantity, variability in type, and variability in size of generation devices and smart load devices.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
This resolution urges the House of Representatives (1) before proceeding any further with its impeachment investigation into President Trump, to vote to initiate a formal impeachment inquiry; (2) to provide President Trump with due process, including the ability to confront his accusers, call witnesses on his behalf, and have a basic understanding of the accusations against him that would form any basis for impeachment; and (3) to provide members of the minority with the ability to participate fully in all proceedings and have equal authority to issue subpoenas and other compulsory process.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2019
Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2019 This bill sets forth provisions regarding development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy on public lands. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish priority areas on covered land (i.e., public land administered by Interior and not excluded under law from the development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy) for geothermal, solar, or wind energy projects. Other areas shall also be considered for the development of renewable energy projects under this bill, consistent with the principles of multiple use. Interior shall establish a program to improve federal permit coordination with respect to renewable energy projects carried out on covered land. Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall seek to issue permits that in total authorize the production of at least 25 gigawatts of electricity from geothermal, solar, or wind energy projects by the end of 2025. The bill provides for the disposition of revenues from the development of wind or solar energy on covered land. The bill establishes the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund to make funds available to federal, state, and tribal agencies for distribution in regions in which renewable energy projects are located on federal land for (1) restoring and protecting fish and wildlife habitat and corridors for affected species and water resources in areas affected by geothermal, solar, or wind energy development; and (2) preserving and improving recreational access to federal land and water in an affected region.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2019
This joint resolution condemns Turkey's hostilities against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria and expresses support for a continued U.S. military presence in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Specifically, the joint resolution (1) calls on the U.S. government to pressure Turkey to curtail its hostilities against U.S. partner forces in Syria; (2) calls on the U.S. government and other nations to continue supporting, or to increase support for, stabilization efforts in northeastern Syria; (3) warns that a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from the ongoing fight against terrorist groups in the region would be detrimental to the interests of the United States and its allies; and (4) otherwise expresses the sense of Congress regarding military, diplomatic, and humanitarian support in the region.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 2019
This resolution expresses support for Red Ribbon Week, which promotes a commitment to healthy, drug-free lifestyles. It also encourages participation in drug prevention activities and the development of drug-free communities.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2019
Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of State to develop a strategy to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), authorizes humanitarian assistance for Syrian civilians, restricts arms sales to Turkey, and imposes sanctions against Turkey and Russia. As part of the strategy to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, the bill requires the State Department to report on (1) the Turkish incursion into Syria; (2) Turkey's participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; (3) the estimated net worth of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; and (4) foreign persons determined to have knowingly provided defense articles, services, or technology to Turkey that could be used in its operations in Syria. Further, the State Department must brief Congress on Russian and Iranian influence in Syria, U.S. activities to counter such influence, and the ability of ISIS to reconstitute. The President must oppose loans to Turkey from international finance institutions and impose sanctions against identified foreign persons that provided Turkey with defense articles, services, or technology for its operations in Syria. The bill also authorizes the President to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria, and it requires the State Department to give priority designation to certain Syrian Kurds as refugees of special humanitarian concern. Additionally, the bill prohibits the sale of arms to Turkey for its operations in Syria, and it imposes sanctions against persons providing arms to Turkish forces in Syria. It also imposes sanctions against senior Turkish government officials, financial institutions that facilitate transactions for Turkish Armed Forces, and Russian persons supporting the Assad regime.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2019
Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 or the RPM Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the modification of a vehicle's air emission controls for vehicles that are not legal for operation on a street or highway and are used solely for competition. In relation to the exemption of competition vehicles from anti-tampering provisions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is prohibited from creating or authorizing a database of vehicle registration information that is required to be consulted at the point of manufacture, sale, installation, or use of parts or components. Additionally, the EPA may not require the registration of a vehicle, or part or component of a vehicle, by the manufacturer, seller, purchaser, installer, or user of the vehicle. The regulation prescribed by the EPA regarding the exemption must include certain components, including a description of the reasonable conditions for the applicability of the exemption.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This resolution recognizes the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic for their achievements in building prosperous, democratic societies since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The resolution also commends the countries for their support of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) operations in Afghanistan and reaffirms the United States' commitment to a free and peaceful Europe.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Protecting Resources On The Electric grid with Cybersecurity Technology Act of 2019 or the PROTECT Act of 2019 This bill addresses providing incentives for electric utilities to invest in cybersecurity. Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to provide incentives to electric utilities for investing in advanced cybersecurity technology, and establishes a grant and technical assistance program at the Department of Energy for electric utilities that are not regulated by FERC to deploy advanced cybersecurity technology.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This resolution expresses support for a credible, inclusive, and transparent presidential election in Afghanistan on September 28, 2019, and commends the people of Afghanistan for their commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
![Official portrait of Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000584_200.jpg)