United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
This resolution instructs Senate conferees on the conference committee for S. 1790 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020) to insist upon certain provisions contained in the House amendment that relate to the repeal of a requirement of reduction of Survivor Benefit Plan survivor annuities by amounts of dependency and indemnity compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
This resolution commends the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and its partners for their contributions to ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The resolution also affirms U.S. support to secure at least $14 billion in donor commitments for the Sixth Global Fund Replenishment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2019
PILT Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill extends the payment in lieu of taxes program through FY2029. "Payments in Lieu of Taxes" (PILT) are federal payments to local governments that help offset losses in property taxes due to the existence of nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2019
Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of 2019 This bill establishes requirements and procedures for the Department of the Treasury to transfer ownership of matured, unredeemed savings bonds and related records to states.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2019
This concurrent resolution commemorates, on December 16, 2019, the 75th anniversary of World War II's Battle of the Bulge. The resolution also recognizes the valiant efforts of the Allied Forces and expresses remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Allied victory in the European Theater.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2019
Medicaid Patient Abuse Prevention Act This bill allows state Medicaid fraud control units to investigate complaints of patient abuse or neglect in additional settings. Specifically, the bill allows a unit to review complaints regarding Medicaid patients who are in noninstitutional or other settings. Currently, such units may review complaints regarding patients who are in Medicaid-funded health care facilities or certain board-and-care facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2019
Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro National League, a professional baseball league that was formed in response to African-American players being banned from baseball's major leagues. The design of the coins shall be emblematic of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission to promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusion. All surcharges from sales of these coins shall be paid to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for educational and outreach programs and exhibits.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
This resolution designates July 26, 2019, as United States Intelligence Professionals Day and acknowledges the courage, fidelity, sacrifice, and professionalism of the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
This resolution honors John Paul Stevens, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Specifically, the resolution commends his decades of service, acknowledges his enormous contributions, and extends sympathies to his family and friends.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
Small County PILT Parity Act This bill increases the maximum amount of a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) that may be made to a local government to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands. The maximum PILT payment to a local government is based on the size of the population served. The bill's increase in the maximum PILT payment is greater for local governments with a population below 4,500.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2019
Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow's Needs Act This bill revises provisions of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act relating to the funding of wildlife conservation. Specifically, the bill adds new definitions, including a definition of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment ; apportions to states revenues from taxes on pistols, revolvers, bows, and arrows at a rate not greater than 3% and not less than 1% of such revenues; removes the existing prohibition on public relations to allow spending by states for management of wildlife areas and promotion of hunting and recreational shooting; allows the use of grant funds for the enhancement of hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment; and expands the Multistate Conservation Grant program by providing $5 million exclusively for making hunter and recreational shooter recruitment project grants that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities. The Fish and Wildlife Service shall review and evaluate the effects of funds used for hunter and recreational shooter recruitment on funds available for wildlife conservation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019
Never Again Education Act This bill creates the Holocaust Education Assistance Program Fund for the Department of Education (ED) to (1) award grants to eligible entities to carry out Holocaust education programs, and (2) conduct periodic regional workshops to provide teachers with technical assistance on how to incorporate Holocaust education within state and local education standards. The fund may accept donations and in-kind contributions. ED shall (1) create and maintain a Holocaust education program website containing resources for middle grades and high schools; and (2) establish the Holocaust Education Advisory Board to advise on developing application criteria for the fund's grants, to advise on content for the Holocaust education program website, and to lead efforts to solicit donations for the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2019
Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take a series of actions relating to palliative-care training. Specifically, HHS must provide support for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers. The centers must improve the training of health professionals in palliative care and establish traineeships for individuals preparing for advanced-education nursing degrees, social-work degrees, or advanced degrees in physician-assistant studies in palliative care. HHS may provide support to medical schools, teaching hospitals, and graduate medical-education programs for training physicians who plan to teach palliative medicine. HHS must (1) provide Palliative Medicine and Hospice Academic Career Awards to individuals to promote their career development, (2) support entities that operate a Palliative Care and Hospice Education Center, (3) support individuals in specified fields who are pursuing an advanced degree in palliative care or related fields, and (4) award grants to nursing programs to train individuals in providing palliative care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must provide for a national education and awareness campaign to inform patients, families, and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care. The National Institutes of Health must expand national research programs in palliative care.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Saudi Arabia Diplomatic Review Act of 2019 or SADRA This bill requires the Department of State to review and report on U.S. policy with respect to Saudi Arabia, and it requires the President to impose certain sanctions related to Saudia Arabia and Yemen. Specifically, the bill requires the State Department to review and report on (1) the U.S.-Saudi Arabia bilateral relationship, (2) Saudi government activities within the United States, and (3) measures to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the war in Yemen and the protection of Yemeni civilians and cultural property. In addition, the bill directs the President to deny a visa for a citizen of Saudi Arabia who (1) is related to King Abd al Aziz bin Abd al Rahman Al Saud, and (2) is a high-ranking official in the Saudi government. The President must also deny a visa for the spouse or child of such an individual. The President must also impose sanctions on persons determined to be hindering humanitarian access in Yemen or threatening the peace or stability of Yemen. Additionally, unless the President determines that the Houthis (Iranian-sponsored rebels) have engaged meaningfully in certain efforts towards stability in Yemen, the President must impose sanctions on persons determined to be supporting the Houthis in Yemen. The President is authorized to enter a cooperative project agreement with countries in the Arabian Peninsula to produce defense articles and services for detecting and destroying armed drones that threaten the United States and its partners. Further, the Department of the Treasury is authorized to provide technical assistance to improve governance at the Central Bank of Yemen.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2019
This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, four Americans killed in the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. (Stevens was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya at the time, Smith was an officer in the Foreign Service, and Doherty and Woods were both government contractors and former Navy SEALs.) After the medal has been awarded, it shall be given to the Central Intelligence Agency Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
FAST Fix Act of 2019 This bill modifies provisions governing the administration of the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) program. Specifically, the bill encourages FAST program grants to be awarded to small businesses in underperforming states by (1) requiring the Small Business Administration to give priority and special consideration to such applicants, and (2) authorizing the SBA to provide additional assistance to such applicants. The bill defines underperforming states as being the 18 states that receive the fewest Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards. Additionally, the bill removes the limit on the number of proposals that may be submitted for inclusion in the FAST program to provide services in any one state. The bill also lowers the matching requirements for the bottom tier of FAST recipients, sets limits on the amount of each award, and extends the period for distribution of grants to two years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow an individual to possess a firearm in a public area of a water resources development project if (1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and (2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the state in which the project is located.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Small Businesses Partnering with National Labs Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a program to provide qualified small business concerns with vouchers that may be used at National Laboratories and single-purpose research facilities for activities such as research and development. In addition, the bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to locate and recover unclaimed U.S. government assets on behalf of any agency and to retain a portion thereof to cover administrative and operational costs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
This bill amends the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) to repeal the permanent rescission on July 1, 2020, of $7.569 billion in unobligated federal-aid highway funds for states.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Investing in Main Street Act of 2019 This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to permit certain banking entities, subject to the approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, to invest up to 15% of their capital and surplus in one or more small business investment companies (SBICs), or in any entity established to invest solely in SBICs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Small Business Investment Improvement Act of 2019 This bill directs the Small Business Administration to approve or decline an applicant seeking a license to operate as a small business investment company (SBIC) within certain specified timelines, and it requires an applicant to successfully pass a Federal Bureau of Investigation background check before it may become an SBIC.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 This bill directs various departments to assess whether political developments in Hong Kong justify changing Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment. The report shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong's civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law. The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions. The President shall provide Congress an assessment as to whether to withdraw from the U.S.-Hong Kong extradition treaty, and what actions are needed to protect U.S. citizens and national security interests, if Hong Kong (1) amends its laws to allow the rendition of individuals to countries that lack defendants' rights protections, or (2) passes a national security law. The State Department shall allow otherwise qualified Hong Kong residents to obtain visas to work or study in the United States, even if the applicant had been arrested for participating in certain nonviolent protests supporting human rights or the rule of law. The President shall report to Congress a list of individuals responsible for abducting and torturing people for exercising internationally recognized human rights in Hong Kong. The bill bars such individuals from entering the United States and imposes sanctions on them.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act or the Broadband DATA Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change the way broadband data is collected, verified, and reported. Specifically, the FCC must collect and disseminate granular broadband service availability data (broadband maps) from wired, fixed-wireless, satellite, and mobile broadband providers. To do this, the FCC is required to establish the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (a dataset of geocoded information for all broadband service locations, atop which broadband maps are overlaid) as the vehicle for reporting broadband service availability data. Additionally, the FCC must put forth specified requirements for service availability data collected from broadband providers, and it must create a challenge process to enable the submission of independent data challenging the accuracy of FCC broadband maps.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Judicial Reorganization Act of 2019 This bill creates a new U.S. court of appeals by dividing the current U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The newly created U.S. court of appeals shall have jurisdiction over Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2019
Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act of 2019 This bill modifies criminal penalties for an offense involving the theft of a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer, or from their business premises. Specifically, the bill does the following: increases from 10 to 20 years the maximum prison term, and creates a 3- or 5-year mandatory minimum prison term for an offense that occurs during the commission of a burglary or robbery. An attempt to commit an offense is subject to the same penalties as a substantive offense.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2019
United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to arrange for the award of a single gold medal to the U.S. Army Ranger veterans of World War II in recognition of their dedicated wartime service. Following its award, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where it shall be available for display and research.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2019
Updating Purchase Obligations to Deploy Affordable Resources to Energy Markets Under PURPA Act or the UPDATE PURPA Act This bill modifies (1) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) rules related to cogeneration and small power production facilities, (2) the mandatory purchase obligation for electric utility companies to purchase energy from certain facilities, and (3) the one-mile rule of FERC. FERC must modify its rules regarding certain cogeneration and small power production facilities, including to require that such facilities are responsible for the costs of any facility or network upgrades associated with delivering power to its electric customers. The bill authorizes electric utility companies to waive the mandatory purchase obligation if additional power is not required to meet customers' electricity needs. The bill directs FERC to publish a final rule that allows any person or entity a rebuttable presumption to the one-mile rule. Under the one-mile rule, facilities are considered to be located at the same site as the facility for which qualification is sought if they are located within one mile of such facility. Specified factors must be taken into consideration by FERC when it determines whether two facilities are located at the same site.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Ski Area Fee Retention Act This bill establishes the Ski Area Fee Retention Account. A specified portion of rental charges for ski area permits on a Forest Service unit shall be deposited in such account. Amounts in the fund shall be available to the unit for expenditure without further appropriation for ski area administration, improvements, visitor services, and leasing of administrative sites. Funds may be reallocated only if the rental charges collected exceed the reasonable needs of the unit.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Forest Management for Rural Stability Act This bill establishes the Natural Resources Permanent Fund to provide payments to certain counties containing federal land. The bill also provides appropriations for the fund, requires certain annual receipts generated from public lands to be deposited into the fund, and grants a federal charter to the Forest and Refuge County Foundation to manage the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act or the SOAR Act This bill sets forth and revises provisions regarding special recreation permits for use by individuals and groups to engage in recreational activities on federal recreational lands and waters.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
This resolution expresses sympathy for the family and friends of the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre and condemns the use of violence against those who speak out against the Chinese Communist Party. The resolution also calls on the Chinese government to cease its current repression of the Chinese people. It calls on the international community to address the Chinese government's continued persecution and mass surveillance of its citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act or the CURD Act This bill provides statutory authority for a definition of natural cheese. Under the bill, natural cheese is defined as cheese that is produced from animal milk or certain dairy ingredients and is produced in accordance with established cheese-making standards.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act This bill prohibits a sanctuary jurisdiction from receiving grants under certain Economic Development Assistance Programs and the Community Development Block Grant Program. A sanctuary jurisdiction is a state or local government that has in effect a statute, policy, or practice that prohibits or restricts (1) information sharing about an individual's immigration status, or (2) compliance with a lawfully issued detainer request or notification of release request. The bill authorizes a state or local government to comply with a detainer and limits the liability of a state or local government for complying with the detainer.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
This bill revises the renewable fuel program to allow the use of additional types of biomass materials in making renewable fuel. Specifically, the bill allows renewable fuel to be made from (1) secondary, residual materials generated from forest products manufacturing (e.g., sawdust or wood chips); or (2) certain biomass materials obtained from federal land.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2019
Freedom of Commerce Act This bill repeals provisions restricting the sale, transport, and distribution of switchblade knives. In addition, the bill prohibits all ballistic knives (i.e., knives with detachable blades that are propelled by spring-operated mechanisms) from being deposited in, carried by the mails, or delivered by any officer or employee of the U.S. Postal Service, except to certain military and governmental officials and manufacturers, under specified conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act This bill authorizes the use of certain Bureau of Reclamation facilities and federal land, excluding facilities and land in California, to convey water to recharge certain aquifers.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Improving Preparation and Resources for Occupational, Vocational, and Educational Transition for Servicemembers Act or the IMPROVE Transition for Servicemembers Act This bill revises provisions that require the Department of Defense (DOD) and, with respect to the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to operate a program providing individual pre-separation counseling and services to assist members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning to civilian life. The bill's changes include (1) revising various deadlines in the transition program, (2) requiring the use of surveys and electronic systems to track the progress of participating individuals, and (3) establishing a program to provide Armed Forces members with information about the transition program and about career and educational opportunities available during military service. DOD and DHS must annually report on the furnishing of such pre-separation counseling, information, and services. The Government Accountability Office must report on service member participation in transition assistance programs at small and remote military installations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
RTP Funding Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation to carry out an assessment of the best available estimate of the total amount of nonhighway recreational fuel taxes received by the Department of the Treasury and transferred to the Highway Trust Fund for the period covered by the assessment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
Thin Blue Line Act This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Agency Accountability Act of 201 9 This bill requires any agency that receives a fee, fine, penalty, or proceeds from a settlement to deposit the amount in the general fund of the Treasury. The bill also prohibits the funds from being used unless the funding is provided in advance in an appropriations bill. The bill includes exceptions for funds to be paid to a whistle-blower, loan guarantee programs, and insurance programs. The requirements do not apply to the U.S. Postal Service or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Department of Commerce and the USPTO must report annually to Congress on funds collected by the USPTO from a settlement. The bill also requires offsetting receipts and collections to be treated as revenue for the purpose of carrying out the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and other laws. (Offsetting receipts and collections are funds collected by agencies from other government accounts or from the public in businesslike or market-oriented transactions. Under current law, the collections are treated as negative budget authority and outlays rather than revenue and may be used to offset spending for budget enforcement purposes.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2019
21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce to publish online, subject to privacy limitations, the best scientific and commercial data available that are the bases for the determination of whether a species is an endangered species or a threatened species, including each proposed regulation for the listing of a species.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2019
This bill revises provisions governing citizen suits against the Department of the Interior or the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration that allege a failure of the relevant department to perform its duties related to an endangered species or threatened species. Interior must publish the complaint in a citizen suit within 30 days of being served. Affected parties must be given a reasonable opportunity to intervene in the suit. If affected parties intervene, the court must refer the action to a mediation program or magistrate judge to facilitate settlement discussions. The court is prohibited from awarding litigation costs in such citizen suits that are settled. Interior must provide notice of a proposed settlement to each affected state or county. A settlement may not be approved if states or counties object.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2019
Veterans' Second Amendment Rights Restoration Act of 2019 This bill sets forth procedures and conditions for the adjudication of veterans as mentally incompetent for purposes of firearms possession or ownership. Specifically, the bill requires the federal government to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a person is a danger to himself, herself, or others in order for a person to be adjudicated as mentally defective. Veterans must be provided certain notice, including written notice of the effect the ruling may have on their ability to own and possess firearms. For an administrative competency proceeding to be initiated, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must determine (1) that a veteran requires the assignment of a fiduciary due to a finding of mental incompetency; and (2) the VA has a reasonable basis to believe that the person may be a danger to himself, herself, or others.
![Official portrait of Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000584_200.jpg)