United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order Act or the EL CHAPO Act This bill requires the forfeited profits of Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera (El Chapo) from his illicit drug trafficking enterprise to be reserved for border security measures between the United States and Mexico, including the completion of a wall. Additionally, it requires the forfeited funds from the felony conviction of a member of a drug cartel to be reserved for border security measures between the United States and Mexico, including the completion of a wall.
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
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 · 18 December 2018
Critical Access Hospital Relief Act of 2018 This bill repeals the 96-hour physician-certification requirement for inpatient critical access hospital services under Medicare. Under current law, as a condition for Medicare payment for such services, a physician must certify that a patient may reasonably be expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 96 hours after admission to the critical access hospital.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2018
Common Sense Credit Union Capital Relief Act of 2018 This bill delays to 2021 the National Credit Union Administration rule titled "Risk-Based Capital" published on October 29, 2015. (The rule establishes a new method, beginning in 2019, for measuring whether a credit union is adequately capitalized.)
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
WALL Act of 2018 This bill appropriates $25 billion for the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The amount shall remain available until expended. As offsets to the spending, this bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restrict the child tax credit, earned income credits, and lifetime learning credits to those with social security numbers and not prohibited from employment in the United States. Also, individuals who file taxes using an individual taxpayer identification number instead of a social security number shall pay a $300 fee. This bill also sets fines for aliens who improperly enter the United States or overstay their visas.
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 2018
75th Anniversary of World War II Commemoration Act This bill directs the Department of Defense to conduct a program to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II.
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 · 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 · 15 November 2018
Recognizes the important contribution women entrepreneurs make to the economy of the United States. Commemorates the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Investment Adviser Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise the definitions of "small business" and "small organization" for the purpose of analyzing the impact of regulations promulgated under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Specifically, the SEC must provide alternative methods through which a business or organization may qualify under such definitions.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Improving Investment Research for Small and Emerging Issuers Act This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to report on investment research regarding small issuers, including emerging growth companies and companies considering initial public offerings. The report must: (1) include topics such as the availability of such research and potential conflicts of interest relating to its production and distribution, and (2) make recommendations for increasing small-issuer investment research.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Financial Stability Oversight Council Improvement Act of 2018 The bill requires the Financial Stability Oversight Council, prior to determining that a U.S. nonbank financial company shall be supervised by the Federal Reserve Board and therefore subject to certain prudential standards, to first determine that certain alternative actions would not mitigate the threat the company may pose to U.S. financial stability
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Developing and Empowering our Aspiring Leaders Act of 2018 This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exempt certain investments by venture capital funds from SEC registration requirements; specifically, the bill exempts investments in equity securities acquired in a secondary acquisition.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Modernizing Disclosures for Investors Act This bill directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to: (1) report on the costs and benefits of requiring reporting companies to use Form 10-Q to satisfy quarterly financial disclosure requirements; and (2) make recommendations for decreasing costs, increasing transparency, and increasing efficiency of quarterly financial reporting by emerging growth companies.
United States · United States Congress · 11 October 2018
Alleviating Stress Test Burdens to Help Investors Act This bill amends the Financial Stability Act of 2010 to exempt certain financial companies not primarily regulated by either a federal banking agency or the Federal Housing Finance Agency from requirements to conduct stress tests. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission may issue separate regulations requiring specified financial companies to conduct financial-condition analyses.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 2018
Condemns the persecution of religious minorities in China. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to religious freedom and tolerance and to protecting religious minorities facing persecution.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2018
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Economic Exclusion Act This bill expands sanctions against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The President shall report to Congress regarding: foreign and domestic supply chains that significantly aid the IRGC; Iranian state-owned entities that provide support to terrorist entities, including Mahan Air; and foreign persons owned or controlled by the IRGC, including companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange or companies with a value in excess of $100 million. The bill states that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization and similar international bodies as long as Iran remains a state sponsor of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2018
Designates September 2018 as National Workforce Development Month. Expresses support for federal initiatives to promote workforce development. Acknowledges that workforce development plays a crucial role in supporting workers and growing the economy.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 2018
GI Bill Comparison Tool Improvement Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide information to veterans and members of the Armed Forces about whether certain postsecondary educational institutions allow students to stay enrolled in a course pending receipt of educational assistance from the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 28 August 2018
Self-Employed Mortgage Access Act of 2018 This bill allows creditors to use certain alternative standards when evaluating an applicant's ability to pay for purposes of obtaining a home mortgage.
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
PFAS Detection Act of 2018 This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a performance standard for the detection of perfluorinated compounds. Using such standard, the USGS must carry out a nationwide sampling to determine the concentration of perfluorinated compounds in estuaries, lakes, streams, springs, wells, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and soil. A perfluorinated compound is a perfluoroalkyl substance or a polyfluoroalkyl substance that is man made with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.
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
Innovative Materials for America's Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded Act of 2018 or the IMAGINE Act This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish an Interagency Innovative Materials Standards Task Force to coordinate and improve, with respect to infrastructure construction, retrofitting, rehabilitation, and other improvements: (1) federal testing standards, (2) federal design and use guidelines, and (3) other applicable standards. The task force shall collaborate with certain nonfederal entities to: (1) identify and carry out appropriate research, testing methods, and processes relating to the development and use of innovative materials; (2) develop new methods and processes relating to the development and use of innovative materials; and (3) contribute to the development of standards and guidelines for the use of innovative materials and approaches in civil infrastructure projects. The term "innovative material," with respect to an infrastructure project, includes high performance asphalt mixtures and concrete formulations, geosynthetic materials, advanced alloys and metals, reinforced polymer composites, including any coating or other corrosion prevention method used in conjunction with those materials, advanced polymers, and any other material or aggregate materials, as determined by the appropriate agency or department head. The Department of Transportation shall carry out a program to enhance the development of innovative materials in the United States. The Federal Highway Administration shall establish the Innovative Bridge Program to provide grants for coastal and rural infrastructure bridge projects. The Environmental Protection Agency shall establish the Water Infrastructure Innovation Program to provide grants for the design and installation of water infrastructure projects.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
Options Markets Stability Act This bill directs the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to revise the method of calculating the risk, for purposes of satisfying capital rules applicable to depository institutions and depository institution holding companies, of certain options cleared through a central counterparty.
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 · 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 · 28 June 2018
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 · 25 June 2018
Restoring Returning Workers Act of 2018 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to update through the current fiscal year the returning worker exemption from the cap on H-2B nonimmigrant visas. The bill provides that number of aliens considered to be returning workers in any fiscal year may not exceed the highest number of nonimmigrants who participated in the returning worker program in any fiscal year in which returning workers were exempt from the numerical limitation on the H-2B visa.
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 · 20 June 2018
Designates June 2018 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and June 27, 2018, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day. Expresses support for efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), as well as the medical community, to educate members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress. Expresses support for efforts by the VA and DOD to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress. Welcomes the efforts of the VA's National Center for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and local Vet Centers to assist veterans suffering from the effects of this injury. Encourages U.S. Armed Forces commanders to support appropriate treatment of Armed Forces personnel who suffer from post-traumatic stress.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2018
Protect Kids and Parents Act This bill requires that a child of alien parents or legal guardians who are asylum applicants must be detained in the same facility. A "child" is defined as an individual who has not reached the age of 18, has no permanent immigration status, and was in the custody and presence of a parent or legal guardian when the parent or legal guardian was detained for illegally entering the United States. The bill also: directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase the total number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration staff attorneys; directs Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase the total number of DHS personnel who process asylum applications; requires DOJ and DHS to establish procedures for expedited consideration and processing of asylum applications; requires expedited removal of asylum applicants whose applications have been denied; establishes a strong presumption in favor of family unity; requires DHS to publish guidance for locating separated children; and requires the Government Accountability Office to study, and report on, the prosecution of asylum seekers between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 2018
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2018, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2018
Financial Institution Living Will Improvement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to establish the frequency with which certain nonbank financial companies and bank holding companies shall be required to submit a "living will" (i.e., the company's plan for rapid and orderly resolution in the event of financial distress or failure) to the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Financial Stability Oversight Council, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Specifically, such companies shall be required to do so once every two years. (Current regulations generally require annual submission of plans.) The FRB and the FDIC must provide feedback to a company regarding such a plan within six months.
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
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 · 12 June 2018
Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a working group to: (1) identify obstacles to safe, humane, and market-efficient transport of livestock, insects, and agricultural commodities; and (2) develop guidelines and recommended regulatory or legislative actions to improve the safe, humane, and efficient transport of livestock, insects, and agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2018
Credit Access and Inclusion Act of 2018 This bill amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to allow the reporting of certain positive consumer-credit information to consumer reporting agencies. Specifically, a person or the Department of Housing and Urban Development may report information related to a consumer's performance in making payments either under a lease agreement for a dwelling or pursuant to a contract for a utility or telecommunications service. However, information about a consumer's usage of any utility or telecommunications service may be reported only to the extent that the information relates to payment by the consumer for such service or other terms of the provision of that service. Furthermore, an energy-utility firm may not report a consumer's outstanding balance as late if the firm and the consumer have entered into a payment plan and the consumer is meeting the obligations of that plan. Specified provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act that establish civil liability with respect to furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies shall not apply to any violation of the bill. The Government Accountability Office must report on the consumer impact of such reporting.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2018
National Defense Accelerator Network Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Defense to carry out a pilot program establishing an innovation network to support the creation of startups that produce technologies with both military and civilian uses.
![Official portrait of Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000605_200.jpg)