United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2020
Holding Rioters Accountable Act of 2020 This bill permits the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withhold certain funding from an office of a state or local prosecutor, district attorney, or state attorney general if DOJ determines the office abused prosecutorial discretion by failing to prosecute crimes arising from riots or destructive protest activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2020
This resolution declares that (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable John Lewis, a late Member of the House of Representatives; and (2) when the Senate adjourns on July 28, 2020, it will stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable John Lewis.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2020
GAO Database Modernization Act This bill requires federal agencies to report to the Government Accountability Office certain information about agency rules that are made ineffective due to an agency action or other reason.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
PPE Supply Chain Transparency Act of 2020 This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to issue, within 90 days, a public report on the security and resilience of the supply chain for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. This equipment includes face masks, protective clothing, and other supplies designed to protect the wearer from injury or infection.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Federal Emergency Pandemic Response Act This bill addresses the issue of national pandemic preparedness and response. It directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to convene an Interagency Task Force to analyze U.S. preparedness for national pandemics. The task force shall, among other things (1) determine the mission of the Strategic National Stockpile and clearly define it, and (2) assess the current and future inventory needs of the stockpile. The bill establishes within (1) the executive branch the Unified Coordination Group led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and (2) FEMA a Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force to address the supply of critical protective and life saving equipment. The National Response Coordination Center, acting through the appropriate FEMA Regional Administrators, shall (1) request voluntary information from states regarding their holdings of equipment and medical supply necessary in the event of a pandemic, and (2) share information with states regarding the federal government's current inventory and plan. FEMA, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), shall monitor the inventory stockpile levels, economic and health care models, and evaluate available data on supply and demand trends to restock and increase the inventory of supplies maintained in the stockpile. The bill authorizes DHS to transfer personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment to HHS during a declared public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Unnecessary Agency Regulations Reduction Act This bill requires the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to annually report a list of major rules (i.e., rules with a significant economic impact, cost to consumers, or adverse effects on competition) that it recommends should be modified, consolidated, or repealed because they are outdated, duplicative, or incur excessive compliance costs. Congress must review the list to determine, and recommend by joint resolution, any such rules to modify, consolidate, or repeal.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Affordable Coronavirus Testing Act This bill requires health insurance plans to cover through 2021 without cost sharing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) serology testing, which looks for the presence of antibodies made in response to an infection. This coverage requirement also applies to federal health care programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, veterans and military personnel health benefits, and federal employee health benefits. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse, through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, health care providers for the cost of providing diagnosis and treatment for COVID-19 to individuals without health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 2020
This resolution designates April 13, 2020, as National Borinqueneers Day and recognizes the bravery, service, and sacrifice of Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment in the armed conflicts of the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
This bill allows the Seminole Tribe of Florida to lease, sell, convey, warrant, or transfer its real property that is not held in trust by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act This bill revises rulemaking requirements with respect to unfunded mandates. Specifically, the bill requires federal agencies to prepare and publish in the Federal Register an initial and final regulatory impact analysis prior to promulgating any proposed or final major rule. The analysis must include regulatory alternatives to the rule. Major rule means a rule that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs determines is likely to cause an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, federal, state, local, or tribal government agencies, or geographic regions; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, public health and safety, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets. Before promulgating any proposed or final major rule, an agency shall select the regulatory alternative that maximizes net benefits, taking into consideration only the costs and benefits that arise within the scope of the statutory provision that authorizes the rulemaking, with exceptions. The bill prohibits Congress from considering a bill that increases private sector costs more than a certain amount unless certain conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 2020
American Citizen Coronavirus Relief Act This bill requires taxpayers and their dependent children to include a valid Social Security number on their tax returns in order to receive a 2020 recovery rebate. The bill allows a reduced rebate for taxpayers filing a joint return if one spouse provides a valid number.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2020
This resolution celebrates the 35th anniversary of Radio and TV Martí and recognizes the role that broadcasting to Cuba serves in providing outside information to the Cuban people. Further, it honors those at Radio and TV Martí, administered through the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, for their commitment and dedication to informing the Cuban people, and it reaffirms the importance of U.S. policies supporting the transmission of external, reliable, objective information to some of the most repressed parts of the world.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
Safeguarding American Innovation Act This bill addresses the security of federally funded research and development grants and export-controlled goods, technologies, or sensitive information. The bill establishes in the Office of Management and Budget a Federal Research Security Council to develop federally funded research and development grant making policy and management guidance to protect the national and economic security interests of the United States. Each executive agency on the council shall be responsible for assessing federal research security risks posed by persons participating in federally funded research and development. The bill prohibits any individual from knowingly (1) preparing or submitting a federal grant application that fails to disclose the receipt of any outside compensation, including foreign compensation, by the individual; or (2) forging, counterfeiting, or otherwise falsifying a document to obtain a federal grant. An alien shall be inadmissible to the United States if a consulate or the Department of Justice knows the alien seeks to enter the United States to acquire export-controlled goods, technologies, or sensitive information if the Department of State has determined that such acquisition would be contrary to U.S. national security (including economic security). The bill revises provisions relating to the disclosure of foreign gifts.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 2020
This bill modifies U.S. policy and establishes requirements with respect to knowledge diplomacy (i.e., the role of international science and technology agreements in foreign relations). Specifically, the bill declares it to be U.S. policy that federally supported international science and technology agreements should serve U.S. national security and economic interests. Further, it requires the Department of State to (1) identify vulnerabilities in international cooperation that may place federally funded research at risk, (2) strengthen the security and integrity of U.S. scientific and research collaborations with foreign partners, and (3) encourage the international scientific community to adopt and adhere to U.S. scientific values. The bill also requires the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to submit a biennial report on compliance with U.S. policy across such science and technology agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
This resolution declares that it is U.S. policy to Buy American , expresses the Senate's support for American manufacturing, and encourages Americans to buy American products and materials to the greatest extent possible.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 2020
Cut Profits to the Cuban Regime Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of State to publish a list of countries that contract with Cuba's medical missions program and to consider, when determining a country's ranking for the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, whether the country participated in programs with foreign organizations that enable human trafficking. Cuba's overseas medical missions program employs health care professionals in more than 60 countries but has been included in the annual TIP Report for indicators of human trafficking in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
This resolution commemorates the 49 victims killed in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016. It also offers heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and friends of the victims.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2020
Helping Parents Educate Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic This bill expands the types of educational expenses that may be paid from a qualified tuition program (commonly known as a 529 plan) for students enrolled at or attending an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. It also permits payments of certain education expenses for home schooling during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period beginning on March 13, 2020, and ending on the date the emergency period has ended. The bill also permits penalty free distributions from tax-preferred retirement plans for the period after February 29, 2020, and before January 1, 2021, if contributed to a 529 plan.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2020
This resolution calls on China to allow exiled Tiananmen demonstrators to return to China; condemns the imposition of national security legislation with respect to Hong Kong, as well as the use of violence and imprisonment as means of repression; urges the United States to protect its interests in Hong Kong and the freedom of the people of Hong Kong; calls upon the Hong Kong Chief Executive to allow the people of Hong Kong to exercise their rights, and encourages the formation of an international coalition to demand that China adhere to its international obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2020
American Space Commerce Act of 2020 This bill allows a special allowance for bonus depreciation for qualified domestic space launch property and extends the termination of such allowance until the end of 2032. The bill defines qualified domestic space launch property as property placed in service before January 1, 2023, that is (1) a space transportation vehicle or payload that is launched from the United States, or (2) other property or equipment placed in service to facilitate a space launch from the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
This resolution designates May 2020 as Older Americans Month and encourages the United States to provide opportunities for older individuals to continue to flourish.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
Open Technology Fund Authorization Act This bill authorizes the existing Open Technology Fund (OTF) as an independent grantee within the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The OTF is an independent nonprofit organization within the purview of the USAGM that supports the development of internet freedom technologies that create ways to counter censorship efforts. As an independent grantee authorized by this bill, the OTF shall seek to advance freedom of the press and unrestricted internet access in repressive environments through functions such as researching, developing, implementing, and maintaining secure communications tools and technologies that circumvent censorship techniques used to limit or block access to the internet; advancing internet freedom by supporting private and public sector efforts to provide secure and uncensored access to the internet; and developing, acquiring, and distributing internet freedom technologies and techniques to fully enable the creation and distribution of digital content between and to all users and audiences. To advance freedom of the press and unrestricted internet access, the OTF shall use methods that include supporting fully open-source tools, code, and components that are as secure, transparent, and accessible as possible; supporting technologies that undergo comprehensive security audits; and establishing safeguards to mitigate the use of supported technologies for illicit purposes. The Department of State must report on the effectiveness of the OTF and the extent to which U.S. interests are being served by its work, and the Government Accountability Office shall have access to all information pertaining to financial transactions as may be necessary to facilitate an audit.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2020
COVID-19 Vaccine Protection Act This bill requires enhanced vetting of Chinese nationals in the United States on student or exchange visitor visas and temporarily stops the issuance of such visas to Chinese nationals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall conduct comprehensive background checks on any Chinese national (unless the individual is enrolled in elementary or secondary school) residing in the United States on an F, M, or J visa to determine if the individual is a national security threat or attempting to illegally obtain COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine research. When performing such background checks, DHS shall consult with the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Department of Health and Human Services. DHS shall complete all such background checks within 120 days of this bill's enactment and may extend the deadline by 60 days if necessary. The State Department may not issue F, M, or J visas to Chinese nationals until DHS has reported to Congress the completed results of the background checks. DHS shall continuously vet any Chinese national holding an F, M, or J visa who has access to any COVID-19-related research, unless the individual is enrolled in elementary or secondary school.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2020
This resolution declares that the Senate (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Thomas Allen Coburn, former member of the U.S. Senate; (2) recognizes his life and achievements; and (3) expresses condolences to the family of the former Senator on his passing. Furthermore, this resolution declares that when the Senate adjourns on May 19, 2020, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Thomas Allen Coburn.
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 · 14 May 2020
This resolution honors the life and memory of Jereima "Jeri" Bustamante and encourages the recipients of the Jereima Bustamante Memorial Scholarship to carry on her legacy.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Agency Accountability Act This bill establishes a Federal Agency Sunset Commission to evaluate the need for each agency or advisory committee. The commission shall review and evaluate the efficiency and public need for each agency or advisory committee at least once every six years; recommend whether each agency or advisory committee should be continued, abolished, or reorganized; and propose legislative language based on its recommendations for abolishing or reorganizing an agency or advisory committee. When the commission is considering whether to recommend continuing, abolishing, or reorganizing an agency or advisory committee, the agency shall submit timely responses to a questionnaire provided by the commission, which shall include an explanation of why the functions of the agency or advisory committee continue to be necessary, what efficiencies taxpayers realize by the continued operation of the agency or advisory committee, and why the responsibilities of the agency or advisory committee cannot be better performed by the private sector or another agency or committee. Legislation proposed by the commission shall be granted expedited consideration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Expanding Medical Partnerships with Israel to Lessen Dependence on China Act or the EMPIL-DOC Act This bill authorizes a bilateral grant program with Israel to develop health technologies, with an emphasis on the use of technology, personalized medicine, and data in relation to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Technologies to be developed through this program include, among others, artificial intelligence, respiratory assist devices, and diagnostic tests. In addition, the program conditions funding on a matching contribution from the government of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
This resolution recognizes the life and achievements of Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Donald Francis Shula and expresses condolences to his family upon his passing away.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2020
Country Of Origin Labeling Online Act or the COOL Online Act This bill requires sellers to conspicuously disclose the country of origin of products sold over the internet. This includes compliance with the labeling requirements for, among other products, new passenger motor vehicles, textile fiber products, wools products, fur products, covered commodities, and pharmaceutical products subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration. These requirements also apply to the provider or publisher of any internet marketplaces of such products. The bill further makes it unlawful to falsely or deceptively represent that a products or parts of its processing are of United States origin.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2020
Parental Notification and Intervention Act This bill prohibits a person or organization from performing, facilitating, or assisting in the performance of an abortion on an unemancipated minor under age 18 without first complying with parental notification requirements, subject to exceptions and limitations. It establishes penalties—a fine, up to one year in prison, or both—for each willful violation. A parent who is required to be notified of an abortion of an unemancipated minor may bring an action in federal district court to prohibit the abortion.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2020
COVID-19 Accountability Act This bill authorizes sanctions in relation to the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. It also increases the research tax credit and imposes requirements related to the acquisition of items for the Strategic National Stockpile. The President shall periodically certify to Congress that the Chinese government (1) is cooperating with efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) has prohibited wet markets, and (3) has released and dropped all charges for anyone involved in protests in Hong Kong related to COVID-19. If the President cannot make such a certification, the President may (1) impose sanctions on Chinese government officials, entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and individuals affiliated with such entities; or (2) prohibit Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas (i.e., F and M visas) or exchange visitor visas (i.e., J visas). With respect to the research tax credit, the bill increases the alternative simplified credit from 14% to 20% of qualified research expenses above a certain threshold. The Department of Health and Human Services generally may not purchase personal protective equipment, critical medical supplies, or certain fabric products not produced in the United States for the Strategic National Stockpile. However, this restriction shall not apply if (1) there is not a sufficient amount of U.S.-produced items available at U.S. market prices when needed, or (2) the purchase is worth less than $150,000.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to purchase from a wet market in China any live animal or animal product. The bill defines a wet market as a marketplace (1) where fresh meat and live animals are bought, sold, and slaughtered; and (2) that is not subject to health regulations comparable to U.S. regulations on similar establishments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
Protecting Our Pharmaceutical Supply Chain from China Act of 2020 This bill requires the federal government to maintain a registry of certain foreign-sourced drugs, prohibits federal health care programs from purchasing drugs containing Chinese ingredients, requires drugs to be labeled for country of origin, and offers domestic manufacturing facility tax incentives.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Safeguarding America's First Responders Act of 2020 This bill extends death benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) to survivors of public safety officers (e.g., law enforcement officers) who die as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty. Specifically, this bill creates a general presumption that a public safety officer who dies from COVID-19 or related complications sustained an injury in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Suppressing Looming Invasive Threats Harming Everglades Restoration Act or the SLITHER Act This bill requires the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force to develop a priority list for controlling or reducing the impact of invasive species in the area.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2020
American-Made Protection for Healthcare Workers and First Responders Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the strategic national stockpile includes a one-year supply of personal protective equipment (e.g., face masks and gloves). It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a stockpile of such equipment for use by first responder agencies during a declared emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
No TikTok on Government Devices Act This bill prohibits federal employees from using the social media video application TikTok on government-issued devices. Specifically, the bill prohibits employees and officers of the United States, Members of Congress, congressional employees, and officers and employees of government corporations from downloading or using TikTok, or any successor application from the developer, on any device issued by the federal government or a government corporation, with the exception of specified activities (e.g., cybersecurity research).
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Coronavirus Mobile Collection Site Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse states for the full cost of operating drive-through testing sites for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020. To be eligible for such reimbursement, states may not charge individuals for the testing.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act This bill imposes various restrictions related to China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region, including by prohibiting certain imports from Xinjiang and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations there. Goods manufactured or produced in Xinjiang or by entities working under certain Xinjiang government programs shall not be entitled to entry into the United States unless Customs and Border Protection (1) determines that the goods were not manufactured by convict labor, forced labor, or indentured labor under penal sanctions; and (2) reports such a determination to Congress and to the public. The President shall periodically report to Congress a list of foreign entities and individuals knowingly facilitating (1) the forced labor of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang; and (2) the importation of forced labor goods from Xinjiang. The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals and entities and impose visa-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals. Securities issuers required to file annual or quarterly reports with the Securities Exchange Commission shall disclose in such reports certain information related to Xinjiang, including instances where the issuer knowingly (1) engaged in activities with an entity helping to create mass surveillance systems in Xinjiang, (2) engaged in activities with an entity running or building detention facilities for Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, or (3) acquired a significant amount of textiles produced in Xinjiang. After being notified of such a disclosure, the President shall determine whether to investigate if sanctions or criminal charges are warranted.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Transparency for Confucius Institutes This bill requires an institution of higher education (IHE) that participates in federal student-aid programs to enter into a program participation agreement if a Confucius Institute operates on the IHE's campus. (Confucius Institutes are Chinese government-funded centers for language education and cultural programming at IHEs.) The agreement must be entered into with the Office of Chinese Language Council International (i.e., Confucius Institute Headquarters, Hanban) and be made publicly available online. Among other requirements, the Confucius Institute must be physically located apart from the IHE's own Chinese language, history, and cultural programs.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Neutralizing Emerging Threats from Wireless OEMs Receiving direction from Kleptocracies and Surveillance states Act or the NETWORKS Act This bill requires the President to block and prohibit significant transactions and interests in property of a foreign individual or entity that (1) produces fifth- or future-generation telecommunications technology; and (2) engages in economic or industrial espionage, or other related illicit activities, involving trade secrets or proprietary information owned by a U.S. individual or entity.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Lower Health Insurance Deductibles Act This bill modifies eligibility requirements of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to allow a high deductible health plan to divide the amount of its deductible between medical and drug costs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020
Fairness in Disaster Relief Act This bill authorizes the President to reimburse local governments for interest expenses for loans pertaining to disaster relief.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020
Secure United States Bases Act This bill revises requirements related to U.S.-based foreign military training programs. Specifically, the bill creates a visa category for certain aliens who have been accepted into a U.S.-based military training program; adds application, vetting, and monitoring requirements for foreign military trainees; and requires the Department of Defense to develop a method for classifying the relative risk, by country, of accepting foreign personnel into U.S. military training programs.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2020
This resolution censures and condemns Senator Schumer of New York for certain statements against Associate Justice Gorsuch and Associate Justice Kavanaugh on March 4, 2020.