United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to convene an interagency working group to develop recommendations to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry. Labor shall establish and issue guidance on how states can address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry, including guidance on how a state workforce development board can (1) utilize federal resources available to states to meet the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry; and (2) promote and improve recruitment in qualified industry-led workforce development programs, including the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program and other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs. The Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress a report that estimates the number of skilled telecommunications workers that will be required to build and maintain (1) broadband infrastructure in rural areas; and (2) the 5G wireless infrastructure needed to support 5G wireless technology.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2020
Tribal Transportation Equity and Transparency Improvement Act of 2020 This bill revises certain programs related to tribal transportation. First, the bill revises the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) by directing the Department of the Interior to (1) request proposals from Indian tribes to include additional transportation facilities in the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory, and (2) ensure that all nonconfidential information from the inventory is made available on its website. Next, the bill specifies that funding allocations (i.e., tribal shares) under the TTP must be determined using the facility inventory for the most recent fiscal year for which data is available instead of using FY2012 data. It also requires each Indian tribe that intends to include a proposed road in the inventory to complete and submit certain documentation for the road. It also requires independent audits by the inspectors general of Interior and the Department of Transportation, as well as the Government Accountability Office, to review the administration of the TTP. Additionally, the bill permits Indian tribes to use funds for carrying out highway safety programs in cooperation with states, counties, and other local subdivisions. It also increases the federal share for Indian tribes under the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program and allows Indian tribes to use planning and design funds for grant applications under the program. Finally, the bill establishes the Tribal Transportation Advisory Committee, which must provide advice to Interior and study issues related to tribal transportation.
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 · 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 · 15 January 2020
Chronic Disease Management Act of 2020 This bill modifies requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs) to permit the high deductible health plans required for an HSA to provide care for chronic conditions with no deductible. The bill covers any service or item used to treat a chronic condition if (1) such service or item is low-cost, (2) there is medical evidence of the effectiveness of such service or item, and (3) there is a strong likelihood that the use of such service or item will prevent the exacerbation of the chronic condition or the development of a secondary condition that requires significantly higher cost treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 This bill provides for security assistance to Israel and authorizes actions to further U.S.-Israel cooperation. Specifically, under the Foreign Military Financing Program, the bill makes no less than $3.3 billion annually available to Israel through FY2028. The bill also extends through FY2025 (1) authority to stockpile war reserves in Israel, and (2) loan guarantees to Israel for up to $9 billion. The President is authorized to transfer munitions from reserve stocks to Israel for its self-defense. Further, the President must report on steps to include Israel in the list of countries eligible for the strategic trade authorization exception, which authorizes exports, reexports, and in-country transfers in lieu of a license that would otherwise be required. Lastly, the President must establish and update contingency plans to provide Israel with defense articles and services necessary for its defense. The Department of State is authorized to (1) enter into memoranda of understanding with Israel with a focus on strengthening mutual ties and cooperation with nations throughout the world; and (2) establish a program between the United States, Israel, and other countries or territories to provide for cooperation in the Middle East region by financing and cooperating in programs related to innovation and advanced technologies. Further, the United States is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with Israel and developing countries to identify and support local solutions for addressing sustainability challenges. The Department of Defense is authorized to carry out activities with Israel to establish directed energy capabilities that address threats to the United States, deployed forces of the United States, or Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2020
Abortion Is Not Health Care Act of 2020 This bill prohibits expenses for an abortion being taken into account for the purpose of the tax deduction for medical expenses.
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 · 8 January 2020
Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act This bill permits tribal child support enforcement agencies to access the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program to collect past-due child support payments from the federal tax refunds of noncustodial parents. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration to disclose certain tax return information to tribal child support enforcement agencies. Such information may be disclosed to establish and collect child support obligations from, and to locate, those individuals owing such obligations. It also permits the Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse tribal agencies for certain reporting costs related to the Federal Parent Locator Service.
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 · 12 December 2019
This bill adds to the Appraisal Subcommittee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Rural Housing Service within the Department of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 201 9 This bill requires the federal government to procure from the private sector the goods and services necessary for the operations and management of government agencies. Specifically, it requires each executive or military department or independent establishment to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of its authorized functions by procurement from private sources, with specified exceptions, such as where there is no private source capable of providing the good or service. This bill requires such private sector provision of goods and services to be performed through (1) the divestiture of federal involvement, (2) the award of a contract using competitive procedures, or (3) conducting a public-private competitive sourcing analysis in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures and determining that using the private sector is in the best interest of the United States and provides the best value to the taxpayer. The bill authorizes an agency to utilize federal employees to provide goods or services previously provided by a private sector entity upon completion of a public-private competitive sourcing analysis and after determining that provision by federal employees provides the best value. The OMB must carry out a study to evaluate the activities carried out in each agency.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2019
Multifamily Depreciation Parity Act of 2019 This bill allows the depreciation of certain residential rental property placed in service prior to January 1, 2018, over a 30-year period (currently, such property is subject to a 40-year depreciation period).
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 · 18 November 2019
5G Spectrum Act of 2019 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a public auction of at least 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum (the band of frequencies between 3700 megahertz and 4200 megahertz) and to deposit at least 50% of the gross proceeds from such auction in the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2019
National Purple Heart Honor Mission Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the mission of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The bill limits the issuance of such coins to the one-year period beginning on January 1, 2022. The bill prescribes surcharges for coin sales, which shall be paid to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Inc., to support the mission of such organization, including capital improvements to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission facilities.
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
Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education Act of 2019 or the HACKED Act of 2019 This bill expands and coordinates federal agencies' cybersecurity recruitment and education initiatives.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2019
Filter Bubble Transparency Act This bill establishes requirements for large online platforms that use algorithms applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to user-specific data to determine the manner in which content is displayed to users. Specifically, if an online platform applies such techniques to user-specific data that is not expressly provided by the user, the platform must (1) notify users that the platform uses such data, and (2) make a version of the platform available that uses only user-specific data that has been expressly provided by the user and which enables users to switch between the two platforms. These requirements do not apply to search engines operated by downstream providers with fewer than 1,000 employees and that have an agreement to access an index of web pages from an upstream provider. However, the bill requires such upstream providers to make their algorithm available to downstream providers as part of such an agreement.
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
U.S. Beef Integrity Act This bill modifies label requirements for meat food products of cattle. Specifically, the bill prohibits the label of cattle meat or a meat food product of cattle from bearing the phrase Product of U.S.A. unless such meat or meat food product is exclusively derived from one or more cattle born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States. The requirement does not apply to cattle meat or a meat food product of cattle that is intended and offered for export to a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2019
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act of 2019 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2019 This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Among other things, the bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive certain restrictions, such as geographic restrictions, for services provided in high-need health professional shortage areas; excludes mental health and emergency medical services, as well as services provided at rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and Indian Health Service facilities, from such geographic restrictions; and allows the CMS to generally waive coverage restrictions during national emergencies. Additionally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must report on information relating to the access of Medicare beneficiaries to telehealth services at home. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services.
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
Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act This bill establishes a Drone Advisory Committee to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding issues involving the efficiency and safety of integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 2019
Native American Housing Affordability Act of 2019 This bill allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to more expeditiously issue a certificate of guarantee for certain loans related to Native American housing. Specifically, HUD may take such action before receiving the required trailing documents if the originating lender agrees to indemnify HUD for any losses during the period in which the required trailing documents are outstanding.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2019 or READI Act This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems. Specifically, the bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices (currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked). FEMA must develop and issue guidance for how state, tribal, and local governments can participate in the integrated public alert and warning system. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Commission (SECC) and require each SECC to meet at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan. The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the Wireless EAS to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of updating the EAS to enable or improve alerts provided through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2019
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Act of 2019 This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act through the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to provide integrated research and development to defend U.S. agriculture and food against bio- and agro-terrorism threats. Specifically, the bill requires USDA to use the facility to implement research and development objectives to (1) develop veterinary countermeasures for emerging foreign animal diseases and animal transboundary diseases; and (2) provide advanced test, diagnostic, and evaluation capability for threat detection, vulnerability assessment, and veterinary countermeasure assessment for animal and zoonotic diseases.
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
National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2019 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to designate 9–8–8 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention and mental-health crisis hotline. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs must jointly report on how to make the use of 9–8–8 operational and effective across the country.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 2019
Learning Excellence and Good Examples from New Developers Act of 2019 or the LEGEND Act of 2019 This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make certain operational models available to the public and periodically review innovations and improvements made to such models in order to improve the accuracy and timeliness of NOAA forecasts.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Dignity for Aborted Children Act This bill requires abortion providers to offer patients specified options concerning the human fetal tissue from an abortion. Specifically, patients must be given an informed consent form specifying the options to (1) take possession of the tissue for transfer to an entity that provides interment or cremations services, or (2) release the tissue to the provider. If the tissue is released to the abortion provider, the provider must ensure the tissue is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains. Abortion providers must report annually about the aggregate number of abortions performed and other specified information. The bill provides civil or criminal penalties for violations of disposal, informed consent, and reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Greg LeMond, in recognition of his contributions to the United States as an athlete, activist, role model, and community leader.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2019
This bill prohibits the sale of food that contains water buffalo and is labeled as buffalo unless the specific term used in the labeling is water buffalo .
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
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 · 23 July 2019
Brand USA Extension Act This bill (1) extends funding for Brand USA, the Corporation for Travel Promotion, through FY2027; (2) raises the fee for using the electronic system for travel authorization; and (3) otherwise modifies the duties and powers of Brand USA.
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 · 18 July 2019
S Corporation Modernization Act of 2019 This bill modifies the tax treatment of S corporations (pass thru entities) to increase from 25% to 60% of S corporation gross receipts the threshold for taxing S corporations with passive investment income; eliminate a provision terminating the status of S corporations with excessive passive investment income for three consecutive years; permit S corporations to have individual retirement accounts as shareholders; allow an adjustment to the basis of an S corporation's assets upon the death of a shareholder, in the form of a 15-year amortization deduction; and permit the Internal Revenue Service to treat a late revocation of S corporation status as timely if it finds there was reasonable cause for failure to make a timely revocation.
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 · 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
Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Willie O'Ree, in recognition of his contributions and commitment to hockey, inclusion, and recreational opportunity.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 2019
Chronic Disease Management Act of 2019 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health savings accounts (HSAs), to allow the high deductible health plans required for an HSA to provide care for chronic conditions with no deductible.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
This bill revises requirements for exemptions given to small refineries of crude oil under the renewable fuel program, which requires transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel.
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 · 10 June 2019
Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2019 This bill directs the President to establish and implement a five-year strategy to contribute toward ending preventable child and maternal deaths globally by 2030. The President shall designate a current U.S. Agency for International Development employee to serve as the Child and Maternal Survival Coordinator. The coordinator shall oversee (1) the five-year strategy, and (2) international maternal and child health and nutrition programs.
![Official portrait of Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000250_200.jpg)