United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2023
This resolution supports the designation of September 21, 2023, as National Teach Ag Day and recognizes the important role of agricultural education and the National FFA Organization in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 2023
Protecting Sensitive Personal Data Act of 2023 This bill expands the covered transactions that are subject to the review of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which analyzes the national security implications of foreign investment in the United States. Specifically, CFIUS may require declarations for foreign investments in U.S. businesses that maintain or collect sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens that may be exploited to threaten national security.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2023
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2023
Billie Jean King Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Billie Jean King in recognition of her courageous and groundbreaking leadership in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education, and society.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2023
Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act of 2023 This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set the hiring target for new air traffic controllers as the maximum number of individuals who are able to be trained at the FAA Academy.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2023
This resolution designates the week of September 24 through September 30, 2023, as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week and recognizes the sacrifices made by veterans' families and the families of members of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend freedom and protect the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2023
Head start Education And Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act or the HEADWAY Act This bill allows some teachers in Early Head Start programs to teach while in the process of earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and completing training. Currently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must ensure that all teachers providing direct services to children and families in Early Head Start centers (1) have a minimum of a CDA credential and have been trained in early childhood development, and (2) have been trained in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development. The bill revises this requirement by requiring at least one teacher per classroom (instead of all teachers) to have a CDA credential and training. In particular, the bill requires HHS to ensure that (1) each additional teacher providing direct services to children and families is in the process of earning a CDA credential and completing training, and (2) the Early Head Start agency provides a mentor to oversee the progress and guide the work of a teacher who is in the process of earning a CDA credential and completing training.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
Dustoff Crews of the Vietnam War Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to Dustoff crews (helicopter air ambulance crews) of the Vietnam War in recognition of their heroic military service.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2023
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections. The amendment grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by legislation. They are allowed to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2023
Child Care Stabilization Act This bill provides additional funding through FY2028 for child care stabilization grants under which lead state agencies make subgrants to child care providers for personnel costs, facility costs, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and other costs related to providing child care services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 2023
Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act This bill requires each Member of Congress to divest or place in a blind trust any specified investment owned by the Member, the Member's spouse, or a Member's dependent who is less than 19 years old. This requirement applies for the entire period of a Member's service in Congress and for 180 days after that service ceases. A Member of Congress who does not comply with the bill's requirements is subject to a fine equal to the Member's monthly congressional salary. The fine must be assessed 30 days after notice of the violation is issued and at least every subsequent 30 days.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2023
This resolution designates August 2023 as National Catfish Month. It also recognizes (1) the contributions of all workers, past and present, that produce, process, and provide catfish for the people of the United States; and (2) that purchasing U.S. farm-raised catfish supports farmers, jobs, and the U.S. economy.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 2023
Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act of 202 3 This bill directs the Department of Labor to award grants to eligible partnerships to support demonstration and pilot projects relating to the training needs of workers who are, or are likely to become, dislocated workers as a result of automation. Specifically, the bill expands training programs for such workers, including activities that prepare the individuals for occupations in the technology sector, authorizes the award of national dislocated worker grants to provide employment and training assistance to workers affected by advances in automation technology, and expands the funding authorization for national dislocated worker grants.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), increases funding for the program, and provides additional delivery options for geographically isolated states (i.e., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam). TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. The bill increases funding for purchasing commodities under the program. Further, the bill directs USDA to coordinate with geographically isolated states to (1) establish alternative delivery options for allocated commodities, and (2) allow for the states to order commodities through the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. USDA may also provide geographically isolated states the ability to directly purchase domestically grown food in lieu of receiving a portion of the commodities. Under this option, USDA may distribute as cash to the state up to 20% of the cash value of the commodities that are allocated to the state under TEFAP. Further, USDA may consider additional factors beyond lowest price in determining winning bids for contracts for fresh produce packages (including product variety and transportation distance).
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Preventing Election Subversion Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the removal or suspension of local election administrators except for specified reasons and sets forth additional requirements for federal elections. Specifically, the bill restricts the ability of a statewide election administrator to remove a local election administrator. A statewide election administrator may suspend, remove, or relieve the duties of a local election administrator only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance while in office. Further, the bill directs statewide election administrators to report any removals or suspensions of local election administrators to the Department of Justice. The bill also establishes certain requirements for challenging an individual's eligibility to register to vote or vote in federal elections. In particular, the bill prohibits any person (other than an election official) from challenging an individual's voting eligibility unless the challenge is supported by personal knowledge.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023 This bill applies existing anti-money laundering requirements to digital assets providers and facilitators. Specifically, the bill makes digital assets providers and facilitators financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act. Under the act, financial institutions must keep records, file disclosures, and report suspicious activity to federal regulators to aid in detecting money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The bill also directs specified federal financial regulators to establish rules regarding digital assets. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) must require U.S. persons to report cryptocurrency transactions through foreign accounts of over $10,000. FinCEN must also require digital asset kiosk owners and administrators to submit and update every 90 days the physical addresses of the kiosks. The Department of the Treasury must establish regulations to mitigate risks for financial institutions handling, using, or transacting business with (1) digital asset mixers, privacy coins, and other anonymity-enhancing technologies; and (2) digital assets that have been anonymized by these technologies. Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission must establish risk examination and review processes for their respective anti-money laundering programs.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
CDFI Fund Transparency Act This bill requires annual congressional testimony from the Department of the Treasury regarding the operations of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Fentanyl Safe Testing and Overdose Prevention Act This bill exempts the possession, sale, purchase, import, export, or transport of equipment that tests for the presence of fentanyl or xylazine from criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act This bill expands eligibility and flexibility under the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). (TAP provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines damaged by natural disasters.) The bill expands eligibility to include growers who produce biennial crops. The current program is limited to producers of annual crops. The bill also expands eligibility to include growers who experience tree mortality that exceeds normal mortality. Currently, mortality must exceed 15%. Further, the bill exempts growers who derive at least 75% of their average adjusted gross income from farming, ranching, or silviculture activities from a limit on adjusted gross income. (Under current law, the limit prohibits a grower with an average adjusted gross income that exceeds $900,000 from being eligible for TAP.) A grower may carry out any replacement and rehabilitation activities within 12 months of approval of the application for assistance or at such time as is necessary to ensure tree survival. Further, a grower may replant using an alternative (1) variety, (2) stand density, and (3) location than was used prior to the loss. Finally, the FSA must approve or deny an application (and notify the applicant) within 120 days of receiving the application.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2023 or the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023 This bill authorizes grants and establishes other programs to improve data collection on stillbirths. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths, and HHS must issue guidelines for health departments and vital statistics units concerning the collection of stillbirth data. HHS must also develop educational awareness materials about stillbirths and make them publicly available. Furthermore, HHS must implement a fellowship program to provide training in perinatal autopsy pathology and otherwise support research on stillbirths and fetal autopsies. The bill also requires HHS to issue a report with educational guidelines on stillbirths and stillbirth risk factors.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
This joint resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the Equal Rights Amendment, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, was ratified by more than three-fourths of the states and is therefore a valid constitutional amendment, effective January 27, 2020 (the date of Virginia's ratification). The Equal Rights Amendment was originally proposed to the states in 1972. The original proposal included a deadline for ratification of March 22, 1979; Congress subsequently extended the deadline to June 30, 1982. Although the requisite 38 states have ratified the amendment, three of these states did so after the deadlines, and five states subsequently rescinded their ratifications. The status of the amendment has been the subject of litigation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act This bill establishes a grant program to support behavioral health integration for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Specifically, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology must award grants to behavioral health care providers, including physicians, psychologists, and social workers, to support integration and coordination of services for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Authorized activities include purchasing or upgrading technology to meet specified federal certification standards for health information technology and to support integrated services with respect to screenings, treatment, and recovery.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Fortifying Refrigeration Infrastructure and Developing Global Exports Act of 2023 or the FRIDGE Act of 2023 This bill expands the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program to include funding for technical assistance for infrastructure-related projects to ensure U.S. agricultural commodities are not damaged or lost due to infrastructure deficiencies in new and developing markets. This Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) program funds projects that address long-term opportunities to reduce foreign import constraints or expand export growth opportunities. Specifically, the bill directs FAS to enter into contracts or other agreements with trade organizations to enhance the infrastructure capabilities (including cold chain capacity and port improvements) in new and developing foreign markets through needs assessments, training, and other technical assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023
Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2023 or the Better CARE for Animals Act of 2023 This bill modifies enforcement provisions under the Animal Welfare Act, including by allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring civil actions against violators of the act for appropriate relief, such as removing animals, revoking violators' licenses, or issuing civil penalties. DOJ must use the penalties to pay for the temporary care for animals pending the disposition of civil or criminal proceedings that allege violations of the act with respect to such animals.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
This resolution (1) recognizes the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in advancing independent living for individuals with disabilities; (2) pledges continued efforts to address remaining barriers for individuals with disabilities; and (3) calls on federal agencies to provide additional resources for individuals with disabilities with respect to economic self-sufficiency, community-based services, housing, telecommunication, and transportation.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
CFTC Whistleblower Fund Improvement Act of 2023 This bill makes modifications to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Customer Protection Fund. The fund is used for whistleblower awards and customer education initiatives and is financed by monetary sanctions for commodities law violations. First, the bill raises the cap on the amount allowed to be deposited into the fund. The bill also permanently extends the availability of amounts set aside in an account for customer education initiatives and administrative expenses of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Office of Customer Education and Outreach and the Whistleblower Program. Currently, any amount remaining in this account as of October 1, 2024, must be returned to the fund.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2023
Farm Board Act of 2023 This bill further specifies the active producers that must be included as members on the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board of Directors. FCIC is a government corporation that administers the federal crop insurance program. Of the four active producers who must be included on the FCIC Board, the bill requires at least one specialty crop producer, one producer that actively engages in livestock production and crop production of agricultural commodities, and one underserved producer. (Current law requires that, of the four active producers on the board, at least one must be a specialty crop producer.) The bill applies to appointments made on or after the date of the bill's enactment for either (1) service beginning on or after October 1, 2024; or (2) the purpose of the October 1, 2024, FCIC Board election (or a subsequent FCIC Board election).
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Freedom to Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls. Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday. The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections. The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
Mighty Eighth Air Force National Museum Act This bill designates the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force located at 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, Georgia (or any successor location), as the official National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2023
This resolution (1) designates July 2023 as National Blueberry Month; and (2) recognizes the contributions of blueberry growers in the United States and their families, and that purchasing blueberries grown in the United States supports farmers, jobs, communities, and the economy of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise modifies federal support for state-based efforts to improve maternal mortality review committees; enhance surveillance of pregnancy-associated and -related deaths; and otherwise improve, and reduce disparities in, maternal health outcomes. The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to annually disseminate best practices for preventing maternal mortality and morbidity to hospitals, professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives (i.e., networks of perinatal care providers and public health professionals that work to improve pregnancy outcomes through continuous quality improvement).
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2023
Achieving Thorough Transparency and Accessibility for Information Navigation on Mental Health Act of 2023 or the ATTAIN Mental Health Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an online dashboard with information about federal grants relating to mental health and substance use disorders. Among other requirements, the dashboard must be searchable, current, and indicate whether the application period is open or closed. The dashboard must also include information about associated state programs and subgrants.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act This bill prohibits a debt collector from threatening a service member with a reduction of rank, revocation of their security clearance, or military prosecution in the course of collecting a debt. The Government Accountability Office must report on the impact of this prohibition on the timely delivery of information to service members, military readiness, and national security.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Food and Agriculture Industry Cyberspace Support Act This bill requires the establishment of a clearinghouse for food and agriculture cyberspace resources and the development of related best practices recommendations. Specifically, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) must establish a publicly available clearinghouse that contains current food and agriculture industry-focused cybersecurity resources. Further, the NTIA must develop voluntary cybersecurity recommendations relating to the development, maintenance, and operation of the food and agriculture industry. The recommendations must be based on a consolidation of public and private sector best practices and be included in the NTIA clearinghouse. The recommendations must also include, to the greatest extent practicable, materials that address (1) risk-based, cybersecurity-informed engineering; (2) planning for retention or recovery of positive control of systems in the event of a cybersecurity incident; (3) protection against unauthorized access to critical functions of the industry; and (4) plans for how industry businesses should respond to ransomware attacks. The Government Accountability Office must coordinate with specified federal agencies to conduct a study on actions the federal government has taken or may take to improve cybersecurity in the food and agriculture industry.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers for five years without undergoing additional screening requirements, unless the state has an agreement with other states that governs coverage of children with medically complex conditions that is in accordance with specified guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Among other requirements, a qualifying provider must (1) serve individuals under the age of 21; (2) have previously been screened for Medicare participation or for participation in the Medicaid program of the state in which the provider is located; and (3) have been determined by the CMS or state Medicaid program to pose a limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2023
Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2023 or the BARK Act of 2023 This bill provides civil and criminal liability protections for the donation of pet food and pet supplies under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. (The act shields persons that donate and distribute food to nonprofit organizations from liability for injuries caused by those donated products, with exceptions.) Specifically, the bill limits liability for persons or gleaners arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of food or pet supplies that are donated in good faith by the person or gleaner to a nonprofit organization, state, or local government for direct distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. Gleaner means a person who harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to a nonprofit organization, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner. Further, the bill limits liability for a nonprofit organization, state, or local government arising from donated items received from a person or gleaner in good faith for direct distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. The bill also specifies that the existing exception that permits a person, gleaner, or nonprofit organization to be held liable for acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or intentional misconduct applies to the liability protections established by this bill. Further, the bill expands provisions that protect a person who allows the collection or gleaning of donations on their property from liability arising from certain injuries or deaths to include donations for distribution to pets, service animals, or emotional support animals.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2023
Freedom to Vote Act This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls. Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday. The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence. The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections. The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting. The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2023
Low-Income First-Time Homebuyers Act of 2023 or the LIFT Homebuyers Act of 2023 This bill establishes a program to provide fixed-rate 20-year mortgages for first-time, first-generation homebuyers whose incomes do not exceed a certain amount. These mortgages must be offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or the Rural Housing Service (RHS). Pricing terms must be established (1) such that monthly mortgage payments under this program are similar to a 30-year FHA- or RHS-backed mortgage, or (2) as are determined to be necessary to develop liquidity for securities backed by covered mortgage loans and expand program participation by eligible homebuyers. Additionally, program funds must be transferred to the Department of the Treasury for the purchase of securities backed by such mortgages.
![Official portrait of Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000790_200.jpg)