United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2022
Supporting Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Act or the SEED Act This bill requires lenders to refer applicants for certain small business loans to a resource partner if the applicant is determined ineligible for a loan under the program. Resource partners, such as small business development centers, provide informational tools and training to support business start-ups and existing business expansion. Lenders and the Small Business Administration must report on the number of resource partner referrals and the Government Accountability Office must periodically report on the rate of such referrals.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2022
Evaluating Lynching Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites within approximately 100 miles of Memphis, Tennessee, at which lynchings took place. In conducting the special resource study, Interior shall (1) evaluate the national significance of such study area, and (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 2022
Protecting Our Kids Act This bill makes various changes to federal firearms laws, including to establish new criminal offenses and to expand the types of weapons and devices that are subject to regulation. Among the changes, the bill generally prohibits the sale or transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms to individuals who are under 21 years of age; establishes new federal criminal offenses for gun trafficking and related conduct; establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate ghost guns (i.e., guns without serial numbers); establishes a framework to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises at the federal, state, and tribal levels; subjects bump stocks to regulation under federal firearms laws; and generally prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, and possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2022
This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives is deeply concerned for the latest years-long drought in the Horn of Africa and the ensuing food security crisis and severe socioeconomic disturbances it caused; acknowledges the role that climate change plays in increasing the frequency of extreme weather events like droughts, and pledges to take coordinated, international action to adapt to and avert further global warming; reaffirms the effectiveness and instrumentality of U.S. international food assistance for meeting humanitarian obligations, cultivating enduring self-reliance in developing nations, ensuring the stability of global financial markets, and mitigating the likelihood of conflict in accordance with our national security interests; and emphasizes the importance of funding urgently needed humanitarian assistance for hunger-stricken regions of the world, supporting the development of sustainable agricultural sectors in developing nations, and assisting with the international resettlement of refugees escaping droughts and extreme hunger.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take certain actions to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions (particularly the shortage of infant formula in the United States) affecting participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The bill directs USDA to require each infant formula cost containment contract to include remedies in the event of an infant formula recall, including how an infant formula manufacturer would protect against disruption to WIC participants in the state. USDA must, within 30 days, ensure there is a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services that includes procedures for coordination and information sharing regarding any supply chain disruption, including a supplemental food recall. The bill also authorizes USDA to waive or modify any WIC qualified administrative requirement during emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions. Specifically, USDA may waive or modify such a requirement for one or more state agencies if (1) the requirement cannot be met by state agencies during the emergency, disaster, or disruption; and (2) the modification or waiver is necessary to provide assistance to WIC participants and does not substantially weaken the nutritional quality of supplemental foods. For example, USDA may waive the maximum monthly allowance for infant formula. The bill establishes notification requirements for USDA and state agencies related to supply chain disruptions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2022
This concurrent resolution expresses opposition to the application of criminal laws to pregnancy outcomes and affirms that people deserve access to high-quality health care without fear of reprisal or punishment.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2022
Building America's Health Care Workforce Act This bill extends certain flexibilities relating to training and competency requirements for nurse aides in Medicare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and Medicaid nursing facilities (NFs). Generally, SNFs and NFs may not hire nurse aides for longer than four months unless they meet certain training and certification requirements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services waived some of these requirements during the COVID-19 emergency period so as to allow facilities to maintain adequate staffing levels; the waiver ends in June 2022. The bill extends these flexibilities for at least two years after the bill's enactment and specifies that (1) any time worked by a nurse aide during the emergency period counts toward the 75 hours required for initial training, and (2) a competency evaluation may be conducted at the SNF or NF where the nurse aide is employed if the state does not offer such an evaluation at least once a week.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2022
Displaced Afghan Women and Girls Education Act of 2022 This bill provides certain educational resources to certain displaced Afghan women and girls domiciled in the United States. For example, the bill (1) requires such displaced Afghan women and girls to receive in-state tuition rates at public institutions of higher education, and (2) provides funding for and establishes the Displaced Afghan Women and Girls Scholarship Grant.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2022
Pride in Mental Health Act This bill expands programs that prevent and treat child abuse and neglect to address issues facing youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, nonbinary, or gender-variant members of indigenous communities (e.g., Two Spirit). Specifically, these programs include (1) research and reporting requirements, (2) providing technical assistance, (3) grants to states and local agencies to train child-welfare personnel, and (4) community-based prevention-service grants. The bill also establishes a grant program to provide mental and behavioral health resources for such youth, including trauma-informed care.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2022
Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and others to undertake efforts to reduce health disparities. For example, the bill (1) requires more detailed reporting of demographic and health disparities data, including related to public health emergencies; (2) directs certain components of HHS to support health workforce diversity; and (3) increases access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. The bill also modifies eligibility and other requirements for Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, nutrition assistance, and other programs to reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations. The bill includes specific provisions with respect to noncitizens; maternal, infant, and child health; mental and behavioral health; specified conditions that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups, such as certain cancers, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, and diabetes; investments in communities facing health and other inequities; and nondiscrimination in the provision of services in federally supported health programs. Additionally, the bill (1) revises health information technology programs to address health disparities, and (2) supports health impact assessments and other efforts pertaining to environmental justice and social determinants of health (i.e., nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as income and educational attainment). The bill also requires various studies and reports on issues related to health care and health disparities, including a report by the Government Accountability Office on health workforce diversity.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2022
This concurrent resolution supports the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence (during which students vow to remain silent to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, intersex, and questioning individuals in schools).
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2022
This resolution condemns the rape and assault of women by Russian forces in the occupied area of Bucha, Ukraine. The resolution condemns the deliberate disruption of the free flow of humanitarian aid that is harming innocent civilians, particularly women. The resolution also highlights the critical importance of ensuring women meaningfully participate in the planning and execution of humanitarian actions and the negotiation of peace agreements to meet their unique needs and to protect their human rights. Finally, the resolution calls on Vladimir Putin to condemn sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in this conflict; hold all perpetrators who commit acts of sexual and gender-based violence accountable; cease all hostilities, protect human rights, and allow unencumbered humanitarian access; and remove all Russian Armed Forces, and other armed groups, from Ukraine.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2022
Student Loan Borrower Relief Act This bill revises income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans, including by reducing from 25 years to 15 years the maximum repayment period under these plans. Additionally, the bill makes changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, including by cancelling a portion of a borrower's student loans after every 12 months of eligible public service employment.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2022
This resolution recognizes that Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States and that Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2022
IHS Contract Support Cost Amendment Act This bill allows tribes to receive contract support costs for activities that would otherwise be carried out by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Health and Human Services for direct operation of a program, but for which the costs are not fully covered by the amount of funds required by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2022
Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act of 2022 This bill increases the tax deduction for the expenses of eligible educators from $250 to $1,000, An eligible educator is, with respect to any taxable year, an individual who is a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide in a school for at least 900 hours during a school year.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2022
Women in Criminal Justice Reform Act This bill establishes programs and requirements to address the health and wellness of women in the criminal justice system. For example, the bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to (1) ensure that all incarcerated women have access to basic standards of health care specific to their needs, and (2) develop and implement gender-responsive training for its officers and employees.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2022
Supply Chain Disruptions Relief Act This bill modifies the treatment of liquidations of new motor vehicle inventory as qualified LIFO (last in first out accounting method) inventory. It allows new motor vehicle dealers to elect to wait until the end of 2025 to replace their inventory for purposes of determining income attributable to the sale of such inventory during 2020 and 2021.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2022
Access for Veterans to Records Act This bill directs the Office of the Archivist of the United States to submit to Congress a plan for reducing the backlog of requests for records from the National Personnel Records Center. Such plan must include (1) target time frames to reduce the backlog, (2) a detailed plan for improving the information technology infrastructure to prevent future backlogs, and (3) actions to improve customer service for requesters.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2022
Further Incentivizing Nutritious Donations of Food Act of 2022 or the FIND Food Act of 2022 This bill provides tax incentives for food donation. Specifically, it expands the charitable tax deduction for contributions of food inventory to allow donations at reduced prices, allows a deduction for the cost of transporting donated food, and allows a tax credit for donations of food by farmers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2022
Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act This bill expands Medicare coverage to permanently include services provided by a pharmacist, including incidental services and supplies, related to testing, drug regimens, and vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and certain other illnesses. Specifically, the bill provides for continued coverage of pharmacist services relating to testing and vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza, as well as coverage of testing for respiratory syncytial virus and streptococcal pharyngitis (i.e., strep throat) and the initiation of drug regimens that are used to treat COVID-19, influenza, or strep throat. It also generally provides for coverage of pharmacist services during a public health emergency or to address health equity. A pharmacist, or the facility with which the pharmacist is contracted or employed, may present a claim for reimbursement of 85% (or 100% during a declared emergency) of the applicable amount. A pharmacist may not bill an individual for such a service other than for the applicable deductible or coinsurance amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2022
Find and Protect Foster Youth Act This bill requires the Office of the Administration for Children & Families to evaluate the protocols that states have developed to comply with the reporting requirements for locating a child missing from foster care. Additionally, the administration, through the Children's Bureau, must provide states, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia with information, advice, educational materials, and technical assistance relating to eliminating identified obstacles to identifying and responding to children missing from foster care and other vulnerable foster youth and providing such children and youth with effective services.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 2022
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Women in Agriculture Day. It also recognizes the important role of women in agriculture as producers, educators, leaders, mentors, and more.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 2022
Federal Contracting for Peace and Security Act This bill requires executive agencies to terminate their contracts with companies conducting business operations in Russia. This requirement ends when Russia takes steps to restore the safety, sovereignty, and condition of Ukraine. The bill shall not apply to the procurement of products or services for (1) the benefit, either directly or through the efforts of regional allies, of Ukraine; or (2) humanitarian purposes to meet basic human needs. The bill provides for a waiver where in the national interest of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2022
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act The bill increases funding for and expands the disadvantaged business enterprise supportive services program of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The program provides training, assistance, and services to minority-owned small businesses to help them achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for federal aid highway project contracts and subcontracts. Specifically, the bill (1) increases the annual funding cap for the program from $10 million to $25 million, and (2) authorizes DOT to implement the program at the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Aviation Administration so that small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may achieve proficiency to compete for contracts and subcontracts regarding public transportation and airport projects.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2022
This resolution demands an immediate cease-fire and full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. The resolution urges the Biden Administration to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for the unconscionable atrocities committed in Ukraine. The resolution also supports the people of Ukraine in their fight against the Russian invasion of their country. Finally, the resolution recognizes the important cultural contributions of Ukrainian Americans to Ohio.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2022
Great Lakes Authority Act of 2022 This bill establishes the Great Lakes Authority to promote economic development and job creation; restore and protect fresh water; foster innovation to strengthen and expand manufacturing; promote cleaner and more sustainable power production; establish and administer funding mechanisms to finance clean energy, green infrastructure, water infrastructure, wastewater infrastructure, and broadband infrastructure projects in the region; create a regional development plan; promote affordable access to energy and broadband services in the region; provide technical assistance to entities receiving financial assistance from the authority; and select a location for the National Energy Recycling and Conservation Laboratory established by this bill. The authority must be composed of (1) a chairperson appointed by the President; and (2) one member from each of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2022
Stop Gas Price Gouging Tax and Rebate Act This bill imposes an excise tax of 50% of the excess of the windfall profit of a producer of crude oil (including crude oil condensates and natural gasoline) that has an average daily worldwide production of crude oil of at least 300,000 barrels for the taxable year, and had gross receipts in excess of $1 billion for its last taxable year during 2005. The bill defines windfall profit as the excess of the adjusted taxable income of such producer for taxable year 2022 over the reasonably inflated average profit for such taxable year. The bill requires payment of energy price rebates to eligible individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2022
This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives declares its gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States to the journalists and news staff who continue to put themselves in harm's way to report on the humanitarian crisis and ongoing war on the ground in Ukraine following Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine; and honors the contributions of journalists and news staff reporting from the war in Ukraine as essential in the ongoing struggle for the rights of a free press and free speech internationally, pivotal in pushing back against false propaganda by tyrants, and crucial to informing Americans and the world of the horrors being wrought against the Ukrainian people.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2022
LIHTC Financing Enabling Long-term Investment in Neighborhood Excellence Act or the LIFELINE Act This bill permits states, territories, or tribal governments to use State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to finance qualified low-income housing projects (i.e., projects for residential rental property meeting certain income tests) with loans obligated by December 31, 2024, and having maturities of 30 or more years.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2022
Honoring Harriet Tubman Act This bill requires the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Harriet Tubman and place the statue in a suitable permanent location in National Statuary Hall.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2022
This resolution expresses that the House of Representatives must take action on climate change and address the mental health effects of climate change on children and families.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2022
Green Postal Service Fleet Act of 2022 This bill prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out the contract with Oshkosh Defense for the procurement of postal delivery vehicles unless each purchase is at least 75% electric or zero-emission vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2022
Susan Muffley Act of 2022 This bill restores the full vested monthly benefits for eligible participants of certain pension plans that were sponsored by Delphi Corporation and terminated as a result of General Motors' bankruptcy in 2009. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) must recalculate and adjust each plan participant's monthly benefits payment. The PBGC must also apply the recalculation to previously-made monthly payments and make a lump-sum payment for any additional benefits based on the recalculation. The bill establishes and provides appropriations to a fund for the payment of these benefits and specifies how the lump-sum payments are treated for tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2022
Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women Act of 2022 This bill establishes requirements to address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth. The bill requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to collect data on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women at the federal, state, and local levels. With respect to incarcerated women at the federal level, the bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to provide appropriate services and programs to address the health and safety needs related to pregnancy and childbirth, as well as appropriate health care to a woman with a high-risk pregnancy; limits the use of restrictive housing and restraints for prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery; and authorizes prerelease custody for an incarcerated pregnant woman whose due date is within the final year of her term of imprisonment. With respect to incarcerated women at the state and local level, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study the services and protections for pregnant incarcerated women in state and local correctional settings; and authorizes grants for states, tribes, local governments, or nonprofits to promote the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women by providing obstetrical care, gynecological care, and related services.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2022
Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2022 This bill prohibits government entities and insurance providers from denying community-based services to individuals with disabilities that require long-term service or support that would enable such individuals to live in the community and lead an independent life. Specifically, these entities may not discriminate against such individuals in the provision of community-based services by such actions as imposing prohibited eligibility criteria, cost caps, or waiting lists or failing to provide a specific community-based service. Additionally, community-based services must be offered to individuals with such disabilities prior to institutionalization. Institutionalized individuals must be notified regularly of community-based alternatives. The bill requires the Department of Justice to issue regulations requiring government entities and insurance providers to offer community-based long-term services to individuals with such disabilities who would otherwise qualify for institutional placement. Government entities must ensure sufficient availability of affordable, accessible, and integrated housing that is not a disability-specific residential setting or a setting where services are tied to tenancy. Regulations shall also (1) require government entities and insurance providers to perform self-evaluation on current services, policies, and practices and concerning compliance with requirements of this bill; and (2) require government entities to submit a transition plan. The bill provides funds for FY2022 for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance with respect to transition plans. The bill allows civil actions by individuals subjected to, or about to be subjected to, a violation of its requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2022
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022 This bill modifies the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security and reauthorizes appropriations for such program through FY2028. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must establish an office, headed by a senior FEMA official, to administer the program. Office responsibilities include those related to outreach, engagement, education, and technical assistance. FEMA must also publish grant guidelines and may prohibit states from closing application processes prior to the publication of the guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2022
Headstones for Honor Act This bill expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs headstones or markers for unmarked graves (or graves in private cemeteries) of specified individuals, including enslaved individuals who served in the Armed Forces in lieu of another individual or those who performed a military function while prohibited from serving as a member of the Armed Forces on the basis of race, gender, sex, or ethnicity.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2022
Original Black History Month Resolution of 2022 This resolution recognizes the importance of commemorating Black History Month to acknowledge the achievements of Black Americans throughout history.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 2022
United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the African Americans who served with Union forces in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during the Civil War.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2022
This resolution expresses support for the designation of International Black Aviation Professionals Day. It also encourages the observation of the day through recognition and celebration of the contributions of Black aviation professionals.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 2022
Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2022 This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Constance Baker Motley in recognition of her contributions and service to the United States in advancing civil rights as an attorney, elected official, and judge.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 2022
Schedules That Work Act This bill provides employees with the right to request changes to their work schedules related to the number of hours they are required to work or be on call, the location of the work, the amount of notification about work schedule assignments, and fluctuations in work hours. Employers must negotiate in good faith with employees who make such requests and comply with certain work schedule notice and split shift pay requirements for retail, food service, cleaning, hospitality, or warehouse employees.