Healthcare

Healthy SNAP Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

Healthy SNAP Act of 2023 This bill amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to redefine the foods eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. SNAP benefits may not be used for soft drinks, candy, ice cream, or prepared desserts, such as cakes, pies, cookies, or similar products. Further, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must designate by regulation foods and food products to include in the SNAP definition of the term food . USDA must consider food and products that (1) based on nutrition research, contain nutrients lacking in the diets of people in the United States; and (2) promote the health of the population served by SNAP, based on relevant nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. USDA must also, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the fat, sugar, and salt content of the food and food products are appropriate. At least every five years, USDA must review and amend the list. Prepared meals purchased with SNAP benefits must have nutritional values consistent with standards developed by USDA for the list of food and food products.  A state agency may substitute different foods for food USDA designated under this bill, with USDA approval, so long as the foods are nutritionally equivalent; this is permitted to allow for different cultural eating patterns.

Food Date Labeling Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

Food Date Labeling Act of 2023 This bill establishes requirements for the format of quality date and discard date labels on food packaging. Specifically, the bill requires the quality date on a food label (i.e., the date after which the quality of the item may deteriorate) to include the phrase BEST If Used By or the abbreviation BB . Similarly, the discard date on a food label (i.e., the date after which the item should not be consumed) must include the phrase USE By or the abbreviation UB . Abbreviations may only be used if the full phrase does not fit on the label. The Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture may specify alternative phrases through regulations.

Emergency Access to Insulin Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

Emergency Access to Insulin Act of 2023 This bill reduces the marketing exclusivity period for biological drug products from 12 to 7 years and establishes policies and programs designed to increase access to prescription insulin. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states to create insulin card programs, which provide uninsured or underinsured individuals with insulin at no cost for specified time periods. Payments for insulin prescriptions made through the program must count toward an underinsured individual’s health plan deductible or other out-of-pocket expenses required under the plan. Further, HHS must collect annual fees from insulin manufacturers, based on each manufacturer’s market share, equal to the total estimated expenditures under the insulin grants program. Subject to certain exceptions, the bill also establishes an excise tax on insulin manufacturers when the price of an insulin product spikes. The tax amount is a specified percentage of the revenue a manufacturer received as a result of the price spike. The tax amount increases in tiers based on the percentage of the price spike for that product.

9–8–8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to undertake efforts to protect the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from cybersecurity threats. (The lifeline is a three-digit number that connects callers in suicidal crisis or mental health distress to a national network of crisis centers.) The bill also expands related reporting requirements. Specifically, the network administrator for the lifeline must report identified cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to SAMHSA, and local and regional crisis centers that participate in the lifeline must report identified cybersecurity incidents and vulnerabilities to the administrator. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must conduct a study that evaluates cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities associated with the lifeline and report the findings to Congress.

Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage and payment with respect to certain pharmacist services that (1) are furnished by a pharmacist in a health-professional shortage area, and (2) would otherwise be covered under Medicare if furnished by a physician.

EATS Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2023 or the EATS Act of 2023 This bill expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for certain students. Specifically, the bill removes the restriction on SNAP eligibility for students to allow otherwise eligible students who are attending institutions of higher education (IHEs) at least half time to participate in SNAP. Under current law, students 18-49 years old are restricted, with exceptions, from participating in SNAP. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 temporarily exempted some students from certain SNAP eligibility requirements; these temporary student exemptions are currently scheduled to expire after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. Further, the bill provides that students enrolled at least half time in a recognized school, training program, or IHE constitute individual households (not residents of institutions ) and may be eligible for SNAP benefits. (Participation in SNAP is limited to households.)

A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2023.

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week.

Pharmaceutical Research Transparency Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

Pharmaceutical Research Transparency Act of 2023 This bill requires the disclosure of costs associated with clinical trials and pharmaceutical research and development. Specifically, the National Institutes of Health must create a publicly available repository of cost data from certain clinical trials that test the efficacy of drugs, biological products, and devices in human subjects. For each applicable trial, the registry must, among other information, include the total and per patient cost of the trial, as well as costs for personnel, health care services, and other categories of expenditures. Information must be added to the registry within one year of the trial's completion. The bill also requires drug manufacturers to include their research and development expenditures for drugs and biological products in annual disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

National Task Force on the COVID-19 Pandemic Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2023

National Task Force on the COVID-19 Pandemic Act This bill establishes a legislative task force to investigate the COVID-19 pandemic (including the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China) and make recommendations to improve preparedness for and responses to future public health emergencies.

Healthy Competition for Better Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Home Dialysis Risk Prevention Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Home Dialysis Risk Prevention Act This bill establishes separate payment under Medicare for certain items that are needed to detect venous needle dislodgement in individuals who undergo home dialysis. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a separate payment system for monitoring and alarm devices that are used to detect venous needle dislodgement in home dialysis patients. The CMS may consult with device manufacturers, providers, patients, and insurers to develop the payment system and may consider factors such as costs, payments for similar items under Medicare, and payments established by private insurers.

Find It Early Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Improving Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Improving Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation. The council shall meet as frequently as appropriate for purposes of coordinating specified policies and activities, including recreation management policies across federal agencies; the response by federal land management agencies to public health or other emergencies that result in disruptions to, or closures of, federal recreational lands and waters; the adoption and expansion of emerging technologies on federal recreational lands and waters; and the dissemination to the public of recreation-related information in a manner that ensures that the information is easily accessible with modern communications devices.

Tim’s Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act or Tim's Act This bill increases compensation for federal wildland firefighters (including qualifying prevailing rate employees) and establishes related requirements. The bill increases the minimum rate of basic pay for firefighters at General Schedule (GS) levels 1 through 5 to at least the rate of pay for step 3 of GS-6. (A wildland firefighter engages in wildfire management activities, which include aviation, dispatch, and fuels management.)  The bill also increases the minimum rate of basic pay for wildland firefighters at GS-6 through 15 by specified percentages, with comparable increases to prevailing rate employees who are wildland firefighters. Next, the bill requires wildland firefighters (including prevailing rate employees) to be paid for sleep and rest periods when deployed to the field on continuous duty status to respond to a qualifying incident at 50% of their hourly rate of basic pay. The bill also mandates a nine-hour sleep and rest period for every 24-hour duty period.  The bill also establishes paid leave, a right to buy back service time for retirement credit purposes, and other benefits for wildland firefighters. The bill directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor to ensure that psychological stress-related injuries and illnesses correlated to fire protection work are compensated and to expedite related claims. Federally-employed firefighters who are not wildland firefighters must also receive pay and benefit increases comparable to the increases provided to wildland firefighters under this bill. 

Recognizing the role of loneliness and isolation in public health.

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

This resolution recognizes the effects of loneliness and isolation on the health and well-being of all Americans and supports research to combat the effects.

National Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Clearinghouse Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

National Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Clearinghouse Act of 2023 This bill establishes a clearinghouse for information (e.g., best practices and research) about concussions and traumatic brain injuries for medical professionals, patients, and other stakeholders. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must maintain the clearinghouse.

Health Center Service Expansion and Provider Shortage Reduction Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Health Center Service Expansion and Provider Shortage Reduction Act This bill provides funding through FY2028 for certain services under the Community Health Center Program, which supports outpatient health care facilities that provide comprehensive primary care to medically underserved populations. It also provides funding through FY2028 to expand the National Health Services Corps, which provides scholarships and student loan repayment awards to health care providers who agree to work in areas with health care provider shortages. In particular, the bill requires that health centers provide behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder services and provides funding for those services. (Currently, centers may provide those as additional services.) Furthermore, the bill provides funding for (1) expanding the operating hours of community health centers; and (2) New Access Point Grants, which assist centers to establish new delivery sites for care.

Supporting State, local, and community initiatives to encourage parents, teachers, camp counselors, and childcare professionals to take measures to prevent sunburns in the minors they care for, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that State, local, and community entities should continue to support efforts to curb the incidences of skin cancer beginning with childhood skin protection.

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

This resolution expresses support for policies and other efforts to prevent childhood sunburns, such as exempting sunscreen from over-the-counter medication bans in schools.

Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2023 This bill establishes programs to increase treatment and other services for populations with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to federally qualified health centers, community-based organizations, or other nonprofits that treat or otherwise support populations with sickle cell disease for education and advocacy programs concerning the disease. HHS must also award grants to nonprofits, including hospitals or institutions of higher education, that provide comprehensive care to populations with sickle cell disease for programs to support the transition from pediatric to adult care for patients with the disease. Additionally, the Health Resources and Services Administration must establish a program to provide scholarships or student loan repayment awards to individuals who commit to engage in clinical practice or research related to sickle cell disease for a period of obligated service as physicians.

Expressing support for the designation of May 7 each year as "Brain Donation Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of Brain Donation Awareness Day to raise awareness of postmortem brain donation and its importance in scientific research on neurological conditions.

Words Matter Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Words Matter Act of 2023 This bill removes outdated terminology in specified statutes by replacing references to mentally retarded and mental retardation with intellectual disability .

Designating the week of May 1, 2023, through May 7, 2023, as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week".

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled movements of muscles in the face, torso, and extremities. It is caused by prolonged use of certain medications, including ones used to treat schizophrenia.

Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2023

Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act of 202 3 This bill requires companies that receive federal funding for research (or a license of the rights to a patent or regulatory test data) for a biomedical product or service to agree to set reasonable prices for the resulting biomedical product or service. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must determine a reasonable price based on a formula that ensures the U.S. price for the product or service is not more than the median price for the product or service in Canada and six other reference countries with, based on specified criteria, large economies and high incomes. Companies entering these agreements also must report to HHS certain financial information related to the biomedical product or service involved.

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY: REAUTHORIZING THE PANDEMIC AND ALL-HAZARDS PREPAREDNESS ACT

United States · United States Senate · 4 May 2023

Grandfamily Housing Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

Grandfamily Housing Act of 2023 This bill establishes grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Development for owners of intergenerational dwellings. Grants must be used to (1) provide services such as tutoring, health care services, and after-school care; (2) perform outreach to intergenerational families in the surrounding community; and (3) maintain spaces within the property to be used for programs and services for intergenerational families.

A resolution designating the week of May 1, 2023, through May 7, 2023, as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week".

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

This resolution designates Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled movements of muscles in the face, torso, and extremities. It is caused by prolonged use of certain medications, including ones used to treat schizophrenia.

Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program for specified trauma centers and nonprofits to establish or expand intervention or prevention programs related to intentional violent trauma, excluding intimate partner violence.

Cutting Medicare Prescription Drug Prices in Half Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

Cutting Medicare Prescription Drug Prices in Half Act This bill caps the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare at the amount that the Department of Veterans Affairs or the General Services Administration pays for the drug, whichever is lower.

Accelerating Biomedical Innovation Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

Accelerating Biomedical Innovation Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish, through a consortium of institutions of higher education, a center to accelerate the development of advanced medical countermeasures. (These are certain medical products that may be used to diagnose, prevent, or treat conditions associated with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats or emerging infectious diseases during public health emergencies.) The center must work on drugs or devices that are selected by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency (BARDA). A drug or device is eligible for selection if it incorporates a novel technology (or uses an existing technology in a novel way) in a manner that substantially (1) furthers the development of a drug or device of interest, (2) fulfills an unmet need, or (3) develops the manufacturing process for a drug or device. The bill also requires BARDA to coordinate with international partners to encourage global efforts to advance medical countermeasures.

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award competitive grants for planning and implementing community mental wellness and resilience programs through networks of schools, businesses, health and human services providers, and other community groups. These programs take a public health approach to build the capacity of the community to detect, prevent, and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychosocial conditions.

Healthy Competition for Better Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2023

BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE: IMPROVING PROVIDER DIRECTORY ACCURACY TO REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF GHOST NETWORKS

United States · United States Senate · 3 May 2023

RISE from Trauma Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2023

Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act or the RISE from Trauma Act This bill reauthorizes, establishes, and extends programs to support youth and families who have experienced, or may experience, trauma. The bill reauthorizes through FY2028 the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, school-based grants to increase access to trauma-support and mental health services, public health data collection about adverse childhood experiences, and a task force on trauma-informed care. It also establishes grants for multi-sector demonstration projects to mitigate trauma and toxic stress; improving outcomes for hospital patients who experience drug overdoses, suicide attempts, or violent injury; and clinical training in infant and early childhood mental health. Additionally, the bill authorizes (1) federal agencies to use specified discretionary funds for pilot projects to address traumatic exposures among children, and (2) Department of Justice (DOJ) grants to prevent trauma in children by reducing their exposure to violence and trauma. Further, the Department of Health and Human Services must provide resources for training frontline service providers and certain community members about trauma, toxic stress, and resilience. In addition, DOJ must establish a national center to disseminate resources to law enforcement agencies to improve interactions with youth and families who are exposed to violence and trauma. The bill also incorporates trauma-informed practices in programs for health care professional education, health care access, and educators.

DOC Access Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2023

Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act of 2023 or the DOC Access Act of 20 23 This bill prohibits private health insurance plans from setting rates for items and services, except for dental cleanings, provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan does not pay a substantial amount. Additionally, an agreement between a plan and such a doctor for limited scope dental or vision benefits may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension. Plans also may not restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers. Such doctors may elect to waive the application of the payment amount and choice of laboratories provisions of this bill. The bill does not supersede state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.

Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2023

Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2023 This bill establishes programs to increase treatment and other services for populations with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to federally qualified health centers, community-based organizations, or other nonprofits that treat or otherwise support populations with sickle cell disease for education and advocacy programs concerning the disease. HHS must also award grants to nonprofits, including hospitals or institutions of higher education, that provide comprehensive care to populations with sickle cell disease for programs to support the transition from pediatric to adult care for patients with the disease. Additionally, the Health Resources and Services Administration must establish a program to provide scholarships or student loan repayment awards to individuals who commit to engage in clinical practice or research related to sickle cell disease for a period of obligated service as physicians.

John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2023 This bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a payment model that addresses social determinants of health and health disparities, particularly with respect to minorities, underserved areas, and high-risk individuals. The bill also generally incorporates consideration of such factors into the selection, implementation, and evaluation of other models, including the decision as to whether to expand a model's duration and scope.

Equal Health Care for All Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Equal Health Care for All Act This bill prohibits discrimination in health care based on race, religion, and other characteristics. It also revises reporting requirements, adds equity-related measures to certain Medicare programs, and makes other changes to reduce health disparities. To enforce the prohibition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish an administrative process to resolve complaints about inequitable health care. HHS must investigate these complaints and mediate agreements to resolve issues. In the event of noncompliance with a mediated agreement, an aggrieved individual may bring a civil action. Health care providers must also report data in formats that allow disaggregation by demographic factors. HHS must issue proposed regulations to carry out this requirement within 90 days. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must include measures related to equitable health care in the Medicare value-based purchasing program for hospitals. This program provides incentive payments based on quality of care. The CMS may exclude providers that furnish inequitable health care from its programs. The bill also establishes (1) the Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor implementation of the bill, and (2) grants for hospitals to promote equitable health care.

PREPARE Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Pandemics Require Evaluating, Planning, And Responding Effectively Act or the PREPARE Act This bill establishes the National Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the legislative branch and sets out its duties and membership. The commission must investigate and report on the nation's preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It terminates 60 days after the submission of its final report. The bill exempts the commission from certain requirements that apply to federal advisory committees.

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award competitive grants for planning and implementing community mental wellness and resilience programs through networks of schools, businesses, health and human services providers, and other community groups. These programs take a public health approach to build the capacity of the community to detect, prevent, and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychosocial conditions.

Recognizing the impact the stigmatization of menstruation has on the lives of women, girls, and people who menstruate, and expressing support for the designation of the month of May as "National Menstrual Health Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of National Menstrual Health Awareness Month to educate people about menstrual health and eliminate period stigma.

Supporting the designation of May 2023 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for the Medical Student Education Program, which provides matching grants for educating and training medical students and encouraging them to serve as primary care physicians in tribal, rural, or medically underserved communities. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award the grants to public institutions of higher education located in states that rank in the top quintile of states based on their projected shortage of primary care physicians. In awarding the grants, HRSA must give priority to recipients that (1) are located in states with two or more federally recognized Indian tribes, and (2) have established or plan to establish a public-private partnership to support the implementation of the grant.

Due Process Continuity of Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Due Process Continuity of Care Act This bill allows an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending disposition of charges (i.e., pretrial detainees) to receive Medicaid benefits at the option of the state. The bill also provides for state planning grants to support the provision of such benefits.

School Access to Naloxone Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

School Access to Naloxone Act of 2023 This bill authorizes grants for expanding access to drugs or devices to treat opioid overdoses (e.g., naloxone) in elementary and secondary schools. The Department of Health and Human Services may award the grants to states, Indian tribes, and localities. To receive a grant, recipients must certify that schools in their jurisdictions will stock the drugs and devices and have trained staff on premises during operating hours to administer them. Additionally, the attorney general of the recipient's state must certify that trained staff are covered by state civil liability protections for individuals who administer aid in an emergency (commonly known as Good Samaritan laws).

Declaring gun violence a public health crisis.

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

This resolution declares gun violence to be a public health crisis. It also urges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand research and data collection on preventing gun violence and the Surgeon General to report on firearm injuries and violence prevention.

Expressing support for the designation of May 2023 as "National Physical Fitness and Sports Month".

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

This resolution supports the designation of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.

Citizenship for Essential Workers Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Citizenship for Essential Workers Act This bill establishes a mechanism for eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who worked as essential workers during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency to apply for and obtain lawful permanent resident status (sometimes referred to as a green card). The bill also narrows certain grounds for deportability and inadmissibility. To be eligible for a green card under this bill, an individual must have earned income at any point during the COVID-19 emergency period doing work deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or a state or local government. An individual may also be eligible if that individual is a parent, spouse, or child of (1) an eligible individual who died from COVID-19, or (2) a member of the Armed Forces. Certain individuals shall be ineligible, such as an individual who was a refugee on January 1, 2023. To obtain a green card under this bill, an applying individual must satisfy additional requirements, including by passing a background check. Furthermore, the bill repeals provisions providing for three-year bars and permanent bars to admission into the United States. (Generally, these bars apply to individuals who were previously removed or unlawfully present.) The bill also narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for inadmissibility or deportability, such as by redefining the term conviction to exclude expunged convictions. The Department of Justice or DHS may waive certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability (1) for humanitarian purposes, (2) to ensure family unity, or (3) for the public interest.

Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 2 May 2023

Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2023 This bill provides statutory authority for the Medical Student Education Program, which provides matching grants for educating and training medical students and encouraging them to serve as primary care physicians in tribal, rural, or medically underserved communities. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award the grants to public institutions of higher education located in states that rank in the top quintile of states based on their projected shortage of primary care physicians. In awarding the grants, HRSA must give priority to recipients that (1) are located in states with two or more federally recognized Indian tribes, and (2) have established or plan to establish a public-private partnership to support the implementation of the grant.

Citizenship for Essential Workers Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2023

Citizenship for Essential Workers Act This bill establishes a mechanism for eligible non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who worked as essential workers during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency to apply for and obtain lawful permanent resident status (sometimes referred to as a green card). The bill also narrows certain grounds for deportability and inadmissibility. To be eligible for a green card under this bill, an individual must have earned income at any point during the COVID-19 emergency period doing work deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or a state or local government. An individual may also be eligible if that individual is a parent, spouse, or child of (1) an eligible individual who died from COVID-19, or (2) a member of the Armed Forces. Certain individuals shall be ineligible, such as an individual who was a refugee on January 1, 2023. To obtain a green card under this bill, an applying individual must satisfy additional requirements, including by passing a background check. Furthermore, the bill repeals provisions providing for three-year bars and permanent bars to admission into the United States. (Generally, these bars apply to individuals who were previously removed or unlawfully present.) The bill also narrows the scope of certain crime-based grounds for inadmissibility or deportability, such as by redefining the term conviction to exclude expunged convictions. The Department of Justice or DHS may waive certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability (1) for humanitarian purposes, (2) to ensure family unity, or (3) for the public interest.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: EXAMINING AN EMERGING PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT

United States · United States House of Representatives · 28 April 2023