Housing

DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2023

United States · United States House of Representatives · 1 January 2021

Crisis Housing Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 28 December 2020

Crisis Housing Act of 2020 This bill provides funding to public housing agencies for rental assistance for certain families located in an area that either (1) meets specified unemployment levels, or (2) is subject to a major disaster declaration. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.

Economic Justice Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020

Economic Justice Act This bill provides emergency funding to address economic disparities and the impact of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) in communities, particularly with respect to low-income and minority populations. Among other programs, the bill provides funding for child care, health services, job training, family support services, small businesses, and housing, as well as for hospital, school, and broadband infrastructure. The bill also includes provisions that raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, incentivize Medicaid expansion, establish a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, and institute clean water and air programs.

Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020

Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2020 This bill establishes the Office for Access to Justice within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to advise on matters relating to justice for low-income and other people in the criminal and civil justice systems. Additionally, DOJ must establish a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to raise the awareness of executive branch agencies of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance federal objectives, including those related to employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, health services, and public safety.

Algorithmic Fairness Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020

Algorithmic Fairness Act of 2020 This bill establishes requirements for companies that use algorithmic processes utilizing machine learning, advanced statistical techniques, artificial intelligence, or similar techniques to make determinations about opportunities or access to education, employment, housing, health insurance, or other services. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission must study these techniques and enforce the requirements of this bill.

Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020

Office for Access to Justice Establishment Act of 2020 This bill establishes the Office for Access to Justice within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to advise on matters relating to justice for low-income and other people in the criminal and civil justice systems. Additionally, DOJ must establish a Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to raise the awareness of executive branch agencies of the ways in which civil legal aid and indigent defense can help advance federal objectives, including those related to employment, family stability, housing, consumer protection, health services, and public safety.

Housing Supply and Affordability Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020

Housing Supply and Affordability Act This bill allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes for the development and implementation of housing policy plans. These housing policy plans must increase the housing supply while avoiding resident displacement, increase housing affordability, and reduce barriers to housing development.

FHA Fairness Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2020

FHA Fairness Act This bill increases the mortgage limit for federal mortgage insurance eligibility for homes in certain cities and counties. Specifically, this increase applies to metropolitan cities and urban counties with higher housing costs that have experienced a decrease in home values over a specified time period.

Transportation Oriented Development Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2020

Transportation Oriented Development Act of 2020 This bill increases the low-income housing tax credit for buildings in transit-oriented development areas. The bill defines a transit-oriented development area as a designated area located within 1/4 mile from a rail, bus, harbor, or waterway station and zoned for high density. The bill also directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to study cost-of-living differences based on geographic location and proximity and accessibility to transit.

Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2020

Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020 This bill modifies the H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visa program and expands protections for aliens who report workplace violations. Changes to the H-2B program include requiring the Department of Labor to establish a centralized national electronic platform for U.S. workers to find and apply for positions that employers are seeking to fill with H-2B workers; requiring employers to recruit U.S. workers nationwide, including by posting the openings on the platform, before applying for H-2B visas; requiring employers to guarantee at least 40 hours of paid work per week for each H-2B worker (currently employers may guarantee less paid hours in certain instances); requiring employers to pay for housing for H-2B workers and transportation to and from the work site (currently employers are allowed to deduct fees for lodgings from an H-2B worker's pay); modifying the requirements for determining the minimum wage for H-2B workers; and prioritizing H-2B visas for certain employers, such as those that pay higher wages. Furthermore, an alien who has worked a certain amount of time as an H-2B worker may obtain permanent resident status, subject to various requirements. In addition, an alien who is likely helpful in an investigation of a workplace claim (i.e., an alleged violation of law or workplace-related injury) may qualify for a U visa for victims of criminal activity. The bill also removes statutory numerical limitations on U visas. The bill also provides protections for certain aliens who file or assist in the investigation of workplace claims.

Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020

Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the President to provide disaster assistance to states and Indian tribes for unmet need, including necessary expenses for activities related to disaster relief, resiliency, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, mitigation, and economic revitalization after a major disaster is declared. The bill also establishes a Natural Disaster Recovery Reserve Fund to facilitate planning and increase capacity to administer assistance.

Community Integration Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020

Community Integration Act of 2020 This bill requires a state Medicaid program to, with respect to an individual who requires a level of care provided in a nursing facility, intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled, institution for mental disease, or other similar setting (1) provide the individual with the choice and equal opportunity to receive such care in a home- and community-based setting; and (2) meet specified requirements relating to the provision and availability of care in such a setting, including a requirement to develop a statewide plan to increase affordable and accessible housing for individuals with disabilities.

HEALING Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020

Holistic Economic Aid for Low-Income Neighborhood Growth Act of 2020 or the HEALING Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants to states, local governments, Indian tribes, insular areas, and other institutions serving or owned by minorities to carry out Community Development Block Grant activities and other assistance in low- and moderate-income areas. Additionally, HUD must carry out a Civil Unrest Business Recovery Program to provide compensation to certain for-profit entities for damages from social and civil unrest during 2020 and to support business-led economic development.

Crisis Housing Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2020

Crisis Housing Act of 2020 This bill provides funding to public housing agencies for rental assistance for certain families located in an area that either (1) meets specified unemployment levels, or (2) is subject to a major disaster declaration. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending, which is exempt from discretionary spending limits.

Our Homes, Our Votes Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2020

Our Homes, Our Votes Act This bill facilitates voter registration for residents of certain federally assisted housing for the purpose of federal elections. Specifically, the bill requires each lease for such housing that is administered by a public housing agency (PHA) to include a voter registration application. A PHA must send any completed application to state election officials. The bill also treats owners of federally assisted housing as voter registration agencies.

Holyoke Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2020

Holyoke Veterans Act This bill requires state homes that receive funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to have a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies regarding the management and operation of the home. A  state home  is a home established by a state for veterans disabled by age, disease, or otherwise and who are incapable of earning a living because of such disability. The term also includes a home that furnishes nursing home care for veterans. Additionally, the bill requires the VA to assist state homes in the hiring and retention of infection preventionists.

Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2020

Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act of 2020 This bill prohibits a landlord, during a national emergency, from (1) evicting a tenant without a court order, (2) creating a hostile environment for a tenant for the purpose of causing the tenant to vacate, or (3) impairing the habitability of a dwelling for the purpose of causing the tenant to vacate. Violators are subject to criminal and civil penalties.

Housing Fairness Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2020

Housing Fairness Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Fair Housing Initiatives Program and revises program reporting requirements and organization eligibility requirements. The bill also allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enter into agreements with certain organizations to test and investigate differential treatment and discriminatory housing practices based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, and familial status. The results of these tests and investigations may be used as the basis for an enforcement action under specified fair housing laws. Additionally, HUD must establish a grant program for public and private nonprofit organizations to study housing discrimination and implement pilot projects to test solutions.

HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2020

HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which provides funds to state and local governments to expand the supply of safe and affordable housing for low-income individuals.

CATS Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2020

Cat Abuse in Testing Stops Act of 2020 or the CATS Act of 2020 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs, in carrying out research within the Veterans Health Administration, from purchasing, breeding, transporting, housing, feeding, maintaining, disposing of, or experimenting on cats as part of the conduct of any study that causes significant pain or distress.

Excellence in Recovery Housing Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2020

Excellence in Recovery Housing Act This bill directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to promote the availability of high-quality recovery housing for individuals with substance use disorders, including by developing standards and best practices for recovery housing and awarding grants to states, tribes, territories, and localities.

Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2020

Protecting Political Expression Act of 2020 This bill specifies that certain offenses involving political affiliation are hate crimes. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a prison term, a fine, or both. Further, the bill prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation in areas involving housing, federally assisted programs, and employment. The bill defines political affiliation to include, among other actions, joining, belonging to, or withdrawing from any political party, political action committee, or super political action committee.

HAMLET Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2020

Housing And Medicaid Legislation for Expansion Targets Act or the HAMLET Act This bill prohibits state Medicaid programs from using estate recovery to recoup the costs of benefits provided to individuals in the Medicaid expansion population.

Federal Financing Bank Risk-Sharing Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 27 November 2020

Federal Financing Bank Risk-Sharing Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to continue the Federal Financing Bank Risk-Sharing Program. The program provides financing to Housing Finance Agencies to build and maintain affordable housing. Additionally, the bill makes community development financial institutions eligible for the program.

Keep Your Home and Prevent Homelessness Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2020

Keep Your Home and Prevent Homelessness Act of 2020 This bill allows the Department of the Treasury to use Troubled Asset Relief Program funds to provide assistance under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Emergency Solutions Grant Program or under Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund Program.

Innovation Centers Acceleration Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020

Innovation Centers Acceleration Act This bill provides a program to advance economic development by designating nine cities as innovation centers—increasing funding for research and development—and providing and modifying certain related grants. It also establishes the Innovation Center Selection Committee to designate these cities. The innovation center designation entitles participating cities—and the businesses, research institutions, and other organizations that operate within them—to various federal funding and benefits for research activities, business and workforce development, and transportation infrastructure projects. These benefits include expanding various tax credits and incentives for businesses. The bill also makes it easier for those businesses to access loans and other financial instruments to raise capital. In addition, the bill establishes a grant program for local and tribal governments that partner with innovation centers to develop and preserve affordable housing. It also modifies existing grants, loans, and other programs that support transportation infrastructure to specifically target initiatives in innovation centers.

Strengthening Cybersecurity for the Financial Sector Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020

Strengthening Cybersecurity for the Financial Sector Act of 2020 This bill requires a Federal Home Loan Bank or government-sponsored enterprise to notify the Federal Housing Finance Agency of any services performed off its premises. The performance of these services is subject to regulation and examination. The bill also applies to credit unions existing limitations regarding investments by depository institutions in a bank service company.

Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 30 October 2020

Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2020 This bill requires owners of certain federally assisted housing constructed prior to 1978 to screen for and remove lead-based paint hazards in housing where families with a child under the age of six are living. Specifically, an owner of such housing must, with some exceptions, conduct an initial risk assessment that consists of not just a visual inspection for lead-based paint hazards in housing where such a family will reside. If the assessment identifies any lead-based paint hazards, the owner must address the hazards within 30 days of the assessment and notify all residents in the affected housing. If the owner fails to address the hazards within 30 days, the family in the affected dwelling unit may relocate on an emergency basis without (1) being placed on any waiting list, (2) paying any penalty, or (3) experiencing any lapse in assistance. Further, the Department of Housing and Urban Development must establish a demonstration program to pay for the costs to address lead-based paint hazards in dwellings that receive certain federal rental assistance and in which the tenant is a family with a child under the age of six.

Senior Accessible Housing Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2020

Senior Accessible Housing Act This bill allows a refundable income tax credit to individual taxpayers who have attained age 60 for expenditures in their residences for the installation of entrance and exit ramps, the widening of doorways, the installation of handrails, grab bars, and non-slip flooring. The amount of the credit is reduced if a taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts and is limited to a lifetime amount of $30,000 over amounts paid in previous taxable years.

Justice for All Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2020

Justice for All Act of 2020 This bill reaffirms the availability of discrimination claims under specified civil rights statutes based on disparate impact. Specifically, the bill restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The bill, among other things prohibits actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent; prohibits the use of compelled arbitration clauses; eliminates qualified immunity for government employees and prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations; awards victims of disparate impact discrimination compensation and attorney's fees; and defines sex for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits.

Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2020

Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and expands the Full-Service Community Schools program. The program provides support for full-service community schools that serve children and their families, particularly for children who attend high-poverty elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to eligible entities to plan, implement, expand, and support full-service community schools. An eligible entity is a consortium of (1) one or more local educational agencies or the Bureau of Indian Education; and (2) one or more community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, or other entities. A community school refers to a public elementary or secondary school that incorporates the four pillars of community schools. These four pillars are defined by the bill as (1) integrated student supports that address out-of-school barriers to learning (e.g., medical care and assistance with housing, transportation, or nutrition); (2) expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities (e.g., before- and after-school programs); (3) family and community engagement (e.g., adult education); and (4) collaborative leadership and practices, which must include a school-based leadership team, a community school coordinator, and a community-wide leadership team. Further, the bill directs ED to award grants to states to plan, implement, and expand community schools. A state educational agency that receives a grant must meet certain requirements, such as providing subgrants to local educational agencies, establishing a state-level steering committee, and establishing goals for the implementation and expansion of community schools throughout the state.

HEALTH for MOM Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2020

Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long Term Health for Moms On Medicaid Act of 2020 or the HEALTH for MOM Act of 2020 This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover services that are provided by pregnancy medical homes (designated providers or health teams that provide high-risk pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services).

Corporate Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020

Corporate Responsibility and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2020 This bill imposes an excise tax on large employers (at least 500 full-time employees in the preceding calendar year) for qualified federal benefits received by their employees. The bill defines qualified federal benefits to include food stamps, school lunches, section 8 housing subsidies, and Medicaid benefits. The bill exempts employers that pay their employees $15 per hour and have less than $100 million in assets.

Prevent Homelessness Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020

Prevent Homelessness Act of 2020 This bill establishes the Housing Stabilization Fund to provide annual grants for nonprofit organizations and state and local governments that assist homeless individuals and families through the Continuum of Care Program. Grants must be used to provide emergency housing assistance for extremely low-income families.

Protecting Rural Housing Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020

Protecting Rural Housing Act of 2020 This bill addresses housing affordability, including by establishing a pilot grant program for government or nonprofit entities that primarily serve rural areas to support the development or rehabilitation of housing that is affordable for low-income families.

SAVE Federally-Assisted Housing Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020

Support Allowing Volume Exception for Federally-Assisted Housing Act or the SAVE Federally-Assisted Housing Act This bill allows an exception to the volume cap requirement for private activity bonds used to finance the preservation, improvement, or replacement of federally-assisted buildings.

Keeping Seniors Safe from COVID-19 Through Home Design Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020

Keeping Seniors Safe from COVID-19 Through Home Design Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health and Human Services to study improved home and housing design features in nursing homes and assisted living facilities that can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

Community-Based Response Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020

Community-Based Response Act This bill establishes a program to assist communities with implementing alternative emergency response models in vulnerable populations to resolve crisis situations that may not require a law enforcement response or situations where a law enforcement response may increase the risk of harm. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice, must award grants to eligible partnerships to establish or expand these models. The partnerships must consist of a unit of local or tribal government that is independent of law enforcement agencies and a nonprofit, community-based organization or consortium of such organizations. The partnerships may also include other entities, such as nonprofit or public institutions of higher education and behavioral health organizations. A partnership may use grant funds for a variety of purposes, such as triaging 9–1–1 calls to refer certain emergencies to entities other than law enforcement. In awarding these grants, HHS must prioritize partnerships that include community-based organizations that have a record of effectively serving, and are led by members of, vulnerable populations.

Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020

Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act of 2020 This bill addresses the administration of educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in relation to the COVID-19 emergency, Specifically, the VA must provide educational assistance, including housing stipends and allowances, to individuals who are negatively affected by the COVID-19 emergency. The bill ensures that entitlement to educational assistance will not be charged or counted against the aggregate period in situations where an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the COVID-19 emergency. The VA must treat an individual's withdrawal from a program of education due to COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and December 21, 2021, as a mitigating circumstance and not charge the individual's educational assistance entitlement. The bill modifies the time limitation for use of Montgomery Bill benefits or vocational rehabilitation benefits during the pandemic so the window of eligibility does not expire during the COVID-19 emergency. Additionally, the bill adjusts the administration of certain benefits for veterans participating in an apprenticeship or other on-job training during the period between March 1, 2020, and December 21, 2021, including by proportionately reducing the 120-hour monthly training requirement to reflect an individual's period of unemployment without a reduction in training assistance. The bill expands educational assistance to include programs or courses of education at training establishments (e.g., establishment providing apprentice or other on-job training) during the COVID-19 emergency.

Community-Based Response Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020

Community-Based Response Act This bill establishes a program to assist communities with implementing alternative emergency response models in vulnerable populations to resolve crisis situations that may not require a law enforcement response or situations where a law enforcement response may increase the risk of harm. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice, must award grants to eligible partnerships to establish or expand these models. The partnerships must consist of a unit of local or tribal government that is independent of law enforcement agencies and a nonprofit, community-based organization or consortium of such organizations. The partnerships may also include other entities, such as nonprofit or public institutions of higher education and behavioral health organizations. A partnership may use grant funds for a variety of purposes, such as triaging 9–1–1 calls to refer certain emergencies to entities other than law enforcement. In awarding these grants, HHS must prioritize partnerships that include community-based organizations that have a record of effectively serving, and are led by members of, vulnerable populations.

Know Your Home Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020

Know Your Home Act of 2020 This bill expands eligible activities under the Community Development Block Grant program to include payment of costs incurred by a local government in digitizing, and publishing online, information regarding violations of laws and regulations related to housing construction and safety. The bill also requires a local government, as a condition of grant eligibility in FY2026 or later, to collect and make publicly available such information upon request.

Cottage Homes to Improve Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020

Cottages Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act This bill requires states to consider foster family homes or cottage homes to be the least restrictive setting for children who have attained six years of age and have been removed from their homes, if suitable relatives or other designated caregivers are not available. A cottage home is a residential operation in which not more than 12 children reside; that implements a trauma-informed care plan for its residents; that involves family members of a child in the plan of service for the child, and maintains contact with the family of the child, if available and if the involvement supports the well-being of the child; and that is licensed by the state where it is located. The bill makes cottage homes eligible for foster care maintenance payments.

SAFER Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020

Strategic Acquisition and Floodplain Efficiency Reform Act or the SAFER Act This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a pilot program to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of allowing private entities to carry out pre-disaster mitigation activities, such as property acquisition and relocation, under the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program.

To extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related situations in the same manner as programs of education pursued at educational institutions.

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

This bill extends the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide educational assistance through December 21, 2021, for programs of education that have been converted to distance learning due to an emergency or health-related situation. Such assistance includes monthly housing stipends or subsistence allowances.

Community Development Block Grant Equity Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

Community Development Block Grant Equity Act of 2020 This bill revises the allocation formula used to distribute Community Development Block Grants to metropolitan cities, urban counties, and other areas. Among other changes, the formula (1) incorporates an area's rate of female-headed households with children, and (2) more heavily weights an area's relative poverty rate.

Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for SNAP Recipients Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for SNAP Recipients Act of 2020 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report on enrollment in the Lifeline program. The Lifeline program is designed to reduce the cost of communications services for low-income consumers, and it allows those consumers to qualify for Lifeline assistance based on their receipt of other federal assistance programs (e.g., Medicaid or Federal Public Housing Assistance). Specifically, the FCC must submit reports on (1) enrollment in the Lifeline program by individuals who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program), and (2) the number of new broadband consumers projected to join the Lifeline program through federal assistance programs and the efficacy of various efforts to advertise the Lifeline program.

Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act This bill establishes the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy in the United States and sets forth its powers, duties, and membership. Among other activities, the commission must study the impacts and ongoing effects of the Indian Boarding School Policy (a federal policy under which American Indian and Alaska Native children were forcibly removed from their family homes and placed in boarding schools) and make recommendations to discontinue the removal of American Indian and Alaska Native children from their families and tribal communities by state social service departments, foster care agencies, and adoption agencies.

Restoring Education Access for Student Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

Restoring Education Access for Student Veterans Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide certain educational assistance benefits, including housing stipends and allowances, to individuals who are negatively affected by the COVID-19 emergency.

Puppy Protection Act of 2020

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

Puppy Protection Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs adequate housing, exercise, and veterinary care; appropriate and nutritious food; continuous access to potable water; and meaningful socialization with humans and compatible dogs for at least 30 minutes each day. The standards must also include requirements for breeders to use safe breeding practices and make all reasonable efforts to find humane placement for retired breeding dogs.

Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020

Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy Act This bill establishes the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policy in the United States and sets forth its powers, duties, and membership. Among other activities, the commission must study the impacts and ongoing effects of the Indian Boarding School Policy (a federal policy under which American Indian and Alaska Native children were forcibly removed from their family homes and placed in boarding schools) and make recommendations to discontinue the removal of American Indian and Alaska Native children from their families and tribal communities by state social service departments, foster care agencies, and adoption agencies.