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Bill· SS. 3666 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2020
COVID-19 Designation of Immediate Special Authority of Spectrum for Tribes' Emergency Response in Indian Country Act or the COVID-19 DISASTER in Indian Country Act This bill grants emergency special temporary authority and provides funds to deploy wireless broadband service on tribal lands and Hawaiian home lands. Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant emergency special temporary authority to Indian tribes, certain tribal entities, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands if they request such authority to use electromagnetic spectrum to provide wireless broadband service over tribal lands or Hawaiian home lands. The FCC must grant such emergency authority within 10 days of receiving a request. In addition, the bill provides funds to specified Department of Agriculture grant programs for (1) immediate deployment of wireless broadband service on tribal lands and Hawaiian home lands, including repairs to damaged infrastructure and backhaul costs; and (2) technical assistance and training.
Bill· SS. 3621 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2020
Made in America Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill revises requirements for drinking water state revolving funds (SRFs). Specifically, the bill permanently extends a requirement that projects financed through SRFs for public water systems only use iron and steel products that are produced in the United States, unless the Environmental Protection Agency grants a waiver from the requirement.
Bill· HRH.R. 6709 (116th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
Coronavirus Frontline Workers Fair Pay Act This bill provides hazard pay, in addition to regular pay, to specified health care and essential workers during calendar year 2020. Health care workers, which include physicians and support staff, among others, are eligible for a maximum of $35,000 in aggregate hazard pay. Essential workers, as determined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, are eligible for a maximum of $25,000 in aggregate hazard pay. The Department of the Treasury must make payments to employers based on an employer's quarterly projections of the number of hours worked by eligible employees, including specified hours worked prior to the enactment of this bill. Employers must issue hazard payments to eligible employees not later than 14 days after receiving such payment from Treasury. The bill establishes and provides funding for the Coronavirus Essential and High-Risk Health Care Workers Hazard Payment Fund to implement this program.
Bill· HRH.R. 6706 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 2020
This bill requires the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review any purchase by a Chinese entity of a controlling interest in a U.S. company deemed critical to national security, critical infrastructure, or of cultural significance. The President may approve such a purchase only if, among other things, the purchase price was not significantly affected by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and the sale will not permit additional access to distribute propaganda or alter U.S. news and media consumption. The bill's provisions cease to have force or effect once the United States has substantially recovered from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Bill· SS. 3591 (116th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2020
America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill modifies water resources development projects operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and clean water programs operated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The bill modifies cost share requirements for the construction and major rehabilitation of certain inland waterways navigation projects. Additionally, the nonfederal cost share for certain projects may be reduced if a small or disadvantaged community's sustainability would be threatened without the project. Similarly, the Corps of Engineers may recommend a project without national economic development benefits if the project is necessary for an underserved, economically distressed, or rural community's sustainability. The Corps of Engineers must also construct small water storage projects in rural states. The bill authorizes new projects, including projects for ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, and navigation. The bill also establishes programs for the prevention and control of certain invasive species. Additionally, the EPA must provide specified assistance to small and medium publicly owned treatment works. Further, the EPA must award grants to small publicly owned treatment works for activities including those related to improving energy and waste efficiency. The EPA must also award grants to reduce emissions at ports from vessels. Further, the bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides financing for water quality infrastructure projects. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2030 the Indian Irrigation Fund, which provides funds to maintain and repair Indian irrigation projects. The Government Accountability Office must report on federal dams and reservoirs in western states.
Bill· SS. 3590 (116th)open
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2020
Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill addresses drinking water infrastructure, including by revising and reauthorizing programs regarding tribal water systems and emergency situations affecting public water systems, expanding the allowable uses of certain grants to include remediation of groundwater contamination, expanding the allowable uses of assistance for public water systems serving small and disadvantaged communities, and establishing a pilot program utilizing mapping to reduce lead in drinking water.
Bill· SS. 3598 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 2020
Repatriation Reimbursement Act This bill requires the U.S. commercial airline industry and the Department of State to fully reimburse or waive certain travel expenses for U.S. citizens who seek repatriation to the United States as a result of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. The bill requires U.S. commercial airlines to (1) provide cash reimbursements to U.S. citizens for any international flight to the United States cancelled or delayed more than 24 hours as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, (2) waive and reimburse change fees for replacing an international flight ticket, and (3) not charge passengers more for the replacement ticket than what was charged for the original ticket. Such requirements apply to travel expenses incurred on or after December 31, 2019, and on or before September 30, 2020. The State Department must (1) waive any travel expenses paid by it on or after December 31, 2019, for any U.S. citizen who is evacuated from a foreign country and repatriated to the United States due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, or any future pandemic or international crisis; (2) nullify any travel expense promissory note required for reimbursing the State Department; (3) reimburse such individuals for travel expenses associated with evacuation and repatriation, including the costs of flights and ground transportation expenses associated with travel to a foreign airport and from the domestic airport to their homes in the United States; and (4) develop an online reimbursement system for individuals to submit claims for the reimbursement of travel expenses.
Bill· HRH.R. 6671 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 2020
Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a program to award grants to states and other government entities to aid in the deployment of fueling infrastructure to increase the use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. The bill requires any infrastructure used or installed with funds provided under the program to be certified by the Underwriters Laboratory to distribute blends with an ethanol content of 25% or greater. An entity receiving grants under the program shall ensure that federal funds do not exceed (1) 75% of the per pump cost for pumps that can dispense ethanol blends up to and including E85, and dedicated E15 and E85 pumps (new pumps or retrofit of existing pumps); (2) 50% of the terminal costs for terminals with B100 capabilities; and (3) 25% of the per tank cost for new storage tanks and related equipment associated with new facilities or additional capacity other than replacement.
Bill· HRH.R. 6630 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2020
Securing America's Critical Minerals Supply Chain Act This bill allows a new tax deduction for 10% of the cost of specified domestically-produced materials if such materials are acquired directly from the domestic smelter or processor of the materials. The bill defines specified domestically-produced materials as materials that are smelted or processed in the United States by direct smelting of ore, from a mine product, by a taxpayer in the trade or business of smelting or processing such materials. The term specified material includes minerals necessary for national defense and security, for U.S. energy infrastructure, for community resiliency, to support domestic manufacturing, agriculture, housing, telecommunications, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure, or for U.S. economic security and balance of trade. The term does not include fuel minerals, water, ice, or snow, or sand, stone, gravel, pumice, pumicite, cinders, or clay.
Bill· HRH.R. 6617 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2020
Western Water Storage Infrastructure Act This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to provide grants to support qualifying water storage projects in western states. For such grants, Interior may enter into agreements for the design, study, construction, upgrade, or capital repair of qualifying federal and nonfederal water storage projects.
Bill· HRH.R. 6625 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2020
Cruise Reform and Uniform Industry Standards Evoke Integrity Act or the CRUISE Integrity Act This bill establishes requirements for cruise lines to receive federal funds and federal assistance, including a direct loan, loan guarantee, or tax credit. The bill prohibits cruise lines from receiving federal funds and federal assistance unless such cruise lines are incorporated in the United States; have at least 50% of vessels registered in the United States; certify compliance with certain requirements, including that they are in compliance with all applicable environmental dumping laws; offer full reimbursement to passengers for cancellations related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019); agree not to use funds to purchase an equity security, pay dividends or other capital investments until one year after the date the loans are repaid in full; and develop a plan to reduce total emissions of such cruise line of carbon, methane, nitrogen oxides, and Black Carbon, including by reducing the use of heavy fuel oil and exhaust gas systems. Additionally, the bill (1) establishes a program to require monitoring and inspections of the compliance of cruise vessels with environmental standards; (2) prohibits a cruise vessel departing from or calling on a port of the United States from discharging sewage, graywater, bilge water, or exhaust gas scrubber effluent into navigable waters and territorial seas, with specified exceptions; (3) increases civil penalties for violations; and (4) sets forth medical standards for cruise vessels.
Bill· HRH.R. 6622 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 2020
Assuring Quality Water Infrastructure Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a grant program to improve drinking water infrastructure. Under the program, the EPA must improve the operational sustainability for at least one small public water system through the identification and prevention of potable water loss due to metering or infrastructure failures.
Bill· HRH.R. 6575 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2020
National Transit Workforce Training Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish a national transit frontline workforce training center (targeted to both rural and urban transit systems) and award grants to a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide transit career ladder programs through labor-management partnerships and apprenticeships on a nationwide basis. The center must (1) be dedicated to the needs of the frontline transit workforce through standards-based training in the maintenance and operations occupations, and (2) develop and conduct training and educational programs for frontline local transportation employees engaged in government-aid public transportation work.
Bill· HRH.R. 6566 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2020
Airline Travelers Equity Act of 2020 This bill requires an air carrier receiving federal loans or grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to certify to the Department of Transportation that it will reimburse a consumer amounts paid for a flight canceled by such air carrier or the consumer during the COVID-19 emergency period. The requirement does not apply in the case of a passenger who was reimbursed amounts paid by a third party or through travel protection insurance.
Bill· HRH.R. 6530 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2020
Emergency Supply Chain Transparency Act This bill requires the President to report to Congress on certain authorities used under the Defense Production Act of 1950 and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act). Specifically, the bill requires the President or each federal agency to which the President delegates authority under the Defense Production Act, within 14 days of exercising authority provided under such Act, to report to Congress disclosing (1) the production, transport, distribution, sale, delivery, and construction of all materials, services, and facilities related to the exercise of such authority; and (2) any private entity in receipt or possession of such materials, services, and facilities. The bill requires the President or each federal agency to which the President delegates authority under the Stafford Act's federal emergency disaster relief assistance provision, within 14 days of exercising such authority, to report to Congress disclosing all equipment, supplies, facilities, personnel, services, and other resources provided to federal agencies, private organizations, and state and local governments related to such exercise of authority. Such reports shall be updated periodically, not less than every 14 days, while such authority is in use.
Bill· HRH.R. 6540 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2020
Agricultural Security Risk Review Act This bill expands the membership of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to include the Secretary of Agriculture. (The committee reviews the national security implications of certain foreign investments in U.S. businesses or real estate, including critical infrastructure or technologies.)
Bill· HRH.R. 6523 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 2020
Traveler Reimbursements Underscore Equity Act of 2020 or the TRUE Act of 2020 This bill requires an air carrier receiving federal loans or grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to certify to the Department of Transportation that it will reimburse a consumer amounts paid for a flight canceled by such air carrier or the consumer during the COVID-19 emergency period. The requirement does not apply in the case of a passenger who was reimbursed amounts paid by a third party or through travel protection insurance.
Bill· HRH.R. 6505 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2020
Detection and Response to Emerging Highly Communicable Infectious Disease Events Act This bill directs the National Biosurveillance Integration Center of the Department of Homeland Security to detect, as early as possible, an emerging highly communicable infectious disease event (currently, limited to a biological event) of national concern that presents a risk to the United States or U.S. infrastructure or key assets. The center shall report to the National Security Council and the congressional homeland security committees within 72 hours of confirmation of such infectious disease event being detected.
Bill· HRH.R. 6479 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2020
Taxpayer Accountability for Airlines Relief Act This bill requires air carriers receiving federal loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to limit compensation of certain executives until the air carrier repays such loans. Specifically, the bill prohibits such air carriers from paying its executives who earned a compensation of more than $425,00 in 2019 a salary that is greater than their 2019 salary.
Bill· HRH.R. 6478 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2020
Public Transit Safety Program Improvement Act This bill modifies requirements for approval of a public transportation agency safety plan to include a requirement that the safety and health committee of the recipient consisting of frontline employee representatives (selected by the labor organization representing the majority of the frontline workforce employed by the recipient) and an equal number of employer or state representatives approve the plan and any updates to the plan.
Bill· HRH.R. 6488 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 2020
Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill exempts certain broadband infrastructure project actions from specified environmental and historic preservation review requirements. Specifically, the bill exempts (1) new communications facilities within specified dimensions in public rights-of-way, (2) replacement facilities that are of a similar type, (3) certain small antennas, (4) facility expansions within specified limits, and (5) new easements for facilities on federal property for which easements were previously granted for other facilities.
Bill· HRH.R. 6469 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2020
This bill deauthorizes a portion of the project for flood control and navigation for the San Diego River and Mission Bay in San Diego County, California.
Bill· HRH.R. 6463 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2020
Improving Access to Services Act This bill requires transportation planners to consider projects and strategies to improve safe and convenient access to certain services, including health care facilities, child care, and affordable housing. ( Access is the ability to travel by auto, transit, pedestrian, and bike networks measured in terms of travel times, with impedances for level of travel stress for active travel and costs for low income travelers.) The Department of Transportation must establish minimum standards for states to use in determining and improving safe and convenient access to certain services for all users by all modes of travel. If a state fails to improve access, it must obligate 10% of federal transportation funds apportioned to such state from the previous fiscal year into its efforts to meet the minimum standards to improve access. The bill prohibits metropolitan transportation planning organizations from approving a transportation improvement plan that increases the ratio of automobile to non-automobile access in urbanized areas.
Bill· HRH.R. 6464 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2020
Improving Access to Jobs Act This bill requires transportation planners to consider projects and strategies to improve safe and convenient access to employment. ( Access is the ability to travel by auto, transit, pedestrian, and bike networks measured in terms of travel times, with impedances for level of travel stress for active travel and costs for low income travelers.) The Department of Transportation must establish minimum standards for states to use in determining and improving safe and convenient access to employment for all users by all modes of travel. If a state fails to improve access, it must obligate 10% of federal transportation funds apportioned to such state from the previous fiscal year into its efforts to meet the minimum standards to improve access. The bill prohibits metropolitan transportation planning organizations from approving a transportation improvement plan that increases the ratio of automobile to non-automobile access in urbanized areas.
Bill· HRH.R. 6459 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2020
Small Cities and Towns Investment Act This bill establishes a program through which the Rural Development Innovation Center shall make grants to local governments to address major community development and public infrastructure challenges.
Bill· HRH.R. 6431 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2020
Made in America Emergency Preparedness Act This bill establishes in the legislative branch a National Commission on United States Preparedness for National Emergencies. Not later than 18 months after this bill's enactment, the commission shall report to the President and Congress regarding (1) which medical, pharmaceutical, and emergency preparedness products are determined to be essential; and (2) actions states should take to be better prepared, national federal stockpile requirements, and national surge capacity infrastructure deficiencies in hospitals and medical centers. States that fail to implement the findings of the commission's report by January 1, 2025, at the state and local level, will lose access to all federal funds for emergency preparedness unless the Department of Homeland Security exempts a state determined to be working to implement such findings in good faith. The bill (1) requires certain medical, pharmaceutical, and emergency preparedness products integral to the response to a national emergency to be manufactured and procured within the United States; and (2) provides for a temporary 100% expensing for firms that incur costs associated with pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing within the United States, including personal protective equipment and other necessary items.
Bill· HRH.R. 6434 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2020
Small Transit Communities Modernization Act This bill modifies the definition of eligible area for purposes of the grant program under the small transit intensive cities formula to include an urbanized area with a population of at least 200,000, but not more than 999,999. The modification extends through FY2030.
Bill· HRH.R. 6447 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2020
Northern Border Regional Commission Financial Flexibility Act This bill temporarily increases the maximum percentage that certain federal regional commissions may contribute toward infrastructure projects in distressed counties (i.e., counties that are the most economically distressed and underdeveloped and have high rates of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration). Specifically, for grants awarded between January 1, 2019-December 31, 2021, the bill allows the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to contribute 100% of costs for projects in distressed counties. (Currently, only the NBRC is active.)
Bill· HRH.R. 6452 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 April 2020
Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Equity Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to refund credit risk premiums under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing loan program upon the satisfaction of a loan's obligations.
Bill· HRH.R. 6422 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 2020
National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2020 This bill creates the National Infrastructure Bank to facilitate the long-term financing of infrastructure projects. Specifically, the bank must provide loans to public and private entities for financing, developing, or operating eligible infrastructure projects. An eligible project must have a public sponsor as well as local, regional, or national significance. The bill also provides for various criteria and preferences for purposes of deciding whether to provide a loan, such as whether a project promotes job creation or provides environmental health benefits. Projects that receive such a loan must (1) pay all laborers and mechanics locally prevailing wages, and (2) use only certain U.S.-produced construction materials unless a waiver is secured from the bank. The bank shall issue stock and may also issue bonds and maintain a discount line of credit with the Federal Reserve System. The bank must apply for a national bank charter as soon as is practicable and, once chartered, accept deposits from individuals, corporations, and public entities and pay interest on those deposits. The bill also imposes requirements related to the bank's operation, such as minimum reserve requirements and requirements for handling loan losses. In addition, the bank must facilitate the organization of at least seven regional economic accelerator planning groups to, among other things, identify infrastructure needs and priorities. Within five years, the Government Accountability Office must report on the bank's activities, including the impact of the funded infrastructure projects.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 913 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 2020
This resolution recognizes the contributions of frontline workers and essential critical-infrastructure personnel and reaffirms the responsibility of Congress to meet the needs of such workers with respect to personal protective equipment and necessary tools to safely carry out their jobs.
Bill· SS. 3582 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 2020
This bill extends the tax credit for health insurance costs to eligible national defense or infrastructure workers. An eligible national defense or infrastructure worker is an individual who was employed in a critical industry as of January 31, 2020, filed for unemployment compensation after such date, and is covered by health insurance. A critical industry is an industry related to critical national infrastructure or national defense and is severely distressed due to COVID-19 (i.e., the coronavirus disease 2019). The bill also extends the tax credit through 2022.
Bill· HRH.R. 6359 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2020
Promoting Infrastructure by Protecting Our Subcontractors and Taxpayers Act This bill revises the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation program to require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure that the design and construction of a project carried out under the program must have appropriate payment and performance security, regardless of whether the obligor is a state, local government, agency or instrumentality of a state or local government, public authority, or private party. DOT may accept such payment and performance security requirements if it makes a written determination that the federal interest is adequately protected.
Bill· SS. 3529 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 2020
Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 This bill revises and establishes voting procedures for federal elections. Specifically, the bill requires each state and jurisdiction to, within 30 days, establish and publish a contingency plan to enable voters to vote in federal elections during an emergency. Such plan must (1) include initiatives related to the safety and recruitment of poll workers, and (2) permit registered voters to submit online requests for absentee ballots and vote by mail or by drop-off location. Additionally, for all federal elections, a state must ensure that voters have 20 days to vote through early in-person voting or by mail; begin processing ballots cast during early voting or by mail at least 14 days before the date of the election; provide self-sealing return envelopes with prepaid postage for voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and blank absentee ballots; allow voters to cure certain signature discrepancies; accept voter registration applications at least 21 days before the date of the election; and provide certain accommodations to voters residing on Indian lands. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must create a uniform domestic downloadable and printable absentee ballot for use in federal elections. Until the EAC creates such a ballot, states must permit certain voters to use those ballots provided to overseas and military voters. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency must create an update service to inform voters of their voter registration applications, absentee-ballot applications, and absentee ballots. States must be reimbursed for implementing the provisions of the bill.
Bill· HRH.R. 6284 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2020
21st Century Smart Cars Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prescribe federal motor vehicle safety standards that (1) establish minimum performance requirements for crash avoidance technologies; and (2) require all new passenger motor vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States, introduced or delivered for introduction in interstate commerce, or imported into the United States, to be equipped with the crash avoidance technologies. DOT must also conduct advanced crash systems research into (1) driver monitoring systems that will minimize driver disengagement, prevent automation complacency, and account for foreseeable misuse of the automation; (2) lane keeping assistance that assists with steering to keep a vehicle within its driving lane; (3) intersection movement assistance; and (4) automatic crash data notification systems that notify emergency responders that a crash has occurred and provide the geographical location of the vehicle and crash data in a manner that allows for assessment of potential injuries and emergency response, and that transfer anonymized automatic crash data for the purposes of safety research and statistical analysis.
Bill· HRH.R. 6226 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Improving the Metra Commuter Experience Act of 2020 This bill requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to transfer operational control of Chicago Union Station to the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra). If Amtrak fails to comply with the requirement, the Department of Transportation must withhold 5% of specified funds for Amtrak.
Bill· HRH.R. 6225 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Every Person Deserves Peace and Quiet Act of 2020 This bill requires a set aside of 10% of the funding under the consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements grant program for supplementary and alternative safety measures (i.e., substitutes for the locomotive horn at railway-highway grade crossings). The bill also includes such measures as projects eligible for funding under the surface transportation block grant program.
Bill· HRH.R. 6224 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Building Much Needed Rail Grade Separations Act of 2020 This bill establishes a grade separation investment program to award competitive grants to certain entities for projects that separate railway-highway grade crossings, improve safety by reducing the number of deaths and injuries at rail-highway crossings, increase the efficiency and reliability of the movement of people and freight over rail-highway crossings, increase the capacity of the freight and passenger rail system, reduce the amount of noise from trains, and improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from less idling at rail-highway crossings. Among other requirements, the bill (1) requires grant awards for large projects (projects with total costs of greater than $100 million) to be at least $50 million, and for any other projects not less than $2.5 million; and (2) directs the Department of Transportation to consider a number of factors in awarding grants, including accident history at the rail-highway crossing over the last 10 years, the annual average daily traffic at the crossing, the likelihood of a collision based on the geometry of the crossing, and the number of critical facilities near the crossing.
Bill· HRH.R. 6248 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Disability Access to Transportation Act This bill expands transportation access for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Transportation to establish a one-stop paratransit pilot program to develop or expand paratransit programs carried out pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to prevent long wait times between multiple trips that unduly limit an individual's ability to complete essential tasks; issue regulations enforcing guidelines that set forth minimum standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way; implement procedures that allow an individual to submit an ADA complaint by phone, by mail-in form, and online; require each public transit provider and contractor providing paratransit services to post certain information for how an individual can file a disability-related complaint; file yearly reports of accessibility complaints; and create an accessibility data pilot program to assist states and metropolitan or rural planning organizations to improve their transportation planning.
Bill· HRH.R. 6266 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to issue regulations that require operators of cruise vessels or cruise lines to reimburse individuals for the ticket price of a cruise purchased on or before February 1, 2020, in the event of a cancellation due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill applies for the duration of any emergency declared with respect to COVID-19.
Bill· HRH.R. 6223 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Don't BLock Our Communities Act or the D-BLOC Act This bill addresses concerns related to blocked crossings. (A blocked crossing is a circumstance in which a train, railroad car, or locomotive engine is stopped or is standing in a manner that obstructs public travel at a crossing). Specifically, the bill requires each railroad carrier to collect data on blocked crossings and directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to incorporate such data into the national highway-rail crossing inventory; establishes a 10-minute limit on trains, locomotive, railroad cars, or other railroad equipment blocking crossings, with specified exceptions; authorizes DOT to issue civil penalties for each incident where a crossing is blocked by a standing train, locomotive, or rail equipment; requires DOT to issue regulations defining what is considered persistently or egregiously blocking a crossing, including taking into consideration the extent to which the blocked crossing poses a public safety hazard; does not apply to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) or commuter authorities; directs DOT to issue and publish a national strategy on how it plans to address blocked crossings; and requires each railroad carrier to establish and maintain a toll-free telephone service for rights-of-way over which it dispatches trains to directly receive calls reporting blocked crossings.
Bill· SS. 3463 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Warren Cowles Grade Crossing Safety Act This bill authorizes appropriations for FY2021 to carry out highway-rail grade crossing improvement projects, specifically projects for commuter rail and operators in high-ridership corridors. The authorization level shall be adjusted for FY2022 and each subsequent fiscal year to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Bill· SS. 3465 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Lander County Land Management and Conservation Act This bill conveys all interest in certain federal land, including mineral rights, to Lander County, Nevada. After Lander County selects certain parcels for conveyance, the Department of the Interior and Forest Service must convey the parcels to the county, for no consideration, for use by the county for watershed protection, recreation, and parks. Interior shall convey to Lander County parcels of federal land identified as Kingston Airport to improve the airport facility and related infrastructure. The only costs to the county of the conveyance shall be surveying costs. Land conveyed by this bill reverts to federal land if it is not managed in accordance with the purpose of its conveyance.
Bill· SS. 3473 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Airline Information and Entertainment Access Act This bill requires air carriers (including foreign carriers) to ensure equal access to airline information and entertainment programming for all airline passengers regardless of their disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires open captioning and an American Sign Language option for persons with disabilities when the information and programming are available to passengers through shared video displays, such as a monitor located in a passenger access aisle; closed captioning and an American Sign Language option when the information and programming are available to passengers through individual video displays; video descriptions when the information and programming are available to passengers through individual video displays or shared video displays; an aural public address announcement in textual format through individual video displays or shared video displays; and control systems for video displays to have a nonvisual operating option. A civil action may be brought in a U.S. District Court against an air carrier for violations of these requirements. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board must set forth the minimum technical criteria for individual video displays to ensure that they include a mechanism that allows persons with disabilities to operate the displays nonvisually.
Bill· HRH.R. 6238 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Cameron's Law This bill increases the rate of the tax credit for clinical testing expenses for rare diseases or conditions from 25% to 50% (orphan drug tax credit). The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to complete a study and report on enhancing and expanding the infrastructure to track the epidemiology of rare diseases or conditions.
Bill· HRH.R. 6256 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Five-Stars for Safe Cars Act This bill addresses consumer information related to passenger motor vehicles. Among other requirements, the Department of Transportation must publish a report on efforts over the next five-year period to improve passenger motor vehicle information, including damage susceptibility; finalize its New Car Assessment Program which provides comparative information on the safety of new vehicles to assist consumers with vehicle purchasing decisions and encourages motor vehicle manufacturers to make vehicle safety improvements; update and create crash avoidance tests and ratings such as forward automatic emergency braking (i.e., forward collision warning, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support); establish tests and ratings for pedestrian, bicyclist, and other vulnerable road users crashworthiness, including the potential risks of injuries to the head, pelvis, upper and lower leg, and crash avoidance; create a combined overall five-star vehicle rating and separate five-star ratings for crashworthiness for adults, crashworthiness for elderly occupants and children, crash avoidance, and pedestrian and bicycling crashworthiness and crash avoidance; complete research into the development of tests for safety features, including automatic collision notification, lane keeping assistance, traffic jam assist, and passive drunk driving prevention systems; and update passenger motor vehicle information to expand consumer access to vehicles with improved safety.
Bill· HRH.R. 6254 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 2020
Gig Economy Infrastructure Act This bill temporarily preempts any state law that classifies an individual providing labor or services for remuneration (i.e., an independent contractor) as an employee for purposes of wage-rate and benefit requirements. This preemption ends three years after enactment. The bill also broadens the existing Securities and Exchange Commission registration exemption for the issuance of securities as part of an employee-compensation package. Specifically, the bill applies this exemption to the issuance of securities as compensation for independent contractors. The Government Accountability Office must report on the bill's effects.
Bill· HRH.R. 6190 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 2020
Cargo Flight Deck Security Act of 2020 This bill requires all-cargo aircraft to be equipped with intrusion-resistant cockpit doors that remain locked while such aircraft is in flight. The requirement takes effect on January 1, 2023, regardless of whether the Federal Aviation Administration has issued regulations to implement such requirement.
Bill· HRH.R. 6171 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2020
Moving Towards A Safe Climate Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to publish a national strategic action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector to the emissions target by the year 2040. (The emissions target is a level of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector that does not exceed 20 percent of the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States for the year 2005, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.) The plan may include criteria such as (1) strategies that increase the usage of passenger rail, public transportation systems, walking, cycling, and other low-carbon modes of transportation; (2) strategies and policies that reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled; (3) recommendations for tax incentives for the adoption of technology that produces low levels of greenhouse gas emissions; and (4) the development of transportation technology that dramatically reduces existing greenhouse gas emissions or produces low levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires each state to develop a strategic action plan. DOT may withhold funding from states beginning in FY2023 until it determines that the state's strategic plan complies with criteria under the national plan.
Bill· HRH.R. 6184 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2020
INFRA Transparency Act This bill modifies annual reporting requirements for the the nationally significant freight and highway projects program, including to require the Department of Transportation to provide a summary of each project for which an application was submitted and a grant was not provided.