COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 (S 619) – This bill would authorize the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to declassify all information relating to the origin of COVID-19 and any correlation with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The ODNI would be required to redact the report as necessary to protect sources and methods and then submit it to Congress. The bill was introduced on March 1 by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). It passed the Senate on the same day and the House on March 10. It is currently awaiting signature by the president.
Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (HJ Res 26) – This resolution nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, which had previously been enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia (DC). The bill modified DC criminal laws by altering sentencing guidelines, reducing maximum penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanor crimes. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) on Feb. 2. It passed in the House and Senate on March 8 and was enacted by the president on March 20.
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” (HJ Res 30) – This resolution was introduced by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on Feb. 7. In December 2022, the Department of Labor established a rule that the fiduciaries of employer-sponsored retirement and other investment benefit plans might take into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors of companies where they choose to invest shareholder funds, as well as voting on shareholder resolutions and board nominations. This joint resolution, which was passed in both the House and the Senate on March 1, would nullify that rule. The bill was vetoed by President Biden on March 20.
Settlement Agreement Information Database Act (HR 300) – Introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) on Jan. 20, this bipartisan bill would require agencies to submit information related to any settlement or consent decree associated with a violation of civil or criminal law. This includes settlements with individual employees who appeal adverse personnel actions such as firings and suspensions or federal settlement agreements negotiated behind closed doors as a result of enforcement actions. The Office of Management and Budget would be responsible for reviewing and archiving all agreements, as well as determining when confidentiality is necessary to protect the public interest of the United States. The bill was passed unanimously in the House on Jan. 25. Its fate currently resides in the Senate.
Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2023 (S 645) – This bill would require the Attorney General to devise a program for making treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder available to public safety officers. The bill was introduced on March 2 by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IO). It passed in the Senate on March 2 and is currently under consideration in the House.
Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act (HR 538) – The passage of this bill would require manufacturers of internet-connected devices, such as smart appliances, which include a camera or microphone, to disclose this fact to consumers. The bill does not apply to devices that a consumer would reasonably expect to include these features (e.g., mobile phones, laptops). The bill was introduced by Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) on Jan. 26 and passed in the House on Feb. 27. It is currently awaiting review in the Senate.
Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 (S 582) – This bipartisan bill would make daylight savings time permanent. It was introduced on March 1 by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) but has yet to be assigned to a committee for review.
Parents Bill of Rights Act (HR 5) – This legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Julie Letlow (R-LA) on March 1 with 122 Republican co-sponsors. It would require public schools to allow parents to review certain materials and resources (e.g., the curriculum, library books, teachers’ materials used in the classroom) and be informed/grant consent for certain school activities (e.g., school budgets, use of technology in the classroom, attendance for guest speakers in the classroom, mental health treatment, gifted and talented programs). The House Committee on Education and the Workforce have issued a report on the bill, but it has yet to be presented for a vote by House members.
Transparency for the Coronavirus, Federal Settlements, Smart Appliances and Public Education
April 1, 2023 · Blog, Congress at Work, Uncategorized
⏱ 4 min read
COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 (S 619) – This bill would authorize the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to declassify all information relating to the origin of COVID-19 and any correlation with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The ODNI would be required to redact the report as necessary to protect sources and methods and then submit it to Congress. The bill was introduced on March 1 by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). It passed the Senate on the same day and the House on March 10. It is currently awaiting signature by the president.
Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (HJ Res 26) – This resolution nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, which had previously been enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia (DC). The bill modified DC criminal laws by altering sentencing guidelines, reducing maximum penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanor crimes. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) on Feb. 2. It passed in the House and Senate on March 8 and was enacted by the president on March 20.
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” (HJ Res 30) – This resolution was introduced by Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on Feb. 7. In December 2022, the Department of Labor established a rule that the fiduciaries of employer-sponsored retirement and other investment benefit plans might take into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors of companies where they choose to invest shareholder funds, as well as voting on shareholder resolutions and board nominations. This joint resolution, which was passed in both the House and the Senate on March 1, would nullify that rule. The bill was vetoed by President Biden on March 20.
Settlement Agreement Information Database Act (HR 300) – Introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) on Jan. 20, this bipartisan bill would require agencies to submit information related to any settlement or consent decree associated with a violation of civil or criminal law. This includes settlements with individual employees who appeal adverse personnel actions such as firings and suspensions or federal settlement agreements negotiated behind closed doors as a result of enforcement actions. The Office of Management and Budget would be responsible for reviewing and archiving all agreements, as well as determining when confidentiality is necessary to protect the public interest of the United States. The bill was passed unanimously in the House on Jan. 25. Its fate currently resides in the Senate.
Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2023 (S 645) – This bill would require the Attorney General to devise a program for making treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder available to public safety officers. The bill was introduced on March 2 by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IO). It passed in the Senate on March 2 and is currently under consideration in the House.
Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act (HR 538) – The passage of this bill would require manufacturers of internet-connected devices, such as smart appliances, which include a camera or microphone, to disclose this fact to consumers. The bill does not apply to devices that a consumer would reasonably expect to include these features (e.g., mobile phones, laptops). The bill was introduced by Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) on Jan. 26 and passed in the House on Feb. 27. It is currently awaiting review in the Senate.
Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 (S 582) – This bipartisan bill would make daylight savings time permanent. It was introduced on March 1 by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) but has yet to be assigned to a committee for review.
Parents Bill of Rights Act (HR 5) – This legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Julie Letlow (R-LA) on March 1 with 122 Republican co-sponsors. It would require public schools to allow parents to review certain materials and resources (e.g., the curriculum, library books, teachers’ materials used in the classroom) and be informed/grant consent for certain school activities (e.g., school budgets, use of technology in the classroom, attendance for guest speakers in the classroom, mental health treatment, gifted and talented programs). The House Committee on Education and the Workforce have issued a report on the bill, but it has yet to be presented for a vote by House members.
Disclaimer
These articles provide general information on tax, accounting, and financial topics for small businesses and individuals. They are educational in nature and are not specific legal, accounting, financial, tax, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This content was prepared by Service2Client and may have been reviewed or edited by the website owner for accuracy and compliance. Look for a trust mark below for verification details. No representation is made that any approach described will achieve a particular result, and no regulatory or professional body has reviewed or endorsed this content. Because each situation is different, readers should consult a qualified professional about their specific circumstances before acting. Images accompanying these articles are protected by copyright and may not be copied or reused.
Investing in Main Street Act of 2023 (HR 400) – Introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) on Jan.20, this bill would permit certain financial institutions to increase investments in small business investment companies (SBICs). The current cap is 5 percent; if passed, the amount would rise to up to 15 percent of their capital and surplus. The bill passed in the House on Jan.25 and is now under consideration in the Senate.
To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers and for other purposes (HR 185) – This bill would nullify the standing CDC order that requires non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (or otherwise prove adherence to public health measures to prevent contagion)for entry into the United States by air travel. The bill also would nullify both successor and subsequent orders that would require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry and prohibit the use of federal funds to enforce such a requirement. However, the bill carves out exceptions for certain individuals traveling from China to the United States. The bill was introduced on Jan. 9 by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). It passed in the House on Feb. 8 and is currently under consideration in the Senate.
Freedom for Health Care Workers Act (HR 497) – The passage of this bill would eliminate the current COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare providers working in certain federal healthcare programs. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) on Jan. 25 and passed in the House on Jan. 31. It is currently awaiting review in the Senate.
To nullify the modifications made by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2023 to the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for the abortion pill mifepristone and for other purposes (HR 383) – This bill would nullify the FDA’s new rule allowing a pharmacy to dispense mifepristone, as well as ban the pill from being offered by mail. Medication abortion is now the most commonly used abortion method in the United States. Under the current guidelines, pharmacies may prescribe mifepristone in person to patients, essentially permitting it to be disseminated at the same time with misoprostol. This two-pill combination is taken in sequence to induce an abortion at home. The bill to ban this access was introduced on Jan. 17 by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) but has yet to be assigned to a committee for review.
To ensure the privacy of pregnancy termination or loss information under the HIPAA privacy regulations and the HITECH Act (HR 459) – This legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) on Jan. 24. It would ban doctors from revealing a patient’s abortion information without consent, even under a court order or subpoena. Presently, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) restricts doctors, psychologists, pharmacies, hospitals, etc., from revealing a patient’s protected health information – unless compelled to do so by law. This bill would make it illegal for a medical professional to reveal a patient’s abortion information without the patient’s consent, superseding even a court order or subpoena. The bill is currently in the House awaiting a potential vote by the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2023 (S 113) – This bill would authorize the Federal Trade Commission to study the role of intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain and report on anti-competitive practices and other trends that impact how prescription medications are priced. In an effort to increase transparency, the FTC also would provide recommendations to Congress for potential legislative action. The bill was introduced on Jan. 26 by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and is currently being considered in the Senate.
Increasing Small Business Investments, Relaxing COVID Vaccination Requirements and Generating More Challenges to Abortion Access
March 1, 2023 · Blog, Congress at Work, Uncategorized
⏱ 4 min read
Investing in Main Street Act of 2023 (HR 400) – Introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) on Jan.20, this bill would permit certain financial institutions to increase investments in small business investment companies (SBICs). The current cap is 5 percent; if passed, the amount would rise to up to 15 percent of their capital and surplus. The bill passed in the House on Jan.25 and is now under consideration in the Senate.
To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers and for other purposes (HR 185) – This bill would nullify the standing CDC order that requires non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (or otherwise prove adherence to public health measures to prevent contagion)for entry into the United States by air travel. The bill also would nullify both successor and subsequent orders that would require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry and prohibit the use of federal funds to enforce such a requirement. However, the bill carves out exceptions for certain individuals traveling from China to the United States. The bill was introduced on Jan. 9 by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). It passed in the House on Feb. 8 and is currently under consideration in the Senate.
Freedom for Health Care Workers Act (HR 497) – The passage of this bill would eliminate the current COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare providers working in certain federal healthcare programs. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) on Jan. 25 and passed in the House on Jan. 31. It is currently awaiting review in the Senate.
To nullify the modifications made by the Food and Drug Administration in January 2023 to the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy for the abortion pill mifepristone and for other purposes (HR 383) – This bill would nullify the FDA’s new rule allowing a pharmacy to dispense mifepristone, as well as ban the pill from being offered by mail. Medication abortion is now the most commonly used abortion method in the United States. Under the current guidelines, pharmacies may prescribe mifepristone in person to patients, essentially permitting it to be disseminated at the same time with misoprostol. This two-pill combination is taken in sequence to induce an abortion at home. The bill to ban this access was introduced on Jan. 17 by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) but has yet to be assigned to a committee for review.
To ensure the privacy of pregnancy termination or loss information under the HIPAA privacy regulations and the HITECH Act (HR 459) – This legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) on Jan. 24. It would ban doctors from revealing a patient’s abortion information without consent, even under a court order or subpoena. Presently, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) restricts doctors, psychologists, pharmacies, hospitals, etc., from revealing a patient’s protected health information – unless compelled to do so by law. This bill would make it illegal for a medical professional to reveal a patient’s abortion information without the patient’s consent, superseding even a court order or subpoena. The bill is currently in the House awaiting a potential vote by the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2023 (S 113) – This bill would authorize the Federal Trade Commission to study the role of intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain and report on anti-competitive practices and other trends that impact how prescription medications are priced. In an effort to increase transparency, the FTC also would provide recommendations to Congress for potential legislative action. The bill was introduced on Jan. 26 by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and is currently being considered in the Senate.
Disclaimer
These articles provide general information on tax, accounting, and financial topics for small businesses and individuals. They are educational in nature and are not specific legal, accounting, financial, tax, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This content was prepared by Service2Client and may have been reviewed or edited by the website owner for accuracy and compliance. Look for a trust mark below for verification details. No representation is made that any approach described will achieve a particular result, and no regulatory or professional body has reviewed or endorsed this content. Because each situation is different, readers should consult a qualified professional about their specific circumstances before acting. Images accompanying these articles are protected by copyright and may not be copied or reused.
Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act (S 153) – This bill encourages veterans to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields in a variety of ways, including making veterans eligible for certain National Science Foundation (NSF) programs. The Act directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish an interagency working group to improve veteran and military spouse representation in STEM fields, and authorizes funding for the Government Accountability Office to study 1) the academic success rates of student veterans pursuing an undergraduate degree in STEM and related fields; and 2) the barriers faced by such students in pursuing such degrees. This legislation was sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (D-FL) on Jan. 16, 2019. It was passed in the Senate in December, the House in January, and was signed into law by the president on Feb. 11.
Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019 (S 2107) – This legislation directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire and train more agricultural inspectors at land, air and sea ports to prevent African swine fever and other foreign animal diseases from entering the United States. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). It was introduced on July 11, 2019, passed the Senate (October) and then House (February) and is currently waiting to be signed by the president.
Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (S 375) – This bipartisan bill is designed to reduce federal government waste in the form of overpayments, underpayments, payments made to ineligible recipients or payments that are not properly documented. It authorizes the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish pilot programs to test potential accountability mechanisms for compliance requirements, such as updating a plan to improve the integrity and usage of Social Security death data. The Act was introduced on Feb. 7, 2019, by Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE); it passed the Senate in July, the House in February and is currently waiting to be enacted.
Presidential Transition Enhancement Act of 2019 (S 394) – This law requires eligible presidential candidates (as of September of an election year) to develop and release transition team ethics plans, including how they will address their own conflicts of interest, prior to election day. It also is designed to focus a transitioning government on ongoing issues in the public interest during the changeover so that priorities are not shifted to solely address those of special interest lobbyists. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Feb.7, 2019, was passed by the Senate in August and the House in February. It is awaiting signature by the president.
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (HR 5340) – Introduced by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), this legislation represents the new trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. This bill passed in both the House and Senate and was signed by the president on Jan. 29. Mexico has also signed the agreement. However, Canada is still in the process of getting it ratified through Parliamentary procedures.
PIRATE Act (HR 583) – This bill dramatically increases the fine for operating a “Pirate Radio” station, in which people set up their own stations outside the official Federal Communications Commission (FCC) system. The maximum fine increases from $19,639 to $100,000 per day, with a maximum total fine capped at $2 million, up from $147,290. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) in January 2019. It passed in the House in February 2019 and in Senate in January 2020. The bill was signed into law on Jan. 24.
COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023 (S 619) – This bill would authorize the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to declassify all information relating to the origin of COVID-19 and any correlation with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The ODNI would be required to redact the report as necessary to protect sources and methods and then submit it to Congress. The bill was introduced on March 1 by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). It passed the Senate on the same day and the House on March 10. It is currently awaiting signature by the president.
Investing in Main Street Act of 2023 (HR 400) – Introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) on Jan.20, this bill would permit certain financial institutions to increase investments in small business investment companies (SBICs). The current cap is 5 percent; if passed, the amount would rise to up to 15 percent of their capital and surplus. The bill passed in the House on Jan.25 and is now under consideration in the Senate.