Government Studies And Investigations
US Congress 115th Congress
Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act [HB-1443]
Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act This bill revises a variety of programs to encourage energy efficiency in buildings, industry, the federal government, and certain appliances, including by: requiring states and Indian tribes to measure their compliance with certain residential and commercial building energy codes; requiring the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide grants for establishing building training and assessment centers at institutions of higher education; requiring DOE to establish a process to recognize schools for implementing
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Sponsored by: Rep. Janice Schakowsky
Referred To The Subcommittee On Energy. on 04/25/2017
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Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 [S.606]
Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish requirements and authorities for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) related to: (1) preventing identify theft and tax refund fraud, and (2) the electronic filing of tax returns. The IRS must: develop and implement guidelines for stolen identity refund fraud cases, provide specified notifications to suspected victims of identity theft, establish a local law enforcement liaison for tax-related identity theft and other tax fraud matters, use
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Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. on 03/09/2017
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21st Century Child Care Investment Act [HB-1466]
21st Century Child Care Investment Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for employment-related expenses for services provided by a high quality child care center. The credit applies to taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes below specified levels and is limited to: (1) $14,000 for each qualifying child who is under the age of three by the end of the year; and (2) $5,000 for each qualifying child who has attained the age of three by the end of the year, with adjustments for inflation after 2017. A "qualifying child"
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Sponsored by: Rep. Barbara Lee
Introduced In House on 03/09/2017
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Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017 [HB-1472]
Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017 This bill expands eligibility for the family caregiver program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include members of the Armed Forces or veterans who are seriously injured or who became ill on active duty prior to September 11, 2001 (currently, limited to service after September 11, 2001). Services to caregivers of veterans under such program are expanded to include child care services, financial planning services, and legal services. The bill terminates the support program
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Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Maloney
Referred To The Subcommittee On Military Personnel. on 04/05/2017
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Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017 [S.591]
Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017 This bill expands eligibility for the family caregiver program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include members of the Armed Forces or veterans who are seriously injured or who became ill on active duty prior to September 11, 2001 (currently, limited to service after September 11, 2001). Services to caregivers of veterans under such program are expanded to include child care services, financial planning services, and legal services. The bill terminates the support program
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Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey
Special Committee On Aging. Hearings Held. on 06/14/2017
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No Taxpayer Funding for the Wall Act [HB-1477]
No Taxpayer Funding for the Wall Act This bill prohibits: (1) any federal agency from obligating or expending any federal funds to carry out provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 regarding barriers at the border or any related provision of law or to otherwise build a border fence, wall, or related physical barriers along the U.S. southern border; and (2) a state from using federal grant funds for such purpose. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must conduct an audit each fiscal year to assess
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Sponsored by: Rep. Barbara Lee
Referred To The Subcommittee On The Western Hemisphere. on 05/18/2017
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Welfare Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission (BRAC) Act [HB-1469]
Welfare Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission (BRAC) Act This bill establishes within the legislative branch the Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission to review certain means-tested welfare programs. A "means-tested welfare program" is any federal program that is designed to specifically provide assistance or benefits exclusively to low-income Americans. The bill specifies several programs that are either considered or not considered means-tested welfare programs for the purpose of this bill. The commission must identify changes in law to structure
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Sponsored by: Rep. David Rouzer
Referred To The Subcommittee On Nutrition. on 03/23/2017
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Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act [S.584]
Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act This bill modifies the rulemaking requirements and procedures of federal agencies (excluding Congress, U.S. courts, U.S. territories and possessions, and the District of Columbia) under the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) and the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA). The definition of "rule" under the RFA is expanded to include all agency rules, except for: (1) rules that pertain to the protection of the rights of and benefits for veterans or that impose
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Sponsored by: Sen. Chuck Grassley
Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs. Reported By Senator Johnson With Amendments. With Written Report No. 115-194. Minority Views Filed. on 12/14/2017
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A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting, and for other purposes. [S.572]
A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting, and for other purposes. This bill directs the Department of Commerce to complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (NEXRAD). Commerce shall identify areas in the United States with limited or no NEXRAD coverage below 6,000 feet above ground level
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Sponsored by: Sen. Richard Burr
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Commerce, Science, And Transportation. on 03/08/2017
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Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2017 [S.575]
Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2017 This bill amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to apply that Act's restrictions to collectors of debt owed to a federal agency. A federal agency that is a creditor may not sell or transfer a debt to a debt collector until 90 days after the obligation arises. Specified notice to the consumer of such a sale or transfer is required. A collector of debt owed to a federal agency may not collect any interest, fee, charge, or expense that is: (1) unreasonable in relation to actual costs, (2) not authorized
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Sponsored by: Sen. Mike Lee
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs. on 03/08/2017
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To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting. [HB-1427]
To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting. This bill directs the Department of Commerce to complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (NEXRAD). Commerce shall identify areas in the United States with limited or no NEXRAD coverage below 6,000 feet above ground level of the surrounding terrain.
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Sponsored by: Rep. Robert Pittenger
Referred To The Subcommittee On Environment. on 04/25/2017
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Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 [S.585]
Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 TITLE I--EMPLOYEES GENERALLY (Sec. 102) This bill directs federal agencies (excluding any entity that is an element of the intelligence community) to give priority to an employee transfer request if the Merit Systems Protections Board (MSPB) grants a stay of a personnel action at the request of: (1) the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if the OSC determines the personnel action was taken, or is to be taken, as a result of a prohibited
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Sponsored by: Sen. Ron Johnson
Became Public Law No: 115-73. (txt | Pdf) on 10/26/2017
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National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2017 [HB-1423]
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2017 This bill amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through FY2027. Every policy issued under NFIP must include documents describing the type of loss covered, a summary of the costs of the policy, and an explanation of the policy's parameters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is directed to establish a program for "Write Your Own" companies (a company that writes and services federal standard flood
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Sponsored by: Rep. Nydia Velazquez
Introduced In House on 03/08/2017
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National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2017 [S.573]
National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2017 This bill establishes the National Criminal Justice Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system; make recommendations for criminal justice reform; and disseminate findings and guidance to the federal government and to state, local, and tribal governments.
Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey
Senate Committee On The Judiciary Discharged By Unanimous Consent. on 12/22/2018
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Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization Act of 2017 [S.582]
Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) The Office of Special (OSC) is an independent investigative and prosecutorial agency that protects federal employees from retaliation for whistle-blower disclosures and prohibited personnel practices. This bill expands the scope of OSC's authority by authorizing it: (1) to have timely access to material that relates to an investigation involving whistle-blower disclosures and prohibited personnel practices, (2) to request from any agency information or assistance necessary for it to
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Sponsored by: Sen. Chuck Grassley
Received In The House. on 08/04/2017
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TechCorps Act [HB-1392]
TechCorps Act TechCorps Act This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management to establish and maintain an electronic database of job vacancies across the government relating to information technology (IT). The database shall be published on the USAJobs website and shall describe such vacancies as TechCorps-eligible positions. The National and Community Service Act of 1990 is amended to direct the Corporation for National and Community Service to enter into an agreement with a federal agency to carry out a TechCorps program, under which: individuals
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Sponsored by: Rep. Jerry McNerney
Introduced In House on 03/07/2017
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Commission on the Removal of Mexican-Americans to Mexico Act [HB-1412]
Commission on the Removal of Mexican-Americans to Mexico Act This bill establishes the Commission on the Removal of Mexican-Americans to Mexico, which shall: (1) review the facts and circumstances surrounding the 1929-1941 removal of certain U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents to Mexico and the impact of such actions on such individuals, their families, and the Mexican-American community; (2) review federal, state, and local government directives that required such removal and any other related information; and (3) report its findings, conclusions,
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Sponsored by: Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
Referred To The Subcommittee On Immigration And Border Security. on 03/17/2017
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To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. [HB-1367]
To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (Sec. 2) This bill provides that the annual determination of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff shortages shall include shortages for a minimum of five clinical and five non-clinical occupations for each network. (Such determination currently includes the five occupations for which there are the largest Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]-wide shortages.) (Sec.
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Sponsored by: Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon
Received In The Senate And Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Veterans' Affairs. on 03/21/2017
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Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability First Act of 2017 [S.493]
Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability First Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove, demote by a reduction in grade and pay, or suspend a VA employee, including a member in a senior executive position, for reasons of performance or misconduct. The bill prescribes VA removal and employee appeals procedures. Whistle-blower protections are revised, including by prohibiting the VA from taking any such action against a person who has a pending whistle-blower complaint. This bill provides for the reduction
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Sponsored by: Sen. Mike Lee
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Veterans' Affairs. on 03/02/2017
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Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act [HB-1332]
Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise several provisions related to the child and adult care food program. Under current law: (1) an institution that provides child or day care under the program may be reimbursed for up to two meals and one supplement per day per child; and (2) a family or group day care home sponsoring organization may receive the same maximum reimbursement, but only with respect to a child maintained in a child care setting for at least eight hours
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Sponsored by: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
Introduced In House on 03/02/2017