U.s. Territories And Protectorates

Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain requirements for naturalization for American Samoan United States nationals to become United States citizens, and for other purposes. [HB-1208] [Immigration ] [Human Rights ] [National Security ] [Native American Affairs ] [Funding ] [Grants ]
Establishes that a U.S. national who otherwise qualifies may become a citizen upon establishing residence and physical presence in a U.S. outlying possession (i.e. America Samoa and Swains Island). Currently, U.S. nationals must become a resident of a state to qualify for naturalization. Individuals born in an outlying possession are U.S. nationals but do not automatically acquire citizenship through birth in an outlying possession. The bill also waives certain naturalization requirements, including those related to English language proficiency (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Amata Coleman Radewagen Referred To The Subcommittee On Immigration And Citizenship. on 03/25/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

2018 Natural Disasters Tax Relief Act [HB-1148] [Taxes ] [Disaster Relief ] [Retirement ] [Small Business ] [Budget and Spending ] [Funding ]
Permits penalty-free distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans for disaster-related purposes. It also allows an employer whose business was closed during a natural disaster an employee retention credit for 40% of the first $6,000 in wages paid to an eligible employee. The bill allows a temporary suspension of limitations on charitable contributions made for relief efforts in one or more qualified disaster areas and sets forth special rules for personal casualty losses and for determining the earned income tax credit for individuals residing (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Gregorio Sablan Introduced In House on 02/11/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

2018 Natural Disasters Tax Relief Act [HB-1148] [Taxes ] [Disaster Relief ] [Retirement ] [Small Business ] [Budget and Spending ] [Funding ]
Permits penalty-free distributions from tax-exempt retirement plans for disaster-related purposes. It also allows an employer whose business was closed during a natural disaster an employee retention credit for 40% of the first $6,000 in wages paid to an eligible employee. The bill allows a temporary suspension of limitations on charitable contributions made for relief efforts in one or more qualified disaster areas and sets forth special rules for personal casualty losses and for determining the earned income tax credit for individuals residing (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Gregorio Sablan Introduced In House on 02/11/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act WILD Act Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Act [S.268] [Animals ] [Environmental ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Science ] [Technology and Innovation ] [Water ] [Energy ] [Climate Change ]
Reauthorizes and revises several wildlife conservation programs, establishes requirements for invasive species management, and requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish certain prize competitions. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2023 (1) the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program; and (2) accounts under the Multinational Species Conservation Fund for the protection of African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, and great apes. The bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Marine Turtle Conservation (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Cory A. Booker By Senator Barrasso From Committee On Environment And Public Works Filed Written Report. Report No. 116-18. on 03/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act [S.47] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Environmental ] [Recreation ] [Energy ] [Science ] [Funding ] [Water ] [Mining ] [Education ] [Climate Change ]
Sets forth provisions regarding various programs, projects, activities, and studies for the management and conservation of natural resources on federal lands. Specifically, the bill addresses, among other matters land conveyances, exchanges, acquisitions, withdrawals, and transfers; national parks, monuments, memorials, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, historic and heritage sites, and other conservation and recreation areas; wildlife conservation; helium extraction; small miner waivers of claim maintenance fees; wildland fire operations; (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Susan M. Collins Became Public Law No: 116-9. (txt | Pdf) on 03/12/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

National Commission on the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2019 [S.23] [Disaster Relief ] [Telecommunications ] [Energy ] [Economic Development ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Public Safety ]
Establishes a National Commission on the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico to examine the federal preparedness, response, and recovery activities with respect to the 2017 natural disasters in Puerto Rico. The commission shall take into consideration the federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions impacted by the 2017 hurricane season, and consider other issues, including the impact and destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Edward J. Markey Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs. on 01/03/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Territory Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2019 [S.19] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Taxes ] [Medicare and Medicaid ]
Lowers the annual fee on health insurers, specifically for those insurers that collect premiums from residents in U.S. territories. The annual fee for a health insurer is currently calculated based on the insurer's share of total premiums from the preceding calendar year. The bill excludes premiums paid by residents of U.S. territories from a health insurer's net premiums, but still includes the premiums of such residents in the determination of total premiums from the preceding year, thereby lowering the fee for these insurers. Under current law, (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Marco Rubio Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. on 01/03/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

EMPLEO Act Economic Mobility for Productive Livelihoods and Expanding Opportunity Act of 2019 [S.6] [Labor, Jobs, Employment ] [Taxes ] [Small Business ] [Economic Development ] [Poverty ]
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers of Puerto Rican employees who receive a qualified wage subsidy payment to pay such employees a minimum wage of $5 without regard to such subsidy payment. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat employers who make qualified wage subsidy payments to eligible Puerto Rico employees as having paid payroll taxes in an amount equal to the wage subsidy payment. An "eligible Puerto Rico employee" is any individual who (1) is a U.S. citizen, (2) has a Social Security number, and (3) (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Marco Rubio Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. on 01/03/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding Presidential election voting rights for residents of all United States territories and commonwealths. [HJR-24] [Voting Rights ] [Elections ] [Human Rights ]
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment giving residents of U.S. territories and commonwealths the right to vote in elections for President and Vice President.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Gregorio Sablan Introduced In House on 01/09/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Offshore Wind for Territories Act [HB-1014] [Energy ] [Environmental ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Water ] [Climate Change ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Budget and Spending ]
Addresses offshore wind development and coral reef conservation. The Department of the Interior may conduct wind and mineral development lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to U.S. territories. The bill establishes the Coral Reef Conservation Fund for the Department of Commerce to carry out the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, including to preserve, sustain, and restore the condition of coral reef ecosystems. The bill also specifies requirements for distributing revenues from the leases authorized (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Gregorio Sablan Reported By The Committee On Natural Resources. H. Rept. 116-230. on 10/11/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Supplemental Security Income Equality Act [HB-947] [Social Security ] [Human Services ] [Poverty ] [Healthcare ]
Extends the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. (When Congress created the SSI program in 1972, it excluded these territories.) also eliminates a limit on payments from various Department of Health and Human Services programs to the territories. The Social Security Administration may waive or modify statutory requirements relating to the provision of benefits as necessary to adapt the program to each territory.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Gregorio Sablan Introduced In House on 02/04/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act [HB-925] [Environmental ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Animals ] [Water ] [Funding ] [Grants ]
Reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through FY2024.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Mike Johnson On Motion To Concur In The Senate Amendments With An Amendment Agreed To By The Yeas And Nays: 214 - 207 (roll No. 214). (text: Cr H5202-5417) on 10/01/2020

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act WILD Act Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Act [HB-872] [Animals ] [Environmental ] [Public Lands and National Parks ] [Science ] [Technology and Innovation ] [Water ] [Energy ] [Climate Change ]
Reauthorizes and revises several wildlife conservation programs, establishes requirements for invasive species management, and requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish certain prize competitions. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2023 (1) the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program; and (2) accounts under the Multinational Species Conservation Fund for the protection of African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, and great apes. The bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Marine Turtle Conservation (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Ted Lieu Referred To The Subcommittee On Conservation And Forestry. on 02/25/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act of 2019 [HB-864] [Animals ] [Crime ] [Environmental ] [Public Safety ] [International ]
Supports wildlife conservation and addresses wildlife trafficking. Specifically, it reclassifies certain wildlife-trafficking offenses and illegal fishing violations as violations of federal racketeering or other laws concerning transnational criminal organizations. The bill also expands federal law enforcement powers to combat wildlife trafficking (e.g., poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife). The bill sets forth requirements to provide awards to whistle-blowers for reporting violations of wildlife-trafficking laws. In addition, the Fish and (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Referred To The Subcommittee On Crime, Terrorism, And Homeland Security. on 03/25/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Earned Income Tax Credit Equity for Puerto Rico Act of 2019 [HB-754] [Taxes ] [Poverty ] [Human Services ]
Makes residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi Introduced In House on 01/24/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019 [HB-748] [Healthcare ] [Finance ] [Small Business ] [Labor, Jobs, Employment ] [Taxes ] [Budget and Spending ] [Public Health ] [Education ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Unemployment ] [Economic Development ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Insurance ] [Technology and Innovation ] [Telecommunications ] [Consumer Protection ] [Senior Citizens ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Housing ] [Real Estate ] [Pensions ] [Workers' Compensation ] [Family-Related Legislation ] [Children and Youth ] [Data Privacy ] [Cybersecurity ] [Artificial Intelligence ] [Science ] [Law Enforcement ] [National Security ] [Military ] [Defense ] [Transportation and Motor Vehicles ] [Air Quality ] [Energy ] [Trade ] [Manufacturing ] [Mental Health ] [Overdose Prevention ] [Property Tax ] [Public Safety ] [Retirement ] [Veterans ] [Community Development ] [Disaster Relief ] [Inflation ] [Investments ] [Poverty ] [Social Security ] [Climate Change ]
Responds to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak and its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. DIVISION A--KEEPING WORKERS PAID AND EMPLOYED, HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, AND ECONOMIC STABILIZATION This division establishes the Paycheck Protection Program to provide eight weeks of cash flow assistance to small businesses through federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll. Such assistance shall be to cover costs such as payroll, paid sick leave, (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Alexander Mooney Committee On Small Business And Entrepreneurship. Hearings Held. on 07/23/2020

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

PRRADA Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2020 [HB-683] [Finance ] [Consumer Protection ] [Law Enforcement ] [Ethics ]
Requires professionals employed in debt adjustment cases involving Puerto Rico to file verified statements disclosing their connections with the debtor, creditors, and other interested parties before seeking compensation for their services.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Andy Biggs Received In The Senate And Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Energy And Natural Resources. on 12/09/2020

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 [HB-648] [Agriculture ] [Finance ] [Environmental ] [Infrastructure ] [Housing ] [Transportation and Motor Vehicles ] [Budget and Spending ] [Aerospace ] [Food ] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Insurance ] [Disaster Relief ] [Funding ] [Grants ]
Provides FY2019 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 6 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills: the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2019; the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019; the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Nita M. Lowey Read The Second Time. Placed On Senate Legislative Calendar Under General Orders. Calendar No. 16. on 01/28/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

PFAS Action Act of 2019 [HB-535] [Environmental ] [Air Quality ] [Water ] [Public Health ] [Science ] [Grants ] [Funding ] [Waste Management / Recycling ]
Revises several environmental laws and requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse human health effects. A variety of products contain the compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. (Sec. 2) The bill designates certain PFAS as hazardous substances, thereby requiring remediation of releases of those PFAS into the environment. Within five years, the EPA must determine whether the remaining (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Received In The Senate And Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Environment And Public Works. on 01/13/2020

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Territorial Tax Equity and Economic Growth Act of 2019 [HB-412] [Taxes ] [Economic Development ] [Small Business ]
Modifies the residence and income source rules that apply with respect to the taxation of income from U.S. possessions (Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands). The bill specifies that a bona fide resident of a possession must have a substantial presence in the possession for at least 122 days during the year. Under current law, the person must be present for at least 183 days during the year. Under current law, income is not possession source income if it is treated as (1) income from sources within (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett Introduced In House on 01/09/2019

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