The bills are sorted by the Introduction date.

Passed House

Chance to Compete Act of 2023

This bill modifies examination requirements and other components of the federal hiring process for positions in the competitive service.

Specifically, the bill provides that a qualifying examination includes a résumé review that is conducted by a subject matter expert. Additionally, beginning two years after the bill's enactment, the bill prohibits examinations from consisting solely of a self-assessment from an automated examination, a résumé review that is not conducted by a subject matter expert, or any other method of assessing an applicant's experience or education; an agency may waive these requirements when necessary but must report any such waivers and may not use waivers to fill more than 10% of agency positions.

Agencies may use subject matter experts to develop position-specific technical assessments that allow applicants to demonstrate job-related skills, abilities, and knowledge; assessments may include structured interviews, work-related exercises, procedures to measure career-related qualifications and interests, or other similar assessments. The bill also allows agencies to establish talent teams to support and improve hiring practices.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must create online platforms through which agencies may share and customize technical assessments and share the résumés of qualifying applicants. The OPM must also create online platforms with information about (1) the types of assessments used and hiring outcomes, (2) educational requirements for certain positions and related justifications, and (3) authorities and programs that support agency recruitment and retention.

Introduced: 2023-01-09

Senate Committee(s): Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

House Committee(s): Budget;Oversight and Reform

Introduced

A summary is in progress.

Introduced: 2022-07-14

House Committee(s): Education and Labor

Introduced

Introduced in House (05/13/2022) Commonsense Reporting Act of 2022 This bill addresses the eligibility verification process for the premium assistance tax credit and cost-sharing subsidy under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It requires the Department of the Treasury to develop and implement a reporting system that allows employers to voluntarily report information about their health plans for the current plan year prior to the beginning of open enrollment. The bill also allows electronic transmission of employee and enrollee statements and permits Treasury to accept full names and dates of birth in lieu of dependents' and spouses' Social Security account numbers. The bill also allows certain large employers who do not offer their employees minimum health care coverage 90 days to appeal an assessment for not providing such coverage. The Government Accountability Office must evaluate (1) for the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on December 31, 2020, the notification of employers by PPACA exchanges of the eligibility of employees for advance payments of the premium assistance tax credit or cost-sharing subsidies; and (2) for calendar year 2023, the functionality of the prospective reporting system established by this bill, including the accuracy of information collected.

Introduced: 2022-05-13

House Committee(s): Energy and Commerce;Ways and Means

Introduced

Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act

This bill requires employers to make initial and modified disclosures to employees of the terms of their employment, provide such employees with regular paystubs, and make a final payment to an employee for uncompensated work hours within 14 days of the employee's termination. Employers must also allow employees access to wage records.

An employer must compensate an employee at the rate specified in an employment contract, including a collective bargaining agreement, that specifies a rate of pay higher than the minimum wage rate. The bill makes all of such unpaid wages recoverable through civil enforcement.

The bill establishes new and increased civil and criminal penalties for violations of overtime or minimum wage requirements, including referral to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution of employers who engage in wage theft, falsification of wage records, or retaliation against employees.

The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor must provide grants to specified organizations, including nonprofits and educational institutions, to enhance the enforcement of wage and hour laws. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on successful grant programs.

Introduced: 2022-05-10

Senate Committee(s): Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Introduced

Introduced in Senate (02/17/2022) Commonsense Reporting Act of 2022 This bill addresses the eligibility verification process for the premium assistance tax credit and cost-sharing subsidy under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). It requires the Department of the Treasury to develop and implement a reporting system that allows employers to voluntarily report information about their health plans for the current plan year prior to the beginning of open enrollment. The bill also allows electronic transmission of employee and enrollee statements and permits Treasury to accept full names and dates of birth in lieu of dependents' and spouses' Social Security account numbers. The bill also allows certain large employers who do not offer their employees minimum health care coverage 90 days to appeal an assessment for not providing such coverage. The Government Accountability Office must evaluate (1) for the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on December 31, 2020, the notification of employers by PPACA exchanges of the eligibility of employees for advance payments of the premium assistance tax credit or cost-sharing subsidies; and (2) for calendar year 2023, the functionality of the prospective reporting system established by this bill, including the accuracy of information collected.

Introduced: 2022-02-17

Senate Committee(s): Finance

Introduced

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide employment authorization for eligible asylum applicants. Currently, such individuals are not entitled to employment authorization but may be granted such by the Department of Justice.

DHS must grant employment authorization to an asylum seeker (1) who is not in detention, (2) whose application for asylum has not been deemed frivolous, and (3) whose identity has been checked against certain databases. Such employment authorization shall last for one year and be renewable for one-year terms during the period necessary to adjudicate the applicant's asylum claim.

The bill also shortens the waiting period for receiving employment authorization to 30 days from the filing of the asylum application.

Introduced: 2022-02-16

Senate Committee(s): Judiciary

Introduced

Introduced in Senate (02/10/2022) Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act This bill provides for a reinstatement of the employee retention tax credit through 2021. The credit was established to compensate employers whose businesses were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for wages paid to their employees.

Introduced: 2022-02-10

Senate Committee(s): Finance

Introduced

Introduced in House (07/28/2021) Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act This bill modifies the definition of competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, particularly with respect to (1) types of workplace interactions, and (2) payment for employment under certain contracts. Current law provides for certain resources to assist individuals with disabilities in securing or maintaining competitive integrated employment.

Introduced: 2021-07-28

House Committee(s): Education and Labor

Introduced

Introduced in House (05/28/2021) Flexibility for Working Families Act This bill allows an employee to request from an employer a temporary or permanent change in the terms or conditions of the employee's employment if the request relates to (1) the number of hours the employee is required to work, (2) the times when the employee is required to work or be on call for work, (3) where the employee is required to work, or (4) the amount of notification the employee receives of work schedule assignments. The bill sets forth certain employer duties with respect to such requests. The bill prohibits an employer from interfering with any rights provided to an employee under this bill. An employee may file a complaint with the Department of Labor for any violations of such rights. Labor shall investigate and attempt to resolve such complaints and may issue orders making determinations and assessing civil penalties or awarding relief for alleged violations. The bill provides for judicial review of such orders, including in federal courts of appeal. Labor and certain federal agencies and offices shall provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding compliance with this bill. The Wage and Hour Division of Labor must issue guidance on compliance with providing a flexible work environment through changes in employee terms and conditions of employment as provided in this bill. The requirements of this bill are applicable to certain classes of employees, including employees of the Government Accountability Office and the Library of Congress.

Introduced: 2021-05-28

House Committee(s): Education and Labor;House Administration;Judiciary;Oversight and Reform

Introduced

Introduced in House (03/18/2021) Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2021 or the JOBS Act of 2021 This bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by establishing the Job Training Federal Pell Grant program. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to award a job training Pell Grant to a student who does not have a degree; attends an institution of higher education (IHE); is enrolled in a career and technical education program at an IHE that provides 150 to 600 clock hours of instructional time over a period of 8 to 15 weeks and provides training aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors (i.e., job training programs); and meets all other eligibility requirements for a Pell Grant. It also specifies that any period during which a student receives a job training Pell Grant counts toward that student's Pell Grant eligibility period.

Introduced: 2021-03-18

House Committee(s): Education and Labor

Introduced

Introduced in Senate (03/18/2021) Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2021 or the JOBS Act of 2021 This bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by establishing the Job Training Federal Pell Grant program. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to award a job training Pell Grant to a student who does not have a degree; attends an institution of higher education (IHE); is enrolled in a career and technical education program at an IHE that provides 150 to 600 clock hours of instructional time over a period of 8 to 15 weeks and provides training aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors (i.e., job training programs); and meets all other eligibility requirements for a Pell Grant. It also specifies that any period during which a student receives a job training Pell Grant counts toward that student's Pell Grant eligibility period.

Introduced: 2021-03-18

Senate Committee(s): Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Became Law [2022-11-30]

Passed Senate (11/29/2022)
Respect for Marriage Act

This bill provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages.

Specifically, the bill replaces provisions that define, for purposes of federal law, marriage as between a man and a woman and spouse as a person of the opposite sex with provisions that recognize any marriage between two individuals that is valid under state law. (The Supreme Court held that the current provisions were unconstitutional in United States v. Windsor in 2013.)

The bill also replaces provisions that do not require states to recognize same-sex marriages from other states with provisions that prohibit the denial of full faith and credit or any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. (The Supreme Court held that state laws barring same-sex marriages were unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015; the Court held that state laws barring interracial marriages were unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action and establishes a private right of action for violations.

The bill does not (1) affect religious liberties or conscience protections that are available under the Constitution or federal law, (2) require religious organizations to provide goods or services to formally recognize or celebrate a marriage, (3) affect any benefits or rights that do not arise from a marriage, or (4) recognize under federal law any marriage between more than two individuals.

Introduced: 2022-07-18

Became Law: 2022-11-30

House Committee(s): Judiciary

Became Law [2022-08-05]

Public Law No: 117-166 (08/05/2022)
PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act of 2022

This bill establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for criminal charges and civil enforcement against a borrower who engages in fraud with respect to a Paycheck Protection Program loan.

Introduced: 2022-03-31

Became Law: 2022-08-05

Senate Committee(s): Small Business and Entrepreneurship

House Committee(s): Small Business

Became Law [2022-08-05]

Public Law No: 117-165 (08/05/2022)
COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act of 2022

This bill establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for criminal charges and civil enforcement against a borrower who engages in fraud with respect to certain COVID-19 economic injury disaster loan programs.

Introduced: 2022-03-31

Became Law: 2022-08-05

Senate Committee(s): Small Business and Entrepreneurship

House Committee(s): Small Business

Became Law [2022-04-08]

Public Law No: 117-110 (04/08/2022)
Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act

This bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. It also permanently authorizes the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions based on violations of human rights.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to proclaim increases in the rates of duty applicable to products of Russia or Belarus. This authority terminates on January 1, 2024.

The President may restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, subject to congressional disapproval.

The bill directs the U.S. Trade Representative to (1) condemn the recent aggression in Ukraine, (2) encourage other World Trade Organization (WTO) members to suspend trade concessions to Russia and Belarus, (3) consider steps to suspend Russia's participation in the WTO, and (4) seek to halt the accession process of Belarus.

Introduced: 2022-03-17

Became Law: 2022-04-08

House Committee(s): Foreign Affairs;Judiciary;Rules;Ways and Means

Became Law [2022-06-25]

Public Law No: 117-159 (06/25/2022)
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

This act makes various changes to federal firearms laws, including to expand background check requirements, broaden the scope of existing restrictions, and establish new criminal offenses.

The act also reauthorizes, funds, and supports various programs, grants, and activities to promote access to behavioral and mental health services, enhance school safety and security initiatives, and address gun violence in communities.

Introduced: 2021-10-05

Became Law: 2022-06-25

Senate Committee(s): Environment and Public Works

Became Law [2022-08-16]

Public Law No: 117-169 (08/16/2022)
Introduced in House (09/27/2021)
This bill provides funding, establishes programs, and otherwise modifies provisions relating to a broad array of areas, including education, labor, child care, health care, taxes, immigration, and the environment. (The bill is commonly referred to as the Build Back Better Act.)

For example, the bill provides funding for
• management of the National Forest System;
• job placement and career services;
• safe drinking water, energy-efficiency, and weatherization projects;
• electric vehicles and zero-emission, heavy-duty vehicles;
• public health infrastructure and supply chain resiliency;
• housing, rental, and homeowner assistance programs;
• cybersecurity programs;
• tribal infrastructure, housing, environmental, and health programs;
• wildfire prevention, drought relief, conservation efforts, and climate change research;
• small business assistance and development;
• transit services and clean energy projects in low-income communities; and
• infrastructure and administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Introduced: 2021-09-27

Became Law: 2022-08-16

House Committee(s): Budget

Became Law [2022-04-26]

Passed House (04/26/2022)
One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act of 2021

This bill requires the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman to create a website compiling small entity compliance guides and contact information for individuals who can assist small entities with each guide.

Introduced: 2021-07-30

Became Law: 2022-04-26

Senate Committee(s): Small Business and Entrepreneurship

House Committee(s): Small Business

Became Law [2022-03-03]

Public Law No: 117-90 (03/03/2022)
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021

This bill invalidates arbitration agreements that preclude a party from filing a lawsuit in court involving sexual assault or sexual harassment, at the election of the party alleging such conduct.

Introduced: 2021-07-16

Became Law: 2022-03-03

House Committee(s): Judiciary

Became Law [2023-01-05]

A bill to amend chapter 2205 of title 36, United States Code, to ensure equal treatment of athletes, and for other purposes.

Introduced: 2021-07-13

Became Law: 2023-01-05

Senate Committee(s): Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Became Law [2021-12-08]

Passed Senate (12/08/2021)
Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act of 2021 or the CREW Act

This bill makes employment protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applicable to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reservists who deploy to major disaster and emergency sites. It allows such reservists to claim such rights under USERRA even if they do not provide notice of their absence from work due to deployment.

Introduced: 2021-06-24

Became Law: 2021-12-08

Senate Committee(s): Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Became Law [2021-11-15]

Public Law No: 117-58 (11/15/2021)
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Among other provisions, this bill provides new funding for infrastructure projects, including for
• roads, bridges, and major projects;
• passenger and freight rail;
• highway and pedestrian safety;
• public transit;
• broadband;
• ports and waterways;
• airports;
• water infrastructure;
• power and grid reliability and resiliency;
• resiliency, including funding for coastal resiliency,
• ecosystem restoration, and weatherization;
• clean school buses and ferries;
• electric vehicle charging;
• addressing legacy pollution by cleaning up Brownfield and Superfund sites and reclaiming abandoned mines; and
• Western Water Infrastructure.

Introduced: 2021-06-04

Became Law: 2021-11-15

House Committee(s): Transportation and Infrastructure

Became Law [2021-10-08]

Public Law No: 117-47 (10/08/2021)
K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021

This bill requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to study the cybersecurity risks facing elementary and secondary schools and develop recommendations that include cybersecurity guidelines designed to assist schools in facing those risks. The use of such recommendations shall be voluntary.

The study must evaluate the challenges that schools face in securing (1) information systems owned, leased, or relied upon by those schools; and (2) sensitive student and employee records.

Further, the bill requires CISA to (1) develop an online training toolkit designed for school officials; and (2) make available on the Department of Homeland Security website the study's findings, the cybersecurity guidelines, and the toolkit.

Introduced: 2021-05-27

Became Law: 2021-10-08

Senate Committee(s): Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Became Law [2021-06-30]

Public Law No: 117-22 (06/30/2021)
This resolution expresses congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that revises the EEOC settlement process to provide employers with the factual and legal basis that the EEOC relied on to make a reasonable cause finding of a discriminatory practice.

Introduced: 2021-03-23

Became Law: 2021-06-30

Senate Committee(s): Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Became Law [2022-03-18]

Public Law No: 117-105 (03/18/2022)
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

This bill establishes grants and requires other activities to improve mental and behavioral health among health care providers.

Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to hospitals, medical professional associations, and other health care entities for programs to promote mental health and resiliency among health care providers. In addition, HHS may award grants for relevant mental and behavioral health training for health care students, residents, or professionals.

Additionally, HHS must conduct a campaign to (1) encourage health care providers to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns, and (2) disseminate best practices to prevent suicide and improve mental health and resiliency among health care providers.

HHS must also study and develop policy recommendations on

• improving mental and behavioral health among health care providers,
• removing barriers to accessing care and treatment, and
• identifying strategies to promote resiliency.
Furthermore, the Government Accountability Office must report on the extent to which relevant federal grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions and substance use disorders among health care providers.

Introduced: 2021-03-08

Became Law: 2022-03-18

Senate Committee(s): Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

House Committee(s): Energy and Commerce

Became Law [2021-03-11]

Public Law No: 117-2 (03/11/2021)
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

This bill provides additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses.

Introduced: 2021-02-24

Became Law: 2021-03-11

House Committee(s): Budget