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Weekly Legislative Update: August 5, 2019

Congressional Schedule: August 5-9, 2019

The House and Senate are in recess until September 9.


Bills Introduced: July 29-August 2, 2019

Child Protection 

S. 2401—Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)/Judiciary (7/31/19)—A bill to prohibit the importation or transportation of child sex dolls, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 4150—Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC)/Judiciary (8/2/19)—A bill to prohibit the importation or transportation of child sex dolls, and for other purposes. 

Employment 

S. 2312— Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)/Finance (7/30/19)—A bill to impose a surtax on corporations with significant disparities in employee wages. 

S. Res. 291—Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)/Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (7/30/19)—A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Federation Internationale de Football Association should immediately eliminate gender pay inequity and treat all athletes with the same respect and dignity. 

S. 2433—Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)/Finance (8/1/19)—A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to take certain actions to increase diversity of ownership in the broadcasting industry, and for other purposes. 

Family Support 

S. 2358—Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)/Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (7/31/19)—A bill to increase the age of eligibility for children to receive benefits under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC], and for other purposes. 

S. 2359–Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)/Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (7/31/19)—A bill to require consideration of the assets of a household for broad-based categorical eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP]. 

S. 2416—Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)/Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (8/1/19)—A bill to provide states with the option of applying for and receiving temporary waivers for the states to experiment with new approaches that integrate federal programs in order to provide more coordinated and holistic solutions to families in need, and for other purposes. 

Health 

S. 2381—Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ)/Commerce, Science, and Transportation (7/31/19)—A bill to require review by the Government Accountability Office of screening protocols of the Transportation Security Administration relating to breast milk and formula, and for other purposes. 

S. Res. 299—Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)/Judiciary (7/31/19)—A resolution designating the first week in August 2019 as “World Breastfeeding Week,” and designating August 2019 as “National Breastfeeding Month.” 

S. 2424—Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)/Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (8/1/19)—A bill to reauthorize the Young Women’s Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009. 

International 

H.R. 4092—Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)/Foreign Affairs (7/30/19)—A bill to improve United States consideration of, and strategic support for, programs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence from the onset of humanitarian emergencies and build the capacity of humanitarian assistance to address the immediate and long-term challenges resulting from such violence, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 4097—Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA)/Foreign Affairs (7/30/19)—A bill to require a report on the participation of Afghan women in negotiations and dialogue relating to the Afghan peace process and a strategy for post-conflict engagement by the United States in Afghanistan, and for other purposes. 

Military 

S. 2324—Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV)/Armed Services (7/30/19)—A bill to direct the secretary of Defense and the secretaries of the military departments to encourage women members of the Armed Forces who separate or retire from the Armed Forces during fiscal year 2020 to participate in the Women’s Health Transition Training Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

Miscellaneous 

S. Res. 296—Sen. Bob Mendez (D-NJ)/Commerce, Science, and Transportation (7/31/19)—A resolution congratulating the United States Women’s National Soccer Team for winning the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

S. 2427—Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)/Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (8/1/19)—A bill to require the secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue quarter dollars in commemoration of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes. 

Reproductive Health 

S. 2373—Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)/Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 7/31/19)—A bill to improve obstetric care in rural areas. 

Small Business/Entrepreneurship 

S. 2360—Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)/Small Business and Entrepreneurship (7/31/19)—A bill to establish an Office of Emerging Markets within the Small Business Administration that will strengthen the development of small business concerns in emerging markets, including those owned by women, minorities, veterans, and those located in rural areas, and for other purposes 

Tax Policy 

S. 2437—Sen. Todd Young (R-IN)/Finance (8/1/19)—A bill to establish a refundable tax credit for parents who take leave from employment following the birth or adoption of a child. 

Veterans 

H.R. 4096—Rep. Luis Correa (D-CA)/Veterans’ Affairs (7/30/19)—A bill to require an annual report on veteran access to gender-specific services under community care contracts, and for other purposes. 

Violence Against Women 

S. 2330—Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)/Commerce, Science, and Transportation (7/30/19)—A bill to provide for congressional oversight of the board of directors of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and to protect amateur athletes from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and for other purposes.