Legislative Priorities

*H.R.1111 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To establish a Department of Peacebuilding, and for other purposes.

What it’s about: Establish a cabinet level Department of Peacebuilding, to add a voice at the table in the executive branch to respond to conflict, violence, or the threat of violence both domestically and internationally.

Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13] (Introduced 02/16/2017)

Cosponsors: (37)

Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform

Latest Action: 02/16/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (All Actions)

H.R.12 – 115th Congress (2017-2018) Voter Empowerment Act of 2017

What it’s about: Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to make available online voter registration, and other measures to expand access to and modernize voting processes and protect voters from suppression, deception, and other forms of disenfranchisement.

Sponsor: Rep Lewis, John, [D-GA-5] (Introduced 6/23/2017)

Cosponsors: (182)

Committees: House – House Administration, Judiciary, Science, Space, and Technology, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 07/14/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

S. 1437 115th Congress (2017-2018) Voter Empowerment Act of 2017

What it’s about: Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to make available online voter registration, and other measures to expand access to and modernize voting processes and protect voters from suppression, deception, and other forms of disenfranchisement.

Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (Introduced 06/26/2017)

Cosponsors: (12)

Committees: Senate – Rules and Administration

Latest Action: Senate – 06/26/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

H.R. 2978 115th Congress (2017-2018) Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2017

What it’s about: Repair, restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Sponsor: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (Introduced 06/21/2017)

Cosponsors: (188)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: 07/17/2017 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure.

S. 1419 115th Congress (2017-2018) Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2017

What it’s about: Repair, restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] (Introduced 06/22/2017)

Cosponsors: (48)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 06/22/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.3908 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Securing American Families by Educating and Training You (SAFETY) Through Nonviolence Act of 2017

What’s it about: 

To authorize the Attorney General to award grants to eligible entities to prevent or alleviate community violence by providing education, mentoring, and counseling services to children, adolescents, teachers, families, and community leaders on the principles and practice of nonviolence.

Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] (Introduced 10/02/2017)

Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 10/02/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.2544 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Teacher Health and Wellness Act

What it’s about: To carry out a study to add to the scientific knowledge on reducing teacher stress and increasing teacher retention and well-being.

Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] (Introduced 05/18/2017)

Cosponsors: (9)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce

Latest Action: House – 05/19/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health

H.R.68 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2017

What it’s about: This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise and reauthorize through FY2022 the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Program.

It subjects JABG grants to accountability measures. The Office of Inspector General in the Department of Justice (DOJ) must conduct annual audits of selected grant recipients. DOJ must submit an annual certification to Congress and identify and report on duplicative grant awards.

Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/03/2017)

Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: 01/12/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (All Actions)

S.329 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Maintaining dignity and Eliminating unnecessary Restrictive Confinement of Youths Act of 2017 or the MERCY Act

What it’s about: This bill amends the federal criminal code to prohibit juvenile solitary confinement, except as a temporary response to behavior that poses a serious and immediate risk of harm.

Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (Introduced 02/07/2017)

Cosponsors: (7)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: 02/07/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions)

H.R.901 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Maintaining dignity and Eliminating unnecessary Restrictive Confinement of Youths Act of 2017 or the MERCY Act

What it’s about: This bill amends the federal criminal code to prohibit juvenile solitary confinement, except as a temporary response to behavior that poses a serious and immediate risk of harm.

Sponsor: Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] (Introduced 02/07/2017)

Cosponsors: (11)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: 02/07/2017 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations (All Actions).

H.R.61 – 115th Congress (2017-2108) Fair Chance for Youth Act of 2017

What it’s about: This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a process to expunge and seal certain youth criminal records. A youth is an individual who was arrested, prosecuted, or sentenced for a criminal offense committed at age 21 or younger.

Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 01/03/2017)

Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: 01/12/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.  (All Actions)

H.R.1748 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Opening Doors for Youth Act of 2017

What it’s about: To provide at-risk and disconnected youth with subsidized summer and year-round employment and to assist local community partnerships in improving high school graduation and youth employment rates, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [D-VA-3] (Introduced 03/28/2017)

Cosponsors: (54)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: 03/28/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.1593 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act of 2017A

What it’s about: Bill to provide grants to States and Indian tribes to reform their criminal justice system to encourage the replacement of the use of payment of secured money bail as a condition of pretrial release in criminal cases, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] (Introduced 07/20/2017)

Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: 07/20/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

H.R.1437 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) No Money Bail Act of 2017

What it’s about: This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to make ineligible for funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program a state with a bail system that uses payment of money as a condition of pretrial release in criminal cases.

Sponsor: Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33] (Introduced 03/08/2017)

Cosponsors: (31)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: 03/17/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations

H.R.1566 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2017 or the NO HATE Act

What it’s about: This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue grants to states and local governments to assist in implementing the National Incident-Based Reporting System, including training employees in identifying hate crimes.

Sponsor: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8] (Introduced 03/16/2017)

Cosponsors: (64)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 03/31/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations

S.1917 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017

What it’s about:  This Act contains S 329 RE: Juvenile solitary confinement, among other provisions

Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (Introduced 10/04/2017)

Cosponsors: (11)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 10/04/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.   

H.R.1473 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Prohibit Expansion of U.S. Combat Troops into Syria Act

What it’s about: To prohibit the deployment of members of the Armed Forces to Syria for purposes of engaging in ground combat operations, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13] (Introduced 03/09/2017)

Cosponsors: (33)

Committees: House – Armed Services

Latest Action: 03/09/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

S 200 115th Congress (2017-2018) Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017

What it’s about: This bill prohibits the President from using the Armed Forces to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless such strike is conducted pursuant to a congressional declaration of war expressly authorizing such strike.

Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 01/24/2017)

Cosponsors: (13)

Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations

Latest Action: 01/24/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  (All Actions)

H.R. 669 Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017

What it’s about: This bill prohibits the President from using the Armed Forces to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless such strike is conducted pursuant to a congressional declaration of war expressly authorizing such strike.

Sponsor: Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33] (Introduced 01/24/2017)

Co-Sponsors (77)

Committees: House – Foreign Affairs

Latest Action: 01/24/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.  (All Actions)

S.1158 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2017

What it’s about:  This bill states that it is U.S. policy to regard the prevention of genocide and other atrocity crimes as a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility, and more.

Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 05/17/2017)

Cosponsors: (29)

Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations

Latest Action: 05/17/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (All Actions)

H.J. Res. 100 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Consolidated Authorization for Use of Military Force Resolution of 2017

What it’s about: This joint resolution authorizes the President, for three years, to use all necessary and appropriate force to protect U.S. national security against Al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Afghan Taliban, and any associated organized and armed group that is a co-belligerent against the United States. Specified prior authorizations for the use of military force are repealed.

Sponsor: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28] (Introduced 04/27/2017)

Cosponsors: (12)

Committees: House – Foreign Affairs, Rules

Latest Action: 04/27/2017 Referred to House Rules (All Actions)

S.2095 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Assault Weapons Ban of 2017

What it’s about: To regulate assault weapons, to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 11/08/2017)

Cosponsors: (25)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 11/08/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

H.R.5087 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Assault Weapons Ban of 2018

What it’s about: To regulate the importation, manufacture, possession, sale or transfer of assault weapons, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (Introduced 02/26/2018)

Cosponsors: (173)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 02/26/2018 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

S.2009 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Background Check Expansion Act

What it’s about: To require a background check for every firearm sale.

Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (Introduced 10/25/2017)

Cosponsors: (35)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 10/25/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

S.2470 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Age 21 Act

What it’s abut: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the purchase of certain firearms by individuals under 21 years of age, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] (Introduced 02/28/2018)

Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 02/28/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

S.1916 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act

What it’s about: To prohibit the possession or transfer of certain firearm accessories, and for other purposes. This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle but not convert the semiautomatic rifle into a machine gun.

Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 10/04/2017)

Cosponsors: (41)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 12/06/2017 Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

H.R.1832 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To authorize the appropriation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention.

What it’s about: Would authorize appropriations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023 for the purpose of conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq

Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (Introduced 03/30/2017)

Cosponsors: (40)

Committees: House – Energy and Commerce

Latest Action: House – 03/31/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

S.834 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) :  A bill to authorize the appropriation of funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention.

What it’s about: Would authorize appropriations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023 for the purpose of conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et se

Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 04/05/2017)

Cosponsors: (26)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 04/05/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S.1212 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Gun Violence Prevention Order Act of 2017

What it’s about: To provide family members of an individual who they fear is a danger to himself, herself, or others, and law enforcement, with new tools to prevent gun violence.

Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 05/24/2017)

Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: Senate – Judiciary

Latest Action: Senate – 05/24/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.2598 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Gun Violence Restraining Order Act of 2017

What it’s about: To provide family members of an individual who they fear is a danger to himself, herself, or others, and law enforcement, with new tools to prevent gun violence.

Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (Introduced 05/23/2017)

Cosponsors: (50)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 05/23/2017 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.4268 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Gun Safety: Not Sorry Act of 2017

What it’s about: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for a 7-day waiting period before a semiautomatic firearm, a silencer, armor piercing ammunition, or a large capacity ammunition magazine may be transferred.

Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 11/07/2017) Cosponsors: (21)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 11/07/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigation

H.R.4240 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2017

What it’s about:  To protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process.

Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] (Introduced 11/03/2017)

Cosponsors: (156)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 11/21/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

H.R.4142 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Safer Communities Act of 2017

What It’s about: To protect individuals by strengthening the Nation’s mental health infrastructure, improving the understanding of violence, strengthening firearm prohibitions and protections for at-risk individuals, and improving and expanding the reporting of mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] (Introduced 10/26/2017)

Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Judiciary, Energy and Commerce

Latest Action: House – 11/14/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

H.Res.373 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Expressing support for the designation of June 2017 as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month” and calling on Congress to address gun violence.

Sponsor: Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (Introduced 06/02/2017) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Judiciary, Energy and Commerce

Latest Action: House – 06/23/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations

H.Res.367 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Establishing the Select Committee on Gun Violence Prevention.

What it’s about: Establishes the House Select Committee on Gun Violence Prevention to investigate and report on:

• the causes of mass shootings,
• methods to improve the federal firearms purchaser background check system,
• connections between access to firearms and dangerously mentally ill individuals,
• strengthening federal penalties for trafficking and straw purchasing of firearms,
• closing loopholes that allow some domestic abusers continued access to firearms,
• linkages between firearms and suicide,
• gun violence’s effect on public health,
• the correlation between state gun violence prevention laws and the incidence of gun violence,
• the importance of having reliable and accurate information on gun violence and its toll on our nation,
• the implementation of effective gun violence prevention laws in accordance with the Second Amendment to the Constitution, and
• rates of gun violence in large metropolitan areas.

Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5] (Introduced 05/25/2017)

Cosponsors: (164)

Committees: House – Rules

Latest Action: House – 05/25/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

H.R.4192 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Domestic Violence Gun Homicide Prevention Act of 2017

What it’s about: This bill authorizes the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to award grants to states to carry out certain policies and procedures that restrict and penalize firearm possession by or transfer to a person subject to a domestic violence protection order or a person convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor.

Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (Introduced 10/31/2017)

Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 11/17/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations