Iowa Congressional Bills

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 24, 2024

HR 562: Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2023

This bill allows Members of Congress to use Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities for meetings with veterans who are their constituents. It requires the VA Secretary to create regulations within 90 days, ensuring spaces are visible, accessible during business hours, and rented at rates similar to standard office space in the area. The regulations prohibit campaigning, political discussions, photographing patients without consent, and meetings during the 60 days before federal elections. It directly affects veterans seeking congressional assistance and Members of Congress who can now hold constituent meetings at VA locations. The bill does not change VA benefits or services but streamlines access to representatives for veterans.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Brian J. Mast (R) · 34 co-sponsors

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HJRES 96: Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023

This bill approves new agreements that amend the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. It incorporates related agreements including fiscal procedures and trust fund agreements that govern how U.S. funding is managed and distributed to these nations. The bill provides funding for 2024-2043 to support programs like healthcare, education, veterans' services, and economic development in the Freely Associated States. It establishes reporting requirements and oversight mechanisms for federal agencies implementing these agreements. The bill directly affects U.S. federal agencies, the Freely Associated States, and U.S. funding mechanisms for these Pacific Island nations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Bruce Westerman (R) · 42 co-sponsors

in committee · Iowa · Senate Dec 19, 2024

S 5614: DRAIN THE SWAMP Act

This bill requires federal agencies to relocate at least 30% of headquarters employees (those based at agency main offices in Washington, D.C.) to offices outside the D.C. area within one year. It directly affects federal workers currently stationed in D.C. headquarters offices, with exceptions for national security personnel and employees with disability accommodations allowing full-time telework. Key mechanisms include changing employees' pay to local rates at their new location, banning full-time telework for relocated staff, and mandating agencies to reduce headquarters office space by 30% within two years. Agencies must report progress to Congress and include specific workforce data in budget requests starting in 2026.

in committee · Iowa · Senate Dec 19, 2024

S 4043: Telework Transparency Act of 2024

The Telework Transparency Act of 2024 requires federal agencies to make telework policies transparent and track telework usage. Agencies must submit their telework policies to the Office of Personnel Management within 180 days and make them publicly available on their websites. The bill mandates standardized tracking of telework in payroll systems, establishes a public online tool for telework data, and sets a goal of at least 60% office space utilization. It also requires agencies to assess telework's impact on performance metrics including customer service, cost efficiency, and space utilization.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 10516: ELITE Vehicles Act

The ELITE Vehicles Act (HR 10516) repeals three federal tax credits for electric vehicles: one for new clean vehicles (Section 30D), one for previously-owned clean vehicles (Section 25E), and one for commercial clean vehicles (Section 45W). It also removes tax credit eligibility for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure under Section 30C. These changes take effect 30 days after the bill’s enactment, eliminating tax benefits for individuals and businesses purchasing or contracting for eligible electric vehicles or charging equipment after that date. The bill directly affects consumers, dealers, and manufacturers who previously claimed these credits.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 8784: FREE Act

HR 8784, the FREE Act, requires federal agencies to replace slow, discretionary permitting systems with a streamlined "permit by rule" process. Applicants would certify compliance with written requirements, and permits would automatically be approved within 30 days unless the agency proves non-compliance. Agencies must first report on all current permits and identify which could switch to this system, with a deadline of 240 days after enactment. This directly affects federal agencies managing permits and applicants seeking permits, aiming to reduce delays while maintaining enforcement for violations through audits and appeals.

Topics ✓ Energy ✗ Environment ✓ Transportation

Celeste Maloy (R) · 26 co-sponsors

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 7513: Protecting American Seniors’ Access to Care Act

HR 7513, the Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act, prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing or enforcing a proposed rule that would have set minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding. The bill specifically blocks the September 2023 proposed rule (88 Fed. Reg. 61352-61429) and any substantially similar rule. This directly affects long-term care facilities that rely on federal healthcare program payments. The key mechanism is a clear statutory prohibition preventing the rule from taking effect, without altering existing staffing standards or requirements.

Topics ✗ Healthcare ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 5535: Insurance Data Protection Act

This bill requires federal financial regulators to coordinate with state insurance regulators before collecting data from insurance companies, ensuring they first check if the data is already available through state agencies or public sources. It strengthens confidentiality protections by preventing the sharing of nonpublic data with federal regulators from waiving existing privacy rights under federal or state law. Insurance companies and state regulators are directly affected, as the law governs how data is shared between federal financial regulators and state agencies. The bill modifies existing rules to streamline data collection while maintaining privacy safeguards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Scott Fitzgerald (R) · 30 co-sponsors

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 5409: Safeguarding American Farms from Foreign Influence Act

HR 5409, the Safeguarding American Farms from Foreign Influence Act, requires the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) to review certain foreign purchases of U.S. farmland within 30 days. It applies to transactions where a foreign person (not from an exempt country) acquires agricultural land and must be reported under the 1978 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act. The Committee must determine if the transaction is "covered" and whether to initiate a full review. This directly affects foreign buyers of U.S. farmland and landowners selling to them. The bill adds a federal review step for specific transactions already subject to reporting, without changing who may legally purchase farmland.

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 3378: Agricultural Security Risk Review Act

This bill amends the Defense Production Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to review specific transactions in the agricultural sector. It directly affects businesses and individuals involved in purchasing agricultural land, agricultural biotechnology, or other defined agriculture industry transactions within the U.S. The key mechanism adds a new review requirement under the Secretary's authority for these transactions, as determined by the Secretary. This is a procedural change to existing law, not a new funding or regulatory program.

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 3244: Stop Fentanyl Money Laundering Act of 2023

This bill directs the GAO to study whether designating Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations would help combat fentanyl trafficking (Section 2). It authorizes the Treasury Secretary to require U.S. financial institutions to implement specific anti-money laundering measures against entities or transactions linked to illicit fentanyl and narcotics financing (Section 3). These measures could include enhanced reporting or transaction restrictions for financial institutions operating outside the U.S. that facilitate fentanyl-related money laundering. The bill also mandates updated guidance for financial institutions on identifying Chinese money laundering schemes tied to fentanyl trafficking (Sections 4-5).

in committee · Iowa · House Dec 19, 2024

HR 2666: Medicaid VBPs for Patients Act

This bill allows Medicaid programs to enter into value-based purchasing (VBP) arrangements with drug manufacturers for innovative treatments like gene therapies. It codifies these arrangements by requiring states to report pricing structures based on patient outcomes and best prices for drugs sold under these agreements. The bill enables payments to be tied to treatment effectiveness, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs by decreasing hospitalizations and other medical expenses. It also creates a requirement for a GAO study to evaluate how these arrangements impact patient access, outcomes, and healthcare system costs. The bill will sunset after 5 years, though existing VBP arrangements will continue beyond that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Brett Guthrie (R) · 42 co-sponsors

Iowa Congressional Bills

Bill results