Hastings Introduces 15 Measures on the First Day of the 115th Congress

(Washington, D.C.) – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) introduced 15 pieces of legislation on the floor of the House of Representatives. The measures address a  variety of issues including homelessness, gun violence, social security reform, animal welfare, foreign affairs, and national security.

“Today, I am proud to introduce 15 measures in the House of Representatives. As the 115th Congress begins, I plan to hit the ground running on these proposals, and will introduce a number of other important bills throughout the coming year. As I have always said, I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, and hope to get these bills passed in the coming Congress.

“The Republicans may control Congress and the White House, but I will not stop advocating for these critical measures, which reaffirm Congress’ responsibility to the American people and our country’s responsibility to be a global leader. I also intend to keep a keen eye on the incoming Administration and the Republican majority to ensure that they always have the best interests of the American people in mind,” said Congressman Hastings.

Bills:

1. The Restoring the Partnership for County Health Care Costs Act of 2017, allowing an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending charges to receive SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP benefits, lifting the burden on counties currently required to provide medical care to people involuntarily confined in jails, detention centers, and prisons without compensation. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
2. The Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act, establishing a new grant program to provide permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and families whose needs are not addressed by traditional affordable housing. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
3. The Donate for Disaster Relief Act of 2017, allowing taxpayers to designate an amount, not less than $1, of any overpayment of income tax to a Disaster Relief Fund for the purpose of providing relief for major disasters. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
4. The Wildlife VET Act, establishing a new competitive grant program to support additional clinical and research positions for wildlife and zoological veterinarians. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
5. The Increasing Access to Voluntary Screening for HIV/AIDS and STIs Act of 2017, Increasing coverage of routine screening services for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Please find a copy of the legislation here.
6. The Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act of 2017, prohibiting the Department of Education from providing any educational funding to institutions that allow school authorities to inflict corporal punishment upon students. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
7. The Corey Jones Act of 2017, prohibiting the award of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant funding to local police departments that do not prohibit plain-clothes officers from engaging in routine traffic stops in unmarked vehicles. The legislation is named after Corey Jones, a resident of Lake Worth, who was shot and killed by a plain-clothes law enforcement officer operating an unmarked vehicle during the early hours of October 18, 2015. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
8. The Combatting Terrorism in Tunisia Emergency Support Act of 2017, authorizing the Department of State to provide assistance to strengthen and reform Tunisia’s security sector, support Tunisia’s efforts to combat terrorism, provide assistance to support Tunisia’s democracy and civil society, provide assistance to support Tunisia’s border security by enhancing its capabilities to interdict illicit weapons trafficking, reprogram certain funds to support Tunisia’s economic reforms, and enter into a memorandum of understanding with Tunisia to increase military cooperation, including joint military exercises, personnel exchanges, and enhanced strategic dialogue. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
9. The Haitian Educational Empowerment Act of 2017, establishing a scholarship program for qualifying Haitian undergraduate or graduate students whose studies were interrupted as a result of the January 12, 2010 earthquake or Hurricane Matthew. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
10. The Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2017, Directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convene a Behavioral Health Advisory Committee to address issues relating to discrimination against the chronically mentally ill, elderly, and U.S. veterans as it relates to receiving treatment for mental illness, and to establish conditions of participation for community mental health centers that provide partial hospitalization services under the Medicare program. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
11. The Gun Manufacturers Accountability Act, allowing victims of gun violence to sue gun manufacturers, repealing the manufactures’ immunity from civil actions. Please find a copy of the legislation here.
12. The Teacher Victims’ Family Assistance Act, requiring the Secretary of Education to provide assistance to the immediate family of a teacher or other school employee killed in an act of violence while performing school duties. Please find a copy of the legislation here.

Resolutions:

1. Recognizing the importance of nonprofit organizations to the economy of the United States and expressing support for designation of September as `Nonprofit Organization (NPO) Recognition Month,’designating September as Nonprofit Organization (NPO) Recognition Month. Please find a copy of the resolution here.
2. Authorization of Use of Force Against Iran Resolution, authorizing the President to use our Armed Forces to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. “I voted against the JCPOA and continue to believe that it was not, and is not, in the best interest of our country: we must do all that we can to ensure the safety of our country and the safety of our allies in the region.” Please find a copy of the resolution here.
3. Supporting the goals and ideals of Jubilee Day, recognizing the contributions of the Jubilee singers to the music in the United States and celebrates the hard work, perseverance, and accomplishments of the original Jubilee Singers along with the continued success of the generations of Jubilee singers who followed. Please find a copy of the resolution here.

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.

Source: Congressman Alcee L. Hastings