West Virginia Congressional Bills

in committee · West Virginia · House Aug 1, 2023

HR 5127: Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act

HR 5127, the Visitor Visa Wait Time Reduction Act, requires the State Department to report on consular posts with visitor visa interview wait times exceeding 100 days and to take steps to reduce those waits. If wait times at any post exceed 300 days, the Secretary must temporarily reassign State Department personnel to assist consular staff at that location. The bill directly affects U.S. embassies and consulates handling visitor visa applications and the applicants waiting for interviews. It mandates specific administrative actions to address processing delays but does not change visa eligibility or fees. The focus is on improving internal staffing efficiency at consular posts, not altering immigration policy.

Maria Elvira Salazar (R) · 32 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · House Aug 1, 2023

HR 5131: Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins in recognition of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. The designs of the coins must be emblematic of the Erie Canal and its impact on the development of the United States and New York. All sales of coins issued under this bill must include a surcharge to be paid to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in New York and for educational and commemorative programs.

in committee · West Virginia · House Jul 28, 2023

HR 5073: Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act

HR 5073, titled the "Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act," is a tax code amendment affecting oil and gas companies. It changes how businesses calculate adjusted financial statement income by removing specific deductions related to intangible drilling and development costs from their financial reports. The bill requires companies to disregard depreciation and depletion expenses taken into account on their financial statements for these costs when computing taxable income. This applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022, directly impacting oil and gas producers who use these accounting methods. The bill does not create new energy policies but alters tax accounting rules for the industry.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Mike Carey (R) · 46 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jul 27, 2023

SRES 321: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate relating to nuclear power and the commitment of the Senate to embracing and promoting nuclear power as a clean baseload energy source necessary to achieve a reliable, secure, and diversified electric grid.

This non-binding Senate resolution expresses the chamber's support for nuclear power as a clean, reliable energy source critical to achieving a secure, low-emission grid. It commits the Senate to promoting nuclear energy development, including establishing domestic uranium production, strengthening the nuclear supply chain, and cultivating a skilled workforce. The resolution also highlights nuclear energy as an export opportunity for U.S. manufacturing expertise. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect policy implementation.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · West Virginia · House Jul 27, 2023

HRES 627: Condemning the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the massacre of political prisoners in 1988 and the uprisings of recent years, including the 2018, 2019, and 2022 uprisings, and calling for justice for its victims.

This resolution condemns Iran for the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. It also urges the Biden Administration and U.S. allies to publicly condemn the massacre and to pressure Iran to provide information to the families of the victims.

Lance Gooden (R) · 150 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · House Jul 27, 2023

HRES 628: Eliminating the Office of Diversity and Inclusion of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.

HRES 628 would terminate the Office of Diversity and Inclusion within the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill specifically eliminates the office and amends House Rules (including Rule II and Rule X) to remove all references to it. This resolution would end the office's existence and its role in overseeing diversity and inclusion initiatives for House staff and operations. The change applies solely to the House's internal structure and does not affect other legislative functions or external policies.

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jul 27, 2023

S 2559: Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act

S 2559, the *Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act*, imposes a 1-cent fee per milligram on opioid pain relievers sold by manufacturers, producers, or importers, while excluding medications used for addiction treatment and non-opioid ingredients. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish rebates or discounts for cancer patients, hospice patients, and others with specific pain needs to prevent them from bearing the fee cost. Revenue from the fee (after rebates) must be directed to states for opioid addiction treatment programs, including building facilities, expanding residential care, supporting mental health providers in underserved areas, and housing for families affected by addiction. The bill mandates a congressional report within two years assessing the fee’s impact on opioid costs, patient access, and how funds improve treatment services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jul 27, 2023

S 2676: Safe at Home Act

S 2676, the Safe at Home Act, requires federal agencies and courts to accept a "designated address" provided by state address confidentiality programs instead of a participant's actual home address. This directly affects individuals enrolled in these state programs, such as victims of domestic violence or stalking, who use the program's fake address and mail forwarding service for privacy. The bill mandates federal agencies to update their rules within one year to comply, prohibits penalties for using the designated address, and restricts disclosure of the real address to only specific cases (like criminal investigations or federal agency needs) with strict confidentiality rules. Federal courts or agencies seeking real addresses must follow state program procedures, and any disclosed real address must remain confidential under the Freedom of Information Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jul 27, 2023

S 2647: SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023

This bill (S 2647, SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023) provides federal funding to improve stillbirth data collection, research, and education. It authorizes $5 million annually for states to collect stillbirth data using existing health records while protecting privacy, $1 million for developing standardized data collection guidelines and public educational materials, and $3 million for specialized training programs in perinatal pathology and stillbirth research. The bill directly affects state health departments, medical professionals (like obstetricians and pathologists), and families impacted by stillbirth through improved data systems and educational resources. Key provisions require standardized data reporting, consultation with affected families and healthcare providers, and mandatory reports on program progress within five years of enactment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Cory A. Booker (D) · 41 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jul 27, 2023

S 2715: Countering Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations in Cyberspace Act of 2023

This bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct cyber operations in coordination with other agencies to counter Mexican transnational criminal organizations engaged in cross-border illegal activities like drug trafficking, human trafficking, and weapons smuggling. It requires the Defense Secretary to submit a detailed cyber strategy within 60 days of enactment, including assessments of criminal groups' cyber presence, past operations, resource needs, and cooperation plans with Mexico and private sector partners. The bill mandates quarterly briefings to Congress on specific cyber operations conducted, including locations, purposes, durations, and personnel involved. It explicitly prohibits using this authority to collect data on U.S. persons and emphasizes collaboration with Mexican authorities and interagency partners to address these threats.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jul 27, 2023

S 2707: Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023

This bill amends the Clean Air Act to adjust fuel standards and support small refineries. It changes how the EPA grants waivers for fuel additives (allowing fuels similar to certified vehicles or meeting specific waiver conditions) and modifies Reid Vapor Pressure limits from "10 percent" to "10 to 15 percent" for certain fuels. Small refineries that retired credits for 2016-2018 compliance years and had pending or denied petitions by December 2022 can now have those credits returned or applied to future compliance. The bill directly affects fuel retailers, ethanol producers, and small refineries by altering compliance rules and credit eligibility under the renewable fuel program.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · West Virginia · House Jul 27, 2023

HR 5026: Rural Jobs Act

HR 5026, the Rural Jobs Act, allocates $500 million annually (for 2023 and 2024) specifically for tax credits to support economic development in rural areas. It directs these funds exclusively to community development organizations focused on creating jobs in designated "Rural Jobs Zones" - areas outside cities over 50,000 people or their adjacent urban areas. At least 25% of these investments must target persistent poverty counties (with 20%+ poverty over 30 years) or high-migration rural counties. The bill modifies tax credit rules to prioritize job creation and retention in underserved rural communities through equity investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

West Virginia Congressional Bills

Bill results