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West Virginia Congressional Bills

Browse federal bills sponsored by your state's delegation.

State Legislature US Congress

All 3,834 Active 3,168 In committee 3,147 Passed 562 Signed 88 Failed 9

in committee · West Virginia · House May 10, 2023

HR 3190: To limit the availability of certain funds for Mexico until the President makes a certification to Congress regarding cooperation by Mexico with respect to fentanyl, and for other purposes.

This bill prohibits Economic Support Fund assistance to Mexico until the President certifies to Congress that Mexico is cooperating to reduce the flow of fentanyl across the United States' southern border.

in committee · West Virginia · House May 10, 2023

HR 3199: Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act adjusts pay for Bureau of Prisons employees currently assigned to the "Rest of U.S." pay locality. It directs that if an employee's worksite is within 200 miles of another pay locality, they will be paid according to the nearest locality with the highest pay rate - replacing the lower "Rest of U.S." rate. This applies to correctional officers and other Bureau of Prisons staff, but excludes employees whose worksite is more than 200 miles from any other locality. The change takes effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 9, 2023

SRES 201: A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2023.

This is a symbolic Senate resolution (SRES 201) supporting National Nurses Week, observed annually from May 6-12. It recognizes nurses' contributions to healthcare, their role as patient advocates, and their status as the largest healthcare profession (over 4.5 million registered nurses in the U.S.). The resolution encourages the public to observe the week with recognition and activities but does not create new laws, funding, or requirements. It has no direct effect on policy or nursing practice.

Jeff Merkley (D) · 28 co-sponsors

in committee · West Virginia · House May 8, 2023

HR 2757: Puerto Rico Status Act

HR 2757, the Puerto Rico Status Act, establishes a process for Puerto Rico to determine its political status through a plebiscite on November 2, 2025, offering three options: independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood. If no option receives a majority in the initial vote, a runoff plebiscite would be held on March 8, 2026. The bill outlines transition processes for each option, including constitutional conventions, implementation steps, and provisions for citizenship, immigration, and economic benefits. It mandates bilingual voter education materials and requires oversight by the Elections Commission and the Attorney General to ensure fair representation of all options. This legislation directly affects Puerto Rico's residents by providing a structured process to choose their permanent political relationship with the United States.

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 4, 2023

S 1449: RESTART Act

The RESTART Act (S 1449) streamlines environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act by setting page limits (150 pages for standard environmental impact statements, 300 for complex projects) and strict timelines (2 years for final environmental impact statements, 1 year for environmental assessments). It limits judicial review by requiring lawsuits to be filed within 60 days of publication and setting 180-day deadlines for courts to resolve cases. The bill also modifies Clean Water Act permitting requirements and includes specific provisions expediting approval for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. These changes primarily affect federal agencies conducting environmental reviews, project sponsors seeking permits, and states involved in environmental permitting processes.

Topics ✗ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 4, 2023

S 1470: Accountability in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act

S 1470, the Accountability in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act, changes how women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) qualify for federal contracts. It eliminates self-certification, requiring all WOSBs seeking to count toward federal contracting goals to obtain formal certification from the Small Business Administration (SBA) instead of claiming eligibility themselves. The bill gives currently self-certified businesses one year to apply for SBA certification, after which they lose eligibility if they don’t apply. Additionally, it mandates federal agencies that miss WOSB participation goals to report to Congress and testify on their remediation plans, while requiring an interagency report on barriers and recommendations to improve WOSB access to contracts and capital.

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 4, 2023

S 1467: Access Technology Affordability Act of 2023

The Access Technology Affordability Act of 2023 creates a new federal tax credit for individuals who purchase qualifying access technology for blind family members. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per year (adjusted for inflation after 2024) for hardware, software, or IT that converts visual information into formats usable by blind individuals, such as screen readers or braille displays. The credit applies to the taxpayer, their spouse, or dependent blind family members, with a lifetime limit of $2,000 over any three consecutive years. The credit expires after 2028 and cannot be claimed for expenses already covered by other tax benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 4, 2023

S 1473: A bill to authorize the immediate expulsion of inadmissible aliens attempting to enter the United States by fraud or without a necessary entry document, and for other purposes.

S 1473 would require immigration officers to immediately expel individuals entering the U.S. at the Mexico border without valid documents or by fraud, without a hearing or review, for a two-year period starting when the bill becomes law. Expulsion would typically occur to Mexico, but could be directed to the individual’s home country or another willing nation if Mexico refuses or expulsion to Mexico isn’t in U.S. national interest. The bill prohibits expulsion to countries where the individual would face persecution or torture, except for those convicted of serious crimes, involved in persecution, or posing national security threats. It also allows case-by-case exceptions for humanitarian reasons and mandates referrals to asylum officers if an individual fears harm in the destination country.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 4, 2023

S 1456: SPUR Act

The SPUR Act (S 1456) streamlines oil, gas, and mineral development on federal lands by requiring quarterly onshore oil and gas lease sales, allowing states to assume permitting authority for these activities, and limiting environmental review delays for energy projects. The bill reduces royalty rates for oil and gas leases to a minimum of 12.5 percent during its 5-year implementation period, prohibits the President from delaying energy leasing without congressional approval, and expedites LNG export approvals with a 45-day decision deadline. It directly affects oil and gas companies seeking permits, state governments that may take over permitting authority, and federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. The legislation aims to increase domestic energy production by making federal leasing and permitting processes faster and more predictable.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 3, 2023

S 1420: Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2023

This bill amends the tax code to allow charitable organizations to provide grants for college housing improvements without losing their tax-exempt status. Specifically, it clarifies that grants for capital improvements to dormitories or residential facilities (like building, repairing, or maintaining student housing) qualify as charitable under IRS rules, as long as the property is primarily for full-time students. It excludes grants for fitness facilities from this provision. The bill directly affects tax-exempt charities making such grants and the colleges or universities operating student housing properties.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Housing

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 3, 2023

S 1426: RISE from Trauma Act

The RISE from Trauma Act creates federal grants to establish local coordinating bodies that address community trauma and build resilience by bringing together representatives from schools, healthcare, child welfare, criminal justice, and community organizations. Each grant can provide up to $6 million for 4 years to support community-wide efforts, with priority given to communities facing high rates of drug overdoses, violence, and involvement in child welfare or juvenile justice systems. The bill also includes provisions for hospital-based trauma interventions, reauthorizes the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and supports workforce development for trauma-informed care. These coordinated efforts aim to prevent trauma's impact and promote resilience through community-based action.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · Senate May 3, 2023

S 1424: DOC Access Act of 2023

This bill (S 1424) improves access to dental and vision care by requiring health plans to allow doctors of optometry, dental surgery, or dental medicine to charge enrollees up to their standard fees for services not covered by the plan (with exceptions for dental cleanings). It prohibits plans from restricting providers' choices of laboratories or suppliers for materials used in care. The bill also mandates annual state enforcement notifications and clarifies that state laws governing dental/vision plans take precedence over federal provisions. It directly affects health insurance plans offering limited dental/vision coverage, enrollees using these services, and dental/optometry providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare