WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Nanette D. Barragan, D-Calif., has introduced legislation (H.R. 8626) to "direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a grant program to improve the energy resilience, energy democracy, and security of communities, prioritizing environmental justice communities." The bill was introduced on Oct. 20 and has 22 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Reps. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Albio Sires, D-N.J., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Jan   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has introduced the China Task Force Act (H.R. 12) to "enact a comprehensive legislative response to the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the U.S. and to freedom, democracy, and human rights around the world." The bill was introduced on Oct. 20 and has 18 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Reps. Denver Riggleman, R-Va., Greg Walden, R-Ore., John Joyce, R-Pa., Kay Granger, R-Texas, Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio, John R. Curtis, R-Utah,  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., has introduced legislation (H.R. 8639) to "authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and political subdivisions of States to hire, employ, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement officers in emergencies involving one or more persons with a mental illness or an intellectual or developmental disability." The bill was introduced on Oct. 20 and has 28 co-sponsors. C  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., has introduced legislation (H.R. 8641) to "protect journalists and other members of the press from gross violations of internationally recognized human rights." The bill was introduced on Oct. 20 and has 16 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors include Reps. James McGovern, D-Mass., Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., Mark Takano, D-Calif., Susan Wild, D-Pa., Al Green, D-Texas, Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Ted Deutch, D-Fla., Jamie Raskin, D-Md.,   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., has introduced legislation (H.R. 8642) to amend title XVIII "to provide coverage and payment for certain tests and assistive telehealth consultations during the COVID-19 emergency period." The bill was introduced on Oct. 20 and was co-sponsored by Reps. Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa. It was jointly referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees. For more information, Rep. David Schweikert, 1526 Longwo  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has introduced legislation (S. 4830) to "provide protections to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries relating to extra payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic." The bill was introduced on Oct. 21 and was co-sponsored by Sens. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. It was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. For more information, Sen. Sherrod Brown, 503 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC, 20510, 202/  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, has introduced legislation (S. 4831) to "provide resources for States, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, educators, school leaders, and others to measure and address instructional loss in students in kindergarten through grade 12." The bill was introduced on Oct. 21 and was co-sponsored by Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. It was referred to the Senat  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., has introduced legislation (S. 4840) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act "to require the inclusion of certain audio-only diagnoses in the determination of risk adjustment for Medicare Advantage plans." The bill was introduced on Oct. 21. It was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. For more information, Sen. Pat Roberts, 109 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-1605; 202/224-4774; or in state at Sen. Frank Carlson Fe  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., has introduced legislation (S. 4820) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 "to expand the use of retirement plan funds to obtain long-term care insurance." The bill was introduced on Oct. 20. It was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. For more information, Sen. Patrick Toomey, 248 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510; 202/224-4254; or in state at 17 S. Park Row, Ste. B-120, Erie, PA 16501; 814/453-3010.  more