CLAIMS

Amendments

Courts: eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), H7848, H7849, H7850 [20SE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), consideration (H. Res. 558), H7765 [18SE]

Bills and resolutions

Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act: amend (see S. 1875), S3651 [18JN] (see H.R. 3292), H4700 [14JN]

Alexander Creek, AK: recognize as a Native village (see H.R. 4582), H8081 [27SE]

Americans With Disabilities Act: promote compliance through education, clarify requirements for demand letters, and provide for a notice and cure period before commencement of a private civil action (see H.R. 4099), H7479 [30JY]

Armed Forces: allow claims against the U.S. for injury and death of members caused by improper medical care (see S. 2451), S5407 [10SE] (see H.R. 2422), H3339 [30AP]

Bankruptcy: allow full subrogation, including subrogation to the priority rights of the U.S., of claims for the payment of customs duties (see H.R. 2261), H3254 [10AP]

——— exempt firearms from claims of creditors (see H.R. 1726), H2716 [13MR]

——— promote investigation of, and penalties for, fraudulent claims against asbestos trusts to ensure asbestos victims receive fair and just compensation (see S. 766), S1844 [13MR]

Bureau of Reclamation: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana (see S. 3113), S7207 [19DE]

——— approve settlement of water rights claims of the Navajo Nation in Utah (see S. 1207), S2435 [11AP] (see H.R. 644), H716 [17JA]

Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act: clarify certain provisions (see S. 790), S1845 [13MR]

Colleges and universities: prohibit inclusion of mandatory arbitration clauses in federally funded school enrollment agreements, thereby restricting pursuit of legal claims against higher education institutions in court (see S. 608), S1593 [28FE] (see H.R. 1430), H2312 [28FE]

Congressional Office of Compliance: investigate all workplace discrimination claims filed by covered employees and require Members to reimburse the Treasury for amounts paid for employment discrimination (see H.R. 5464), H10609 [17DE]

Consumers: eliminate mandatory predispute arbitration agreements for consumer financial product or service disputes (see S. 630), S1594 [28FE]

Copyrights: establish an alternative dispute resolution program for copyright small claims (see S. 1273), S2569 [1MY] (see H.R. 2426), H3403 [1MY]

Courts: allow claims against foreign states for unlawful computer intrusion (see H.R. 4189), H7505 [16AU]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses for claims rising under Federal or State statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a State constitution (see S. 635), S1594 [28FE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (see S. 610), S1593 [28FE] (see H.R. 1423), H2311 [28FE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), consideration (see H. Res. 558), H7752 [17SE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in workplace sexual harassment or discrimination cases (see H.R. 1443), H2313 [28FE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration in cases involving public health and safety, including environmental cases (see S. 620), S1593 [28FE]

——— increase transparency and oversight of third-party litigation funding in certain actions (see S. 471), S1325 [13FE]

——— modify amount in controversy requirement and remove complete diversity requirement in civil litigation actions (see S. 297), S800 [31JA]

——— protect the ‘‘gig economy’’ and small businesses that operate in large part through contractor services from the threat of costly class action litigation (see H.R. 76), H203 [3JA]

——— protect the right of a claimant in a civil action before a Federal court to retain a structured settlement broker to negotiate the terms of payment of an award (see H.R. 2212), H3252 [10AP]

Dept. of HHS: increase maximum number of special masters allowed in U.S. Court of Federal Claims to hear cases under National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (see S. 1638), S3104 [23MY] (see H.R. 3003), H4163 [23MY]

Dept. of Justice: improve claims process under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for those exposed to atmospheric nuclear testing (see S. 776), S1844 [13MR] (see H.R. 757), H1210 [24JA]

——— improve compensation under Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (see S. 947), S2088 [28MR] (see H.R. 3783), H5911 [16JY]

Dept. of the Interior: approve settlement of water rights claims of the Hualapai Tribe and certain allottees in Arizona and authorize construction of related water project (see S. 1277), S2569 [1MY] (see H.R. 2459), H3404 [1MY]

——— modify requirements applicable to locatable minerals on public domain lands consistent with principles of self-initiation of mining claims (see S. 1386), S2770 [9MY] (see H.R. 2579), H3500 [8MY]

Dept. of the Treasury: make technical corrections to Guam World War II Claims Fund to appropriate previously authorized war claims to World War II survivors on Guam (see H.R. 1141), H1517 [11FE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: carry out a pilot program to improve ability of Members of Congress to assist constituents with veterans’ benefits within Phoenix, AZ, VA Health Care System (see H.R. 80), H204 [3JA]

——— collaborate with nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher learning that provide administrative assistance to veterans (see H.R. 2885), H4064 [21MY]

——— conduct outreach to veterans on effect of certain delayed payments of claims for emergency medical care and submit to Congress an annual report on such delayed payments (see H.R. 3012), H4164 [23MY]

——— ensure certain health care contractors are subject to Federal tort claims laws to improve accountability of physicians (see H.R. 3813), H5999 [17JY]

——— permit appellants in disability compensation cases before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to appear remotely by picture and voice transmission (see H.R. 4771), H8297 [21OC]

——— provide certain employees of Members of Congress and certain State or local government employees with access to case-tracking information (see H.R. 628), H676 [16JA]

——— provide criminal penalties for individuals acting as agents or attorneys for preparation of a claim under a law administered by the Dept., without being officially recognized for such purposes (see S. 2407), S5249 [31JY]

——— provide for presumption of service-connected disability for certain veterans who served in Palomares, Spain (see S. 1896), S3843 [19JN]

——— provide notice to persons filing a claim for damage, injury, or death on certain departmental forms (see H.R. 4526), H8053 [26SE]

——— require notices of denial of claims for benefits be delivered by certified mail (see H.R. 749), H1209 [24JA]

——— treat digitized records as originals for purposes of claims (see H.R. 4588), H8088 [1OC]

Discrimination: prohibit courts from awarding damages based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation when calculating future earnings potential in personal injury cases and claims (see S. 2512), S5602 [19SE] (see H.R. 4418), H7835 [19SE]

EEOC: require employers to report number of settlements for employees with claims of discrimination on the basis of sex, including verbal and physical sexual harassment (see H.R. 1828), H2754 [18MR]

Employment: clarify appropriate liability standards for Federal antidiscrimination claims relative to workplace harassment (see S. 2287), S5107 [25JY] (see H.R. 4015), H7464 [25JY]

——— clarify appropriate standards for Federal employment age discrimination and retaliation claims (see S. 485), S1382 [14FE] (see H.R. 1230), H2029 [14FE]

——— extend Federal antidiscrimination protections to individuals who perform work for employers as independent contractors (see H.R. 4235), H7535 [6SE]

——— prohibit forced arbitration in employment disputes (see S. 1491), S2884 [15MY] (see H.R. 2749), H3840 [15MY]

Endangered Species Act: establish a procedure for approval of certain settlements (see S. 1426), S2786 [13MY]

FAA: establish protections for air transportation passengers relative to boarding, seating, fees, delays and cancellations, claims against airlines, and penalty enforcement (see S. 2341), S5196 [30JY]

Federal aid programs: prohibit administrative offset of Social Security, railroad retirement, and black lung benefit payments relative to claims arising from Federal debts (see S. 1649), S3105 [23MY] (see H.R. 2991), H4163 [23MY]

Federal employees: protect Federal employees and contractors from foreclosures, evictions, loan defaults, property repossession, and other civil liabilties during a lapse in appropriations (see S. 72), S103 [9JA] (see H.R. 588), H674 [16JA]

Federal Maritime Commission: provide statutory authority for Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services and increase public awareness and understanding of ocean shipping services agreements and such Office (see H.R. 709), H997 [22JA]

Financial institutions: clarify treatment of shareholder claims arising from appointment of a conservator or receiver for certain depository institutions (see H.R. 4267), H7596 [10SE]

Firearms: provide victims of gun violence access to the same civil remedies available to those injured through other means and ensure the gun industry is not shielded from liability when negligent (see S. 1779), S3319 [11JN] (see H.R. 157), H207 [3JA] (see H.R. 3214), H4432 [11JN]

Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act: technical corrections (see H.R. 1365), H2233 [26FE]

Health: reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform (see H.R. 3656), H5302 [9JY]

Health care professionals: limit liability of volunteers who provide health care services in response to a disaster (see S. 1350), S2687 [7MY]

Immigration: improve care of children and families at the southern U.S. border, streamline processing, and increase resources at ports of entry (see S. 1303), S2613 [2MY]

——— improve use of immigration detainers by State and local law enforcement and incentivize compliance with Federal detainers through reimbursement of detention costs and indemnification for certain claims (see S. 2739), S6299 [30OC] (see H.R. 4948), H8717 [31OC]

Insurance: facilitate prompt and efficient adjusting of claims in the case of natural and other disasters and losses and promote uniformity and reciprocity among States in licensing of claims adjusters (see H.R. 4037), H7465 [25JY]

——— restore legal rights for claimants under Holocaust-era insurance policies (see S. 2621), S5895 [17OC] (see H.R. 5265), H9175 [22NO]

Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act: repeal (see S. 46), S67 [8JA]

Medicare: apply secondary payer rules to certain workers’ compensation settlement agreements and qualified set-aside provisions (see H.R. 4161), H7488 [2AU]

——— establish a payment option to freely contract, without penalty, for fee-for-service items and services, while allowing beneficiaries to use their benefits (see S. 2812), S6475 [7NO]

——— prohibit prescription drug plan sponsors and Medicare Advantage prescription drug organizations from retroactively reducing payment on clean claims submitted by pharmacies (see S. 988), S2189 [2AP] (see H.R. 789), H1211 [24JA] (see H.R. 803), H1217 [25JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: promote ability of beneficiaries to access their personal medical claim data through a mobile health record application (see H.R. 1390), H2270 [27FE]

Native Americans: accept land into trust for Prairie Island Indian Community as compensation for lands rendered dangerous by nuclear materials, some flooded, to release the U.S. from related claims (see H.R. 4752), H8258 [18OC]

——— provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma relative to land in Illinois (see H.R. 396), H358 [9JA]

——— settle claims of the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation concerning contributions to production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam (see S. 216), S586 [24JA]

Patents: clarify and improve patent infringement litigation process for biological products to expedite getting generic drugs to market (see H.R. 3991), H7463 [25JY]

Puerto Rico: require disclosure of connections to debtors, creditors, or parties of interest to debt restructuring by professionals involved in the process of such restructuring (see S. 1675), S3106 [23MY] (see H.R. 683), H719 [17JA]

Reoforce, Inc.: relief (see H.R. 4972), H8719 [31OC]

SEC: prohibit mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements (see S. 2992), S6888 [5DE] (see H.R. 5336), H9346 [6DE]

Simonson, Theodore: relief (see H.R. 4972), H8719 [31OC]

Taxation: allow an above-the-line deduction for attorney fees and costs in connection with civil claim awards (see S. 2627), S5895 [17OC]

——— deny deduction for severance payments made in connection with sexual misconduct (see H.R. 1829), H2754 [18MR]

——— disallow deductions for the payment of punitive damages (see S. 1185), S2434 [11AP]

Territories: provide the option of discharging certain unsecured financial obligations, allocate funds to eligible Puerto Rican creditors whose debt was terminated, and audit causes of Puerto Rico’s debt (see S. 1312), S2613 [2MY] (see H.R. 2526), H3447 [3MY]

Veterans: prohibit predispute arbitration agreements that force arbitration of certain disputes arising from claims of servicemembers and veterans (see S. 2459), S5407 [10SE] (see H.R. 2750), H3841 [15MY]

——— reinstate criminal penalties for persons charging disabled veterans unethical fees to prepare and apply for VA disability claims (see S. 1718), S3250 [5JN]

Cost Estimates

Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act technical corrections (H.R. 1365): CBO, H7351 [24JY]

Letters

Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act: Max Richtman, National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, S3110 [23MY]

Notices

Estimated budget effects of H.R. 1365, Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act technical corrections, H7374 [24JY]

Intention to object to S. 1273, Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act: Senator Wyden, S5668 [24SE]

Regulations

Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act Senate regulations: Committee on Rules and Administration (Senate), S5136 [29JY]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: allow claims against the U.S. for injury and death of members caused by improper medical care (H.R. 2422), H7562 [10SE]

Congress: accomplishments of the 115th Congress, H1274 [29JA]

Copyrights: establish an alternative dispute resolution program for copyright small claims (H.R. 2426), H8345–H8353 [22OC]

Courts: clarify that provisions to eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases shall not prohibit option of voluntary arbitration between consenting parties, H7850, H7851 [20SE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), H7588–H7592 [10SE], H7690 [12SE], H7777, H7818 [19SE], H7840–H7853, H7858 [20SE], H7871 [24SE], H10080 [11DE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), consideration (H. Res. 558), H7761–H7767 [18SE]

——— impact of mandatory arbitration clauses in workplace sexual harassment, elder abuse, and racial discrimination cases, H7588–H7592 [10SE]

——— prohibit mandatory binding arbitration contracts negotiated as part of collective bargaining agreement in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases, H7849, H7850 [20SE]

Dept. of HHS: increase maximum number of special masters allowed in U.S. Court of Federal Claims to hear cases under National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (H.R. 3003), E665 [23MY]

Dept. of Justice: Executive Office for Immigration Review funding to hire additional Federal immigration judges, H4784, H4785, H4885 [19JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: permit appellants in disability compensation cases before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to appear remotely by picture and voice transmission (H.R. 4771), H8753–H8755 [12NO]

——— report on number, staff required to process, and cost of child care claims for veterans and private care providers, and on number of unprocessed claims, H1430, H1431 [7FE]

——— require notices of denial of claims for benefits be delivered by certified mail (H.R. 749), H5027 [21JN]

——— Veterans Benefits Management System implementation, H7891 [24SE]

Employment: extend Federal antidiscrimination protections to individuals who perform work for employers as independent contractors (H.R. 4235), E1092 [6SE]

Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act: technical corrections (H.R. 1365), H7351–H7353 [24JY]

IRS: preserve taxpayers’ rights to administrative appeal of deficiency payments, H3164 [9AP]

Native Americans: settle claims of the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation concerning contributions to production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam (S. 216), H10298–H10300 [16DE]

Shute, Paul: Partnership for Public Service, Inc., Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal finalist, E683 [30MY]

Veterans: importance of pro-bono legal services provided by public university law schools, H5015 [21JN]

Remarks in Senate

Copyrights: establish an alternative dispute resolution program for copyright small claims (S. 1273), S5668 [24SE]

Courts: eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (S. 610), S5864 [17OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve access of veterans to medical services by improving scheduling, staff training and hiring, access to care from non-departmental providers, and administrative matters, S3826 [19JN]

——— provide criminal penalties for individuals acting as agents or attorneys for preparation of a claim under a law administered by the Dept., without being officially recognized for such purposes (S. 2407), S6427 [6NO]

——— reform rights and appeals process for decisions on benefits claims, S6424 [6NO]

Employment: clarify appropriate standards for Federal employment age discrimination and retaliation claims (S. 485), S3631 [18JN]

Federal aid programs: prohibit administrative offset of Social Security, railroad retirement, and black lung benefit payments relative to claims arising from Federal debts (S. 1649), S3110 [23MY]

Immigration: improve care of children and families at the southern U.S. border, streamline processing, and increase resources at ports of entry, S3342–S3344 [12JN], S5049–S5051 [24JY]

——— improve care of children and families at the southern U.S. border, streamline processing, and increase resources at ports of entry (S. 1303), S2616 [2MY], S2626–S2628 [6MY], S2760 [9MY], S3149 [3JN], S3229–S3231 [5JN], S3274 [10JN], S3453 [13JN], S3643 [18JN], S4145 [20JN], S4711 [9JY], S4787, S4788 [11JY], S4836 [16JY], S4959 [22JY], S5033 [24JY]

Iran: use parts of fines levied against companies that do business with Iran to establish a fund to pay claims to Americans held hostage in Iran and their families identified in a certain court case, S4901 [17JY]

Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Act: repeal (S. 46), S4652 [27JN]

Native Americans: settle claims of the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation concerning contributions to production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam (S. 216), S4652 [27JN]

Trump, President: evaluation of administration relative to Cuba, S6150–S6152 [24OC], S6707 [20NO]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 558) (H. Rept. 116–210), H7752 [17SE]

Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 2426) (H. Rept. 116–252), H8386 [22OC]

——— Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1273) (S. Rept. 116–105), S5474 [12SE]

Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 1423) (H. Rept. 116–204), H7711 [13SE]

Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act Technical Corrections: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House) (H.R. 1365) (H. Rept. 116–149), H5725 [11JY]

Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 46) (S. Rept. 116–6), S1844 [13MR]

Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 1207) (S. Rept. 116–79), S5360 [9SE]

Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act: Committee on Indian Affairs (Senate) (S. 216) (S. Rept. 116–4), S1733 [7MR]

Texts of

H. Res. 558, consideration of H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, H7761 [18SE]

H.R. 1365, Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act technical corrections, H7351 [24JY]

H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, H7848 [20SE]

H.R. 2426, Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act, H8345–H8352 [22OC]

H.R. 4771, VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act, H8753 [12NO]

S. 46, Klamath Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act, S4664 [27JN]

S. 216, Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation Equitable Compensation Act, S4663 [27JN], H10298 [16DE]

S. 608, Court Legal Access and Student Support (CLASS) Act, S1597 [28FE]

S. 1649, Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act, S3110 [23MY]