TELEPHONES
Amendments
FCC: allow domestic violence survivors to separate mobile phone lines from shared plans involving abusers, help survivors enroll in Lifeline Program, and ensure calls or texts to hotlines do not appear on call logs (S. 120), S1257 [17MR]
——— ensure just and reasonable charges for telephone and advanced communications services in correctional and detention facilities (S. 1541), S9724 [21DE]
Medicare: extend certain telehealth flexibilities relative to coronavirus emergency (H.R. 4040), consideration (H. Res. 1256), H7181 [27JY]
National Warrior Call Day: designate (S. Res. 754), S7040 [7DE], S7076 [8DE]
Bills and resolutions
Bureau of Prisons: improve treatment of Federal prisoners who are primary caretaker parents (see S. 5206), S7034 [7DE] (see H.R. 9494), H9688 [12DE]
Business and industry: prohibit all transactions from TikTok, Inc., or other social media companies in, or under influence of, certain foreign countries of concern (see S. 5245), S7134 [13DE] (see H.R. 9508), H9729 [13DE]
Courts: provide for video teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings (see H.R. 6472), H294 [21JA]
——— provide liability protection for sharing of information on robocalls and other illegal calls by or with consortium that traces back origin of such calls and for receipt of such information by consortium (see H.R. 7598), H4575 [27AP]
Crime: prohibit people from intentionally impeding 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline telephone number (see H.R. 9158), H8385 [7OC]
Dept. of Agriculture: permit video or telephone certifications under Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (see H.R. 6781), H1130 [18FE]
Dept. of Defense: require report on purchase and use of certain location data and Internet metadata (see H.R. 8662), H7552 [5AU]
Dept. of HHS: facilitate provision of telehealth services through interstate recognition of health care professional licenses (see H.R. 7097), H3775 [16MR]
Dept. of Homeland Security: prohibit employees or contractors from downloading or using TikTok video app on any information technology issued (see H.R. 6837), H1146 [25FE]
Dept. of Justice: provide funding to States to implement anonymous school threat reporting programs (see H.R. 8060), H5546 [14JN]
Dept. of the Treasury: place foreign telecommunications companies engaged in economic or industrial espionage on Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List (see S. 5239), S7101 [12DE] (see H.R. 9490), H9688 [12DE]
Dept. of Transportation: post national human trafficking hotline information in restrooms of all aircrafts, airports, buses, bus stations, passenger trains, and passenger railroad stations in U.S. (see S. 5159), S6940 [1DE] (see H.R. 7181), H3858 [21MR]
Depts. of Defense and State: enter contracts with satellite-based companies to provide or propagate Internet and mobile services in countries where U.S. is engaged in or supporting contingency operations (see S. 3775), S1059 [8MR]
Disabled: ensure people with disabilities have full access to mainstream communication products and services necessary to participate equally in professional, educational, recreational, and civic contexts (see S. 2), S6778 [17NO] (see H.R. 9516), H9729 [13DE]
FCC: allow domestic violence survivors to separate mobile phone lines from shared plans involving abusers, help survivors enroll in Lifeline Program, and ensure calls or texts to hotlines do not appear on call logs (see H.R. 7132), H3826 [17MR]
——— allow State or Federal correctional facilities to utilize jamming equipment to prevent contraband cell phone use in prisons (see S. 4699), S3860 [2AU] (see H.R. 8645), H7544 [2AU]
——— direct Technological Advisory Council to prepare report on 9-1-1 disability alerting system (see S. 4180), S2449 [11MY]
——— establish council to make recommendations on ways to increase security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks (see S. 3988), S1936 [4AP]
——— establish vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost Universal Service Program funding (see S. 4126), S2275 [3MY]
——— improve access by Indian Tribes to support from universal service programs (see S. 5001), S5226 [28SE] (see H.R. 9343), H8587 [17NO]
——— issue rules for provision of emergency connectivity service (see H.R. 9569), H9901 [15DE]
——— permit State attorneys general to recover forfeiture penalties for certain Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations (see H.R. 8306), H5939 [7JY]
——— prohibit granting license or U.S. access for non-geostationary orbit satellite system if license or access would be held by entity that produces covered communications equipment or service (see H.R. 9464), H8872 [8DE]
——— prohibit use of automated telephone equipment to send unsolicited text messages (see H.R. 8334), H5974 [12JY]
FDA: allow digital communication of prescribing information for drugs, including biological products (see H.R. 7559), H4453 [21AP]
Financial Literacy and Education Commission: study impact of language barriers to financial health and require website and toll-free telephone number to be provided in most commonly spoken languages in U.S. (see H.R. 8880), H7964 [19SE]
FTC: revise ‘‘do-not-call’’ registry regulations to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls (see H.R. 6606), H976 [4FE]
Immigration: prevent Federal Government from using taxpayer funds to distribute cellular devices to individuals who unlawfully cross southern border (see H.R. 7741), H4919 [12MY]
Information technology: promote competition and reduce gatekeeper power in app economy, increase choice and quality, and reduce costs for consumers (see H.R. 7030), H1422 [9MR]
IRS: require that offices are staffed with employees to answer phone calls during business hours and quickly confirm receipt of hard mail tax returns (see H.R. 6966), H1329 [7MR]
Medicare: allow for furnishing of audio-only telehealth services (see H.R. 8515), H7169 [26JY]
——— exclude independent agents and brokers from requirement to record calls with beneficiaries under Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefit programs (see S. 5149), S6905 [30NO]
——— expand ability of renal dialysis facilities to serve as originating sites for telehealth services (see S. 4307), S2708 [25MY] (see H.R. 7878), H5214 [24MY]
——— extend certain telehealth flexibilities relative to coronavirus emergency (H.R. 4040), consideration (see H. Res. 1256), H7168 [26JY]
——— extend certain telehealth services and evaluate impact of telehealth services on beneficiaries (see S. 3593), S574 [8FE] (see H.R. 7573), H4509 [26AP]
——— extend telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (see H.R. 8506), H7169 [26JY]
——— permit use of telehealth for purposes of recertification of eligibility for hospice care (see H.R. 8505), H7169 [26JY]
——— protect access to telehealth services in rural and underserved communities (see H.R. 7876), H5214 [24MY]
——— remove geographic requirements and expand originating site for telehealth services (see H.R. 8493), H7168 [26JY]
——— remove in-person requirements for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology (see H.R. 8497), H7168 [26JY]
National security: designate critical infrastructures (see H.R. 9337), H8587 [17NO]
——— impose sanctions on certain foreign flash memory integrated circuit companies that threaten U.S. interests (see S. 5050), S5542 [29SE] (see H.R. 9051), H8314 [29SE]
National ‘‘Slam the Scam’’ Day: designate (see S. Res. 543), S1119 [10MR]
National Warrior Call Day: designate (see S. Res. 754), S4514 [8SE]
Privacy: update privacy protections for electronic communications information that is stored by third-party service providers in order to protect consumer privacy while meeting law enforcement needs (see H.R. 9656), H9983 [21DE]
SEC: amend certain security registration thresholds under Securities Exchange Act (see H.R. 6750), H1123 [15FE]
——— revise shareholder threshold for registration under Securities Exchange Act for issuers that receive support through certain Federal universal service support mechanisms (see S. 4689), S3804 [1AU] (see H.R. 9445), H8800 [6DE]
Smart phones: prohibit service providers from providing service on phones reported stolen, require anti-theft functionality and identification numbers, and to prohibit alteration or removal of such identification numbers (see H.R. 7362), H4126 [1AP]
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: establish office to coordinate work on behavioral health crisis care and improve National Suicide Prevention Lifeline program (see S. 4871), S4638 [15SE]
——— improve implementation of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (see H.R. 7116), H3826 [17MR] (see H.R. 7232), H3894 [28MR]
——— require States receiving block grant for substance use prevention and treatment to describe efforts to promote work to improve mental health and well-being (see H.R. 8523), H7254 [27JY]
Telehealth Awareness Week: designate (see S. Res. 805), S5226 [28SE] (see H. Res. 1352), H7841 [14SE]
TikTok, Inc.: prohibit from accessing U.S. citizens’ user data from within China and block installation of TikTok app on Government devices (see H.R. 8772), H7738 [6SE]
21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act: update (see S. 5121), S6779 [17NO] (see H.R. 9333), H8587 [17NO]
Veterans: enhance penalties for convictions for conspiracy to commit telemarketing or email marketing fraud committed against veterans (see H.R. 9282), H8441 [10NO]
Letters
Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act: Alan Morgan, National Rural Health Association, H7193 [27JY]
——— Nathan Baugh, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, H7194 [27JY]
Open App Markets Act: Benjamin Ismail and Charlie Smith, GreatFire (organization), S536 [7FE]
——— several organizations, S535 [7FE]
Lists
Votes recorded by proxy on H. Res. 1254, consideration of H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act, H7182 [27JY]
Votes recorded by proxy on H.R. 3344, Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act, H4557 [27AP]
Votes recorded by proxy on H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act, H7223 [27JY]
Votes recorded by proxy on previous question to H. Res. 1254, consideration of H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act, H7182 [27JY]
Votes recorded by proxy on Schweikert motion to recommit H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act, H7222 [27JY]
Motions
Medicare: extend certain telehealth flexibilities relative to coronavirus emergency (H.R. 4040), H7197 [27JY]
Notices
Estimated budget effects of H.R. 7132, Safe Connections Act, H7163 [26JY]
Remarks in House
Armed Forces: allow servicemembers who receive orders for permanent change of station but then receive emergency stop order to terminate telephone, multi-channel video, or Internet access service contracts without penalty, H7766 [13SE], H9966 [21DE]
Dept. of Defense: carry out pilot program to pre-program suicide prevention resources into smart devices issued to Armed Forces members, H5787, H5788 [22JN]
Dept. of HHS: conduct research on smartphone and social media use by adolescents and effects of such use on emotional and behavioral health, H5778 [22JN]
Dept. of Homeland Security: post national human trafficking hotline information at ports of entry, H7923 [19SE]
Dept. of Justice: incentivize hate crime reporting, provide grants for State-run hate crime hotlines, and establish private rights of action for victims and additional penalties for certain hate crime convictions, E560 [27MY]
Dept. of Transportation: create supplemental grants to States for distracted driving prevention and provide States applying for such grants with eligibility decision explanation, E379 [11AP]
——— post national human trafficking hotline information in restrooms of all aircrafts, airports, buses, bus stations, passenger trains, and passenger railroad stations in U.S. (H.R. 7181), H7922–H7926 [19SE]
Distracted Driving Awareness Month: observance, E379 [11AP]
FAA: delay implementation of 5G telecommunication services near certain airports, H207 [18JA]
FCC: allow domestic violence survivors to separate mobile phone lines from shared plans involving abusers, help survivors enroll in Lifeline Program, and ensure calls or texts to hotlines do not appear on call logs (H.R. 7132), H7103–H7106 [26JY], H7197, H7223 [27JY]
——— designate 9-8-8 as universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operated through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line, H5813 [22JN], H6876 [19JY], H6903 [20JY], H6926 [21JY]
——— ensure just and reasonable charges for telephone and advanced communications services in correctional and detention facilities (S. 1541), H10026–H10028 [22DE]
——— provide reports for enrollment in Lifeline program (H.R. 4275), H8471, H8472 [14NO], H8566 [17NO], E1160 [17NO]
Medicare: extend certain telehealth flexibilities relative to coronavirus emergency (H.R. 4040), H6943 [21JY], H7189–H7197 [27JY]
——— extend certain telehealth flexibilities relative to coronavirus emergency (H.R. 4040), consideration (H. Res. 1256), H7177–H7182 [27JY]
——— extend telehealth services for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (H.R. 8506), H7192, H7193, H7194 [27JY]
——— include analysis of racial and ethnic minorities when reporting on telehealth utilizations, H1413 [9MR]
——— protect access to telehealth services in rural and underserved communities (H.R. 7876), H7193 [27JY]
——— remove geographic requirements and expand originating site for telehealth services (H.R. 8493), H7192, H7194 [27JY]
——— remove in-person requirements for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology (H.R. 8497), H7194 [27JY]
Mental health: ensure provision of high-quality service through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, H5787 [22JN]
OMB: reclassify public safety telecommunicators (9-1-1 operators and dispatchers) as protective service occupations within Standard Occupational Classification system, E730 [14JY]
Safety: tribute to public safety telecommunicators (9-1-1 operators and dispatchers), E384 [14AP]
Telecommunications: prioritize efforts and enhance coordination among U.S. agencies to encourage Central and Eastern European countries to improve telecommunications networks security (H.R. 3344), H4461 [26AP], H4538–H4541 [27AP], E442 [29AP]
Wilkes-Barre, PA: anniversary of PA 2-1-1 Northeast/Help Line, E490 [12MY]
Remarks in Senate
Alaska: tribute to United Way of Anchorage 2-1-1 system, S751 [16FE]
Carlson, Tucker: characterization of remarks relative to replacement theory, S2508, S2510 [16MY], S2529 [17MY], S3505 [20JY], S3582 [21JY]
Dept. of Labor: convene interagency working group to develop recommendations and issue guidance to address workforce needs of telecommunications industry (S. 163), S2988 [16JN]
Dept. of Transportation: post national human trafficking hotline information in restrooms of all aircrafts, airports, buses, bus stations, passenger trains, and passenger railroad stations in U.S. (H.R. 7181), S7267, S7268 [15DE]
FCC: allow domestic violence survivors to separate mobile phone lines from shared plans involving abusers, help survivors enroll in Lifeline Program, and ensure calls or texts to hotlines do not appear on call logs (H.R. 7132), S6770 [17NO]
——— allow domestic violence survivors to separate mobile phone lines from shared plans involving abusers, help survivors enroll in Lifeline Program, and ensure calls or texts to hotlines do not appear on call logs (S. 120), S1246–S1248 [17MR]
——— designate 9-8-8 as universal telephone number for national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operated through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line, S3359 [19JY]
——— ensure just and reasonable charges for telephone and advanced communications services in correctional and detention facilities (S. 1541), S9724 [21DE]
Federal employees: prohibit downloading or using of TikTok video app or any successor application on any device issued by the U.S. or government corporation (S. 1143), S7189 [14DE], S7220 [15DE]
Information technology: promote competition and reduce gatekeeper power in app economy, increase choice and quality, and reduce costs for consumers (S. 2710), S535–S537 [7FE], S6953 [5DE], S7280 [19DE], S9748 [21DE]
Medicare: expand access to telehealth services, S2356 [5MY]
Mental health: ensure provision of high-quality service through National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (S. 2425), S3078 [22JN], S3359 [19JY]
National ‘‘Slam the Scam’’ Day: designate (S. Res. 543), S1131 [10MR]
National Warrior Call Day: designate (S. Res. 754), S7040 [7DE]
Telehealth Awareness Week: designate (S. Res. 805), S5164, S5165 [28SE]
Reports filed
Consideration of H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 1256) (H. Rept. 117–444), H7168 [26JY]
Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4275) (H. Rept. 117–552), H8494 [14NO]
Human Trafficking Prevention Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 7181) (H. Rept. 117–477), H7964 [19SE]
Just and Reasonable Communications Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1541), S7251 [15DE]
National Suicide Hotline Designation Act Implementation: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Tranportation (Senate) (S. Rept. 117–69), S612 [9FE]
Next Generation Telecommunications Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 3014), S7030 [7DE]
No TikTok on Government Devices Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1143) (S. Rept. 117–256), S7198 [14DE]
Open App Markets Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 2710), S785 [17FE]
Safe Connections Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 7132) (H. Rept. 117–438), H7167 [26JY]
Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 163) (S. Rept. 117–75), S706 [15FE]
Tables
Estimated pay-as-you-go effects of H.R. 7132, Safe Connections Act, H7163 [26JY]
Texts of
H. Res. 1256, consideration of H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act, H7177 [27JY]
H.R. 3344, Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act, H4538–H4540 [27AP]
H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act, H7189 [27JY]
H.R. 4275, Ensuring Phone and Internet Access Through Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program Act, H8471 [14NO], H8566 [17NO]
H.R. 7132, Safe Connections Act, H7103–H7105 [26JY], H7202–H7204, H7227–H7229 [27JY]
H.R. 7181, Human Trafficking Prevention Act, H7922 [19SE]
S. 120, Safe Connections Act, S1246–S1248 [17MR]
S. 1143, No TikTok on Government Devices Act, S7189 [14DE]
S. 1541, Just and Reasonable Communications Act, S9724 [21DE], H10026 [22DE]
S. Res. 543, National ‘‘Slam the Scam’’ Day, S1124 [10MR]
S. Res. 754, National Warrior Call Day, S4516 [8SE], S7040 [7DE]
S. Res. 805, Telehealth Awareness Week, S5230 [28SE]