This week, the House is expected to consider nine bills, ranging from veterans’ compensation to health insurance.
Legislation under consideration this week includes:
PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (S. 252): reauthorizes funding for federal research and educational programs and activities aimed at reducing preterm labor and the risk of pregnancy-related deaths and infant mortality.
HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (S. 330): requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop criteria for researching whether organ donations from HIV-infected individuals to other HIV-infected individuals should be allowed.
Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 (S. 893): increases the amounts paid to veterans for disability compensation and to their survivors for dependency and indemnity compensation by the same cost-of-living adjustment payable to Social Security recipients (1.5%). The increase would take effect on Dec. 1, 2013, and the results of the adjustment would be rounded to the next lowest dollar.
H.R. 2922: extends through Dec. 29, 2019, the authority of the U.S. Supreme Court Police to operate in any state to protect Supreme Court justices and guests of the court, as well as court officials and employees who are performing official duties.
H.Res. 196: expresses the House of Representatives' support for the right to counsel incorporated in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It also expresses support for strategies to improve the criminal justice system to ensure that indigent defendants in all felony cases are adequately represented by counsel.
H.R. 2871: modifies the boundaries for the U.S. District Courts in southern Mississippi to reflect the closure of the Meridian courthouse and consolidate Mississippi judicial districts.
Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2013 (H.R. 982): requires quarterly reports by asbestos trusts of claims made against the trusts, and any payouts made by the trusts, for asbestos-related injuries.
H.R. 2655: amends Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require that courts impose sanctions on parties that violate the prohibition on the filing of frivolous lawsuits. Currently, judges are allowed to decide whether to impose these sanctions. It also removes the ability of legal parties to withdraw or correct claims considered frivolous within 21 days of their filing.
H.R. 3350: allows health insurance companies to continue to offer in 2014 any policy in effect as of Jan. 1, 2013 — thereby allowing individuals with such policies to keep them even if they do not offer the minimum essential health insurance coverage requirements set by the Affordable Care Act.