Category: Legislation

Federal news Preparing for the Next Pandemic (comments submitted) [MLAConnect, 6/23/20] Black Caucus lays out legislative priorities for combating systemic racism [Roll Call, 7/1/20] SB4181/HB7486 The Library Stabilization Fund Act (informational flier) SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON [ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office, 7/2/20] Operation Warp Speed’s opaque choices of COVID-19 vaccines draw Senate…

Federal news Bills to watch ·         H.R.990 Recognizing racism as a national crisis and the need for a truth and reconciliation process. This resolution recognizes racism as a national public health crisis and supports the creation of a truth and reconciliation process to address historic, enduring systemic and structural racism against black people. [Introduced 6/4/20]…

Federal news MLA and AAHSL recommend FY21 NLM Funding of at least $479.7 million [MLA Connect, 5/29/20] Trump administration requiring labs to report racial, ethnic information from COVID-19 test results [The Hill, 6/4/20] Top health lawmakers push HHS on COVID-19 Medicaid payments [Roll Call, 6/3/20] HEROES Act Stalls in Senate [American Libraries, 5/22/20] Will Trump…

Federal news House narrowly passes $3 trillion coronavirus aid bill [Roll Call, 5/15/2020] “Democrats’ bill would [provide, among other relief,] $100 billion for a public health fund for hospitals and other health care providers…. The Senate won’t take up the legislation in its current form, though key senators will begin discussions with Democratic leaders and…

Federal news H.R.266 Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act [became Public Law No. 116-139] “This bill responds to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak by providing additional funding for small business loans, health care providers, and COVID-19 testing.”   State news Hospitals, health care workers given civil immunity [Chicago Daily Law Bulletin…

Federal news Upcoming COVID-19 stimulus legislation Advocacy Alert: Urge Your Representative to Support Emergency Library Funding [ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office, 4/11/2020] “Congressional leadership has started work on a new COVID-19 relief package, and we are working to ensure libraries of all types are included. Today, we need your help to get the library…

Federal news COVID-19 Emergency Declaration [Federal Emergency Management Agency release on 3/13/2020] On March 13, 2020, the President declared the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency declaration for all states, tribes, territories, and the District of Columbia… H.R. 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act [became Public…

Federal news Trump to hold Friday news conference on coronavirus [The Hill, 3/13/20] “…Bloomberg News reported he plans to declare a national emergency, a move that had been under consideration for some time. Declaring a national emergency would allow wider use of federal funds by state and local authorities, some of which have been overwhelmed…

Federal news White House unveils $2.5B emergency coronavirus plan [Associated Press, 2/24/20] White House formally invites public comment on open-access policies [Science, 2/21/20] In the House this week: HR 2339 Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 [House.gov, 2/25/20]   FY21 Budget Proposal National Institutes of Health would see 7% cut in 2021 under…